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July 2006 E-Bulletin

July 4, 2006

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Faith groups back alternatives to detention of migrants

Muslim, Jewish, Protestant and Catholic leaders are among a wide range of people and organisations supporting an international coalition that challenges the global detention of migrants and refugees.

The International Coalition on the Detention of Refugees, Asylum Seekers and Migrants was launched at the Vatican on 20 June with an inter-religious round table discussion, reported Independent Catholic News. Further details can be found at Ekklesia.  

The Peace of Abraham, Hagar and Sarah: Sharing Sacred Seasons 2006

The following item comes from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA, but is perhaps worth considering for people of faith in Scotland to get together and share in fellowship and solidarity:

Shalom, Salaam, Peace!

In the autumn of 2006, several sacred seasons of the Abrahamic and other faiths will coincide. At a moment of history when religious conflict and violence have re-emerged bearing lethal dangers for each other and our planet, God has given our spiritual and religious traditions an unusual gift of sacred time.

Let us celebrate this rare confluence of the Peace of Abraham, Hagar and Sarah by praying and learning with each other and by acting together to seek peace, pursue justice, feed the poor, heal the earth, serve the One.

In the autumn of 2006, the Muslim holy month of Ramadan and the Jewish month of the High Holy Days and Sukkoth will coincide. During this sacred month will come also the Feast Day of St. Francis of Assisi (4 October), and the Worldwide Communion Sunday of Protestant and Orthodox Christians (1 October).

The convergence of these dates will also happen in 2007, but will then not recur for another thirty years. We call on our generation of the families of Abraham to join in these efforts.

In accord with the ancient tradition that Abraham's tent was open on all four sides to welcome travellers from everywhere, we invite into this celebration not only the three main families of Abraham but also on the fourth side others who share these goals. In that context, we note that Mahatma Gandhi's birthday is on 2 October and that several  other festivals also occur during this sacred season, including the Hindu and Sikh festival of Diwali on 21 October, and the Baha’i celebration of the birthday of the Bab on 20 October..

Ramadan begins in Scotland on 25 September and ends on 24 October  with Eid al-Fitr, the Festival of Breaking the Fast. The month-long commitment to fast from dawn to dusk each day offers food and life-abundance as a sacrifice, focusing on devotion to God instead of on material success, and calls us to turn toward each other in repentance.

Rosh Hashanah begins in the evening of 22 September; Yom Kippur falls on 1-2 October; Sukkoth begins in the evening of 6 October. The month is one of turning toward God and toward harmonious relationships among human beings and the earth.

St. Francis of Assisi stood almost alone among the Christians of his day in opposing the Crusades and investing months of his life in studying and praying with Muslims.

We urge specific communities to choose from among the many rich moments of the month a focus-time for learning from the past, celebrating the present, and transforming the future.

More information can be found on the website http://www.tentofabraham.org/  If you decide to follow this up, let me know so that I can pass the news of your event on to others who may be interested in joining with you.

Bedouin tent in Central London

If you’re visiting London over the Summer, you may be interested in what is going on at St Ethelburga’s.  Visit their web-site for reports of their exciting inter faith venture, that ties in neatly with the previous article!

UK global development minister met with Scottish faith groups

On 12 June, Hilary Benn, the UK Secretary of State for International Development, met with Scottish Catholics in Glasgow to debate development issues and to discuss common concerns.

Afterwards the minister met with Scottish community representatives from other Christian, Muslim, Hindu, Sikh, Jewish and Buddhist organisations. The discussions are part of a series the Secretary of State is holding with faith groups around the country.

Further details of the meetings may be found at Ekklesia.

Religions unite in attack on same-sex adoption

Christians and Muslims were among those who issued a statement on 8 June opposing the bill before the Scottish Parliament to allow same-sex couples to adopt children.  Details of the statement, and a response from Frank McAveety MSP, can be read at The Herald.

Muslim writer says Mary may help bring religions together

In a move which may surprise people of all faiths and none, an Egyptian Muslim who is also a senior figure on a prominent Italian newspaper has suggested that Mary, the mother of Jesus, could be a figure to bring Christians and Muslims closer together.

Magdi Allam of Il Corriere della Sera has appealed to fellow Muslims through the pages of the national daily – suggesting that they should visit Marian shrines (something that many Protestants would struggle to do). 

The full story may be read at Ekklesia.

Summer break

The CAIRS Education Office will be closed from 4th July until 1st August, due to staff holidays.  The next issue of the CAIRS E-journal will be sent out early in August.