Morocco: Al Mowafaqa Institute Launched in Morocco.

"This is the first time that Catholic and Protestant students will take classes in Morocco, a Muslim country," said the Bishop of Rabat, Monsignor Vincent Landel. He is behind the partnership between the Al Mowafaqa Institute of Rabat, the Catholic Institute of Paris, and the University of Protestant Theology in Strasburg. Al Mowafaqa (Convergence) will open its doors in July.

Founded in June al Mowafaqa Institute is the property of the Catholic Church and  is located in the library in the heart of the Hassan Tower in Rabat. It will offer a month of training in theology taught in French, trainings open to dialogue with Islam, on how to live the Christian faith in a Muslim country and "away from proselytizing and with respect for Moroccan law . "

 

Scheduled over 5 years and created around a theology department and another entitled"dialogue of cultures and religions," this training is based on an academic program prepared by the Institut Catholique de Paris and the Faculty of Protestant Theology Strasbourg to r take into account the specificities of each  of the two religions. Teachers in Africa and Europe with PhDs have been carefully recruited to teach courses. At the end of the training, a license recognised by the French State will be issued to persons who have completed the training according to the website Yabiladi.
 

 There are three categories of people who can takethe course. First of all priests and pastors of churches in Europe and Africa that are already engaged in their careers, but who wish to deepen their knowledge of religious dialogue. The website of the institute said that there is no selection of the priests who can take this training but they are based on volunteers. The latter shall be entitled to a grant from the Institute which amount is not specified. They will be trained alternately to meet their commitments in their respective churches in their country of origin.

 

Then there is the "general public", that is to say those who have never been priests or pastors and are not seeking to take upholy orders.  They will be able to participate in discussions, lectures, evening classes or art programming to enrich their knowledge of religious matters. The institute said that the training is also open to expatriates who want to know more about Morocco.

 

Students from Africa and Europe will also attend this course during a semester for example, on the model of the Erasmus program. The goal is not to make future priests, but simply to help them become responsible adults .Itmay result in the formation become priests if they wish.

 

Concerning the financing of the training, the Institute states that the Catholic and Protestant churches of Morocco do not have the means to financially support such a project. The money will come from private sponsors therefore, official institutions and the network of churches in Europe.

 

Finally, the Institute said on its website have not encountered any particular concern in the launch of this training in Morocco