A conversation on why Catholics need to dialogue with Muslims Ep. 47

“It is not possible to build bridges between people while
forgetting God,” Pope Francis said early in his pontificate. “But
the converse is also true: it is not possible to establish true
links with God, while ignoring other people.” Many U.S. Catholics
have not only ignored their Muslim brothers and sisters but harbor
discriminatory views about Muslims at alarming rates. Georgetown
University’s Bridge Initiative, “a multi-year research project that
connects the academic study of Islamophobia with the public
square,” released a report in 2016 that documented how U.S.
Catholics view Muslims. America’s national correspondent,
Michael O’Loughlin, reported then: When asked, “What is your
overall impression of Muslims?” 30 percent of those Catholics
polled said they held unfavorable views, 14 percent said favorable
and 45 percent said they held neither favorable nor unfavorable
views... Forty-five percent of Catholics said that Islam encourages
violence more than other religions while 24 percent said it
encourages violence as much as other religions. Jordan Denari
Duffner, an associate at the Bridge Initiative and author of the
new book, Finding Jesus Among Muslims: How Loving Islam Makes
Me a Better Catholic, joins us on this week’s episode of
Jesuitical. Jordan discusses why she felt called to work in
Catholic-Islamic dialogue, and why it’s an essential part of the
Christian vocation. In Signs of the Times, we discuss President
Trump’s invocation of dreamers in his State of the Union address,
and a Chicago priest who is on hunger strike in support of DACA
recipients. We also provide an update on Pope Francis’ handling of
allegations of sexual abuse in Chile, a rise in demonic activity
and a limb of St. Francis Xavier making a road trip across Canada.
Links from the show: Undocumented Loyola Medical Student to Join
Durbin at State of the Union Chicago priest pledges hunger strike
to support ‘Dreamers’ Pope Francis sends special prosecutor to
Chile to investigate charges against Bishop Barros Couple, married
70 years, renew vows—this time in church St. Francis Xavier’s
severed arm to visit Calgary in relic pilgrimage Irish priest asks
for back-up as demand for exorcisms rises ‘exponentially’ What’s on
tap? Hot Toddy 1 cup of tea Whiskey (feel free to eyeball the
amount) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit
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