At the invitation of the Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding at Georgetown University and the Council for American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), a group of prominent scholars, both Catholic and Muslim, convened in Washington, DC on Wednesday, 11 October 2006 for an intensive conversation. All participants have had extensive experience in the many forms and forums of interreligious dialogue. Concerned about references in a recent papal lecture, which were widely seen as derogatory to Islam, these scholars gathered to reaffirm both the importance and the vitality of Muslim-Catholic relations. They strove to ratify by their presence and their shared insights the continuing significance of a mutually-supported dialogue of religions and cultures. In a time of international tension they strongly affirmed the positive record of interreligious understanding achieved by Catholics and Muslims in the four decades since the Second Vatican Council and they recommitted themselves to correcting erroneous assertions which can harm Muslim – Catholic relations. They pledged themselves to renewed efforts, such as workshops, conferences and future publications, which could sustain and expand the good work that has been done by so many Muslims and Catholics to foster deeper interreligious appreciation and harmony. Signed (listed in alphabetical order) Mr. Omer Bin Abdullah Editor, Islamic Horizons Magazine Professor Imad-ad-Dean Ahmad Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding Georgetown University Professor Scott C. Alexander Associate Professor of Islam, Director, Catholic-Muslim Studies Program Catholic Theological Union at Chicago Dr. Abubaker Al Shingieti Regional Director, International Institute of Islamic Thought (IIIT) Mr. Nihad Awad Director, Center for American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) Professor Thomas Banchoff Director, Berkley Center for Religion, Peace and World Affairs, Georgetown University Dr. Jamal M. Barzinji Vice President, International Institute of Islamic Thought Dr. John Borelli Special Assistant to the President for Interreligious Initiatives, Office of the President Georgetown University Professor Charles E. Butterworth Department of Government & Politics, University of Maryland Professor Ahmad Dallal Chair, Department of Arabic and Islamic Studies, Georgetown University Professor John L. Esposito University Professor & Founding Director, Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding, Georgetown University Professor Sidney Griffith Professor of Syriac Language and Literature, Catholic University of America Professor Yvonne Haddad Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding Georgetown University Professor Sherman Jackson Professor of Arabic and Islamic Studies, Department of Near Eastern Studies, University of Michigan Professor Leo D. Lefebure Matteo Ricci, S.J. Professor of Theology, Georgetown University Professor Jane D. McAuliffe Dean, Georgetown College, Georgetown University Professor Seyyed Hossein Nasr University Professor of Islamic Studies, George Washington University Professor Tamara Sonn Kenan Professor of Humanities, Department of Religious Studies College of William & Mary Reverend Francis X. Winters Professor, Ethics and International Affairs, Georgetown University
