Fr. Valentim Gonsalves, SVDReport 1.
Christian-Muslim Dialogue in view of our Migrant Ministry
SVD in PortugalWhat about our mission on this aspect ?
Since the beginning this is a Christian country
According the census 2001:
84 % catholic (< 12 aged)
18,7 % "praticantes"
10,3 % take the holy communion
Other Christians (mainly in the line of evangelical groups) - 2%
Jews - 1.800
Hindus - 15.000
Muslims - 30.000 - 40.000
Other Christian denominations (mainly in the line of evangelical groups) – 2 %
Islam in Portugal
The Arabic/Muslim presence in our territory lasted for more than 4 centuries (714-1247) marked our culture, our history, our language (with more than 1200 words of Arabic origin, as regarding the capital: Lisboa=Al-Uxbûna)
Christians, Jews and Muslims lived together and peacefully. In the time of Crusades, they began to be expelled. The main task of first kings was the fight against the Moors. Our common imagery has a lot of legends about moors; since then they were out of the country, but not so far, and the fight continued sometimes in North Africa.
After colonial period, with the independence of former colonies, some people decided to maintain the Portuguese citizenship and came do Portugal. Many of them were Muslims, especially those from Mozambique and Guinea-Bissau.
The CIL (Islamic Community of Lisbon) was created in 1968 by a group of Muslim students, come from colonies. Before the creation, a commission of 10 elements (5 Muslims and 5 Catholics) asked the Municipality a ground for the building of the mosque. This was only achieved in 1977 and in 1985 the first part of the mosque was inaugurated; it was built with the Support of Islamic countries, and the Support of the Presidents of Lisbon Municipality.
Now the Muslim communities spread around Lisbon and some towns.
We cannot ignore their presence even in the urban scenery.
In our missionary ministry, how have we dealt with this ?
We have begun with the concern of being close to the people and especially with those in need of respect and friendship; this has been our way through the inter-religious dialogue.
Since the beginning of nineties in our work with migrants we walked together. The religious dialogue was a normal expression of our journey together.
The Kimbangist (African Christian group from Zaire/Angola) could use our space (room in the quarter), and some evangelical groups as well.
We made a journey of some years with some Muslims struggling for better conditions for the slum-dwellers and when new houses were available for them, a space for worship was built: a place for Christians (and it was offered to the Catholic parish, but in an "ecumenical spirit"): for some years it was used by Catholics, Adventists, Pentecostals, etc. Nowadays they have their own space. At our side the Muslims received their space, today transformed in the local mosque. The relationship Catholics /Muslims is very friendly. Sometimes we go to the mosque and to the church.
After September 11th, the concern about Islam increased a lot. Since the first moment we (I was member of JP Commission of the Religious in Portugal) made clear that we could not identify terrorism with Islam.
When celebrating the Ramadan, following the appeal of John Paul II, we went along with the Muslim community, and for the first time two Catholic priests took part in Idu-al-Fitre in the Central Mosque of Lisbon. This gesture was repeated there and in other places.
Important for us is to try to better know Islam. More important still is to try to make a common way for well-being, brotherhood and peace in our society. Sometime ago the JPIC of the Religious organized a meeting for Religious in the Central Mosque. The Imam welcomed us, began with a prayer for the Pope who was ill at that time, and gave us a lot of information on Islam.
In front of our house in Lisbon we have the "Ismaili Centre", a wonderful place of the Ismaili Community, a centre for science, culture, and religion. With them I have worked in a mixed group (Diocese of Lisbon/Agha Khan Foundation) dealing with social questions.
On July 2006 the so called "Forum Abraâmico de Portugal" was officially created, creating the dialogue among the believers of the three Abrahamic religions, and aiming to show the people that harmony and peace are possible.
In the last October 7 we all have attended the Religious Ceremony in the Jewish Cemetery in Lisbon, after the vandalizing of some tombs.
In the line of a suggestion of the Forum our JP Commission, invited the Religious communities to send a special season postcard to several Muslim communities in Portugal (around 30).
Some weeks ago, the leader of Muslim Community in our quarter Terracos da Ponte was invited to speak to volunteers that are preparing for their task in the missions. They appreciated it a lot.
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