Mumbai, Islam, and Rome

World events are devolving at an alarming rate. That's not news. The world is longing for leadership and there are two contendors for first place: Rome and Islamabad. Unbeknownst to most, there has been dialogue between the two for some time. The following quote (from Samuele Bacchiocchi) opens with a statement by him within which is embedded another most interesting quote.

"In spite of the catastrophic events of September 11th, the Pope continued to work toward a partnership with the Muslims. The basis of this partnership is the belief that Catholics and Muslims worship the same God of Abraham.
A Reappraisal of Islam.

This belief is clearly expressed in the new official Catechism of the Catholic Church, which speaks of the new Catholic relationship with theMuslims in these terms: 'The plan of salvation also includes those who acknowledge the Creator, in the first place amongst whom are the Muslims; these profess to hold the faith of Abraham, and together with us they adore the one, merciful God, mankind’s judge on the last day.'
(Catechism of the Catholic Church, (San Francisco, CA, 1994) Paragraph 84).
Read in the light of the flames of Mumbai, I find this incredible:The two largest and most powerful religious bodies in the world, at each others throats for centuries, and suddenly all is, or can be, just swell.
Interestingly, neither the Catholics nor the Muslims are big on Scripture. And of course, that is where the invisible church of God reads for "...doctrine, correction, and instruction in righteousness..." Reading the Bible lets the believer know, in advance, how everything turns out: Id est, how it all ends in the end. (Sorry about that anemic pun).
So what is the last word? "Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed; rightly dividing the Word of truth" [II Timothy 2:15].
God Bless. e.c.