SEVENTH MEETING OF ISLAMIC-CATHOLIC LIAISON COMMITTEE

VATICAN CITY, JUL 12, 2001 (VIS) - The Islamic-Catholic Liaison Committee held its seventh meeting in Rome from July 3-4, 2001. The Catholic delegation was headed by Cardinal Francis Arinze, president of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue, while the Islamic delegation was headed by Senator Dr. Kamel al-Sharif, secretary general of the International Islamic Council for Da'wah and Relief. The topic addressed during the meeting was "Religion and the Dialogue of Civilizations in an Era of Globalization." Following their exchanges on this topic and other matters the Committee agreed upon the following:

"1.- To reaffirm that civilizations with their material and technological dimensions are a common human heritage; their positive elements should therefore be preserved and their benefits made available to all; they are to be developed and promoted in the interest of the security and well-being of the whole human society.

"2.- To reaffirm that religious values should be the basic starting point from which to direct humanity in such a way as to preserve human dignity and promote peaceful coexistence among peoples and the protection of the environment.

"3.- To reaffirm the importance of dialogue among civilizations for mutual knowledge and common endeavor in peace and harmony in order to protect human societies from disasters, poverty, ignorance, moral degradation, the breaking up of the family, wars and the effect of arms of mass destruction, while refusing the thesis regarding the inevitable clash of civilizations and societal conflict.

"4.- To recognize the importance of globalization and its benefits, while calling attention to its dangers which hinder the realization of a commonly agreed just world order, the acceptance of just criteria for the achievement of the well-being of all, and respect for the religious and cultural values of human societies.

"5.- To work together to spread the culture of dialogue and to foster a spirit of responsibility towards society, to resist consumerism, to protect human dignity and human rights, to prevent aggression, oppression and injustice, to work to ensure the rights of refugees to return to their countries of origin and to refuse all forms of discrimination against people.

"6.- To condemn the violations of the sacred nature of holy places and places of worship occurring in certain parts of the world, and to work together to ensure respect and protection for holy places.

"7.- To communicate these principles through available channels and through the mass media, through educational and cultural institutes, etc."

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