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From the Director's Desk...
Woodstock Report No. 71, October 2002This is my first "Director's Desk" letter to you, Woodstock's friends, supporters, and collaborators. On page 2 of this Report, you will find the press release of my appointment along with information about me and my hopes for the future of the Woodstock Theological Center. A central hope is that all of us at Woodstock will build on the dedicated work of Father James L. Connor, S.J.
Indeed, this Woodstock Report focuses on Hope - "Hope for Muslim-Christian Relations." We offer you summary highlights of the May 2, 2002, Woodstock forum, co-sponsored by Georgetown University's Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding. It was the third in a three-part series of events on religion and peacemaking in the wake of September 11, undertaken by Woodstock.
Events like this bring interreligious dialogue squarely into the heart of Woodstock's work: "theological reflection on the human problems of today." Senior fellow James D. Redington, S.J., forum moderator, is currently spearheading a consultation on interreligious dialogue in education. This bold new effort is rooted in the contemporary mission of the Society of Jesus: to serve the faith that does justice and that engages other cultural and religious traditions in dialogue. According to official Jesuit documents:
"The Jesuit heritage of creative response to the call of the Spirit in concrete situations of life is an incentive to develop a culture of dialogue in our approach to believers of other religions." (General Congregation 34, para. 154, 1995).
As you read our summary of the forum presentations you will notice that each of the three presenters harbors, in her or his way, the great hope that the Muslim-Christian dialogue will deepen and expand. Professor Yvonne Yasbeck Haddad's hope is that Muslims who have settled in the United States can continue their involvement in public life and be treated justly, as other ordinary citizens. Father Thomas Michel, S.J., hopes that people can understand and counter the deeper causes of conflicts between Christians and Muslims in Indonesia and elsewhere. Professor Ali A.
Mazrui hopes that the convergence of Muslim-Christian religious values will inspire and sustain a shared response of the two religions to the challenges of secularism and materialism in the West.
Some comments by our presenters may be provocative. If you find them so, let them stimulate your own reflection and help you to raise good questions so that along with us you can understand and face the challenge of dialogue with hope. We want the Woodstock Report to not only render a service to its readers, but to strengthen our ongoing dialogue.
On the last page of this Report you will see introductions to two new Woodstock fellows, Rita M. Rodriguez and John Farina. While we thank departing senior fellow Drew Christiansen, S.J., for having enriched us with his brilliant moral reasoning, we welcome these two new fellows. They already are enlivening us with their scholarship, practicality, and spiritual vitality.
Finally, I am very pleased that my first letter can also publicly thank those who have helped us during the past year by listing them in these pages. We appreciate your participation in our mission. In turn, you can count on Woodstock's continued contribution to the enterprise of grappling in faith (and hope) with today's complex social issues.
Gasper F. Lo Biondo, S.J.
Director