We need to heal our memory. A second problem is that of group pressure, which can make a person want to please his group and show himself devout and zealous in defending its rights. Thus we see in various parts of the world where neighbors had lived next door for years, had gone to the same schools and shopped at the same markets, and yet in wartime they can turn and become enemies of one another. A third obstacle to dialogue is an extremist attitude which makes a person violate the rights of another and even perform violent actions. Even if one thinks one is acting in good faith, it does not dispense the person from respecting the rights of other believers.
Violence employed in defense of religion is wrong.
In a way, the violent extremist is presuming that God is weak and needs to be defended by the extremist who is toting swords and pistols. This is unacceptable. It is an insult to God. I am happy to quote here another joint statement of the National Conference of Catholic Bishops and the American Muslim Council which makes the same point.