Hawzah News Agency-The 19th-annual Catholic-Muslim Iftar, sponsored by the Council of Islamic Organizations of Greater Chicago, was held Monday night at the Zakat Foundation of America in Bridgeview. Nearly 200 people gathered to, first, hear experts talk about ways to build bridges across both religions, and then to break the day's fast at sunset in the Muslim custom of Ramadan. Archbishop Blase Cupich was among the keynote speakers.

Calling the event "an important opportunity to learn more and become better acquainted with our neighbors," Cupich said, "This is a model for what can be done in neighborhoods all over Chicagoland."

"After almost two decades of interfaith iftars, thankfully, we have a solid foundation here in Chicago on which to continue to build rapport, to nurture our friendship and to address topics of mutual concern," he said.

Citing Pope Francis, Cupich told the crowd, "Muslims, Hindus, Catholics, Evangelicals — we are all children of the same God. We have to live in peace. We want to be integrated."

Jamie Merchant, spokesman for the Zakat Foundation, said, "It's really important that faith communities come together right now with a strong message of solidarity. It's important that we back each other up and not allow each other to be demonized because of the actions of a few misguided individuals."

Rita George-Tvrtkovic, associate professor of theology at Benedictine University, brought her children, Luka, 11, and Anya, 9, to the event.

During her speech, she offered ways Catholics can fight Islamophobia.

The time to get to know the people at the nearby mosque is not after something happens, she said. "You have to establish friendships and relationships first, and then when things happen in the world, you can call your friends."

The Rev. Thomas Baima, vicar for inter-religious affairs with the Archdiocese of Chicago, said: "The media understandably portrays the sensational side of things," he said. "The reason this (dinner) is so important is it shows the other side, the common side.

Baima said the Iftar provides a balance and projects an image of acceptance and understanding.

"We see the misuse of religion in the terrorist acts, the common life of ordinary believers who reject violence in the name of religion. Frequently the Muslim community is asked where are the other voices? Tonight you see the other voices."

"Anything that's being said negatively about Islam could equally be said about Judaism and Christianity," Baima said. "All of our sacred texts have passages that could be twisted by fundamentalists."