WASHINGTON – Bishop David P. Talley of Memphis, chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Committee on Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs, has shared the statement of Cardinal Blase J. Cupich of Chicago, Catholic co-chairman of the National Catholic-Muslim Dialogue.

Full text of Cardinal Cupich’s statement, “Catholics in the United States Stand in Solidarity with Our Muslim Neighbors,” follows:

“In light of the tragic loss of four Muslim lives in Albuquerque this past week, I affirm the Archdiocese of Santa Fe’s statement that ‘the Catholic community stands in support of our Muslim brothers and sisters during this time of crisis.’ As chairman of the national Catholic-Muslim dialogue, I have been blessed to walk on the journey of dialogue and friendship with our Muslim neighbors from around the United States. We join you in your sorrow and promise you a remembrance in our prayers. 

“In his encyclical Fratelli Tutti, Pope Francis highlighted an important observation of the Bishops of India: ‘The goal of dialogue is to establish friendship, peace and harmony, and to share spiritual and moral values and experiences in a spirit of truth and love’ (271). May all people of good will work together to deliver our communities from all forms of violence so that we might enjoy the gift of God’s peace.”

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