Bridgefolk 2007 featured in National Catholic Reporter

Many of us have been catching our breath after two great conferences in Northern Indiana last month, but freelance writer Heather Grennan Gary has done some great reporting on our 2007 Bridgefolk conference. National Catholic Reporter featured her article in its August 17 issue, giving Bridgefolk what may be its widest exposure in the Catholic press to date.

You can read the NCR article online at http://ncronline.org/NCR_Online/archives2/2007c/081707/081707l.php> at least for a few weeks. (During August and September, you should be able to click on the “Special unrestricted access” button without actually subscribing.)

Another version of Grennan Gary’s article is available on the website of our host, the Associated Mennonite Biblical Se minary: http://www.ambs.edu/news-and-publications/news/bridgefolk. A permanent link to this story will be available on our own website, www.bridgefolk.net.

Building Bridges of Reconciliation in Latin America

A recent publication from the Mennonite Central Committee — the cooperative agency of Mennonite denominations in North America for relief, development and peacebuilding — surveys bridge-building efforts between Roman Catholics and Evangelicals in Latin America. The April-June issue of the Peace Office Newsletter is available online at http://mcc.org/peace/pon/PON_2007-02.pdf. Introducing the newsletter is the following article: Continue reading “Building Bridges of Reconciliation in Latin America” →

Pope Approves Objector for Beatification

Last week news we learned that Pope Benedict XVI has officially recognized Franz Jägerstätter as a martyr. Jägerstätter was a Catholic conscientious objector in Nazi-occupied Austria at a time when the Catholic Church did not yet recognize the legitimacy of conscientious objection from military service. His witness has been a source of encouragement as the ranks of Catholic conscientious objectors and peacebuilders has grown since the Second Vatican Council. The Catholic Peace Fellowship explains the significance of this news in a just-released article: Continue reading “Pope Approves Objector for Beatification” →

Bridgefolk’s Gerald Schlabach in Commonweal magazine

Bridgefolk Executive Director Gerald Schlabach has just had an article published in Commonweal magazine, entitled “You Converted to What? One Mennonite’s Journey.” In it he offers nine “non-Roman” reasons why he became Roman Catholic, even while remaining Mennonite in many ways. Commonweal has granted Schlabach permission to post the article on his web site. You will find it at http://personal.stthomas.edu/gwschlabach/rc/.

Here are three excerpts: Continue reading “Bridgefolk’s Gerald Schlabach in Commonweal magazine” →

Toronto dialogue group releases report

New on our website is the report of a dialogue group at the Toronto School of Theology. Ten graduate students in theology, half of whom are Roman Catholic and half Mennonite, met together regularly for two years to analyze and discuss Called Together to be Peacemakers, the final report from the international dialogue between Mennonites and Roman Catholics, 1998-2003. Their final report is entitled “Responding to the Call: Reflections on Called Together to be Peacemakers.” It gives particular attention to five themes — authority and the reception of teaching in each tradition, religious liberty, baptism, Eucharist, and peace. The report is available at http://www.bridgefolk.net/theology/dialogue.

Bluffton University Professor Lectures on “Why Mennonites Should Read Catholic Literature”

Bridgefolk conversations and events have focused most often on spirituality, liturgy, peacemaking and theology. But in recent decades many Mennonites have also found themselves drawn to the art and literature of the Catholic tradition. In an annual peace lectureship sponsored by Goshen College and Bluffton University, Bluffton professor Lamar Nisly addressed the topic of “Why Mennonites Should Read Catholic Literature.” Continue reading “Bluffton University Professor Lectures on “Why Mennonites Should Read Catholic Literature”” →

Mennonite Central Committee leads ecumenical delegation to Iran

An ecumenical delegation organized by Mennonite Central Committee — the arm of Mennonite churches in North America for relief, development and peacemaking — has just returned from Iran. Among the delegation was David Robinson, executive director of the Catholic peace organization Pax Christi USA. Continue reading “Mennonite Central Committee leads ecumenical delegation to Iran” →

Benedict XVI calls for a “Christian revolution”

Invites Faithful to Respond to Evil With Good

VATICAN CITY, FEB. 18, 2007 (Zenit.org).- The “Christian revolution” of love is able to uproot evil and sow goodness in the world, says Benedict XVI.

The Pope made that statement today when addressing the thousands of people in St. Peter’s Square who defied the inclement weather to attend the recitation of the Angelus. In his address, the Holy Father reflected on Jesus’ mandate: “Love your enemies,” read in this Sunday’s liturgy.

“Christ’s proposal is realistic, because it takes into account that in the world there is too much violence, too much injustice, and that this situation cannot be overcome without positing more love, more kindness,” Benedict XVI said. “This ‘more’ comes from God.” Continue reading “Benedict XVI calls for a “Christian revolution”” →

Still more local dialogues in Winnipeg!

In our Bridgefolk Brief last week we provided updates on a number of local dialogues between Mennonites and Roman Catholics that have come to our attention. One of these relayed information from a Canadian magazine concerning a congregation-to-parish dialogue in Winnipeg. As it turns out, this is only the beginning. Dr. Helmut Harder responded with additional information on what’s happening with Catholic-Mennonite dialogue in Winnipeg: Continue reading “Still more local dialogues in Winnipeg!” →