Vatican cardinal says world obsessed by Islam  | June 11, 2008

This particular Vatican administration just can’t seem to stop saying things that are harmful to interreligious relations

By Philip Pullella REUTERS 7:58 a.m. June 11, 2008

VATICAN CITY – The world is obsessed by Islam, according to the Vatican’s point man for relations with other religions.

Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran also said he did not want an impression to grow that there are different classes of religion.

Tauran’s department, the Pontifical Council for Inter-Religious Dialogue, oversees relations with all non-Christian religions except Judaism and is preparing new guidelines for Catholic dialogue with them.

The new guidelines will not have special emphasis on Islam, Tauran said in an interview with the religious website terrasanta.com which specialises in Holy Land affairs.

‘No, it has to have regard for all religions. What was interesting about our discussions was that we did not concentrate on Islam because in a way we are being held hostage by Islam a little bit,’ he said.

‘Islam is very important but there are also other great Asiatic religious traditions. Islam is one religion,’ he said.

‘Yes, the people are obsessed by Islam.’