By Dorothy K. LaMantia | Correspondent

In these days of religious division and conflict, the Social Justice Committee of St. Anthony of Padua Parish, Hightstown, brought together all children of Abraham – Christians, Jews and Muslims – to work toward building bridges of understanding through interfaith dialogue.

 “So many of us don’t reach out to those who aren’t like us,” said Anne Berman-Waldorf, director of lifelong learning at Congregation Beth Chaim, Princeton Junction. “Differences only mean I must open my mind to other possibilities. People reflect the differences in the images of God.”

Berman-Waldorf was among the guest speakers Sept. 25 at the parish, where “An Interfaith Dialogue on the Message of Bishop Pierre Claverie” was held in honor of Bishop Claverie, a French Catholic priest who served as bishop of Oran, Algeria. The bishop made it his legacy to preach Muslim-Christian dialogue before he was murdered in the mid-1990s. His sister, Anne-Marie Gustavson, is a parishioner at the parish.

More than 100 people attending the two-hour program prayed, listened and asked questions of the panel, which also included Father Patrick McDonnell, pastor of St. Anthony of Padua; Lenore Islieb, coordinator of the parish Social Justice Committee; Rabbi Eric B. Wisnia of Congregation Beth Chaim; Imam Sohaib Sultan, the first full-time Muslim Life coordinator and chaplain in Princeton University, and Jana Hussain, educator at Noor-Ul-Iman School, Monmouth Junction.

Greeters handed each guest a program and a bookmark bearing a photograph and the words of Bishop Claverie – “Dialogue is a work to which we must return ceaselessly: it alone disarms fanaticism, both in ourselves and in others” – which served as a catalyst for discussion.

After Father McDonnell opened with the reading of Psalm 125, each member of the panel reflected on the words of Bishop Claverie, especially the need for dialogue and reconciliation, care for the poor and openness to those who are different.

“In this age of violence, we must be men and women of reconciliation,” said Imam Sultan. “Each of us must do something to bring about universal coexistence.”

After discussing the lessons of faith and tolerance that can be learned from Bishop Claverie’s life, the panel took  questions from the audience.

To a question about the best way to establish dialogue with those of different backgrounds, Rabbi Wisnia responded, “The best way to establish dialogue is to fight against xenophobia in our own homes. On TV, all we see is hatred and distrust of the other, racism and classism. Clear it from your own home.”

Islieb reflected on the controversy that surrounded the proposed Islamic community center a couple of years ago in New York City.

“During the tumult about the building of a mosque near Ground Zero, I realized I did not know Muslims,” she said, explaining that she invited friends and their Muslim friends to her home. “Together, all of us watched the film ‘Through the Wall,’ about another community where the building of a mosque created controversy. We discussed it, and over time, we became friends.”

One audience member asked about the impact of social media on creating tolerance. “Make sure what you post reflects what you believe in,” said Berman-Waldorf, “and don’t be afraid to speak out when your beliefs are violated. Use it to speak your truth.”

When asked how to remain open-minded in the face of extremists, the rabbi and the imam emphasized the importance of remembering that good and evil exists in all groups.

 Moderator Ken Hitchner Jr. provided a brief biography of Bishop Claverie, who served as a bishop in his native Algeria during its transition to independence following a century of control by the French. The bishop studied Arabic and Islam and encouraged dialogue and inclusion of all faiths in cultivating an independent Algeria. In 1992, radical Islamic sects started a civil war in which 300,000 people died. Bishop Claverie denounced the persecution and exclusion of minorities and pled for dialogue of all factions. In August 1996, Bishop Claverie and his friend, a Muslim, were assassinated in a bombing at the bishopric. He was among 19 Catholic priests and religious killed by radicals in the war.

Gustavson said, “This event shows that my brother’s voice is one more voice to add those in this country calling for us to get along with not only Muslims, but everyone, to create universal brotherhood. Tonight, the door is open for us to work together.”

“This gathering is important in this time when people are putting others down over religious beliefs,” said Malcolm McFarland of St. David the King Parish, West Windsor. He said he was impressed that in the discussion, “people were supportive of each other and other religions.”

Arshe Ahmed of Hamilton was one of a handful of Muslims in attendance.

“In this climate, the year hasn’t been easy,” she said. “There is such tension being myself as a human, a woman and a Muslim, but I never give up hope in good people. Volatility and bigotry can be combated by events like this.”