Muslims must speak up for the rights of Christians in Islamic countries and work with Christians towards a "mutual witness" to the shared values of peace and justice, British Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor said in Melbourne last night."This is a vital principle of sacred hospitality, and it is vital for the relationship between Christians and Muslims," The Age quoted the Cardinal as saying."Where Christians are being denied their rights or are subject to sharia law, that is not a matter on which Muslims in Britain or in Australia should remain silent," Cardinal Murphy-O'Connor added. "Where religious rights of minorities are disrespected in the name of Islam, the face of Islam is tarnished elsewhere in the world."Cardinal Murphy-O'Connor was speaking at the opening of the Australian Catholic University's new Asia-Pacific Centre of Inter-religious Dialogue - along with Mehmet Ali Sengul, honorary president of the Australian Intercultural Society.The whole point of interfaith co-operation was to uphold religious freedom, he said.The challenge for each religion was to keep its exclusive claims while overcoming ignorance and learning respect."What is good is growth towards mutual understanding, but also a mutual witness to values we share - peace and justice - and that's not insignificant."
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