Mosque and Catholic Univ to Train Imams

October 2, 2007

Author: Staff Writer

Source: OneNews

Wire Service: Reuters

http://tvnz.co.nz/view/page/536641/1387808

The Paris Grand Mosque and the city's Catholic university are teaming up to offer university education for imams to promote moderate Islam and help integrate foreign-born Muslim prayer leaders in France.

The privately-run Catholic Institute of Paris will launch a two-semester course on French politics, law and secularism in January for future imams studying Islamic theology at the Grand Mosque, officials of both institutions told Reuters.

France has tried for several years to boost imam training.

The Sorbonne and public university in Paris declined to take on the task because they said it violated the legal separation of church and state.

The Catholic Institute courses will be given by the social and economic sciences faculty and not include any theology, the faculty dean Francois Mabille said.