September 11, 2001 was a turning point in the history of humanity and perhaps the relationship between East and West.
When the tension seemed to be peaking, Fr. Nabbil developed an initiative to avoid a complete divide, especially in the Middle East. He created the Jordanian Interfaith Coexistence Research Center.
FR. NABBIL HADDAD
Founder, Jordanian Interfaith Coexistence Research Center
“As an Arab Christian, I've always felt that Christians have a role to play. We are the people who inherited a legacy, a sacred holy legacy, being the children of the Holy Land. We are called upon to be the peacemakers.”
The project has support from the king of Jordan. It has been promoting coexistence within the country for more than a decade through successful awareness programs aimed at clergy, imams, women and young people. The goal is to encourage moderation and harmony in a country, Jordan, where more than 90 percent of the population is Muslim, and only six percent of its 10 million inhabitants are Christians.
FR. NABBIL HADDAD
Founder, Jordanian Interfaith Coexistence Research Center
“The Lord Jesus Christ taught me, ordered me, love thy neighbor. In my case, my neighbor is the Muslim. I have to love my neighbor. Loving my neighbor is bringing a strong message. First, I have to understand Islam and Muslims. I have to be active and proactive in order to send a strong message of partnership. We should not become captive of the idea that it's a confrontation between Muslims and Christians. It's not. It's a confrontation between people of good will and those outlaws who refuse to abide by any religion, any law.”
In Rome, Fr. Nabbil participated in a forum on religions whose organizers included the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation.
This priest is advocating sincere collaboration between Christians and Muslims to stabilize the region.
FR. NABBIL HADDAD
Founder, Jordanian Interfaith Coexistence Research Center
“They have to give us space in that region. We can be the good ambassadors for understanding. They have to give us that space. It is not an issue of majority and minority. What's happening over there is really against their own religion. We are willing to help them to make their religion free from ISIS and all the forces of the devil.”
The radicals proposed stripping the land of Christ of Christians, a loss that would be irreversible for humanity.
FR. NABBIL HADDAD
Founder, Jordanian Interfaith Coexistence Research Center
“Actually, Christians without the Middle East is void. There's no Christianity without the Middle East and there's no Middle East without Christianity. This is the birthplace of Christianity. I come from Jordan. My house is 30 minutes from the baptism site.”
Therefore, this priest is trying to spread his Jordanian model throughout the Arab world, to build bridges where fear wants to build walls.
