Mission Statement

The Office for Interreligious Dialogue exists to promote the goals of the Catholic Church in its pursuit of positive relations with other religions as together we work for peace and harmony in all things for the good of society. It aims to develop relationships with people of other faiths according to the directives of Nostra Aetate and the Pope’s post-conciliar documents. The office will serve and assist clergy, parish leaders, lay faithful and people of other faiths in the community by:

• Building bridges that foster interfaith understanding, respect for the positive values promoted by other faiths.
• Providing resources, opportunities for dialogue, partnership and education as well as opportunities for sharing hospitality and friendship among different faith groups.
• Collaborating with multi-faith leaders and communities in sharing spiritual riches during religious and social activities/festivals and collaborating with members of other faiths in dealing with social issues that require the united voice and action of all for the welfare of society.

History:

The Ecumenical and Interfaith Affairs Office was established by Gerald Emmett Cardinal Carter on September 30, 1987. The task was to foster Christian unity and promote ecumenical and interfaith dialogue in the Archdiocese of Toronto. Cardinal Carter said that it was the responsibility of the local church, following the teachings of the Second Vatican Council, “to implement worldwide ecumenical directives, but also to take the initiative, within the unity of faith, to enrich this movement by our own forms of ecumenical action in prayer, education, the media, social work and theological exchange.” In view of the changing society and responding to the evolving religious context in the Archdiocese of Toronto, His Eminence Thomas Cardinal Collins established two departments on 27 August 2020, following the organizational model at the Vatican, each with its own specific responsibilities: the Office for Promoting Christian Unity and Religious Relations with Judaism, and, the Office for Interreligious Dialogue.