Cardinal Joseph Coutts has experience in promoting interfaith dialogue. (Photo supplied)
Cardinal Joseph Coutts, the archbishop of Karachi, has been appointed as the chairperson of a key Christian research and study center.
He is taking charge of the Christian Study Centre in Rawalpindi, said Father Nasir William, director of the Diocesan Commission for Rawalpindi and Islamabad.
“It’s a big responsibility but since this prelate of the Catholic Church is well known for his experience and personal interest in the interfaith and ecumenical field, I would say he is the right man for the right place,” Father William told UCA News.
Founded in 1967, the Christian Study Centre aims to work for peaceful coexistence, cooperation, better understanding and strong bonding between the Christian and Muslim communities and with people of other faiths.
Supported by both the Catholic and Protestant churches, it has been serving as an ecumenical institution for the study of Christian-Muslim relations.
Christian-Muslim dialogue has been the key component of the center since its establishment.
It is also running projects related to developing Christian theology in Pakistan, interfaith harmony and peace-building and human/minority rights.
In addition, it is carrying out research on the increased level of religious intolerance and violence worldwide as well as within Pakistan.
It works with partner organizations, religious leaders, opinion makers, lawyers, intellectuals, journalists, local administration, parliamentarians, women and youth.
The center aims to develop peaceful coexistence through collaborative efforts.
