Muslim American leaders of Southern California met Sept. 21 with Cardinal Roger Mahony to discuss recent statements by Pope Benedict which referenced Islam, and to reaffirm the strong bonds of friendship that have existed between the Catholic and Muslim communities of Los Angeles for several decades.

In their meeting at the Archdiocesan Catholic Center in Los Angeles, the Muslim leaders recalled the hurt that many Muslims felt when Pope Benedict quoted a 14th Century Byzantine emperor who stated that Islam was spread by the sword. The Muslim leaders said they welcomed the pope's subsequent statements clarifying his position on Muslim-Catholic relations.

The delegation also condemned the violent acts that targeted Christian churches and people in the wake of the pope's initial speech.

Dr. Muzzamil Siddiqi, chairman of the Islamic Shura Council of Southern California, recalled "Nostra Aetate," the Second Vatican Council's document on the Church's relations with non-Christians, in urging Muslims and Catholics to re-double their efforts to work more closely together on moral, social and civil rights issues.

Muslim and Catholic leaders have collaborated locally on issues of health care, education, immigration and the alleviation of poverty. Over the years, Catholic-Muslim dialogue in Los Angeles has resulted in the publication of two joint documents: "Religion and the U.S. Constitution" and a document on interfaith marriage.

"Los Angeles," said Dr. Maher Hathout, Vice-Chair of the Shura Council, "is the capital of interfaith relations and of diversity."

Both Cardinal Mahony and the Muslim leaders agreed to create more opportunities at the local level to educate Catholics and Muslims in Southern California about one another and the bonds of friendship and cooperation between the two faiths. Cardinal Mahony said the two religions should seize this "teachable moment" to affirm commonalities and increase dialogue in all possible areas.

Muslim leaders and Cardinal Mahony discussed together a variety of opportunities for deepening contacts and promoting friendship between Muslims and Catholics in Los Angeles, including the "twinning" of parishes and mosques to promote interfaith understanding; a visit by Cardinal Mahony to a local mosque; and, a joint Catholic-Muslim delegation from Los Angeles that would visit Muslim and Christian communities in the Middle East, then visit the Vatican.

In addition to Dr. Siddiqui and Dr. Hathout, the Muslim American delegation visiting Cardinal Mahony included Moustafa al-Qazwini, Imam of Islamic Educational Center of Orange County; Ahmed Sakr, Islamic Educational Center; Shakeel Syed, executive director of the Shura Council; Hussam Ayloush, executive director of the Southern California of the Council on American Islamic Relations; and Salam Al-Marayati, executive director of the Muslim Public Affairs Council.

Also attending the meeting was Father Alexei Smith, director of Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs for the Archdiocese of Los Angeles.