Ledesma: Asian Religions, key to peace building

INTERRELIGOUS dialogue is a must to achieve peace and unity in the world’s most populous region, thus said CBCP Vice President and Cagayan de Oro Archbishop Antonio Ledesma, S.J.

Ledesma, CBCP Chairman of the Episcopal Commission on Interreligious Dialogue and head of secretariat of the Bishops-Ulama Conference, spoke before regional leaders of the Asian Conference on Religions for Peace (ACRP) on the Bishop-Ulama dialogue and its programs to promote peace and understanding between Christians and Muslims.

ACRP is the Asian network of the World Conference on Religions for Peace (WCRP) and had its assembly at the Pius XII Catholic Center last Thursday, May 24 to plan for the forthcoming general assembly scheduled to be held in Manila in October 2008.

ACRP Secretary-General Dr. Sunggon Kin said the group is closely coordinating with the Catholic community, especially with the bishops who they plan to invite for the coming assembly.

“Roman Catholic is the major religious community in the Philippines so we expect the assistance of the country’s Catholic community,” Kim said.

Dr. Lilian Dizon, ACRP Philippine Chapter Secretary-General said next year’s assembly will be in partnership with the CBCP and the country’s pontifical university, the University of Santo Tomas.

Other religious groups in the Philippines include Muslims, Protestant groups, Buddhists, Hindus and Sikhs.

Now on its 30th year, the Asian Conference on Religions for Peace’s general assembly is held every five years which tackles important issues that concern the regions of over two billion people.

ACRP Secretary General Kim said their three-pronged approach to the region’s pressing concerns include the exchange of religious people for peace and understanding, second, peace, education and complimentary researches and third, service and helping people in need.

Positive action should follow sincere dialogues, Kim said.

For next year’s general assembly, the theme is Peacemaking in Asia with five sub-committees to work on five sub-themes which include Human Rights, Community Building, Healing the Past, Building the Future and Conflict Transformation. Two pre-assemblies on Youth and Women will be held in Mindanao.

Ledesma said the theme Peacemaking in Asia is also a challenge for all how to make use of religious traditions to build peace.

There are 16 ACRP national chapters from Asia and the Pacific representing the Roman Catholics, Protestants, Islam, Hindus, Buddhists among others.