Presentation by Raphaël Deillon.
From
their foundation, the White Fathers have been in Muslim
areas
since their Religious Society was founded in Algeria.
This desire for dialogue therefore arose quite naturally
from a symbiosis
between Christians and Muslims.
Islam and Christianity have long opposed one another
on the political, military and religious fronts.
It is time we found ways to know one another better.
We have such a lot to share with one another
Our
religious writings themselves invite us to listen to
others.
"At various times in the past and in various
different ways, God spoke…"
Letter to the Hebrews, 1:1"
"If God had wanted it, he would have made of
you a single people, but he wanted you to seek it, in
order to develop the gifts he gave you."
Sura 5: 48
Cardinal
Lavigerie, Founder of the White Fathers, gave his Missionaries
the mandate to maintain relations of friendship and
service between Christians and Muslims and to do this
with the greatest respect for each other's faith.
Still
actively present in Lebanon,
Jerusalem, in Algeria, Tunisia, 
Niger,
Mali, Burkina Faso, Sudan, Kenya, Tanzania, etc., they
try never to attempt between them what they can undertake
with believers of other religions. There are so many
areas today where we can work together as Christians
and Muslims. We can advance the cause of justice and
peace and diminish poverty, forestall and extinguish
hotbeds of violence, help the displaced, keep watch
over the natural riches of our planet.
Continuously
involved in the aim of this interreligious dialogue,
the White Fathers have founded several specialised
Institutes that enable a better understanding of
Muslim culture and faith and that open pathways to dialogue.
The PISAI
(Institut Pontifical d'Etudes Arabes et Islamiques)
Rome
For information, contact
info@pisai.it
See : *
The
Missionaries of Africa and the PISAI
in Rome
University-standard Institute, preparing licentiate
or doctorate in 1, 2 or 3 years
l'IBLA (Institut des Belles Lettres Arabes)
Tunis 
In Bamako, Mali, l'IFIC
(Institut of Islam-Christian Formation) 
In Nairobi, Kenya, Pastoral
Year, for a Formation to the Islam-Christian Dialogue.
For information,see the website : www.tangaza.org
In France, they collaborate
with the church of France and, in particular, the Secretariat
for the Relations with the Islam .( See the network
S.R.I.)
and also with the "Gric"
( Islam-Christian Group of Research)
You will also find the sites of magazines published
from this point of view, in particular:
ISLAMOCHRISTIANA
: (PISAI Annual Review)
SE
COMPRENDRE by Jean-Marie Gaudeul (Monthly,
note new address: "Pères Blancs, 5 rue Roger
Verlomme 75003 Paris. tel: (33) (0)1 42 71 84 54 / (0)1
42 71 71 51; Fax: (0) 1 48 04 39 67
In Africa
In Mali, in Bamako EN
CHEMIN, 
In Uganda: TOGETHER, you
can write to Fr.
Roger Labonté
