Anthropological Aspects in the Christian-Muslim Dialogues of the Vatican

660 Pages·2019·3.957 MB·English

by  Jutta B. Sperber

Jutta B. Sperber
Anthropological Aspects in the Christian-Muslim Dialogues of the Vatican
Judaism, Christianity, and
Islam – Tension, Transmission,
Transformation
Edited by Patrice Brodeur, Alexandra Cuffel,
Assaad Elias Kattan, and Georges Tamer
Volume 14
Jutta B. Sperber
Anthropological Aspects
in the Christian-Muslim
Dialogues of the Vatican
ISBN 978-3-11-058967-2
e-ISBN (PDF) 978-3-11-059091-3
e-ISBN (EPUB) 978-3-11-058973-3
ISSN 2196-405X
Library of Congress Control Number: 2019932234
Bibliographic information published by the Deutsche Nationalbibliothek
The Deutsche Nationalbibliothek lists this publication in the Deutsche Nationalbibliografie;
detailed bibliographic data are available on the Internet at http://dnb.dnb.de.
© 2019 Walter de Gruyter GmbH, Berlin/Boston
Published in German as Die anthropologischen Aspekte in den christlich-muslimischen
Dialogen des Vatikan © 2018 Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht, Göttingen.
Printing and binding: CPI books GmbH, Leck
www.degruyter.com
Acknowledgements
It’salldoneandtheEnglisheditioniswithinreach!Istillrememberthecasual
way in which Dr. Andrea Pacini,who was then mydirect contact with the Fon-
dazioneGiovanniAgnelliinTurin,said,“Weshallhelpyouwiththisproject.Just
drawupalistofwhatitwillcostandthenwe’llseewherewego.Andofcourse
youmustincludeacalculationofthepriceforanEnglishtranslation.”Ibelieve
thatneitherhenorthosewhowerestandinginvisiblybutcouldbeclearlysensed
behindhim–andcertainlynotImyself–hadanyideahowlongandstonyand
alsooftencomplicatedthepathbeforeuswouldbe.Nowwecanallonlybreathe
adeepsighofreliefandsay,ThankGodthatwehavenowfinallygotthere.But,
sincesupportisalwaysneededforgoodandimportantideas,likethatofFather
MauriceBorrmansM.Afr.,that,aftertheChristian-MuslimdialoguesoftheWorld
Council of Churches, I should also produce abookon the dialogues of the Vat-
ican,anideawithwhichhisfellowbrother,H.E.ArchbishopMichaelLouisFitz-
gerald,who was then the President of the Papal Council for Interreligious Dia-
logue, also concurred without much hesitation, in retrospect that was
outwardly the decisive step. Maurice Borrmans’ support opened doors for me
in Rome and also to the Fondazione Piero Rossano in Vezza d’Alba and to the
archives of the World Council of Churches in Geneva.The support from Andrea
Pacini and the Fondazione Giovanni Agnelli also led my regional church, the
Evangelical Lutheran Church in Bavaria,to back the project with a habilitation
scholarshipandtherequisiteleaveofabsenceandagain,attheend,withacon-
tribution to the translation costs. All of this amounts to a proud sum of money
andtimefromthatsourcealone,coupledwithpatienceaswell,thejustification
forwhichcanperhapsonlybegraspedinitsprofunditybysomeonewhohasnot
onlywrittenasecondencyclopaedicwork–twicethesize–forsubmissiontoa
German university, but also taken on the burden of seeing to a second English
translation so that the subject matter can enjoy the international attention
which it deserves. In this connection, my special thanks go to Dr. Dorothea
Greiner, initially the headof personnel in the Bavarian Churchand latermy re-
gionalbishopinBayreuth,whohasgivenmegreatandpersonalsupporttothis
very day. I can only voice the hope that not only this book but also its further
repercussions will prove her and all my other benefactors right.
These benefactors include, not least,the German Catholic Bishops’ Confer-
ence. Although it was not able to grant a scholarship to a Protestant pastor
doingresearchonaVaticansubject,ithascoveredthelion’sshareofthetrans-
lation costs.TheHarmsFoundationalso contributedtomylivingexpensesdur-
ingtheintensiveefforts atthebeginningofmyresearch,thankstotheinterme-
VI Acknowledgements
diaryofProf.Dr.KlausHockoftheUniversityofRostockwhosupervisedthisun-
dertaking as a habilitation thesis with both persistence and patience. Prof. Dr.
Perry Schmidt-Leukel of the University of Münster generously included me in
the Excellence Cluster “Religion and Politics” where I was able to complete
my work and, in the process, received a number of different suggestions from
thatwidecircleofcolleagues.And,finally,IalsobelievethattheGermanSociety
for Mission Studies will bear a share of the expenditure which the de Gruyter
publishing house will incur with this publication in English. But what could
money alone achieve without the work and cooperation of my two translators,
Margaret A. Pater who had already translated my doctoral thesis into English
andNevilleWilliamsonwhoassistedherwiththefinalsectionofthismammoth
enterprise? Infinite thanks to both of them for their work.
An enterprise like this naturallydepends not onlyon professional support
butalsoonpersonalencouragement,andheretheremaybeoverlapastherecer-
tainly was in my case. Family and friends have to share the burden of such an
undertaking if it is to have a chance of success and,on the other hand,collea-
guesinthefieldbecomepersonalfriends.Thebestwayofthankingthemallisto
celebratewiththemasIwasalreadyabletodotosomeextentontheoccasionof
the habilitation ceremonyat the Universityof Rostockand still hope todo with
otherslater.SohereImerelywishtomentionthosewho,tomygreatregret,are
no longer able to celebrate with me. They include, first and foremost, Father
Maurice Borrmans himself. Without him this book would never have come
about. I was profoundly grieved when I learnt that he would never be able to
hold it in his hands. I should also have wished to give a copy to Monsignor
Dr. Johannes Paffhausen of the Überwasser Church in Münster in whose resi-
dence I was allowed to live for a year. As someone who had worked for many
years underPope John Paul II in the Vatican Secretariatof State,hewas anex-
cellentinterlocutorwithwhomIcoulddiscussquestionsandimpressionsabout
my researchwork in a most uncomplicated way.
Inadditiontothesetheologicalcompanionsalongtheway,threeotherper-
sons are now no longer at my side who were close family members or whom I
countassuchinthecaseofItaly.Thefirstwhohadtoleavemewasmymother
andthenextmymotherlyfriendBarbaravonIhneinArcore.Howmuchbothof
them,eachinherownwaywithouteverhavingmetoneanotherpersonally,were
concernedformeandmywelfare,inviewofwhatIhadtakenuponmyselfwith
this project, is something I am only now realising bit by bit as I look back, as
well as the extent of the support which Ernst-Christoph von Ihne has given
and offered to me over the past ten or more years. For the former I should like
to express my heartfelt thanks to him and for the latter I can unfortunately no
longer say “Yes, thank you” since January 17th this year. So relief, gratitude
Acknowledgements VII
and joy are mixed with sadness and regret,but maygratitude and joygain the
upper hand with a view to the future and, not least, the motto of the family
which he bequeathed to me: nulla dies sine linea.
Tremestieri Etneo/Catania, Dr.theol.habil. Jutta Sperber
St.Valentine’s Day 2019

Contents
Introduction 1
 Preliminary Remarks 1
 The research situation 2
 Aids for the Reader 5
Notes 6
I The theological foundations for the dialogue with Muslims:
Statements by the magisterium 7
 The Second Vatican Council 7
. Nostra Aetate – a first look at other religions 7
. Dignitatis Humanae – Religious liberty in the name of human
dignity 8
. Other declarations of the Council – humankind comes into
view 9
 The official statements of the magisterium 9
. The pontificate of Paul VI 9
. The pontificate of John Paul II 12
 Further statements of the magisterium 18
. The magisterium of Paul VI 18
. The magisterium of John Paul I – few words on a permanent
issue 22
. The magisterium of John Paul II – more than 25 years of
involvement in dialogue with Muslims 23
 Documents from the Curia 54
. The Secretariat for Non-Christians – many legal issues between
people 54
. Dominus Iesus: no more than humanlyequal on any
account 55
. And in conclusion human rights again 56
Notes 57
II The Secretariat’s Publications 93
 The beginnings of the Secretariat’s work 94
 Publications of the Commission pour les Relations Religieuses
avec les Musulmans 98
. Harmony and conflict 98
X Contents
. A reference work on Islam – Information for decision-
makers 113
. Joint prayer – with limitations 116
. Politics (and Law): Insights into Islamic Anthropology 117
. Experiences with dialogue on the eve of the third
millennium 140
. Religious liberty asa topical theme 142
 Guides to dialogue 185
. Orientations pour un dialogue entre chrétiens et
musulmans 185
. Guidelines for dialogue between Christians and Muslims 197
 Religions – Thèmes fondamentaux pour une connaissance
dialogique 214
. Introduction through the “homo religiosus” 214
. Humankind’s striving for salvation – the basis of interreligious
dialogue 220
. Humankind – open to a relationship with God 223
. Good and evil 225
 Religions in the World – a publication for international
organisations 231
 Chiesa e islam – early John Paul II and his focus on Islam 233
 Meeting in Friendship – Messages to Muslims for the End of
Ramadan 234
. The beginning under Father Joseph Cuoq (1967–1972) – burdened
by the past 236
. Cardinal Sergio Pignedoli (1973–1979) – against the backdrop of
real encounters 237
. Archbishop Jean Jadot (1980–1983) – materialism asa common
opponent? 238
. Cardinal Francis Arinze and the great influence of Pope John Paul
II (2000) 238
. Cardinal Francis Arinze (1984–2001): all about life worthy of
humans 239
. Archbishop Michael Fitzgerald (2002–2005) – many unusual
events 241
 Questionnaire on Mankind: too difficult to be made into a
book 242
. Humanity’s calling: Servant of God – but how? 242
. Peace – difficult in manyrespects 243
. Social inequality – for Islam an evil 245