Pope backing away from interfaith dialogue?

Marcello Pera, an Italian center-right politician, has written a book arguing that Europe should return to its Christian roots.  In a letter to Pera, probably helping him to promote his book, Pope Benedict wrote that dialogue with other religions is "not possible."  Theologically, "a true dialogue is not possible without putting one's faith in parentheses."

I know thousands of people who engage in inter-religious dialogue without putting their faith in parentheses.  In no way is this forgetting one's faith, or setting it aside (inside parentheses).  Interfaith dialogue is, first and foremost, about civility, which means treating others with consideration and respect whether you agree with them or not. 

But Benedict added that “intercultural dialogue which deepens the cultural consequences of basic religious ideas” was important. He called for confronting “in a public forum the cultural consequences of basic religious decisions.”

It is difficult to know what such a comment means, especially when the Vatican's own actions are somewhat at odds with these words.  Pope Benedict has been involved with several interfaith dialogues, the most recent being with Muslim leaders just last month.

My guess is that Benedict was wanting to promote Mr. Pera's book since the book, titled "Why We Must Call Ourselves Christian," is an extended argument on behalf of one of Pope Benedict's major priorities, which is the re-evangelization of Europe.

Comments

[Interfaith Wedding Rabbis and Ministers 4U]

This is really bad , why he is backing away.

[John Petty]

This is not clear. Nor is it even clear that he's doing it. In the past month, he's met with Muslim scholars.

Generally, Benedict seems to be in a "re-trenching" mode, i.e. no new initiatives and mainly trying to rehabilitate the old. I doubt it works.