Mahony Affirms Interfaith Dialogue Despite Vatican Statement

Cardinal Roger M. Mahony sought Friday to reassure non-Catholic Christians and those of other faiths that the Roman Catholic Church remains committed to interfaith dialogue despite a strongly worded Vatican statement critical of other churches and religions.

The Vatican statement, “Dominus Iesus”--Lord Jesus--said this week that followers of non-Christian faiths have “gravely deficient” chances for salvation. It also said that other Christian churches have “defects” but could be instruments of salvation by the “spirit of Christ” acting with “grace and truth entrusted to the Catholic Church.”

Mahony, the Roman Catholic archbishop of Los Angeles, took note of the statement’s tone, described by one Lutheran bishop as “bullying.”

“The tone of ‘Dominus Iesus’ may not fully reflect the deeper understanding that has been achieved through ecumenical and interreligious dialogues over these last 30 years or more,” Mahony conceded.

But he said it was “discouraging” to read a headline in The Times last Wednesday that said the Vatican had declared Catholicism the “sole path to salvation.”

“The declaration does in fact affirm that those who are not formally part of the Roman Catholic Church can, indeed, be saved,” he said.

The cardinal pledged his “unyielding support” for continued ecumenical and interfaith dialogue.

EVENTS

Astrophysicist and pastor Hugh Ross, who won an Angel Award for the television religious documentary “Journey Toward Creation,” will lead a forum Sunday on science and the Bible. The forum will look at connections between scientific discoveries and personal faith.

Ross directs Reasons to Believe, a Christian ministry which teaches that the Bible is the inerrant word of God. The forum will be held from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Sierra Madre Congregational Church, 170 W. Sierra Madre Blvd., Sierra Madre. Free. (626) 355-3566.

* A forum on peace in the Middle East will be sponsored by the Southern California chapter of Sabeel, a Christian Palestinian ecumenical organization that advocates a liberation theology to address violence, discrimination and human rights violations.

Speakers will include Cedar Duaybis and Fred Bush, both members of Sabeel steering committees. The forum will be held from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Thursday at All Saints Episcopal Church, 132 N. Euclid Ave., Pasadena. Free. (818) 353-0306 or (310) 540-7278.

* An introduction to process theology by Marjorie Suchocki will be held from 4:10 to 6 p.m. Tuesday in the Haddon conference room of the Butler Building, Claremont School of Theology, 1325 N. College Ave., Claremont. Free. (909) 621-5330.

* A “Women-to-Women Havorah” workshop on how to bake holiday challah and on new and traditional ways to add meaning to the High Holy Days will be sponsored at 6 p.m. Thursday by Temple Ner Tamid of Downey, 10629 Lakewood Blvd., Downey. $5 (562) 861-9276.

* The Westside Jewish Community Center will hold an open house from 10 a.m. to noon Sunday. The Netivot (Women’s Torah Study Institute) faculty will teach pre-Rosh Hashana classes on “Hayom Harat Olam--Today the World Was Born.” Participants may register for women’s classes in Judaism. The center is at 5870 W. Olympic Blvd., Los Angeles. Free. (310) 286-2346.

* Can portraits reveal personality and facts about society, family and community? The Skirball Cultural Center is presenting the exhibition “Revealing and Concealing: Portraits and Identity” from Thursday through Dec. 31.

Included are the works of nearly two dozen artists, including Andy Warhol’s “Ten Portraits of Jews of the Twentieth Century.” The center is at 2701 N. Sepulveda Blvd., Los Angeles. $8 general admission, $6 for seniors and students. (310) 440-4500 or on the Internet at https://www.skirball.org.

* An introduction to the life and writings of St. John of the Cross will be presented from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday at the Holy Spirit Retreat Center, 4316 Lanai Road, Encino. $30 (includes lunch). (818) 784-4515.

* A workshop on centering prayer led by Father Thomas Keating will be held from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. today at the Holy Spirit Retreat Center, 4316 Lanai Road, Encino. $40 with lunch, $30 without lunch. (818) 784-4515.

MUSIC

Amber Trio Jerusalem, the house ensemble of the Jewish Museum in Vienna, which has performed around the world, will appear in concert at 8 p.m. Wednesday at the Skirball Cultural Center. The trio includes Lior Kretzer, pianist; Uri Dror, violinist; and Michael Croitoru-Weissmann on the cello. The center is at 2701 N. Sepulveda Blvd., Los Angeles. $15 general admission, $12 for Skirball members and $10 for students. (323) 655-8587.

*

Notices may be mailed for consideration to Southern California File, c/o Religion Editor, Los Angeles Times, 202 W. 1st St., Los Angeles, CA 90012, faxed to Southern California File at (213) 237-2358, or e-mailed to religion@latimes.com. Items should arrive two to three weeks before the event and must include pertinent details about the people and organizations with address, phone number, date, time, and cost if any. Because of the volume of submissions, we cannot guarantee publication.