Hindus and Jews have applauded the Second Special Assembly for Africa of the Synod of Bishops, which concluded at Vatican yesterday, for taking up the cause of African women.

Rajan Zed, acclaimed Hindu statesman; and Rabbi Jonathan B. Freirich, prominent Jewish leader in Nevada and California in USA; in a statement in Nevada today, commended the Synod for taking stand against “female genital mutilation” and for promising to bring women into church decision-making structures.

Zed, who is president of Universal Society of Hinduism, and Rabbi Freirich also hailed the Synod for highlighting “an irresponsible degradation and senseless destruction of the earth” and many participating bishops condemning multinational companies for exploiting Africa’s natural resources leaving behind environmental destruction. This three-week Synod presented 57 propositions to His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI.

Rajan Zed and Jonathan Freirich urged Vatican to initiate interfaith dialogue in Africa to open a new chapter of understanding, trust, cooperation, mutual respect, and love, and highlighting the common ground among various religions and denominations, and to come up with a concrete plan about the common religious concerns like human improvement, peace, ecological responsibility, social and economic development, etc.

-Sampurn Media