St. Louis Archdiocese Criticized for Remark on World Religions

Distinguished religious statesman Rajan Zed, stated that we all should be more sensitive and respectful while talking about other religions.

Benedictine Father Michael G. Brunner. Photo courtesy: stlouisabbey.org

(RENO) - Series of presentations have been scheduled at a parish under Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Saint Louis (Missouri, USA) about various world religions with the tagline “Learn what they know, so you know what they need to know.”

Rajan Zed

“A free series of presentations for students to seniors” by Benedictine Father Michael G. Brunner from January four to March one on Saturdays at Saint Anselm Parish Centre in Creve Coeur (Missouri) include Hinduism, Buddhism, Daoism, Confucianism, Zoroastrianism, Judaism and Islam. The flyer, created to announce these World Religions series contains the tagline “Learn what they know, so you know what they need to know.”

Distinguished religious statesman Rajan Zed, in a statement in Nevada (USA) today, said that this “need to know” tagline was highly inappropriate reference to great world religions of Hinduism, Buddhism, Daoism, Confucianism, Zoroastrianism, Judaism and Islam.

Zed, who is President of Universal Society of Hinduism, stated that we all should be more sensitive and respectful while talking about other religions. “Need to know” kind of statement even seemed to be contrary to the highly inclusive approach of His Holiness Pope Francis and the mission of the Archdiocese of Saint Louis (established in 1826), which included “fostering unity in diversity”.

Rajan Zed urged Archbishop of Saint Louis Most Reverend Robert J. Carlson and the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops in Washington DC to clarify their stand on the issue.

Zed noted that various religions were basically different human responses to divine Ultimate Reality. Dialogue would bring us mutual enrichment.