Year: 2002

More affirmation of ecclesial movements from the Vatican

RELIGIOUS LIFE AND NEW MOVEMENTS EXTOLLED AS COMPLEMENTARY
Called to Respond to Today’s Dehumanization, Says Official

ROME, DEC. 4, 2002 (Zenit.org).- Religious congregations and  ecclesial movements need one another, and there are particular areas where they can cooperate, said conferees at a recent assembly.

The areas where they could cooperate include the struggle against  poverty, commitment against war, spirituality and interreligious  dialogue.

That was a conclusion of the 61st semester assembly of the Union  of Superiors General (USG), which focused on the topic “Laity and  Religious Together Before the Challenges of the Third Millennium.” Continue reading “More affirmation of ecclesial movements from the Vatican” →

Summary of Steering Committee Meeting, November 2002

The Bridgefolk Steering Committee met a St. John’s November 8-10, 2002.  Present were: Sheri Hostetler; Ivan and Lois Kauffman; Abbot John Klassen, OSB; Marlene and Stan Kropf; Weldon Nisly; Gerald Schlabach; William Skudlarek, OSB; and Regina Wilson.  Subjects covered included: creating a mission statement, confirming the Bridgefolk name, considering structures for the organization, planning the 2003 conference; reviewing the newsletter and suggesting the idea of regional groups. Continue reading “Summary of Steering Committee Meeting, November 2002” →

Joint news release: Mennonite-Catholic International Dialogue

JOINT PRESS RELEASE
Mennonite World Conference (MWC) and
Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity
November 14, 2002

AKRON, Pennsylvania, U.S.A. – The fifth meeting of the Mennonite-Catholic international dialogue took place at the headquarters of the Mennonite Central Committee, Akron, Pennsylvania, October 25-31, 2002. Co-sponsored by the Mennonite World Conference (Strasbourg, France) and the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity (Vatican City), the dialogue began in 1998, has met annually since then and is working toward issuing a final report in 2003. Dr. Helmut Harder (Mennonite, Winnipeg, Canada) and Bishop Joseph Martino (Catholic, Philadelphia PA, USA) are co-chairmen. Continue reading “Joint news release: Mennonite-Catholic International Dialogue” →

“Handing Us Back Ourselves:”
On the Rediscovery of Mennonite Spirituality

by Mary Schertz
Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary

An updated version of this article entitled
“Seeking the Taproot of Anabaptist Spirituality”
is now available at
http://www.cascadiapublishinghouse.com/dsm/autumn04/schema.htm

Have we, as Mennonite people of faith, “lost our spirituality,” or perhaps never claimed a spirituality and, consequently, do we need to look to other traditions, such as Catholic spirituality, in order to recover this vital aspect of religious commitment? These questions emerged recently in the context of the recent consultation on Mennonite-Catholic dialog held at St. John’s Abbey in the rolling hills of Steuben County, Minnesota-Lake Wobegon country. It was a wonderful weekend-replete with Benedictine hospitality, reunion with old friends and the excitement of making new ones, stimulating papers, reciting Psalms with the monks, singing hymns with the Mennonites, good food and great (relatively cool) weather. Continue reading ““Handing Us Back Ourselves:”
On the Rediscovery of Mennonite Spirituality” →

Three Things for Liberals to Ponder

by Father Ron Rolheiser, OMI

Things rarely are simple. Nothing, save God, comes without a shadow.

That’s good to keep in mind when we assess the pros and cons of liberals and conservatives. Each brings something to the table and each too has an achilles heel.

What is the achilles heel within liberal Catholicism? I suggest three places where liberal Catholicism (Protestantism included) might want to do some self-scrutiny: Continue reading “Three Things for Liberals to Ponder” →

Crisis in the Catholic Church versus New Springtime

by Mark and Louise Zwick

Houston Catholic Worker

Never has there been such a growth in the life of the Church as is occurring today throughout the world.

The Church has entered a new era as many groups burst forth like a new spring. There is a virtual explosion of ideas and commitment as Catholics develop and utilize their skills in living out the faith in their daily lives. This development reminds us of initiation of religious communities of the past.

Catholics, especially young Catholics, are revolting against the usual life scenario to which we have been accustomed: Go to the university, buy a house (a nice house with a nice lawn), have babies, make money for their college, make money for retirement, retire, have a painless death and a nice eulogy. If one is lucky there will be some recognition for one’s wealth creation by church or state. Continue reading “Crisis in the Catholic Church versus New Springtime” →

Christ Brought About a New Kind of Victory

by Father Raniero Cantalamessa
Homily for Papal Household

Good Friday 2004

The following is an excerpt from the homily delivered on Good Friday at the Celebration of the Lord’s Passion by the Papal Household preacher, Capuchin Father Raniero Cantalamessa. The complete homily is available at http://www.zenit.org/article-9864?l=english.

The passion of Christ, described prophetically in the Deutero-Isaiah text [Isaiah 52:13-53:12] and historically in the Gospels in our present liturgy, has a special message for the times in which we are living. The message is: No to violence! Continue reading “Christ Brought About a New Kind of Victory” →

World Religious Leaders Gathered in Assisi Seen as ‘Champions of Peace’

NEWS RELEASE
Mennonite World Conference (MWC)
February 4, 2002

ASSISI, Italy — Religion should never be used to justify violence, war or terrorism by any government or group in the current hostile world environment. Rather, all religions should together commit themselves to justice and peace. These strong beliefs led Pope John Paul II to invite leaders of world religions to gather here to pray for global peace.

The papal invitation to gather in Assisi, Italy on January 24, 2002 for a Day of Prayer for Peace in the World was issued to heads of numerous Christian denominations from Orthodox to Evangelical to Quaker, to leaders of the Jewish and Muslim faiths and of several Eastern religions. Among them was Mesach Krisetya, president of Mennonite World Conference, who came from Indonesia. Others came from as far as Korea, Japan, India and Russia as well as from nearby countries. Continue reading “World Religious Leaders Gathered in Assisi Seen as ‘Champions of Peace’” →