Interfaith Dialogue ‘In Our Time’
Articles, resources, and event videos to commemorate the 60th anniversary of Nostra Aetate, the Catholic Church’s declaration on other religions
On October 28, 1965, as the Second Vatican Council was coming to a close, the Catholic Church issued the declaration, Nostra aetate. Meaning “in our time” in Latin, the document charted a new way forward in the Church’s relationship to other religions. To mark the sixtieth anniversary in 2025, I wanted to share the videos of events I participated in, as well as articles and resources I contributed to, that can help Catholics (and anyone) learn about and carry forward the legacy of this groundbreaking document.
The anniversary of Nostra aetate is also a great time for me to reiterate my thanks to the (hundreds!) of you who read and subscribe to Digging Our Well. This Substack focuses on Catholic teaching on other religions, interfaith dialogue and Islam, Muslim-Christian relations, comparative theology, social justice issues (especially Israel-Palestine), and Catholic spirituality. I recently added a paid subscriber option, which gives readers access to exclusive resources and essays, occasional Office Hours with me, and a subscriber-only chat. You can also support Digging Our Well through a one-time donation. Your financial contribution supports my work and writing, and helps me to continue producing content that remains free for others. I’m grateful to those who are already paid contributors (you know who you are!). To all readers, I deeply appreciate engaging with you here on Substack.
Articles and Resources
1. Article: “Living the legacy of Nostra Aetate: How we can mark the 60th anniversary of the Church’s commitment to interreligious dialogue”
In this article for Living City, a publication of the Focolare Movement, I delve into the text of document, its history, and the main things I think it asks of us today. Here are my main takeaways:
1. Speak positively of other believers
2. Commit ourselves to dialogue
3. Discover the “true and holy” in other religions
4. Stand against dehumanization and religious bigotry
5. Acknowledge the past to avoid those mistakes today
6. Hold together dialogue and social justice
The piece is rather lengthy to sit down and read, so I’ve also done an audio recording (below) that folks can listen to. For those of you who teach, I think this article would be a good introduction for high school and university classrooms.
Article read aloud:
2. A Resource for Understanding Israel-Palestine and Bigotry in the U.S.
I worked with the Shoulder to Shoulder Campaign to produce this guide on understanding and addressing religious bigotry today, especially in the wake of the genocide in Gaza and the October 7th attack in Israel.
3. Islamophobia: A Guide for Catholics on Anti-Muslim Bigotry
I produced this guide on Islamophobia for U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Secretariat for Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs. It’s a distillation of my 2021 book on Islamophobia, published with Orbis Books. You can also watch a video introduction to the resource here.
4. Article: “What does the church teach about people of other faiths?”
A short piece for U.S. Catholic magazine in which I talk about the Catholic view of other religions.
5. Op-ed: “Without Nostra Aetate I wouldn’t be Catholic”
For the 50th anniversary of Nostra aetate back in 2015, I wrote a piece on how discovering the document helped me reclaim my Catholic faith. I delve into these ideas in more detail in my 2017 book, Finding Jesus among Muslims.
Events
1. What does Nostra Aetate mean for us today? – A Shoulder to Shoulder Conversation
I joined my former Bridge Initiative colleague, Mobashra Tazamal, for a conversation about Nostra Aetate and addressing Islamophobia today, hosted by the Shoulder to Shoulder Campaign. A video recording is below.
2. The Legacy of Nostra Aetate – Living City Conversation
On the declaration’s anniversary, I was hosted by Focolare Media for a virtual dialogue with Rabbi Or Rose and Hakan Yesilova. Watch the conversation below:
Image descriptions:
1. Pope Francis meets with members of the Focolare Movement in June 2024
2. Clockwise from top left: Pope John XXIII, who inaugurated the council; the Assisi Day of Prayer organized by Pope John Paul II; another shot from the Assisi Day of Prayer; Pope Benedict visiting a mosque in Turkey; St. Peter’s during Vatican II.
3. Images capturing interfaith friendships, including Pope Francis and Grand Imam Nasaruddin Omar in Jakarta, Indonesia, and two women hugging at a Catholic church in Indianapolis.
Another post you might like:
Your post is a thoughtful and vital contribution to religious pluralism, reminding us how courageous dialogue and mutual respect can help mend divides and build a more just, compassionate world!