Madam, - The Dean of St Patrick's, Rev Robert MacCarthy, (Letters, April 17th) has taken an insulting sideswipe at the Islamic education system as not being interested in teaching religion but in the "indoctrination in the worship of a cult".
This is mischievous and insulting because it is untrue. Islam does not indoctrinate anyone in the worship of a cult. It encourages our children in the worship of the One True God.
The official line of the majority Christian denomination in this country has a much different view of the Islamic faith. Pope Paul VI, in his introduction to the Declaration of the Relationship of the Church with Non-Christian Religions, says: "The Church looks with esteem on the Muslims. They adore the One God, living and enduring, merciful and All Powerful".
I am not sure if the Rev MacCarthy would be impressed by this authoritative statement of the Catholic Church as it would not fit in with his agenda.
The dean's use of the word "cult" in respect of Islam is mischievous as it has a particularly pejorative connotation in recent times. But having made his statement as a leading Protestant clergyman, I would call on him to justify it by proof - or else do the decent thing and retract it. - Yours, etc,
SHAHZAD AHMED,
Muslim Public
Affairs Council,
Blackpitts,
Dublin 8.
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Madam, - Dean Robert MacCarthy's unfortunate turn of phrase is danger of being interpreted as describing other faiths, including Islam and Hinduism, as "cults". Whatever his personal views may be, the official position of the Church of Ireland has been set out in the Guidelines for Interfaith Events and Dialogue, published by the Bishops of the Church of Ireland and prepared by the Committee for Christian Unity. This publication is the first of its kind by a member-church of the Anglican Communion.
The guidelines were launched recently by the Minister for integration, Mr Conor Lenihan, and are available online at http://www.ireland.anglican.org. They say that, in "relating to people of other faiths, it is important to create and develop relationships and understanding between people as individual and communities".
They call on Church of Ireland clergy and people to "take positive and proactive steps in establishing good neighbourly relationships and to foster an accurate understanding of what other people believe."
They emphasise the significance and importance of "respect, openness and honesty."
If the dean has implied anything other than "respect, openness and honesty," then perhaps I should assure Muslims, Hindus and other people of faith of the determination of the Interfaith Working Group of the Church of Ireland to foster the best of relationships and understanding. - Yours, etc,
(Rev Canon) PATRICK COMERFORD,
Secretary, Interfaith Working Group,
Church of Ireland,
Dublin 14.