Tsunami response shows respect for religion, Vatican officials say | November 01, 2005

10-25-05

This "surface" level of interreligious cooperation, in which urgent humanitarian need and related busy-ness to care for victims of natural disaster, suppresses or obscures unresolved, deep seated religious difference is a very good starting point for improving relations among major religious and ecclesiastical communities.

Catholic News Service

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- The solidarity and cooperation shown by people of different religions after the Asian tsunami disaster can herald new respect for religion in an increasingly secularized world, said a top Vatican official.

"Teams of relief workers belonging to different religious traditions have been tireless in working to alleviate immediate suffering and to initiate reconstruction" after the Dec. 26 tsunami, said Archbishop Michael Fitzgerald, president of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue.

"At a time when aggressive secularism would seem to be on the increase and respect for basic human values often appears to be on the decline, such cooperation among people of different religions can bring about a new respect for religion in today's world," he said in his annual letter to Hindus celebrating Diwali.

The Hindu celebration, observed Nov. 1 this year, marks a new year and emphasizes reconciliation within families and adoration of God. Diwali celebrates the victory of truth over lies, light over darkness, life over death and good over evil.

In his letter, Archbishop Fitzgerald expressed hope that Christians and Hindus would "continue to collaborate in finding solutions to the problems we face, whether they be small or great, whether local or international."