The Religious Authority, H.E. Sayyed Muhammad Hussein Fadlullah welcomed French Priest's religious and cognitional initiative to study Islam.

He pointed out that such an attitude has become a necessity, in view of the current state of affairs in the states and societies where both Christians and Muslims coexist, and which requires laying stress on the common principles of spiritual and human values that confront atheism and injustice.

His Eminence was commenting on media reports concerning the French priests increasing interests in studying Islam to differentiate between what is real and what is being promoted. He said:

We welcome the religious cognitional initiative of some of France's Catholic priests of study Islam in its doctrines, legislations, concepts, methods and means in order to differentiate between what is real and what is being falsely clarinet.

We believe that such a spiritual and congenial spirit is inspired by Christ's spirit of humbleness and constant contemplation about the essence of God.

We would like to emphasize the importance of opening up between Muslims and Christians to learn about the other's religion and to lay stress on the methodology of scientific research since we consider the mind the basis for thinking, discussing and finding the truth whether intellectual or spiritual, since we adopt the trend that believes that the spiritual and material elements are combined in man. We also emphasize the need to study the practical side of Islam that rejects violence, except in self-defense, so that the Muslim – Christian relations would be established on knowing one another as he is and not as the former subjectively thinks.

This is what we framework of calling for dialogue between religions including Judaism, Buddhism and Magianism, to emphasize the spiritual, intellectual and practical common factors.

On another level, we understand what made Father Francois Jordan, responsible for the relations of the Paris diocese with Islam, say that some Muslims bear the responsibility of the failure the movement of dialogue between religions has encountered, but it is a responsibility shared by members of other religions, knowing that there some Muslim successful attempts between religious.

The way the situation in the pluralistic societies unfold, whether with respect to the Christian presence in the Muslim world or the Muslim presence in the Christian world is unfolding, has created a dire need to lay down the foundations of the common factors, as well as defining the moral and spiritual virtues which we meet on in principle although we might differ in details. In addition, we should hold meetings of dialogue to establish the basis of a joint confrontation of atheism and arrogance by emphasizing the principle of believing in God who is the symbol and the embodiment of justice. We should also work jointly to counter the arrogant media that portrays Islam as a religion that promotes terrorism and Christianity as a religion that encourages Colonialism, by generalizing the behavior of certain groups and portraying it as the general attitude of the entire adherents of a certain religion.