Asian Interfaith Dialogue on Families

Posted August 5, 2006 in News

Various speakers spoke of the values of their faith or how they perceive the family and others.

During the question-and-answer session, dozens of young Catholics asked the speakers questions about the family values of different religions, gender equality in the family, as well as how one should dialogue with family members of different faiths, and how married Taoist and Protestant pastors balance family life and religious ministry. The session closed with an interfaith prayer addressed to God or the "Supreme Being," according to each one's faith.

The session facilitator, Father Simon Poh of Kuching Archdiocese, Malaysia, told UCA News the remarks expressed by the speakers revealed similarities and common values among Asia's different faiths, such as respect for elders.

He said he believes the similarities can help young people of various faiths work together to develop society. "We must try to understand other religions so that barriers of suspicion and prejudice would be broken down," he said.

Joy Candelario, associate secretary of the Youth Desk of the Federation of Asian Bishops' Conferences (FABC), told UCA News that interfaith dialogue has been a designated topic at every AYD to help young Catholics "be aware of other religions in Asia, and to be convinced that we are one of them and we need them to form a united Asian family."

Source: Catholic Online International News

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