VATICAN (AsiaNews): An international seminar sponsored by the Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue and the Department of Religious Studies at Fu Jen Catholic University entitled, “Christians promoting dialogue with Confucians: guidelines and perspectives” was held March 8 and 9 in New Taipei, Taiwan.
The initiative is part of a undertaking aiming to formulate official guidelines for Catholics engaging in dialogue with followers of Confucianism.
Earlier, on January 15, the Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue had convened an online study group, animated by Umberto Bresciani, an Italian professor who has been in Taiwan for more than 50 years in Taiwan and has been pursuing this issue at Fu Jen for some time. That first discussion was attended by scholars and practitioners of interreligious dialogue who live or have roots, in addition to Taiwan, in the People’s Republic of China, Japan, Malaysia, South Korea, Vietnam, Australia, Italy and the United States.
Monsignor Indunil Kodithwakuu Kankanamalage, secretary of the dicastery, in opening the January meeting explained that the study group is part of a tradition which has already developed guidelines for dialogue with Buddhists, Hindus and traditional Asian religions. He noted that “a new need has emerged to develop an official dialogue with Confucians.”
The March meeting in New Taipei was a significant step forward in this journey, involving a wider audience interested in promoting Confucian-Christian dialogue.
The dicastery explained in a statement that the drafting of guidelines “will be followed by a final review process and is expected to serve as a valuable resource for individuals, organisations and communities both inside and outside the Catholic Church seeking to engage in dialogue with followers of Confucianism.”
