Author: gws

Mennonites and Roman Catholics Sit Down and Talk — for Five Days

NEWS RELEASE
Mennonite World Conference (MWC)
November 2, 1998

STRASBOURG, France – Why would representatives of the Vatican suggest a meeting with Mennonites? Where might the conversation begin?

From October 14-18, a delegation of Mennonite leaders sat down with a delegation of Roman Catholic leaders to talk about relationships between the two church bodies, today as well as historically. The meeting was a first. What prompted the conversations, and why did they happen now? Continue reading “Mennonites and Roman Catholics Sit Down and Talk — for Five Days” →

Mennonites and Roman Catholics to Converse

NEWS RELEASE
Mennonite World Conference (MWC)
For Immediate Release
September 23, 1998

STRASBOURG, France – Nearly five hundred years after they separated, Mennonites and Roman Catholics will be sitting down together to talk.

“Toward a Healing of the Memories” is the name of a dialogue scheduled for October 14-18 in Strasbourg, France. Six Mennonites, led by Helmut Harder, theologian and general secretary of the Conference of Mennonites in Canada, will begin conversation with representatives from one of the world’s oldest and most powerful churches. Continue reading “Mennonites and Roman Catholics to Converse” →

How to be a Christian in a Non-Christian World?
Is there a Lay Theology?

by Mark and Louise Zwick

Houston Catholic Worker

It happened again, and as usual we had become upset and angry. An
immigrant just asked us for the upteenth time, “Marcos, usted es un
sacerdote y Luisa una monja?” (Mark, are you a priest and Louise a
nun?)

“No! No!” We say for the upteenth time. “Somos laicos.” We are lay
people. And if they insist, we say in frustration, “No! Somos laicos
tontos y estupidos.”

A priest or sister might run Casa Juan Diego better than lay people. No
matter what they say, all the good people have not left the active
ministry. As a matter of fact, priests and sisters have been
instrumental in bringing Casa Juan Diego to where it is today–and that
includes our chief shepherds.

But the point is: Lay people can and should be doing this work. Why
should anyone think that to be committed, one must be a priest or
sister? Why should it seem unusual for lay people to try to live the
Gospel? Continue reading “How to be a Christian in a Non-Christian World?
Is there a Lay Theology?” →