Women and interfaith relations

Sharing water between faiths [Simon Rawles]

Sr Kathleen McGarvey, sister of Our Lady of the Apostles teaches inter-religious relations at the seminary in Kaduna, Nigeria. She has a PhD in women’s movements in Islam and Christianity focusing particularly on Northern Nigeria.

It is important that concerns particular to women be part of inter-religious dialogue forums. This is especially important for forums of religious leaders as their voice carries greatest authority. When development policies are drawn up, when problems relating to family in contemporary society are discussed, when access to political seats is debated, when use of funding is decided… as on so many other issues, women’s interests and perspectives can differ from those of men.

On many occasions at interfaith workshops and meetings, women have lamented that women’s voices, rights and interests have continued to be ignored in peace-building efforts and other governance processes in their communities.

In 2002, a Kaduna Peace Declaration was signed by eleven Muslim and eleven Christian religious leaders. Women, organised in a workshop under WIPNET (Women in Peace Network) had drawn up a Peace Agreement around the same time. However, they were advised not to publish it but to consider themselves included under the one signed by their male religious leaders. The content of the two declarations is quite different and they could have complemented one another.

As was clearly testified to during the African Synod, dialogue with Muslims, collaborating to promote shared values in society, is possible and effective. The Synod has recommended that efforts at dialogue be increased and that those who have not yet committed themselves to making such efforts begin to do so.

I conclude this presentation with a fervent prayer that the so-called backbone of the African Church, represented by the Catholic Women’s Organisations, may make more committed efforts to encourage and enable Muslim and Christian women together to contribute their portion to the good of humanity.

I pray that Church leaders will support women, morally and financially, in this endeavour. However, women and their concerns cannot remain on the margins: so I also pray that organisers of official and formal inter-religious events will endeavour always to be more inclusive of women and thus witness to a sincere appreciation of men and women’s being created equal and complementary.

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