Dearborn, USA - Concluding a three-day gathering at the nation's largest mosque, a collection of Muslim and Roman Catholic leaders emerged with a 114-word blueprint for greater understanding between the two faiths.
The Midwest Dialogue of Catholics and Muslims, an initiative of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops and the Islamic Society of North America, was staged at the Islamic Center of America, a Shiite mosque.
Several dozen participants weighed tough questions — including ideas for guidelines governing attempts to convert Muslims to Catholicism and Catholics to Islam — and approved a mission statement to guide future dialogue.
"Our common belief in the one God of mercy and love calls us into relationship with one another," the statement reads. "Therefore we see our dialogue as a spiritual journey. Common ethical concerns compel us to take responsibility for our relationship within U.S. society."
Bishop Francis Reiss, an auxiliary bishop of Detroit, said the goal is not theological compromise but spiritual growth.
Sayyid Syeed, secretary general of the Islamic Society of North America, said: "Catholics are 60 million in the U.S. We are hardly eight to 10 million, and we are still exploring ways of establishing our community and gaining the recognition and respect that we deserve as American Muslims. And so, we truly appreciate this big brother relationship."