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News archive for 2008

Archives d'actualités pour 2008

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Pope Benedict XVI and the general secretary of the World Council of Churches, the Rev. Samuel Kobia, have condemned violence in Gaza, calling for its immediate cessation following an intense bombing campaign by Israel there.

continued …
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Posted: Dec. 29, 2008 • Permanent link: ecumenism.net/?p=541
Categories: News
Transmis : 29 déc. 2008 • Lien permanente : ecumenism.net/?p=541
Catégorie : News

Women in Ministry: Lives Taken, Blessed, Broken & Shared

“Women who serve professionally in ecclesial ministry have much to offer the church and have much to share with one another.” It is with this conviction that the second Women in Ministry gathering will take place at Queen’s House Retreat and Renewal; Centre, Saskatoon, from February 15 to 17, 2009. This year’s gathering takes inspiration from the book “Life of the Beloved” by Henri Nouwen.

The purpose of bringing together ordained and lay women employed in ecclesial ministry of all Christian traditions is to share and celebrate our journeys of faith and of call, to learn from and to support each other. Ministry commitments and responsibilities can have a way of insulating us from one another if we are not intentional about forging connections and encounters.

Facilitated by Marie-Louis Ternier-Gommers, Rev. Amanda Currie, Rev. Debbie Walker, and Elizabeth Nickel. There will be a special guest presenter, Bishop Cindy Halmarson of the ELCIC Saskatchewan Synod.

Pre-registration is required at least two weeks in advance in order to ensure that the program has adequate attendance to proceed.
Register online at Queen’s House, use the Registration form, or phone (306) 242-1916; fax (306) 653-5941; or email info [at] queenshouse [dot] org.
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Posted: Dec. 24, 2008 • Permanent link: ecumenism.net/?p=540
Categories: ConferencesIn this article: events, ministry, Saskatoon, women
Transmis : 24 déc. 2008 • Lien permanente : ecumenism.net/?p=540
Catégorie : ConferencesDans cet article : events, ministry, Saskatoon, women

Join the Saskatoon faith communities on December 31st for candle lighting, quiet music, reflections, and prayer for peace. An annual tradition in Saskatoon, the interfaith Gathering for Peace is held at St. Paul’s Cathedral, Spadina Crescent and 22nd Street East on New Year’s Eve at 7:30 pm. This year, the theme is “Combating poverty, Building Peace”.

The evening begins with candle lighting and quiet reflection, followed by song, readings from various religious texts, and reflections from the multi-faith community. The evening ends with a time for fellowship with hot apple cider and cookies.

Please join us at 7:30 pm on New Year’s Eve at St. Paul’s Cathedral. Everyone, of all religious traditions, is welcome.
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Posted: Dec. 22, 2008 • Permanent link: ecumenism.net/?p=539 In this article: 2008, interfaith, multifaith, peace, prayer, Saskatoon Transmis : 22 déc. 2008 • Lien permanente : ecumenism.net/?p=539 Dans cet article : 2008, interfaith, multifaith, peace, prayer, Saskatoon

The Inter-Anglican Standing Commission on Ecumenical Relations (IASCER) held its last meeting in Kyoto, Japan, under the chairmanship of the Most Revd Drexel Gomez, Primate of the Church in the Province of the West Indies. The Commission is charged with reviewing current international ecumenical dialogues involving Anglicans, and provincial and regional initiatives towards unity with other Christians. IASCER consists of representatives from each international dialogue involving Anglicans, including the multilateral dialogue of Faith and Order, and of certain other commissions and networks, and consultants who bring particular regional or theological expertise.
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Posted: Dec. 17, 2008 • Permanent link: ecumenism.net/?p=538
Categories: NewsIn this article: Anglican, Christian unity, ecumenism
Transmis : 17 déc. 2008 • Lien permanente : ecumenism.net/?p=538
Catégorie : NewsDans cet article : Anglican, Christian unity, ecumenism

Final Communiqué on the 11th Catholic-Muslim Colloquium

[Vatican • VIS] Today was made public the final communiqué on the 11th Colloquium organized by the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue and the World Islamic Call Society (WICS), which took place in Rome from 15 to 17 December.
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Posted: Dec. 17, 2008 • Permanent link: ecumenism.net/?p=537
Categories: CommuniquéIn this article: Catholic, Islam
Transmis : 17 déc. 2008 • Lien permanente : ecumenism.net/?p=537
Catégorie : CommuniquéDans cet article : Catholic, Islam

A few years ago, other than a few specialists in Christian-Muslim dialogue, the average churchgoer would have little awareness of the tentative steps taken in dialogue between Christians and Muslims. The Danish cartoon controversy and Pope Benedict’s comments at a lecture in Regensburg re-focused attention on the difficult relationship between Christianity and Islam. Since then, there has been an intentional effort to bring more publicity to the existing forms of dialogue. There have also been new forums for dialogue established.
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Posted: Dec. 17, 2008 • Permanent link: ecumenism.net/?p=536
Categories: Communiqué, Dialogue, DocumentsIn this article: Catholic, Christian, Christianity, interfaith, Islam, statements, Vatican, WCC
Transmis : 17 déc. 2008 • Lien permanente : ecumenism.net/?p=536
Catégorie : Communiqué, Dialogue, DocumentsDans cet article : Catholic, Christian, Christianity, interfaith, Islam, statements, Vatican, WCC

Joint communiqué of the symposium on “Religion and peaceful co-existence”

The World Council of Churches (WCC, Geneva, Switzerland) and Centre for Inter-religious Dialogue of the Islamic Culture and Relations Organization (Tehran, Iran) held their fifth symposium in Tehran on13-14 December 2008.
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Posted: Dec. 14, 2008 • Permanent link: ecumenism.net/?p=535
Categories: CommuniquéIn this article: Islam
Transmis : 14 déc. 2008 • Lien permanente : ecumenism.net/?p=535
Catégorie : CommuniquéDans cet article : Islam

New Vatican Instruction on Bioethics

A new document entitled Dignitatis Personae was released by the Vatican’s Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith on Friday morning. The document on “certain questions of bioethics” is intended to update the current teaching on moral issues arising from in-vitro fertilization, stem cell technology, cloning, and other embryonic research. The last comprehensive CDF Instruction on these issues was published February 22, 1987 with the title Donum Vitae.

• The document is available on the CCCB website.
• A summary of the document was released to reporters at the morning news conference. It is available on the Vatican Information Service website.
• An excellent explanation of the document and its history is available from John L. Allen Jr. at the National Catholic Reporter.
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Posted: Dec. 12, 2008 • Permanent link: ecumenism.net/?p=534
Categories: NewsIn this article: Catholic
Transmis : 12 déc. 2008 • Lien permanente : ecumenism.net/?p=534
Catégorie : NewsDans cet article : Catholic

The Rev. Michael Hawkins was elected as bishop of the Anglican diocese of Saskatchewan on Saturday. The election was held at St. Alban’s Cathedral in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, the seat of the diocese. The bishop-elect has been rector of St. Alban’s since 2001, and also serves as Dean of Saskatchewan. Rev. Hawkins was elected to succeed Bishop Anthony Burton who took up parish ministry in Dallas last September. The diocese has announced that March 6th has been set as the date for the consecration of their new bishop.
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Posted: Dec. 9, 2008 • Permanent link: ecumenism.net/?p=533
Categories: NewsIn this article: Anglican Church of Canada, bishops, Michael Hawkins, Saskatchewan
Transmis : 9 déc. 2008 • Lien permanente : ecumenism.net/?p=533
Catégorie : NewsDans cet article : Anglican Church of Canada, bishops, Michael Hawkins, Saskatchewan

Michael Hawkins was elected as the next bishop of the diocese of Saskatchewan on Dec. 6 at a synod held at St. Alban’s Cathedral in Prince Albert. Mr. Hawkins, who has served as the rector St. Alban’s Cathedral and as dean of Saskatchewan since 2001, was voted in by a decisive margin in both clergy and lay houses on the first ballot.
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Posted: Dec. 8, 2008 • Permanent link: ecumenism.net/?p=532
Categories: Anglican JournalIn this article: Anglican
Transmis : 8 déc. 2008 • Lien permanente : ecumenism.net/?p=532
Catégorie : Anglican JournalDans cet article : Anglican

Patriarch Alexei II of the Russian Orthodox Church has died at his residence in Peredelkino, 40 kilometres from central Moscow, the church’s Moscow Patriarchate has announced.

No cause was given for the death on 5 December of the 79-year-old patriarch.

The previous evening Alexei held a church service in one of Moscow’s central cathedrals to mark a major religious holiday, the RIA-Novosti news agency reported. It said the church’s ruling body, the Holy Synod, was to gather for an urgent meeting in Moscow on 6 December following the death of its leader.
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Posted: Dec. 5, 2008 • Permanent link: ecumenism.net/?p=531
Categories: NewsIn this article: Orthodox
Transmis : 5 déc. 2008 • Lien permanente : ecumenism.net/?p=531
Catégorie : NewsDans cet article : Orthodox

Le responsable orthodoxe arménien basé au Liban Aram Ier a, lors d’une rencontre avec le pape Benoît XVI, proposé que les Eglises du monde entier fixent une date commune pour Pâques, fête lors de laquelle les chrétiens célèbrent la résurrection de Jésus.
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Posted: Dec. 5, 2008 • Permanent link: ecumenism.net/?p=530
Categories: News
Transmis : 5 déc. 2008 • Lien permanente : ecumenism.net/?p=530
Catégorie : News

Lebanon-based Armenian Orthodox leader Aram I has at a Vatican meeting with Pope Benedict XVI proposed that the world’s churches set a common date for Easter, when Christians celebrate the resurrection of Jesus.
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Posted: Dec. 3, 2008 • Permanent link: ecumenism.net/?p=529
Categories: ENIIn this article: Aram I, Date of Easter, Nicaea
Transmis : 3 déc. 2008 • Lien permanente : ecumenism.net/?p=529
Catégorie : ENIDans cet article : Aram I, Date of Easter, Nicaea

Help us record the history of ecumenism in our community!

You are invited to share your stories about local ecumenical events or activities that have improved relationships between Christians in Saskatchewan over the years.

Stories will be collected and included in an anniversary history book being prepared by The Prairie Centre for Ecumenism to mark its 25th anniversary in 2009. Please take some time to write up an event or activity, past or present, which brought you closer to other Christians in your area. Photographs are also welcome.

Send submissions to:
The Prairie Centre for Ecumenism,
600 – 45 St. West, Saskatoon, SK. S7L 5W9
E-mail: pce [at] ecumenism [dot] net

We look forward to hearing from you!
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Posted: Dec. 2, 2008 • Permanent link: ecumenism.net/?p=528
Categories: NewsIn this article: ecumenical centre, Prairie Centre for Ecumenism
Transmis : 2 déc. 2008 • Lien permanente : ecumenism.net/?p=528
Catégorie : NewsDans cet article : ecumenical centre, Prairie Centre for Ecumenism

The growth in ecumenical relations has great promise for the proclamation of the Gospel in our time, says Benedict XVI.

The Pope affirmed this today when he presided at an ecumenical celebration with Aram I, Catholicos of Cilicia of the Armenians. A delegation from the Catholicosate also participated in the event.
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Posted: Nov. 24, 2008 • Permanent link: ecumenism.net/?p=527
Categories: NewsIn this article: Catholic
Transmis : 24 nov. 2008 • Lien permanente : ecumenism.net/?p=527
Catégorie : NewsDans cet article : Catholic

Les deux plus grandes Eglises d’Allemagne voient leur nombre de fidèles diminuer, mais le nombre de membres de l’Eglise évangélique d’Allemagne (EKD), principale organisation protestante du pays, a chuté sous la barre des 25 millions pour la première fois depuis la réunification de l’Allemagne, en 1990.

Fin 2007, les membres de l’EKD étaient 24,83 millions, sur 82 millions de personnes vivant en Allemagne, a indiqué l’agence de presse protestante allemande epd le 17 novembre. Aujourd’hui, l’EKD a perdu plus d’un million de membres par rapport à il y a cinq ans.
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Posted: Nov. 20, 2008 • Permanent link: ecumenism.net/?p=526
Categories: News
Transmis : 20 nov. 2008 • Lien permanente : ecumenism.net/?p=526
Catégorie : News

Benedict XVI’s catechesis on justification at the [November 19th] general audience and his comments regarding Martin Luther were welcomed by a Lutheran leader in Rome.

The dean of the Lutheran Church of Italy, Holger Milkau, said that “it’s always a pleasure to hear the Pope speak of Luther, above all if he considers arguments they share.”
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Posted: Nov. 20, 2008 • Permanent link: ecumenism.net/?p=525
Categories: NewsIn this article: Catholic, Lutheran
Transmis : 20 nov. 2008 • Lien permanente : ecumenism.net/?p=525
Catégorie : NewsDans cet article : Catholic, Lutheran

Webeditor’s note: The title of this article was changed to more accurately reflect the focus of the papal address. The original title was “Pope Clarifies Luther’s Idea of Justification”. The Vatican Information Service article bears the title “St. Paul: Justification by Christ’s Love”.

[Vatican City • Zenit.org] Benedict XVI says Martin Luther’s doctrine on justification is correct, if faith “is not opposed to charity.”

The Pope said this today during the general audience dedicated to another reflection on St. Paul. This time, the Holy Father considered the Apostle’s teaching on justification.

He noted that Paul’s conversion experience on the road to Damascus “changed his life radically: He began to regard all his merits, achievements of a most honest religious career, as ‘loss’ in face of the sublimity of knowledge of Jesus Christ.”

“It is precisely because of this personal experience of the relationship with Jesus that Paul places at the center of his Gospel an irreducible opposition between two alternative paths to justice: one based on the works of the law, the other founded on the grace of faith in Christ,” the Pontiff explained. “The alternative between justice through the works of the law and justice through faith in Christ thus becomes one of the dominant themes that runs through his letters.”

What is law

But in order to understand this Pauline teaching, Benedict XVI affirmed, “we must clarify what is the ‘law’ from which we have been freed and what are those ‘works of the law’ that do not justify.”

He explained: “Already in the community of Corinth there was the opinion, which will return many times in history, which consisted in thinking that it was a question of the moral law, and that Christian freedom consisted therefore in being free from ethics. […] It is obvious that this interpretation is erroneous: Christian liberty is not libertinism; the freedom of which St. Paul speaks is not freedom from doing good.”

Instead, the Pope said, the law to which Paul refers is the “collection of behaviors extending from an ethical foundation to the ritual and cultural observances that substantially determined the identity of the just man — particularly circumcision, the observance regarding pure food and general ritual purity, the rules regarding observance of the Sabbath, etc.”

These observances served to protect Jewish identity and faith in God; they were “a defense shield that would protect the precious inheritance of the faith,” he remarked.

But, the Holy Father continued, at the moment of Paul’s encounter with Christ, the Apostle “understood that with Christ’s resurrection the situation had changed radically.”

“The wall — so says the Letter to the Ephesians — between Israel and the pagans was no longer necessary,” he said. “It is Christ who protects us against polytheism and all its deviations; it is Christ who unites us with and in the one God; it is Christ who guarantees our true identity in the diversity of cultures; and it is he who makes us just. To be just means simply to be with Christ and in Christ. And this suffices. Other observances are no longer necessary.”

And it is because of this, the Bishop of Rome continued, that Luther’s expression “by faith alone” is true “if faith is not opposed to charity, to love. Faith is to look at Christ, to entrust oneself to Christ, to be united to Christ, to be conformed to Christ, to his life. And the form, the life of Christ, is love; hence, to believe is to be conformed to Christ and to enter into his love.”

“Paul knows,” he added, “that in the double love of God and neighbor the whole law is fulfilled. Thus the whole law is observed in communion with Christ, in faith that creates charity. We are just when we enter into communion with Christ, who is love.”

• Pope Benedict XVI’s address at the General Audience of Wednesday, November 19, 2008.
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Posted: Nov. 19, 2008 • Permanent link: ecumenism.net/?p=524
Categories: NewsIn this article: Benedict XVI, Martin Luther
Transmis : 19 nov. 2008 • Lien permanente : ecumenism.net/?p=524
Catégorie : NewsDans cet article : Benedict XVI, Martin Luther

The membership of Germany’s two largest churches is shrinking, but the Evangelical Church in Germany (EKD), the country’s biggest Protestant grouping, has dropped below 25 million members for the first time since the unification of Germany in 1990.

At the end of 2007, EKD members accounted for 24.83 million of Germany’s 82-million people, the German Protestant news agency epd reported on 17 November. The EKD now has more than a million fewer adherents than it did five years ago.
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Posted: Nov. 19, 2008 • Permanent link: ecumenism.net/?p=523
Categories: ENIIn this article: Catholic, Protestant
Transmis : 19 nov. 2008 • Lien permanente : ecumenism.net/?p=523
Catégorie : ENIDans cet article : Catholic, Protestant

Lutheran-Roman Catholic Dialogue continues ‘Hope of Eternal Life’ theme

[ELCA] The U.S. Lutheran-Roman Catholic Dialogue added to its current round of meetings on the topic of “Hope of Eternal Life” a new study on the sacrament of the Eucharist. The Oct. 10-14 session at St. Paul’s College, Washington, D.C., was the sixth of Round XI in the historic relationship between Lutherans and Catholics that began 43 years ago at the end of the Second Vatican Council.

Dialogue participants have explored beliefs and practices related to eternal life in Christ since the round began in 2005. At the October session a special task force from the Dialogue membership welcomed Msgr. John Radano, former undersecretary, Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, The Vatican, as part of a new discussion on areas of consensus and disagreement between Catholics and Lutherans on eucharistic doctrine. The new initiative is the result of conversations between members of the Pontifical Council and the Rev. Mark S. Hanson, presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA).

In response to a written message from Hanson to Pope Benedict XVI in September 2007, the Pontifical Council suggested that the ELCA and the U.S. Roman Catholic Church seek to formulate a joint teaching statement, said the Rev. Lowell G. Almen, Lutheran co-chair of the U.S. dialogue and former ELCA secretary. The statement would acknowledge the mutual confession of the churches of the real presence of Jesus Christ in the Eucharist, he said.

“The Eucharist is the place of encounter with Christ who is eternal life,” said the Rev. James Massa, executive director, Secretariat for Ecumenical and Interreligous Affairs, U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, Washington, and also one of the two staff coordinators of the dialogue. “I see it as particularly appropriate that we take up Bishop Hanson’s proposal precisely at a time when the dialogue team is talking about prayers for the deceased as part of its overall treatment of eternal life. For many Christian believers the Eucharist is the preeminent prayer of thanksgiving for Christ’s life-giving sacrifice, to which he joins all of the faithful, living and dead.”

The dialogue adopted a time line for conclusion of the current round, which includes a review process for a Common Agreement on Eternal Life. Drafters have presented portions of a draft text that treat the topic from a biblical-historical, systematic and pastoral standpoint. “The report, when completed, will be helpful to both pastors and members of parishes,” Almen said. “It will serve as a resource for teaching and discussion as members of congregations ponder questions about death and dying as well as the promise of eternal life in Christ.”

Almen added, “The report also will highlight the broad reality of the Church throughout time and eternity. After all, as we gather at the table of our Lord, we are surrounded by all the faithful who have gone before us, the great cloud of witnesses, as we anticipate the eternal banquet of our Lord.”

The next session of the dialogue is March 12-15, 2009, in Washington. Participants will examine a complete draft of the common statement and also consider the contents and format of a possible publication that would include the statement along with a series of essays based on papers that have been presented over the course of the round.

Participants in the October 2008 meeting mourned the loss of one of the longest serving members of the U.S. Lutheran-Roman Catholic Dialogue, the Rev. John Reumann, professor emeritus of New Testament and Greek, the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia. Reumann, who died June 6, 2008, was remembered by dialogue participants in a memorial service at the end of the meeting.

Last year the dialogue held a memorial mass for the passing of another long-serving member, the Rev. George Tavard A.A., an Augustinian of the Assumption priest and prolific author, who died in 2007.


• Information for this release was provided by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.
• Information regarding the U.S. Lutheran-Roman Catholic Dialogue is on the ELCA Web site.

For information contact:
John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or
www.elca.org/news
ELCA News Blog
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Posted: Nov. 17, 2008 • Permanent link: ecumenism.net/?p=522
Categories: ELCA NewsIn this article: Catholic, dialogue, Lutheran
Transmis : 17 nov. 2008 • Lien permanente : ecumenism.net/?p=522
Catégorie : ELCA NewsDans cet article : Catholic, dialogue, Lutheran

Catholics and Muslims find common ground in Rome

[The Tablet] The first meeting of the Catholic-Muslim Forum of scholars and religious leaders has ended in a joint declaration saying religious minorities have a right to “practise their faith in private and public” and to have their own houses of worship.

Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran, president of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue, ranked this as the most important of the 15 points agreed with delegates from the Common Word project, a dialogue initiative launched last year by 138 Islamic leaders from the Middle East, Asia, Africa and Western countries. The declaration also called for respect for personal “choices in matters of conscience and religion,” which could apply to the thorny question of conversion from Islam, which the delegates discussed briefly but did not seek consensus on.

• See the complete article from The Tablet, November 15, 2008 at www.thetablet.co.uk/article/12282
• See the Final Declaration of the Catholic-Muslim Forum at ecumenism.net/archive/news/2008_11.htm#000787
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Posted: Nov. 15, 2008 • Permanent link: ecumenism.net/?p=521
Categories: TabletIn this article: Catholic, Islam
Transmis : 15 nov. 2008 • Lien permanente : ecumenism.net/?p=521
Catégorie : TabletDans cet article : Catholic, Islam

A member of the (Anglican) Church of England’s general synod who supports a greater female role in the church has predicted that within 10 years half of all full-time clergy will be women, but says moves to consecrate female bishops is not keeping pace.

The prognosis came from U.S-born Christina Rees, a writer, broadcaster and public speaker and chairperson of Watch (Women and the Church), started in 1996 as a forum for promoting women’s ministry in the Church of England.
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Posted: Nov. 13, 2008 • Permanent link: ecumenism.net/?p=520
Categories: ENIIn this article: Anglican
Transmis : 13 nov. 2008 • Lien permanente : ecumenism.net/?p=520
Catégorie : ENIDans cet article : Anglican

Churches in Germany have remembered the 70th anniversary of the systematic attack by the Nazis in 1938 on Jewish Germans, saying that many Christians failed then in their duty to speak out.

“In the November pogroms of 1938 defenceless people were humiliated, harassed and killed, houses of worship were desecrated and destroyed,” Germany’s Protestant and Roman Catholic leaders said in a joint statement to mark the 9 November anniversary.

“The terrible images of burning synagogues have been burned into our memory,” said Bishop Wolfgang Huber, who heads the Evangelical Church in Germany (EKD), and Archbishop Robert Zollitsch, the chairperson of the Catholic German Bishops’ Conference.
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Posted: Nov. 10, 2008 • Permanent link: ecumenism.net/?p=519
Categories: NewsIn this article: Judaism
Transmis : 10 nov. 2008 • Lien permanente : ecumenism.net/?p=519
Catégorie : NewsDans cet article : Judaism

Final Declaration of the Catholic-Muslim Forum

[Vatican City • VIS] Made public yesterday afternoon was the final declaration of participants in the First Seminar of the Catholic-Muslim Forum, which took place in Rome from 4 to 6 November on the theme: “Love of God, Love of Neighbour”.

Each of the two sides in the meeting was represented by 24 participants and five advisers who discussed the two great themes of “Theological and Spiritual Foundations” and “Human Dignity and Mutual Respect”. Points of “similarity and of diversity emerged, reflecting the distinctive specific genius of the two religions” the English-language declaration says.

1. “For Christians the source and example of love of God and neighbour is the love of Christ for His Father, for humanity and for each person” reads the first of the fifteen points of the declaration. “Love of neighbour cannot be separated from love of God, because it is an expression of our love for God. … Grounded in Christ’s sacrificial love, Christian love is forgiving and excludes no-one; it therefore also includes one’s enemies”.

“For Muslims … love is a timeless transcendent power which guides and transforms human mutual regard. This love, as indicated by the Holy and Beloved Prophet Muhammad, is prior to the human love for the One True God”.

2. “Human life is a most precious gift of God to each person. It should therefore be preserved and honoured in all its stages”.

3. Human dignity is derived from the fact that every human person is created by a loving God and has been endowed with the gifts of reason and free will, and therefore enabled to love God and others. On the firm basis of these principles, the person requires the respect of his or her original dignity and his or her human vocation. Therefore, he or she is entitled to full recognition of his or her identity and freedom by individuals, communities and governments, supported by civil legislation that assures equal rights and full citizenship.

4. “We affirm that God’s creation of humanity has two great aspects: the male and the female human person, and we commit ourselves jointly to ensuring that human dignity and respect are extended on an equal basis to both men and women.

5. “Genuine love of neighbour implies respect of the person and her or his choices in matters of conscience and religion. It includes the right of individuals and communities to practice their religion in private and public.

6. “Religious minorities are entitled to be respected in their own religious convictions and practices. They are also entitled to their own places of worship, and their founding figures and symbols they consider sacred should not be subject to any form of mockery or ridicule.

7. “As Catholic and Muslim believers, we are aware of the summons and imperative to bear witness to the transcendent dimension of life, through a spirituality nourished by prayer, in a world which is becoming more and more secularised and materialistic.

8. “We affirm that no religion and its followers should be excluded from society. Each should be able to make its indispensable contribution to the good of society, especially in service to the most needy.

9. “We recognise that God’s creation in its plurality of cultures, civilisations, languages and peoples is a source of richness and should therefore never become a cause of tension and conflict.

10. “We are convinced that Catholics and Muslims have the duty to provide a sound education in human, civic, religious and moral values for their respective members and to promote accurate information about each other’s religions.

11. “We profess that Catholics and Muslims are called to be instruments of love and harmony among believers, and for humanity as a whole, renouncing any oppression, aggressive violence and terrorism, especially that committed in the name of religion, and upholding the principle of justice for all.

12. “We call upon believers to work for an ethical financial system in which the regulatory mechanisms consider the situation of the poor and disadvantaged, both as individuals, and as indebted nations. We call upon the privileged of the world to consider the plight of those afflicted most severely by the current crisis in food production and distribution, and ask religious believers of all denominations and all people of good will to work together to alleviate the suffering of the hungry, and to eliminate its causes.

13. “Young people are the future of religious communities and of societies as a whole. Increasingly, they will be living in multi-cultural and multi-religious societies. It is essential that they be well formed in their own religious traditions and well informed about other cultures and religions.

14. “We have agreed to explore the possibility of establishing a permanent Catholic-Muslim committee to co-ordinate responses to conflicts and other emergency situations.

15. “We look forward to the second seminar of the Catholic-Muslim Forum to be convened in approximately two years in a Muslim-majority country yet to be determined”.

The declaration concludes by affirming that all the participants “expressed satisfaction with the results of the seminar and their expectation for further productive dialogue”.
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Posted: Nov. 7, 2008 • Permanent link: ecumenism.net/?p=518
Categories: Vatican NewsIn this article: Catholic, Islam
Transmis : 7 nov. 2008 • Lien permanente : ecumenism.net/?p=518
Catégorie : Vatican NewsDans cet article : Catholic, Islam

Multifaith Reflection on Restorative Justice

Across Canada, the theme for Restorative Justice Week 2008 is “Fostering a Restorative Worldview”. In Saskatoon, the Prairie Centre for Ecumenism is hosting a symposium entitled “A Multifaith Reflection on Restorative Justice … an evening of shared perspectives”. The symposium will be held Wednesday, November 19th at Knox United Church (Spadina Crescent & 24th Street) from 6 to 9:30 pm.

A meatless supper wil be shared at 6 pm, with a panel of speakers at 7 pm: Claire Ewert Fisher (Christian), Cantor Neil Schwartz (Jewish), a representative from the Islamic Association of Saskatoon, and Harvey Thunderchild (Traditional Aboriginal).

Registration: $15 before November 12th, or $18 after November 12th, $8 under-waged. Students free if registered in advance, or $8 at door. Doors open for registration at 5:15 pm. Register by cheque, payable and sent to: Prairie Centre for Ecumenism, 600 – 45th Street West, Saskatoon, SK S7L 5W9. It is necessary to know in advance if registrants plan to attend the supper. For more information call 306-653-1633.
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Posted: Nov. 6, 2008 • Permanent link: ecumenism.net/?p=517
Categories: NewsIn this article: 2008, interfaith, justice, multifaith, Prairie Centre for Ecumenism, restorative justice, Saskatoon
Transmis : 6 nov. 2008 • Lien permanente : ecumenism.net/?p=517
Catégorie : NewsDans cet article : 2008, interfaith, justice, multifaith, Prairie Centre for Ecumenism, restorative justice, Saskatoon

[The Tablet] The symbolism of next week’s inaugural meeting of the Catholic-Muslim Forum at the Vatican is likely to be as important as what is actually said. The public perception of religion is that it leads to trouble, especially between one religious or ethnic group and another. Indeed, in Iraq and Pakistan, Christians have had reason to fear for their lives from extremist Muslims who are, it must be stressed, acting in defiance of the teachings of their own faith. In Western Europe many Muslims have experienced discrimination and prejudice, and occasionally violence, not so much from anti-Islamic ideology as from sheer bigotry and racism. Yet in the Vatican next week leaders of the two faiths will stand side by side in mutual respect. One of them will be Pope Benedict XVI.

• The complete editorial published in The Tablet, November 1, 2008, is available online.
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Posted: Nov. 1, 2008 • Permanent link: ecumenism.net/?p=516
Categories: TabletIn this article: Islam
Transmis : 1 nov. 2008 • Lien permanente : ecumenism.net/?p=516
Catégorie : TabletDans cet article : Islam

A Statement from the Anglican House of Bishops

The following statement was released by the Anglican Church of Canada’s House of Bishops at the conclusion of its meeting in Niagara Falls, Ont.

A Statement from the House of Bishops

We being many are one body for we all share in one bread. (1 Cor 10:17)

The meeting of the Canadian House of Bishops which concluded today was our first time together since we were in England at the Lambeth Conference last summer. We spent considerable time — more than two days — sharing impressions of the conference, discussing events in the Canadian Church since Lambeth, and seeking agreement among ourselves on a way forward for our Church and its dioceses in the context of the proceedings at Lambeth.

During this extended discussion, the Conference of Bishops of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada, our partner in Full Communion, accompanied us in conversation, bible study, prayer and mutual support. We are grateful for their presence and contributions.

We acknowledged with gratitude the key role played by the Archbishop of Canterbury in leading us at Lambeth. In particular we noted with thanksgiving the retreat addresses and the three presidential addresses. We share with him the understanding that the Anglican Communion is a gift from God and commit ourselves to working together. We also rejoiced in the clear sense from the bishops gathered at Lambeth that we wished to continue to walk together while addressing the theological issues arising from discussions about same-sex unions.

One of our main topics of conversation was the agreement by many bishops at Lambeth on three moratoria: on the blessing of same-sex unions, on the ordination to the episcopate of people in same-sex relationships and on cross-border interventions. This discussion was in the context of decisions made recently by several diocesan synods in the Canadian Church that asked their bishop to prepare and authorize rites for the blessing of same-sex couples.

Our discussion initially comprised two parts. The first consisted of reports to the House from several bishops of whom such requests have been made — Ottawa, Montreal, Niagara, Huron, and the Anglican Parishes of the Central Interior — as well as bishops from other dioceses who anticipate such requests in the not-too-distant future and bishops whose dioceses have received unnecessary and unwelcomed “cross-border interventions.”

For the second part, we formed an indaba group to reflect on what we had heard in the previous session. (Indaba — a model for discussion used at Lambeth — is an African word meaning “a gathering for purposeful conversation among equals.”) Several themes emerged in this discussion.

• Some dioceses have not yet engaged in the listening and discernment process and some are just beginning;
• Some have been listening and discerning for many years and have reached differing conclusions;
• Even in the face of difference, there was a desire expressed to “stay at the family table.”

It became clear during this process that many individual bishops wanted something from the House as a whole “to take home” with them to share with members of the church.

In response to that request, we added to our agenda a third session on this vitally important topic. In April, 2005 at its meeting in Windsor Ontario, this House responded to a number of requests made in the Windsor Report including a commitment to the moratoria proposed in that document until General Synod makes a decision.

In this third session, the House heard from the Primate who set out for us his understanding of what was being requested of us by Lambeth and the Archbishop of Canterbury. He noted the Pastoral letter from the House of Bishops to General Synod in 2007 which asked for the greatest pastoral generosity possible to gays and lesbians, consistent with the current teaching of the church. He also reminded us of our agreement in 2004 for a process of Shared Episcopal Ministry (SEM) and indicated to us his desire for “gracious restraint,” to use the language of the Archbishop of Canterbury, on the matter of same-sex blessings.

The Primate said to us:

“I come to this meeting of the House of Bishops mindful of our Canadian context and the call for authorization of public rites for the blessings of same sex-unions in a number of our dioceses. I am also mindful of the place of the Anglican Church of Canada in our worldwide Communion.

“I trust the House of Bishops will support my call for respect for due process through the General Synod in this matter. In 2007, General Synod concurred with the opinion of the St. Michael Report (produced by the Primate’s Theological Commission) that the blessing of same-sex unions is a matter of doctrine. It is not creedal in nature but nonetheless it is doctrine. The same General Synod called for further work by the Primate’s Theological Commission in assisting the Church to determine if this matter of blessings is a Spirit-led development of doctrine. I believe that these deliberations across the church will have a significant impact on discussion at General Synod in 2010 and on the subsequent authority of dioceses through due synodical process to proceed with blessings.

“Please know that I am mindful of the continuing havoc created in several of our dioceses through cross-border interventions on the part of Primates and bishops from other jurisdictions. I believe we must call them to account. They too must honour the Lambeth call for ‘gracious restraint.’ I remain committed to addressing this issue within the Communion.”

We spent several hours in conversation on the implications of the appeal from the Primate.

As a result of these conversations a large majority of the House can affirm the following:

A continued commitment to the greatest extent possible to the three moratoria — on the blessing of same-sex unions, on the ordination to the episcopate of people in same-sex relationships and on cross-border interventions — until General Synod 2010. Members of this House, while recognizing the difficulty that this commitment represents for dioceses that in conscience have made decisions on these matters, commit themselves to continue walking together and to hold each other in prayer.

The House also affirms:

A commitment to establishing diocesan commissions to discuss the matter of same-sex blessings in preparation for conversations at General Synod 2010.

Continued commitment to exercise the greatest level of pastoral generosity in keeping with provisions approved by this House in Spring, 2007 and continued commitment to the Shared Episcopal Ministry document approved in Fall, 2004.

We ask for your continuing prayers as we steadfastly seek to discern the mind and heart of Christ for the wholesome care of all members of his Body, the Church. We share a deep hope that though we may never come to consensus over this matter of the blessing of same-sex unions, we will live with differences in a manner that is marked by grace and generosity of spirit, one toward another.

October 31, 2008

Links:

• Th House of Bishops’ statement in PDF format
• Shared Episcopal Ministry
• Lutheran Bishops issue statement on joint meeting
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Posted: Oct. 31, 2008 • Permanent link: ecumenism.net/?p=515
Categories: NewsIn this article: Anglican
Transmis : 31 oct. 2008 • Lien permanente : ecumenism.net/?p=515
Catégorie : NewsDans cet article : Anglican

WEA General Assembly Adopts Official Statements on Critical Issues

[WEA] The World Evangelical Alliance 12th General Assembly came to a close on Thursday Oct 30, 2008, after five days of intensive discussion to plan the way forward in world evangelisation. More than 500 senior evangelical leaders gathered for the assembly in Pattaya, Thailand which began on 25 October. On Wednesday 29th, delegates agreed to six major resolutions setting out an evangelical response to religious liberty, HIV and Aids, poverty, peacemaking, creation care and the global financial crisis.

“The Body of Christ, His Church, is living with HIV,” stated the resolution on HIV, a major focus area for the WEA. “With brokenness we admit that as Evangelical Christians we have allowed stigmatisation and discrimination to characterise our relationships with people living with HIV. We repent of these sinful attitudes and commit to ensuring that they are changed.” The statement went on to call for churches to provide “a clear, biblical framework of biblical sexuality and life skills” and for them to “listen with understanding” to those affected by issues such as HIV “so that we can work together for a healthy and safe future.” The statement committed leaders to “live out incarnational faith working in partnership with the most marginalised.” Other challenges faced by the statement included HIV prevention, establishing caring relationships and a “comprehensive HIV strategy.”

The resolution on the current Economic Crisis stated that the “turmoil is, at its root, evidence of what happens when too many are captivated by greed and put their faith in, and entrust their security and future aspirations to a system animated by the maximization of wealth.” It concluded that “Many legitimately feel betrayed.” It further explained: “our concern is that its impact will continue to permeate into more regions and economies of the world” and that it will have “the most painful impact on the poor, who are the most vulnerable.” The document reaffirmed “our faith in God” and sought prayerfully that “God will honour those attempts to address the financial crisis” calling on governments and others to “honour their comitments.” It acknowledged the necessity of everyone pulling “together as a community” and encouraged evangelicals to “show leadership in caring for the poor, calling for the necessary reforms … and to be prophetic in challenging the structures and practices that are incompatible with good stewardship of the resources entrusted to each and all of us.”

During the Assembly, the WEA commissioned Dr Joel Edwards, formerly of the Evangelical Alliance of the UK, as the International Director of the Micah Challenge, and Dr Godfrey Yogarajah, formerly head of the Evangelical Alliance of Sri Lanka and Asia Regional Secretary, as Executive Director of the WEA Religious Liberty Commission.

Kew presentations at the General Assembly included addresses by Dr Joel Edwards on “Evangelicals as Good News People”, Dr Richard Howell speaking on the gospel in a pluralistic age and Dr Ronald Sider outlining a “Biblically Shaped, Factually Informed Evangelical Political Framework.”
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Posted: Oct. 30, 2008 • Permanent link: ecumenism.net/?p=514
Categories: News
Transmis : 30 oct. 2008 • Lien permanente : ecumenism.net/?p=514
Catégorie : News

Recently elected leaders of China’s officially-sanctioned Protestant churches have said they care about house churches that sometimes operate underground and that they are willing to provide them with Bibles.

“For those house churches without registration, we will try our best to be with them, to recognise them and to help them, so long as they have an orthodox faith, don’t stray from the truth and don’t follow heretics,” Elder Fu Xianwei, chairperson of the National Three Self Patriotic Movement, told some 200 Hong Kong church leaders at a 22 October seminar titled “Chinese Church – New Leaders, New Challenges”.
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Posted: Oct. 29, 2008 • Permanent link: ecumenism.net/?p=513
Categories: News
Transmis : 29 oct. 2008 • Lien permanente : ecumenism.net/?p=513
Catégorie : News

Address of His All Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch BARTHOLOMEW to the XIIth Ordinary General Assembly of Bishops of the Roman Catholic Church (The Vatican, 18 October 2008)
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Posted: Oct. 18, 2008 • Permanent link: ecumenism.net/?p=512
Categories: NewsIn this article: Bartholomew I, Catholic, Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, Orthodox, patriarch, Vatican
Transmis : 18 oct. 2008 • Lien permanente : ecumenism.net/?p=512
Catégorie : NewsDans cet article : Bartholomew I, Catholic, Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, Orthodox, patriarch, Vatican

The Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams has said greed is the root cause of the current economic crisis and he has called on Christians and Muslims to work together to decide upon a fairer system of borrowing and lending.

“The Christian tradition has always been cautious about interest and for many centuries it was very much of one mind with the Islamic tradition, but after the 16th century that changed,” Williams, the leader of the worldwide Anglican Communion, said at a 15 October media conference in London, following a three-day meeting in Cambridge of Christian and Muslim scholars and clerics.
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Posted: Oct. 16, 2008 • Permanent link: ecumenism.net/?p=511
Categories: NewsIn this article: Anglican, Islam, Rowan Williams
Transmis : 16 oct. 2008 • Lien permanente : ecumenism.net/?p=511
Catégorie : NewsDans cet article : Anglican, Islam, Rowan Williams

Des patriarches, primats et représentants des Eglises orthodoxes (chalcédoniennes) ont réaffirmé leur engagement à surmonter les conflits intra-orthodoxes et à poursuivre les dialogues théologiques avec les chrétiens d’autres confessions lors d’une réunion qui s’est tenue du 10 au 12 octobre à Istanbul, en Turquie. …
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Posted: Oct. 15, 2008 • Permanent link: ecumenism.net/?p=510
Categories: NewsIn this article: Orthodox
Transmis : 15 oct. 2008 • Lien permanente : ecumenism.net/?p=510
Catégorie : NewsDans cet article : Orthodox

Patriarchs, primates and representatives of Eastern Orthodox churches recommitted themselves to overcome intra-Orthodox conflicts as well as to continue theological dialogues with Christians from other confessions at a 10-12 October meeting in Istanbul, Turkey. …
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Posted: Oct. 15, 2008 • Permanent link: ecumenism.net/?p=509
Categories: NewsIn this article: Orthodox
Transmis : 15 oct. 2008 • Lien permanente : ecumenism.net/?p=509
Catégorie : NewsDans cet article : Orthodox

An Ecumenical Response to “A Common Word Between Us and You”
by the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA

The churches that comprise the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA welcome with gratitude “A Common Word Between Us and You.” Addressed to leaders of Christian churches around the world, your letter expresses an intent to engage seriously with Christians in dialogue that is grounded in the authentic religious convictions of our respective communities. Based upon the love of God and the love of neighbor – the two great commandments central to Islam, Christianity, and Judaism – your letter invites Christians to join with Muslims to forge ties of peace. This is a bold and timely invitation. Out of Christian faithfulness, and with respect for Islam, the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA, whose member churches’ common Christian witness leads them to seek unity with one another and peace with justice for all people, offers this ecumenical response to you, our Muslim friends, as an acceptance of your invitation.

continued …
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Posted: Oct. 8, 2008 • Permanent link: ecumenism.net/?p=508
Categories: Dialogue, DocumentsIn this article: A Common Word, interfaith, Islam, National Council of Churches of Christ (USA)
Transmis : 8 oct. 2008 • Lien permanente : ecumenism.net/?p=508
Catégorie : Dialogue, DocumentsDans cet article : A Common Word, interfaith, Islam, National Council of Churches of Christ (USA)

The Role of the Bishop of Rome in the Communion of the Church in the First Millennium
Joint Coordinating Committee for the Theological Dialogue between the Roman Catholic Church and the Orthodox Church
Aghios Nikolaos, Crete, Greece, September 27 – October 4, 2008
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Posted: Oct. 3, 2008 • Permanent link: ecumenism.net/?p=507
Categories: Dialogue, DocumentsIn this article: Catholic, church, communion ecclesiology, koinonia, Orthodox, papacy, petrine ministry, pope, primacy
Transmis : 3 oct. 2008 • Lien permanente : ecumenism.net/?p=507
Catégorie : Dialogue, DocumentsDans cet article : Catholic, church, communion ecclesiology, koinonia, Orthodox, papacy, petrine ministry, pope, primacy

The Coordinating Committee of the Joint International Commission for the Theological Dialogue between the Roman Catholic Church and the Orthodox Church met in Elounda, Crete, Greece from 27 September to 4 October 2008.

At the opening session, the two Co-Presidents of the Commission, His Eminence Cardinal Walter Kasper (President of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity) and His Eminence Metropolitan John of Pergamon (Ecumenical Patriarchate), expressed their joy and thankfulness to God for the continuation of the theological dialogue between the two Churches. They reaffirmed the goal of the dialogue as stated at its beginning in 1980: “The purpose of the dialogue between the Roman Catholic Church and the Orthodox Church is the re-establishment of full communion between these two churches. This communion, based on unity of faith according to the common experience and tradition of the early Church, will find its expression in the common celebration of the Eucharist.”
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Posted: Oct. 3, 2008 • Permanent link: ecumenism.net/?p=506
Categories: CommuniquéIn this article: Catholic, Orthodox
Transmis : 3 oct. 2008 • Lien permanente : ecumenism.net/?p=506
Catégorie : CommuniquéDans cet article : Catholic, Orthodox

German Protestants recall Anglican bishop who was a ‘bridge builder’ and ‘reconciler’

Protestants in Germany are recalling the life of George K. A. Bell, a Church of England bishop who opposed the Nazi regime of Adolf Hitler but also sharply criticised indiscriminate bombing of German cities during the Second World War.

“He was a fighter for peace and for the truth, and never shied away from using the authority of his office and person to uphold his beliefs, even in the political arena,” said Bishop Wolfgang Huber, who heads the Evangelical Church in Germany (EKD), in a statement to mark the 50th anniversary of the Anglican bishop’s death on Oct.3, 1958.
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Posted: Oct. 3, 2008 • Permanent link: ecumenism.net/?p=505
Categories: NewsIn this article: Anglican
Transmis : 3 oct. 2008 • Lien permanente : ecumenism.net/?p=505
Catégorie : NewsDans cet article : Anglican

At the close of their 2008 Plenary Assembly which met in Cornwall, 22-26 September, the Bishops of Canada issued a pastoral letter, titled “Liberating Potential”, which invites all the faithful “to discover or rediscover,” the message of the Encyclical Humanae Vitae, issued by Pope Paul VI in 1968.
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Posted: Sept. 26, 2008 • Permanent link: ecumenism.net/?p=504
Categories: NewsIn this article: bishops, Catholic, CCCB, ethics, human sexuality
Transmis : 26 sept. 2008 • Lien permanente : ecumenism.net/?p=504
Catégorie : NewsDans cet article : bishops, Catholic, CCCB, ethics, human sexuality

Au terme de leur Assemblée plénière, qui s’est déroulée à Cornwall, du 22 au 26 septembre, les évêques du Canada ont rendu public un message pastoral intitulé « Un potentiel libérateur ». Les évêques invitent ainsi les baptisés à une découverte — ou une redécouverte — de l’Encyclique Humanae Vitae, publiée en 1968 par le pape Paul VI.
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Posted: Sept. 26, 2008 • Permanent link: ecumenism.net/?p=503
Categories: NewsIn this article: birth control, bishops, Catholic, CCCB, ethics, human sexuality
Transmis : 26 sept. 2008 • Lien permanente : ecumenism.net/?p=503
Catégorie : NewsDans cet article : birth control, bishops, Catholic, CCCB, ethics, human sexuality

Canadian federal election guides – 2008

Another federal election has come to Canada. Canadians will go to the polls on October 14 to select members of Parliament in all 308 ridings across the country. For more information about who can vote, the candidates, and the locations of the polls, please see the Elections Canada website.

Here at “Ecumenism in Canada” we have a continuing interest in highlighting the reflections offered by the Canadian churches on matters of public policy. With this in mind, we have compiled the following links to election resources prepared by the churches and their ecumenical justice groups.

CCCB Federal Election 2008 Guide
EFC 2008 Election Kit
• United Church of Canada 2008 Federal Election Kit
• Mennonite Central Committee’s 2008 Election Primer
• Citizens for Public Justice 2008 Election Guide
• Candidates Against Poverty

The Catholic bishops of Canada have a long history of public statements on justice issues, both during and between elections. As in recent elections the CCCB has issued an election guide that is intended to enumerate principles of Catholic social teaching that are relevant to the elections. Like all churches, the CCCB does not endorse any political party. Instead, the CCCB’s Social Affairs Commission “encourages Catholics to become better informed about the issues, to voice their concerns with the political candidates … and, most of all, to vote.” The four-page text goes on to list some basic principles from Catholic moral and social teaching to help voters examine and evaluate public policy and programs. These principles include respect for life and the dignity of the human person, as well as the preferential option for the poor. The text also addresses the question of the war in Afghanistan and the debate on the environment. The four Bishops who signed the document call on the political parties to “engage in a peace process for Afghanistan” and to ensure that “future generations … can have a healthy environment.” The Social Affairs Commission admits that “choices can be tough” for Catholics when a political candidate or a political party holds “values that are not fully in line with Church teaching.” Citing the Vatican’s Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, the CCCB Social Affairs Commission points out that “a well-formed Christian conscience does not permit one to vote for a political program or an individual law which contradicts the fundamental contents of faith and morals.”

The Evangelical Fellowship of Canada has also issued an election kit. The EFC says that “Canada needs strengthened families and secure marriages. Canada needs to protect its most vulnerable: children, the poor, the unborn and the disabled.” The EFC’s kit is not entirely focussed on personal and family ethics. It also affirms that “Canada needs to share its blessings with the world, especially meeting commitments made to foreign relief and development work.” The EFC kit includes position papers on various issues, and is expected to be updated with further statements as the campaign proceeds.

The United Church of Canada also regularly issues public statements during federal elections. The United Church website says that their new 2008 Federal Election Kit “takes a non-partisan approach. It lifts up justice concerns that need voice to get on the election agenda and into public awareness. As well as offering a brief background and sample questions on issues important to the United Church, the kit offers tips for asking questions at all candidates meetings and advice on how to use the media effectively.” There are a variety issues that the United Church highlights, however it brings a special focus to Aboriginal issues.

The Mennonite Central Committee serves both Canadian and American churches, both of which are in the midst of elections. However the issues and concerns are different, and an election primer is offered by MCC-Canada for Canadian Anabaptists. The MCC is not a church, and thus does not speak on behalf of its member churches. It therefore frames its election reflection in the form of “questions for Anabaptist Christians to consider during the 2008 federal election campaign.”

As of September 16th, there were no election guides or other resources available on the websites of the Anglican Church of Canada (ACC), the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada (ELCIC), the Presbyterian Church in Canada (PCC), the Canadian Council of Churches (CCC), or KAIROS. If these become available, this website posting will be revised to include these links.

There are two other resources of interest. The Citizens for Public Justice is an independent social justice research and advocacy group. The CPJ has issued election guides during many of the past elections. The CPJ 2008 election guide addresses a number of issues of concern in the current campaign: poverty, immigration, tax policy, and the environment. These are issues that CPJ has addressed for many years, and thus their guide draws on additional resources available through their website. The CPJ invites Canadian voters to consider their electoral choices through the lens of public justice.

The Religious Social Action Coalition of Newfoundland and Labrador has created a new website to encourage candidates to establish a government priority to end poverty in Canada. The coalition is “a nonpartisan group from a broad array of religions — Christians, Muslims, Jews, Hindus and others — united in our religious commitment to call on society to abolish poverty at home and abroad. … It is the goal of our coalition to call upon all candidates for Parliament to pledge to move our society toward greater economic fairness. … To finally fulfill the promise that Parliament made to abolish poverty among Canadian children, even though they have missed their own deadline by seven years. To make sure that working families can find affordable housing. And to fulfill Parliament’s Kelowna pledge to Canada’s Aboriginals. … It is our goal to get citizens talking about poverty — and to make Ending Poverty a voting issue.”

The coalition has established an admirably low-tech website entitled Candidates Against Poverty which lists all the candidates who have taken a simple pledge to make poverty a governmental priority. At this point, the number of candidates who have responded is quite small. Voters can explore the website to see whether their candidates have made the pledge. Voters can also challenge their candidates to make this pledge and have it recorded on the website.
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Posted: Sept. 23, 2008 • Permanent link: ecumenism.net/?p=502
Categories: ResourcesIn this article: Canada, elections, justice
Transmis : 23 sept. 2008 • Lien permanente : ecumenism.net/?p=502
Catégorie : ResourcesDans cet article : Canada, elections, justice

Saints et martyrs: symposium œcuménique international

[COE News] Les saints et les martyrs – ou tout simplement, les chrétiens et chrétiennes qui ont mené une vie exemplaire – peuvent-ils contribuer à unifier les Eglises dans lesquelles ils sont nés? Un groupe d’experts internationaux va se pencher sur cette question et tout ce qu’elle implique lors d’un symposium organisé dans un monastère italien.
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Posted: Sept. 23, 2008 • Permanent link: ecumenism.net/?p=501
Categories: Conferences, NewsIn this article: dialogue, saints
Transmis : 23 sept. 2008 • Lien permanente : ecumenism.net/?p=501
Catégorie : Conferences, NewsDans cet article : dialogue, saints

Saints and martyrs: international ecumenical symposium

[WCC News] Can saints and martyrs – or for that matter, Christians who lived exemplary lives – help unite the churches into which they were born? An international group of experts will discuss this and other related questions at a symposium in an Italian monastery.
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Posted: Sept. 23, 2008 • Permanent link: ecumenism.net/?p=500
Categories: Conferences, WCC NewsIn this article: dialogue, saints
Transmis : 23 sept. 2008 • Lien permanente : ecumenism.net/?p=500
Catégorie : Conferences, WCC NewsDans cet article : dialogue, saints

Le Comité exécutif du COE s’apprête à désigner un secrétaire général intérimaire

[Genève] Le Comité exécutif du Conseil œcuménique des Eglises (COE) doit nommer un secrétaire général intérimaire pour la plus grande organisation chrétienne du monde, lors de sa réunion à Lübeck, en Allemagne, du 23 au 26 septembre.
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Posted: Sept. 22, 2008 • Permanent link: ecumenism.net/?p=499
Categories: News
Transmis : 22 sept. 2008 • Lien permanente : ecumenism.net/?p=499
Catégorie : News

Les catholiques ont aussi des choses à apprendre de Luther, selon le cardinal Kasper

[Francfort/Wittenberg, Allemagne] Les catholiques romains ont des choses à apprendre du réformateur protestant du XVIe siècle Martin Luther, selon le responsable de l’unité chrétienne au Vatican, alors que les Eglises protestantes d’Allemagne viennent de lancer une décennie de manifestations conduisant à la célébration, en 2017, du 500e anniversaire de la Réforme luthérienne.
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Posted: Sept. 22, 2008 • Permanent link: ecumenism.net/?p=498
Categories: NewsIn this article: Walter Kasper
Transmis : 22 sept. 2008 • Lien permanente : ecumenism.net/?p=498
Catégorie : NewsDans cet article : Walter Kasper

Can women play a strong role in bringing reconciliation and tolerance to the communities in conflict? Can divisions and divides be resolved from a faith-based perspective, when religion often is considered a cause of violence?
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Posted: Sept. 22, 2008 • Permanent link: ecumenism.net/?p=497
Categories: WCC NewsIn this article: Islam
Transmis : 22 sept. 2008 • Lien permanente : ecumenism.net/?p=497
Catégorie : WCC NewsDans cet article : Islam

Catholics can learn from Luther too, says Cardinal Kasper

[Frankfurt/Wittenberg, Germany] Roman Catholics can learn from the 16th-century Protestant reformer Martin Luther, the Vatican’s top official for Christian unity, has said, as Protestant churches in Germany prepare to launch a 10-year series of events leading up to the 500th anniversary in 2017 of the Lutheran Reformation.
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Posted: Sept. 19, 2008 • Permanent link: ecumenism.net/?p=496
Categories: NewsIn this article: Catholic, Lutheran, Walter Kasper
Transmis : 19 sept. 2008 • Lien permanente : ecumenism.net/?p=496
Catégorie : NewsDans cet article : Catholic, Lutheran, Walter Kasper

The God of Women & the Women of God

The Friends of Sophia fall program features a series with Dr. Mary T. Malone, retired chair of Religious Studies at St. Jerome’s University & the University of Waterloo. Dr. Malone is the author of numerous publications including Women and Christianity (3 vols, 2000-2003) and Praying with the Women Mystics (2006). Dr. Malone will make three presentations:

• Women Mystics, 1150-1450 CE — Sunday, September 21, 2 to 4 pm in St. Andrew’s College Lounge
• Retrieving Women’s Christian Story — Monday, September 22, 11:30 to 1 pm in St. Thomas More College, room 344A
• Do the Medieval Women Mystics Have a Message for Our Time? — Monday, September 22, 7:30 pm in St. Thomas More College Auditorium. Reception to follow.

The Friends of Sophia is an interdenominational group of women, dedicated to nurturing Christian feminist spirituality through educational opportunities, shared experience and liturgical celebration. For further information email mbeavis [at] stmcollege [dot] ca or ursula.wiig [at] usask [dot] ca.
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Posted: Sept. 18, 2008 • Permanent link: ecumenism.net/?p=495 In this article: feminist, Friends of Sophia, Saskatoon, theology Transmis : 18 sept. 2008 • Lien permanente : ecumenism.net/?p=495 Dans cet article : feminist, Friends of Sophia, Saskatoon, theology

Sacramental sharing in Saskatoon – UPDATE

As reported here in February, the Roman Catholic Diocese of Saskatoon has issued a revised policy on Sacramental Sharing. This policy is the product of many years of reflection by Bishop Albert LeGatt and the diocesan ecumenical commission. The policy initially introduced in 2005 was revised and re-issued as a result of wide consultations during the implementation of the policy.

When the revised policy was issued last winter, one document originally issued in 2005 remained unchanged. The “Pastoral Notes” issued by Bishop LeGatt are intended to assist priests and lay-people in interpreting and implementing the diocesan policy. Bishop LeGatt has personally undertaken revision of the notes over the past summer, and the revised notes are now available on our website.

• Pastoral Notes for Sacramental Sharing in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Saskatoon (rev. August 22, 2008)

The Notes and the Directives are commended to the people of Saskatoon for study, reflection, and implementation. Questions and comments may be directed to the Saskatoon Diocesan Commission for Ecumenism through the Catholic Pastoral Centre or to the bishop’s ecumenical officer Fr. Bernard de Margerie.

It should be noted that the diocesan policy described in these documents is based on and derived from the Vatican’s Directory for the Application of Principles and Norms on Ecumenism and the Code of Canon Law. Nevertheless, the Saskatoon policy is issued for the Roman Catholic diocese of Saskatoon. It is not intended for the other Catholic dioceses and eparchies in Saskatchewan or elsewhere. In other places, in the absence of local directives the Vatican’s directory and the Code of Canon Law should be consulted.
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Posted: Sept. 12, 2008 • Permanent link: ecumenism.net/?p=494
Categories: NewsIn this article: Catholic, eucharist, sacramental sharing, Saskatoon
Transmis : 12 sept. 2008 • Lien permanente : ecumenism.net/?p=494
Catégorie : NewsDans cet article : Catholic, eucharist, sacramental sharing, Saskatoon

North American Ecumenists gather in St. Louis

On September 26, 27 and 28th, the North American Academy of Ecumenists (NAAE) will hold its annual meeting at the Crowne Plaza Hotel St. Louis-Clayton. The theme will be Ecumenical Ecclesiology: One Church of Christ for the Sake of the World.

The Academy, founded in 1957, includes ecumenically active Christian clergy and laity as well as professors and students. Members of the Academy have been prominent in the movement toward reconciliation of the Christian churches.

The members have a shared concern for theological reflection and scholarship. They value hospitality and open conversation. They seek to support those who engage in ecumenical activities and studies in local communities.

The Rev. Dr. Michael Kinnamon, formerly Professor at Eden Seminary in St. Louis and now General Secretary of the National Council of Churches USA, and Dr. Peter Bouteneff, Professor at St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary in New York will address the theme on Friday evening.

Dr. David Daniels of McCormick Theological Seminary in Chicago will offer a third keynote presentation on Saturday morning.

Brother Jeffrey Gros, recently retired Associate Director of the Office of Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference will address the gathered ecumenists at their Annual Banquet on Saturday Evening on The Academics’ Calling to Spiritual Pilgrimage.

A panel of distinguished ecumenists will reflect on the theme and the keynoters’ presentations. A second panel will discuss the practical reality of living in communion today.

For more information or to register online visit www.naae.net

For more information:

Rev. John W. Crossin, OSFS
President, North American Academy of Ecumenists
ph: 202-832-2675
email: crossinwtc [at] aol [dot] com
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Posted: Sept. 10, 2008 • Permanent link: ecumenism.net/?p=493
Categories: News
Transmis : 10 sept. 2008 • Lien permanente : ecumenism.net/?p=493
Catégorie : News

Calgary seeks RC director of Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs

The RC Diocese of Calgary invites applications for a part-time Director of Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs. The successful candidate will have an abiding desire for promoting Christian unity and cooperation among peoples of other faiths. He/she will work closely with and report to the Bishop of the Diocese of Calgary, serve as consultant on ecumenical issues for him and other Diocesan offices/institutions, and liaise with representatives of other traditions. She/he will be responsible for providing ecumenical formation for Roman Catholics in the Diocese — parishioners, parish organizations and clergy — in order that the teaching and directives on ecumenism from the Second Vatican Council and post-conciliar documents be put into practice in the diocese.

To do this, the successful candidate will:
• have a solid understanding of Roman Catholic theology on ecumenism and interfaith dialogue;
• be a practicing Roman Catholic, well rooted in his/her faith;
• be ready to dialogue with representatives of other Christian traditions and other faiths;
• have the ability to articulate and communicate Roman Catholic perspectives to others;
• preferably have an advanced degree in Theology and be prepared to pursue ongoing education/formation as necessary.

Closing date for application is November 3, 2008. We thank all applicants for their interest. Only those selected for an interview will be contacted.

Interested persons should send a letter of introduction and curriculum vitae to:
Fran Oleniuk, Administrator, Human Resources
Catholic Pastoral Centre
120 – 17 Avenue SW
Calgary AB, T2S 2T2
By fax (403) 232-6349
By e-mail to humanresources [at] rcdiocese-calgary [dot] ab [dot] ca.
If your e-mail is not confirmed as received, please follow-up by phone to (403) 218-5533
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Posted: Sept. 10, 2008 • Permanent link: ecumenism.net/?p=492
Categories: NewsIn this article: Calgary, Catholic, interfaith
Transmis : 10 sept. 2008 • Lien permanente : ecumenism.net/?p=492
Catégorie : NewsDans cet article : Calgary, Catholic, interfaith

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