Category: Ecumenism

Francis, Benedict praise Bartholomew I as a brother in faith

pope_francis_and_patriarch_bartholomew_i_in_greece_april_16_2016_credit_losservatore_romano_cna-1In their forewords to a new book about the head of the Eastern Orthodox Church Patriarch Bartholomew I, Pope Francis and retired Pope Benedict XVI praised the faith and goodness of the ecumenical patriarch.

“Today, we brothers in the faith and hope that does not disappoint, we are deeply united in the desire that Christians of the East and the West can feel part of the one and only Church,” Pope Francis wrote.

The forewords were contributions to the book Bartholomew, Apostle and Visionary by John Chryssavgis, written in honor of the 25th anniversary of the patriarch’s election as head of the Eastern Orthodox Church. It was released Oct. 11.   Continue reading →

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Pope urges Lutherans to set aside doctrine to work together

1476364732678“Pope Francis is urging Lutherans to set aside doctrinal differences and work with Catholics to care for the poor, the sick and refugees as he lays out his vision for greater communion ahead of his visit to Sweden later this month. Francis greeted about 1,000 Lutherans on Thursday. The group was visiting the Vatican after Germany, where Martin Luther famously sparked the Protestant Reformation by nailing his 95 theses to a church door to challenge the abuses of the Catholic Church.” –Source

This will work for the Pope because in today’s world most religious leaders have ignored their forefathers and so their flock will follow them instead of the Lord. I have a list of ALL the forefathers posted here wherein you can see 100% of them declared the Pope to be either the beast or Antichrist himself. But because Satan will never let up in this relentless war of his, and sinceprophecy will be fulfilled, all the churches of the world, and sadly this includes the SDA church, will join hands with the Pope so as to set up their armed forces against the obedient people of God in what prophecy declares Armageddon. So be it, we know how that will come out; because just as that prophecy is the prophecy of their hatred towards us has been fulfilled, so will the prophecy that says they will fail in their final battle and Christ will win the long prophesied war and be forever King of kings and Lord of lords in the ENTIRE Universe.   Continue reading →

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Pope, Anglican leader call for unity in mission and service

6c85b873ed47e29ac4ac12b4a913c5c1-690x450ROME – Pope Francis and Anglican Archbishop Justin Welby of Canterbury together charged 19 pairs of Catholic and Anglican bishops to return to their home countries and work together to promote joint prayer, joint proclamation of the Gospel and, especially, joint works of charity and justice.

“Today we rejoice to commission them and send them forth in pairs as the Lord sent out the 72 disciples,” the pope and archbishop said in a common declaration signed Oct. 5 at the end of an evening prayer service.

The 38 bishops, who are part of the International Anglican-Roman Catholic Commission on Unity and Mission, included: for the United States, Episcopalian Bishop John Bauerschmidt of Tennessee and Catholic Auxiliary Bishop Denis J. Madden of Baltimore; for Canada, Anglican Bishop Dennis Drainville of Quebec and Catholic Bishop Gary Gordon of Victoria, British Columbia; and for Australia, Anglican Bishop John Parkes of Wangaratta and Catholic Archbishop Christopher Prowse of Canberra-Goulburn.   Continue reading →

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Can a Baptist be a Catholic?

eucharistic-breadA cadre of Baptist scholars has been writing about emerging catholicity, the holy desire for unity among all ecclesial communions. Taking tradition more seriously as a source for theological construction, these Baptists urge usage of the ancient creeds of the apostolic heritage of the whole church to supplement their reading of Scripture. A leading theologian in the movement, Steven Harmon, contends, “Baptists have their own distinctive ecclesial gifts to offer the church catholic, without which even the churches currently in communion with the bishop of Rome are something less than fully catholic themselves.”

As a staunch Baptist I, too, long for catholicity. In many respects the future of Christianity depends upon a greater ecumenicity. Regular prayer with Benedictines has kindled a burning desire in me for Christ’s church to be one. When worshiping with these Christian brothers and sisters, I feel acutely the separation when the Eucharist is celebrated. While I understand the linkage of the meal to the larger sacramental system of the Roman Catholic Church, it reminds me that the unity for which Jesus prayed in John 17 is not yet realized. My spiritual friend, Abbot Gregory of Conception Abbey (a nearby monastery), shares this longing “that they might be one.”   Continue reading →

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Belfast’s St Anne’s Cathedral: Catholic priest installed for first time

_91375067_img_3329Catholic priest Fr Edward O’Donnell has been installed as an ecumenical canon at St Anne’s Cathedral in Belfast.

He is one of three ecumenical canons appointed at the cathedral.

In his role at St Anne’s he can preach, lead prayers and read scripture. He can also assist at the cathedral’s traditional Black Santa Christmas collection for charity.

It is the first time in St Anne’s history that a Catholic priest has been appointed to such a role.   Continue reading →

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Catholics, Orthodox sign agreement on synodality and primacy

mass_and_divine_liturgy_at_the_shrine_of_the_holy_face_in_manoppello_italy_on_sept_18_2016_credit_daniel_ibanez_1_cnaAt an ecumenical gathering held this week, representatives of the Catholic and Orthodox Churches signed a joint document regarding synodality and primacy during the first millennium.

The agreement can point to ways of “resolving problems still existing between Catholics and Orthodox today,” said Msgr. Andrea Palmieri, undersecretary of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity.

The 14th plenary session of the Joint International Commission for Theological Dialogue between the Orthodox and Catholic Churches was held in the Italian city of Chieti Sept. 15-22. Their agreement was subtitled “Towards a Common Understanding in Service to the Unity of the Church.”

The primacy of the Bishop of Rome is among the main points of disagreement between the Catholic and Eastern Orthodox Churches.   Continue reading →

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Pentecostals meet Pope Francis; World Council of Churches’ Tveit speaks at Pentecostal conference

pentecostal-world-fellowship-conferencePope Francis met with a group of Italian Pentecostal pastors Sept. 8, telling them that unity is achieved by walking patiently together.

In São Paulo, Brazil, on Sept. 7, Rev. Olav Fykse Tveit, general secretary of the World Council of Churches spoke about climate change during the opening day of the 24th Pentecostal World Conference.

“We all sin against the Holy Spirit if we ignore climate change,” said Rev. Tveit.

The encounters between the head of the Catholic Church and the leader of the WCC which represents mainly Anglican, Orthodox and traditional Protestant churches comes at time of greater ecumenical contact across the board.    Continue reading →

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Ecumenical autumn: Pope’s calendar filled with dialogue opportunities

Pope Francis greets Anglican Archbishop Justin Welby of Canterbury, England, spiritual leader of the Anglican Communion, during a private meeting at the Vatican in this June 16, 2014, file photo. The pope will meet Archbishop Welby in Assisi during an interfaith peace meeting this month and in Rome in October. (CNS photo/L'Osservatore Romano) See VATICAN-LETTER-POPE-ECUMENISM Sept. 1, 2016.
Pope Francis greets Anglican Archbishop Justin Welby of Canterbury, England, spiritual leader of the Anglican Communion, during a private meeting at the Vatican in this June 16, 2014, file photo. The pope will meet Archbishop Welby in Assisi during an interfaith peace meeting this month and in Rome in October. (CNS photo/L’Osservatore Romano) See VATICAN-LETTER-POPE-ECUMENISM Sept. 1, 2016.

VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Hopes for Christian unity may not be spring fresh, but Pope Francis’ fall calendar is filled with ecumenical appointments.

Even as developments within Christian denominations seem to be solidifying differences that would make full unity difficult, there is no sign that the desire to meet and dialogue is waning. And, in fact, divided Christians are finding more opportunities to pray together and engage in joint work to help the poor and needy.

Pope Francis will open his season of ecumenical engagements Sept. 20 when he joins other Christian leaders and representatives of other religions in Assisi to commemorate the 30th anniversary of St. John Paul II’s interreligious peace gathering. Ten days later, Pope Francis flies to Georgia, a predominantly Orthodox nation. In October, he will meet and pray with Anglican Archbishop Justin Welby of Canterbury and, at the end of the month, he will fly to Sweden to take part in ecumenical events launching commemorations of the 500th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation.   Continue reading →

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Nigerian Christians and Muslims open historic peace center

kano-central-mosque-bombing-victimThe center is located in Kaduna, where more than 20,000 people have died in various conflicts over the last three decades and it was opened Aug. 19.

It is one of a growing number of interfaith initiatives in Nigeria and its goal is to systematically document interfaith relations to inform national and international policy-making.

The Christian Council of Nigeria and Jama’atu Nasril Islam, led the effort to open the center, which was preceded in 2014 by a consultative forum held in Abuja that drew about 40 Muslim and Christian leaders.

World Council of Churches general secretary Rev. Olav Fykse Tveit, said at the official opening. Continue reading →

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To help desperate refugees, Mormons and Catholics join hands

Syrian_refugee_Credit_thomas_koch_via_wwwshutterstockcom_CNAThe Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has given $1.25 million in aid to Catholic refugee relief efforts.

“Together, as people of faith, we know that refugees desperately need our help – and this generosity allows us to serve many more,” said Bishop Eusebio Elizondo, auxiliary bishop of Seattle and chairman of the U.S. bishops’ Committee on Migration.

The LDS Church, whose members are colloquially known as Mormons, gave cash and donated goods to aid newly arrived refugees. The refugees are helped through Catholic dioceses’ resettlement offices under the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Migration and Refugee Services. The donation will help welcome refugees and help them build new lives, the U.S. bishops’ conference reported.  Continue reading →

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