Advertise in this spot on CatholicCulture.org. View all ads.

Catholic World News News Feature

German cardinal reflects on difficulties of dialogue with Islam September 18, 2006

Talk about a "clash of civilizations" should be conducted "with great care to prevent it from becoming a self-fulfillng prophecy," Cardinal Walter Kasper told Germany's Der Spiegel newspaper in an interview reflecting on Islamic protests against Pope Benedict XVI.

The president of the Pontifical Council for Christian Unity told Der Spiegel that the Church seeks a respectful dialogue with Islam. But that dialogue is difficult to pursue, he pointed out, because there is no central authority within Islam, nor even agreement on the interpretation of the Qu'ran.

While Christianity and Islam hold some things in common, there are clear and sharp differences that make dialogue still more difficult, the German cardinal said. He observed that "Islam developed in opposition to orthodox Christianity from the very start, and it considers itself superior to Christianity." Cardinal Kasper noted that Islam does not religious freedom, and has not yet accepted human rights that the Western world considers fundamental.

Muslim terrorism, the cardinal said, is motivated by hatred of the West and frustration over the "shortcomings" of Islamic societies. He told Der Spiegel that among terrorists, Islam "serves as a mask, a cover for desperation and nihilism," rather than a genuine religious orientation.

Islam cannot accept democracy, Cardinal Kasper said, unless it first accepts the value of tolerance and respect for other faiths. And without that acceptance, he added, genuine dialogue will remain difficult. "Those who are unprepared to demonstrate tolerance cannot expect or even demand tolerance for themselves," he said.