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Human Fraternity - Justice, Peace, Solidarity

1/17/2022

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It is the New Year, a time that marks beginnings, and it also coincides with the end of the Christmas season and the celebration of the Baptism of the Lord. Scripture records that as Christ emerged from the waters of the Jordan, “the heavens were opened, and the Spirit descended upon him like a dove, and the voice of the Father thundered: This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased” (Mt. 3:16-17). This feast celebrates the beginning of Jesus’ public ministry. A ministry which was to embrace all peoples despite their status, the circumstances of their life, the culture, and conditions in which they live. Through our baptism we share in this call, this mission of service through the continued outpouring of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit who can renew our strength, courage, and fortitude in the midst of the challenges we currently face with the pandemic.

The New Year also brings with it the celebration of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity from January 18 to 25 and the International Day of Human Fraternity on February 4. The theme for the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity in 2022 is, “We saw the star in the East, and we came to worship Him” (Mt 2:2).  The theme speaks to the pressing need globally for solidarity and fraternity in the face of economic, political, and social turmoil, including the challenges and injustices which the COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted. This celebration will be an opportunity to pray for the unity that God desires for all of creation.  It is this unity of persons which sows the seeds of mutual understanding that inspires justice, peace, and solidarity.

On December 21, 2020, the UN General Assembly adopted resolution A/RES/75/200 declaring February 4 as the International Day of Human Fraternity. It is now observed annually in order to heighten our awareness and focus upon human fraternity, solidarity, justice, and peace.  It is significant that the evolution of thought and work toward this resolution included Pope Francis and came as the result of Christian-Muslim cooperation. The Higher Committee for Human Fraternity provided the UN Chief with a message from Pope Francis and the Grand Imam, proposing that February 4 be designated as the annual International Day of Human Fraternity.
The UN resolution included three clauses specifically directed toward the religions of the world:
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  • Expressing deep concern at those acts that advocate religious hatred and thereby undermine the spirit of tolerance and respect for diversity, especially at a time when the world confronts the unprecedented crisis caused by the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, which requires a global response based on unity, solidarity and renewed multilateral cooperation,

  • Recognizing the valuable contribution of people of all religions or beliefs to humanity and the contribution that dialogue among all religious groups can make towards an improved awareness and understanding of the common values shared by all humankind,
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  • Underlining the importance of raising awareness about different cultures and religions or beliefs and of education in the promotion of tolerance, which involves  the acceptance by the public of and its respect for religious and cultural diversity, including with regard to religious expression, and underlining further the fact that education, in particular at school, should contribute in a meaningful way to promoting tolerance and the elimination of discrimination based on religion or belief, …

These values of tolerance, respect, engagement, dialogue, and understanding which are articulated in the resolution are also expressed with the depth of our Faith in the encyclical letter on fraternity and social friendship, Fratelli Tutti, Pope Francis released on October 3, 2020.
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The Higher Committee of Human Fraternity met at the Vatican, Sep. 11, 2019. Photo: Vatican Media.
Our mission through baptism is to recognize in one another the sacred dignity we have as a son and daughter of God.  It is this type of dignity that Pope Francis describes as foundational to our relationship with one another.
​For Christians, the words of Jesus have an even deeper meaning. They compel us to recognize Christ himself in each of our abandoned or excluded brothers and sisters (cf. Mt 25:40.45). Faith has untold power to inspire and sustain our respect for others, for believers come to know that God loves every man and woman with infinite love and “thereby confers infinite dignity” upon all humanity. (Fratelli Tutti, 85.)
When this recognition of each other’s dignity is present, Pope Francis describes the sense of fraternity and solidarity that is fostered, a fraternity which cannot overlook the sufferings or injustices of another person.
The world exists for everyone, because all of us were born with the same dignity. Differences of colour, religion, talent, place of birth or residence, and so many others, cannot be used to justify the privileges of some over the rights of all. As a community, we have an obligation to ensure that every person lives with dignity and has sufficient opportunities for his or her integral development. (FT, 118.
Pope Francis speaks to the people, the generation of this time to urge a fraternity among all people rooted in the recognition of each person’s dignity.
It is my desire that, in this our time, by acknowledging the dignity of each human person, we can contribute to the rebirth of a universal aspiration to fraternity. Fraternity between all men and women. … (FT, 8.
​Let us join together in praying for that universal aspiration to social fraternity.
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Written by Most Rev. William T. McGrattan, Bishop of Calgary

​Jan. 10, 2021
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A message from Bishop McGrattan regarding Mass Killing in London, Ontario

6/10/2021

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The statement of Bishop McGrattan on the murder of a Muslim family in London, Ontario was read by Fr. Adrian Martens in his position as Coordinator of Ecumenism and Inter-Religious affairs at a rally and peace march across City Hall, Tuesday evening, June 8, 2021.

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June 8, 2021
 
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
 
On June 6, 2021, a family out on a walk was targeted for their Islamic beliefs. This attack has resulted in the deaths of four family members including a girl as young as 15, and a nine-year old boy still in hospital.
 
This attack was truly heinous and against what we all stand for as Canadians.
 
Firstly, I want to express the closeness of the Catholic and Christian community to the Muslim community. Over the years, side-by-side, we have spoken out jointly on the Rohingya Muslim crisis and the terrible mosque shooting in Quebec. Again, today we stand with Muslims against all religious hatred or intolerance of religious belief and practise. We stand together to denounce all forms of fear, hatred, and aggression against any person based on religion, gender, or culture. As our teaching at the Second Vatican Council states: “…the right to religious freedom has its foundation in the very dignity of the human person as this dignity is known through the revealed word of God and by reason itself. This right of the human person to religious freedom is to be recognized in the constitutional law whereby society is governed and thus it is to become a civil right,” (Dignitatis Humanae, 2).
 
We, Muslims, Christians, and people of goodwill, must stand together to fight against intolerance and ignorance of religious belief or practise and protect this freedom which is a basic civil right.
 
May we continue to advance the great work we have done together with the Calgary Interfaith Council, Habitat for Humanity, Calgary Catholic Immigration Services, and other venues. May we be reminded that there are more things that unite us than what divides us and that we must stand together against hatred, violence, and religious intolerance.
 
Yours in God,
  
+William T. McGrattan
Bishop of Calgary

Download Letter in PDF
​

Let us join in prayer:  
  • For Muslims and others experiencing shock and grief over the murder of the family in London, Ontario, we pray to the Lord…
  • For the protection of the right to religious freedom and an end to religious intolerance, discrimination, and persecution, we pray to the Lord…
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Pray for Sri Lanka

4/23/2019

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We are praying for the victims of the explosions in three churches and three hotels over the Easter weekend in Colombo, Sri Lanka. Pope Francis issued an appeal for peace in Sri Lanka in his Easter message: "I wish to manifest my affectionate closeness to the Christian community there, hit while they were gathered in prayer, and to the victims of such cruel violence. I entrust to the Lord all those who have tragically died, and I pray for the injured who are suffering because of this dramatic event.” 

As an expression of our solidarity with the victims of the Sri Lanka bombing, to those who are injured and those who died, their families, and the community of Sri Lankans, let us pray:
  • We pray for the victims of the violent attacks in Colombo, Sri Lanka. For those who lost their lives, may they find eternal peace in the arms of our heavenly Father. For those injured, those who lost their loved ones, or lost their sense of security, may they draw strength and peace from their faith in the risen Lord as they work to rebuild their lives. Help them to remain faithful, knowing that nothing can separate them from Your love. 
  • For our world, that people and nations may work toward achieving lasting peace and harmony, and healing divisions caused by religious or ideological beliefs, and political differences. 
Letters
  • Joint Statement by CCCB and the Canadian Council of Imams Condemning the Terrorist Attacks in Sri Lanka. Read here
  • Letter to Bishop of Badulla from CCCB. Read here
  • Statement from Canadian Council of Imams regarding the Sri Lanka Attack. Read here

Message from CIC
The Calgary Interfaith Council strongly condemns the cowardly and inhumane terrorist attack against Christians, foreign tourists, and the people of Sri Lanka that took the lives of 300 innocent men, women, and children.  The attack was particular heinous in that it took place in sacred spaces on a religious holiday.  Such contempt for religious freedom undermines any semblance of humanity on the part of the terrorists who cannot hide behind the veil of any religious tradition for their legitimacy.  We offer prayers of condolence and our resources to enable the victims of this terrorism to mourn their losses and restore themselves in dignity and compassion.

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Fr. Adrian Martens said a prayer for victims of the Sri Lanka bombings (CIC Memorial Vigil, April 23, 2019 at the City Hall, Calgary)
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New Zealand Mosque Massacre

3/15/2019

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Calgary Interfaith Council | Statement of Solidarity
​in the Wake of the New Zealand Mosque Massacre

March 15, 2019

 
The Calgary Interfaith Council strongly condemns the hatred and violence that took the lives of 49 innocent Muslim worshippers and injured many more in the unprovoked attack on the twin mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand.  No one should ever fear for their safety when attending a house of worship and such a desecration of the fundamental right to practice one’s religion is abhorrent to all peace loving people.
 
The Calgary Interfaith Council works tirelessly to promote understanding and harmony among diverse religious traditions and to build bridges of respect and cooperation here in Calgary and beyond.  We call upon our fellow Calgarians to raise their voices of repudiation of hatred and violence and to reach out to the Muslim community with words and acts of condolence in this distressing moment.
 
We further call upon religious leaders of all traditions to devote a portion of their worship service over this weekend to offering prayers of support and comfort to the Muslim community in New Zealand and to exploring ways that use the power of our religious values and institutions to foster the spread of respect, love and harmony so as to overwhelm the darkness of enmity and intolerance.
 
Calgary Interfaith Council Leadership Team
Malik Ashraf, Pastor Wallace Bornhuse, Sister Ger Curran, Rev. Debra Faulk, Rabbi Mark Glickman, Dalton Harding, Rev. Dave Holmes, Rev. Adrian Martens, Rabbi Shaul Osadchey, Imam Azfar Rizvi, Imam Fayaz Tilly            
Note from Rabbi Shaul Osadchey (Co-chair, CIC): Two vigils planned for today (March 15) which we encourage you to attend:  2 pm at the Genesis Center and 7 pm at City Hall.
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