Pave the Way Foundation Questions the Current Outcry Against Pope Benedict's Statements

A recent statement by Pope Benedict XVI on church doctrine has stirred up international controversy among various Christian groups, according to the media. We need to re-focus on what is of critical importance today.

(PRWEB) July 14, 2007 -- The Pave the Way Foundation (PTWF), a non-sectarian New-York-based foundation dedicated to enhancing relations between religions, calls for religious persons worldwide to recognize and embrace the similarities between religions rather than concentrate on the differences that separate us.

A recent statement by Pope Benedict XVI, referring to the Doctrine of the Catholic Church has stirred up international controversy among various Christian groups, according to the media. Yet the statement was simply an affirmation of longstanding church doctrine. Many vocal and critical religious institutions and individuals have historically made their own similar statements holding their own religious interpretation to be the true path to salvation and redemption. This is a doctrinal matter, important only to each individual belief and worship system.

More seriously and with a sense of urgency, however, Pave the Way Foundation wishes to shed light on the dangers of the universal silence of the religions to the daily use of religion as a tool to justify violence. Gary Krupp, president of PTWF stated that "it is like rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic as we hear of these many divisive remarks about the Pope's statement and yet there is a universal silence of this most terrible use of religion. When the extremists, who exist in every faith, try to gain access to weapons of mass destruction with a religious goal to kill millions because of our differences, we need to rally the universal voice of all of the religious leaders to condemn this illegitimate use of religion as justification for violence. We should be concentrating on what we can agree on, such as the benevolent messages of love, charity and the forbidding of violence and murder. This is far more important than arguing over the differences that only serve to create discord and separation. The time has come to concentrate our energies on bringing the religions together as allays in the war against the extremists, who exist in every faith, and who are largely responsible for almost every conflict on Earth."

About Pave the Way Foundation
PTWF is dedicated to achieving peace by bridging "the intellectual gap" in tolerance and understanding, by enhancing relations between religions through cultural, technological and intellectual gestures. The Foundation has a simple yet monumental vision: To enable all the world's religions to mutually realize that extremism, politics and personal agendas must not be allowed to poison the true benevolent message common to all faiths. Bigotry and hatred must be abolished by the faithful embracing their similarities and savoring their differences.

Contact Linda Simpson
212 629 0046

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