Welcoming Cupich as Chicago Archbishop, Hindus urge him to promote interfaith dialogue

This article was last updated on April 16, 2022

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Congratulating Blase Joseph Cupich on his appointment as next Roman Catholic Archbishop of Chicago, Hindus hope that he would promote interfaith dialogue in his area and beyond.

Distinguished Hindu statesman Rajan Zed, in a statement in Nevada today, urged Cupich, 65, to show visionary leadership by pioneering interfaith dialogue working together with various religions and denominations in his diverse and one of the most important Archdiocese in the nation serving over 2.2 million parishioners, as serious and honest interfaith dialogue was the need of the hour. This dialogue might also help us vanquish the prejudices, caricatures, etc., passed on to us from previous generations, Zed added.

Zed, who is president of Universal Society of Hinduism, pointed out that religion was a complex component of human life and dialogue helped us to see interconnections and interdependencies among religions and even similarities in doctrines. Religions should at least work together on common religious concerns, Zed stressed.

Rajan Zed commended Cupich’s attitude of “We should never stop talking to one another”, as he wrote in March 5, 2012 issue of “America—The National Catholic Review”.

The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Chicago serves an area of 1,411 square miles, has 771 priests and runs 356 parishes, 244 schools, five colleges/universities, three seminaries and 17 hospitals.

Hinduism, oldest and third largest religion of the world, has about one billion adherents and moksh (liberation) is its ultimate goal. There are about three millions Hindus in USA.