"War and violence waged in the name of religion are contrary to the true spirit of religion and can endanger its very existence," said Cardinal Francis Arinze, president of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue on the November 14 start of the feast of Diwali. Diwali, a three-day observance often called the feast of lights, marks the beginning of a new year. Special efforts at family reconciliation, especially among brothers and sisters, is a mark of Diwali.

"I propose that we intensify our efforts to foster relations and promote dialogue between our communities," said Arinze. He is one of many who have accented the importance of interreligious dialogue in recent weeks.

"Education is a key for promoting interreligious harmony, religious freedom and respect for people of different religious traditions...A very practical program, which already exists in various places, is the joint examination of textbooks, not only of religion, but also - and perhaps especially - of history. The lamentable ignorance and misinformation with which we sometimes bring up our children concerning other people’s religious traditions need to be rectified. We must strive to present all religious traditions in an objective manner so that individuals belonging to these traditions can recognize themselves in that representation."

The October Synod of Bishops on the life and role of the bishop sent a list of 67 propositions to Pope John Paul II upon its conclusion covering many complex tasks facing the contemporary bishop. The propositions forwarded to the Pope presented the bishop as an evangelizer, unifier, media-savvy teacher, good listener, promoter of vocations, ecumenist, peacemaker, model liturgist, pro-life activist and pastor for all. John Thavis of the CNS Rome bureau discussed the very wide-ranging propositions in a November 9 CNS report. The propositions, marked confidential, were published in full by the Italian news agency ADISTA in early November.

Bishops, the synod propositions indicated, should give special attention to or develop special programs for migrants, the religiously indifferent, the sick and elderly, married and engaged couples, non-Christians, diocesan priests, men and women religious, and theologians. The propositions called upon the bishop to pursue a life of material poverty in solidarity with the poor; to take a fatherly or brotherly interest in the problems of the church’s people and "willingly listen" to their "opinions and suggestions"; to serve as a leader in responding to social changes. One proposition urged bishops to enlarge the space given to women in church activities, including decision-making areas. The bishop was called upon to "defend the faith, deeply explain doctrine and correct or reject errors." A proposition said the bishop must not only proclaim moral doctrine, but "criticize and oppose those civil laws that contradict it" by violating life’s sacredness, fundamental human rights or justice; that entails constant vigilance over new legislation. Another proposition said the formation of future priests is a primary task of every bishop. The propositions said the bishop should institute special pastoral days for youths and get them involved in church-run charitable activities, and the bishop should give special attention to sports programs that can attract young people.