CAN CATHOLIC NATURAL LAW THEORY HELP US IN ENGAGEMENT WITH NON-CHRISTIAN RELIGIONS?

Some challenges to the natural law being applied to interreligious dialogue are isolated. The International Theological Commission's document on this matter is used to focus on the issue as well as the questions posed by M.Ganeri. To suggest a way through these difficulties, the author focuses on the radically 'different' tradition of Hinduism and the controversial understanding of sati (widow self-immolation) within Hinduism. It would appear that such an act is clearly against the natural law. However, the author demonstrates that even within a different world view from Christianity there are still analogical connections to sati, showing how both the natural law and its Christological orientation actually illuminate and foster interreligious dialogue in such a difficult case as sati. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]