US Muslims Meet with Vatican's US Ambassador

September 22, 2006

Source: United Press International

http://www.religionandspirituality.com/view.php?StoryID=20060922-012644-8086r

On September 22, 2006 the United Press International reported, "U.S. Muslims met with the Vatican's U.S. ambassador to discuss the controversy surrounding recent comments on Islam by Pope Benedict XVI. Corey Saylor Arsalan Iftikhar of the Council on American-Islamic Relations delivered a letter Thursday to Papal Nuncio Archbishop Pietro Sambi that outlined the Washington-based group's call for greater dialogue and outreach in response to the controversy. The CAIR officials also discussed the American Muslim community's specific concerns over the Regensberg speech and subsequent developments. CAIR's letter read in part: 'It is our belief that the proper response to this situation is for Muslims and Catholics worldwide to increase dialogue and outreach efforts aimed at building better relations between Christianity and Islam. We oppose any language or action that tends to shake the friendship and alliance between our faiths.' Archbishop Sambi cited a recently released statement from the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB). That statement notes that dialogue is urgent so that Christians and Muslims can together promote 'peace, liberty, social justice and moral values for the benefit of all humanity.'"