Author:
Publication: Catholic
Family & Human Rights Institute
Date: September 1, 2000
What seemed to begin
on Monday as a pell-mell sprint for world peace and understanding ended
Thursday afternoon in bruised feelings and charges of favoritism.
The World Peace Summit of Religious and Spiritual Leaders failed in its
mission to establish a permanent UN religious advisory council. Part
of the problem was what some see as a lack of representation from the world's
two largest religions.
"This Summit was a Hindu-Jain
show," said a Catholic priest familiar with the UN. [Hinduism and
Jainism are both far-eastern faiths that believe in karma and reincarnation.]
From the great number of orange-robed holy men wandering all over the swank
Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in midtown Manhattan, it appeared the eastern faiths
were very well represented at the three-day Summit. "I wonder if
this was really India's attempt at getting a permanent slot on the Security
Council," said one skeptical Summit delegate. The seeming over- representation
of the eastern faiths could have come from the natural inclination Summit
chief Bawa Jain, a member of the Jain sect.
A well-connected Muslim
delegate also complained of what he felt was only a token presence of both
Christians and Muslims. He explained that an overwhelming number
of countries are under administrative control of either Christians or Muslims,
yet he felt both religions were under-represented. "If this body
is to have any credibility at all it must address the concerns of both
Christians and Muslims," he said. He also complained that both faiths
have come under attack during the week. American media mogul Ted
Turner attacked his boyhood Christian faith, and Hindus delegates criticized
the conversion policies of Christianity and Islam.
What was especially disappointing
about the Summit to some was the lack of any concrete programs or direction.
Many delegates hoped for a was a set of practical proposals and plans of
action. "Most of these speeches have been about 'looking inside yourself.'
All of our faiths ask us to do that to varying degrees. We don't
need this meeting for that kind of sentiment. What we needed here
was a program to advance the cause of faith at the UN, and we didn't get
it. I hate to say it but this meeting was almost a complete waste
of time," said the Muslim observer.
Conference achievements
do seem slim. Only one document was produced and it was written well
in advance of the meeting. Participants were asked to sign the "Commitment
to Global Peace" that calls for, among other things, regional and global
"pursuit of peace," "a world free of violence," and reversing the "gap
between rich and poor."
As for the proposed UN
religious advisory panel, Summit spokesman Anne Glauber said organizers
might appoint a steering committee that may eventually set up some kind
of advisory council. But she said the steering committee had not
yet been appointed and she did not know when it would. She said the
Summit was still successful, however, because "it got everybody together."
However, not everyone seems to be walking away happy.
