The importance of religious freedom as a right inherent to human dignity was one of the points of agreement of a Catholic-Muslim colloquium in Tehran. The 7th colloquium of the Tehran-based Center for Interreligious Dialogue of the Islamic Culture and Relations Organization and the Vatican’s Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue concluded Thursday. It was led by the joint presidency of Mohammad Baqer Khorramshad, president of the Islamic Culture and Relations Organization, and Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran, president of the pontifical council.

This three-day gathering focused on the theme “Religion and Society Today: Christian and Muslim Perspectives.”

Catholic and Muslim participants presented various perspectives on this topic, developed in three subthemes: Religion and Civil Society: A Philosophical and Theological Perspective; Religion and Civil Society: A Historical-Legal Perspective; and Religion and Civil Society: Contemporary Difficulties and Opportunities.

In a concluding statement, the participants published several points of agreement reached during the meeting.

TEHRAN, Iran, NOV. 16, 2010 (Zenit.org)