Nonviolence is conviction that love can conquer evil, says cardinal
Oct 28, 2008
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Nonviolence is not a strategic tool; it is the firm conviction that evil can be conquered with love and truth, said Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran.
The cardinal, president of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue, prayed that all religions that encourage nonviolence would work together "to promote truth, light, mutual respect, freedom and harmony."
The cardinal made the comments in the Vatican's annual message to Hindus celebrating Diwali, the festival of light, which culminates Oct. 28 this year.
Cardinal Tauran said Christians and Hindus should work together in favor of nonviolence.
He said religion was often blamed for problems and conflicts in society, but "we know that it is rather the manipulation of religion, contrary to its fundamental beliefs, that is used to carry out so many forms of violence." The cardinal made no reference to the recent wave of anti-Christian violence in the eastern Indian state of Orissa; at least 58 people have been killed and 100 church buildings and thousands of homes have been destroyed.
Cardinal Tauran said nonviolence is an important teaching in the Hindu tradition and pointed to Mahatma Gandhi, the leader of India's independence movement, as a role model for nonviolence who "led by example to the point of laying down his life because of his refusal to engage in violence."
"Nonviolence is not merely a tactical maneuver but is the attitude of one who ... is so convinced of God's love and power that he is not afraid to tackle evil with the weapons of love and truth alone," he said. He noted that Pope Benedict XVI has said the violence and injustice in today's world could only be fought "by countering it with more love, with more goodness."
Cardinal Tauran asked religious leaders to foster nonviolence among their faithful and support it concretely in their actions.
"Let us do all we can to promote the sacredness of human life, the good of the poor and lowly in our midst and collaborate, through dialogue, to foster the dignity of the human person regardless of race or caste, creed or class," he said in the message.
He asked that Hindus and Christians "be won over by love without reserve, with the conviction that nonviolence is the only way to build a global society that is more compassionate, more just and more caring."
Nonviolence is conviction that love can conquer evil, says cardinal