I don't know about you, but increasingly I find the world a confusing place.  Events happen so rapidly that it is hard to keep up with what's going on, let alone what it all means or how we are supposed to feel about it.  And we are constantly bombarded by "experts" and by strident voices on the left and right telling us what we should think.

Egypt is just the most recent example of this.  I feel torn as an American between celebrating and supporting the people of Egypt as they cry out for self-determination and democracy, and worrying about whether this will mean the rise of a fundamentalist, anti-American and anti-Israel regime.  Rightly or wrongly, I think we in America are still haunted by images of Iran.

I really loved hearing from Maureen Rovegno last Sunday about the exciting Abrahamic religions and multi-faith efforts at Chautuaqua.  Our friend Ross Mackenzie was a prime mover in this effort years ago and I am glad to see his work continuing there.  I fully support greater understanding and better relationships between the world's religions.  Wouldn't it be wonderful to see religion even more as a force for peace and justice in the world, and not just division and hatred.  Understanding and tolerance especially in religion are keys to a peaceful world future.

Yet here too I have mixed feelings.  While I support efforts to build relationships and partnerships between Christianity and other religions, I do not therefore believe that all religions are equally valid.  As a Christian, it is my sincere prayer that all people everywhere should come to know Jesus Christ and experience His saving grace.  So I want to strike a balance between aggressive in-your-face proselytizing on the one hand and anything-goes relativism on the other.  It is our duty to "bear witness to the faith that is in us," while "respecting the dignity of every human being."  That's a hard balance to maintain, but I believe it is crucial to living faithfully in this confusing and pluralistic world.                                               

                                                                                --Fr. Eric