Representatives of 17 denominations and religions gathered in Clonliffe College in Dublin yesterday to pray for world peace in the wake of the September 11th attacks. Cardinal Desmond Connell invited 12 Christian denominations and representatives of Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism and Sikhism to pray with him for the building of justice and peace.
The gathering, organised by the Dublin Diocese Ecumenical Committee, included representatives from the Religious Society of Friends, the Greek Orthodox Church, the Moravian Fellowship, the Salvation Army and the Dublin Council of Churches.
Cardinal Connell said they wished to declare that whoever used religion to foment violence contradicted its deepest and truest inspiration. "It is my hope that this gathering may send out a beam of the light of love to help dispel the dark clouds that arise in the world through mutual suspicion, misunderstanding and hatred," he said.
The cardinal said they had a single goal and a shared intention but people would pray in different ways while respecting each other's traditions. "We want to demonstrate our solidarity in witnessing together to our common commitment to peace and justice."
Dr Ali Abdulla Al-Salah, Imam of the Islamic Centre in Milltown, said the terrorists who struck on September 11th "not only hijacked the airplanes but also hijacked the principles of Islam. Peace, justice and respect for all is the one slogan of followers of Moses, of followers of Jesus and followers of Mohammed."
Reading a passage on peace from Isaiah, the Chief Rabbi, Dr Yaakov Pearlman, said the words of the prophets were still relevant today.
Each religious group offered prayers for peace all over the world and special prayers were offered for peace in Jerusalem, Ireland and Afghanistan.
