Mennonite-Catholic dialogue featured in Vatican newspaper L’Osservatore Romano

International Contacts Between Mennonites and Catholics

by John A. Radano

For its relationship with Mennonites, the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity is in touch with the Mennonite World Conference (MWC) whose central office is in Strasbourg, France. Those communities from different parts of the world adhering to the MWC consist altogether of about one million persons.

There were two important contacts in this past year. First, the President of the MWC, Dr. Mesach Kristeya accepted the invitation of Pope John Paul II to participate in the “Day of Prayer for Peace in the World” January 24, 2002, in Assisi, and read one of the ten statements of commitment in the third part of that day. Second, another session took place of the international dialogue organized by the MWC and the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity. Continue reading “Mennonite-Catholic dialogue featured in Vatican newspaper L’Osservatore Romano“ →

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” →

Joint News Release: Mennonite-Catholic International Dialogue

JOINT NEWS RELEASE
Mennonite World Conference and
Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity
January 28, 2002

ASSISI, Italy – The fourth meeting of the Mennonite-Catholic international dialogue took place at St. Anthony’s Guest House of the Franciscan Sisters of the Atonement, in Assisi, Italy, November 27th-December 3rd, 2001. Co-sponsored by the Mennonite World Conference (Strasbourg) and the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity (Vatican City), the dialogue began in 1998 and is anticipated to run for at least five annual sessions after which it will issue a report. Dr. Helmut Harder (Mennonite, Winnipeg, Canada) and Bishop Joseph Martino (Catholic, Philadelphia PA, USA) are co-chairmen.

The presentations given in this session of the dialogue focused especially on two themes. On one theme concerning the sacraments, papers were presented on the Mennonite side by Dr. Helmut Harder (“What Anabaptists-Mennonite Confessions of Faith Say About Baptism and the Lord’s Supper”) and on the Catholic side by Rev. Dr. James F. Puglisi, SA, Rome (“Contemporary Theology of the Sacraments with Particular Attention to the Christian Initiation [Baptism and Eucharist]”). On a second theme concerning relations between church and state in the Middle Ages, papers were presented from the Mennonite perspective by Dr. Neal Blough, Paris, France (“From the Edict of Milan to Vatican II, via Theodosius, Clovis, Charlemagne and the Fourth Lateran Council”) and from the Catholic perspective by Dr. Peter Nissen, Nijmegen, The Netherlands (“Church and Secular Power[s] in the Middle Ages”). Continue reading “Joint News Release: Mennonite-Catholic International Dialogue” →

Mennonites and Catholics Find Common Ground on Adult Baptism

NEWS RELEASE
Mennonite World Conference (MWC)
January 28, 2002

ASSISI, Italy – Global Anabaptist-related churches may be surprised to learn that Catholics believe in baptizing adults on confession of faith. Wasn’t voluntary adult baptism at the root of the turmoil and persecution of Anabaptists in the 16th century in Europe?

Baptism and the Lord’s Supper were topics discussed here November 27 to December 3, 2001, at the fourth of five Mennonite-Catholic Dialogues begun in 1998. Continue reading “Mennonites and Catholics Find Common Ground on Adult Baptism” →

Walter Cardinal Kaspar’s letter on Mennonite-Catholic dialogue

Greeting to the Mennonite Delegation
November 26, 2001
Walter Cardinal Kasper

Dear Friends,

I am delighted to welcome you to the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity.

We are very happy that a dialogue between the Mennonite World Conference and the Catholic Church has been underway since 1998. Be assured of my best wishes and prayers for a fruitful meeting in Assisi in the days ahead, and in due time, for a report of the round of dialogues that will be useful for both of our communities.

I know that from the start this dialogue has had as one of its aims the hope of contributing to a healing of memories between our two communions. Continue reading “Walter Cardinal Kaspar’s letter on Mennonite-Catholic dialogue” →

Joint News Release: Mennonite-Catholic International Dialogue

JOINT NEWS RELEASE
Mennonite World Conference (MWC) and the
Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity
December 13, 2000

THOMASHOF, Germany–The third meeting of the Mennonite-Roman Catholic international dialogue took place at the Thomashof Tagungsstatte, a Mennonite conference centre near Karlsruhe, Germany, November 24-30, 2000. Co-sponsored by the Mennonite World Conference (Strasbourg) and the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity (Vatican City), the dialogue began in 1998 and is anticipated to run for five annual sessions after which it will issue a report. Dr. Helmut Harder (Mennonite, Winnipeg, Canada) and Bishop Joseph Martino (Roman Catholic, Philadelphia, PA, USA) are co-chairmen.

This session of the dialogue focused on two themes, one of a contemporary nature formulated under the question, “What is a Peace Church?” The interest in the question of peace arises anew in light of the fact that Mennonites are identified as one of the Historic Peace Churches, and Catholics have addressed the issue of peace in recent times in a new way, in a variety of texts, including Gaudium et Spes (Second Vatican Council) and Papal encyclicals, from Pacem in Terris (John XXIII) to Centesimus Annus (Pope John Paul II). The Mennonite papers were presented by Rev. Andrea Lange (Bolanden-Weierhof, Germany) and Rev. Mario Higueros (Ciudad di Guatemala, Guatemala), and the Catholic paper by Rev. Drew Christiansen, S.J. (Washington, D.C., USA). The second theme focused on the impact of the Constantinian shift on the Church. Papers were presented on the Catholic side by Dr. Peter Nissen (Nijmegen, The Netherlands) and on the Mennonite side by Dr. Alan Kreider (Elkhart, Indiana, USA). Continue reading “Joint News Release: Mennonite-Catholic International Dialogue” →

Third Round Of Mennonite-Catholic International Dialogue

NEWS RELEASE
Mennonite World Conference (MWC)
December 13, 2000

THOMASHOF, Germany–The third meeting of the Mennonite-Roman Catholic international dialogue took place at the Thomashof Tagungsstatte, a Mennonite conference centre near Karlsruhe, Germany, November 24-30, 2000. Eight Mennonites, from six countries and four continents, and seven Catholics participated in these sessions.

Co-sponsored by the Mennonite World Conference and the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, Vatican City, the dialogue began in 1998. It will run for five annual sessions, after which it will issue a report.

The general purpose of the dialogue is to promote better understanding of the positions about Christian faith held by both groups, and to contribute to overcoming prejudices that have existed between Mennonites and Catholics since the 16th century. It is hoped that out of this experience will come a healing of memories and relationships.

This year’s session focused on two themes: (1) What is a peace church? and (2) The impact of the Constantinian shift on the church. Continue reading “Third Round Of Mennonite-Catholic International Dialogue” →

Mennonites and Catholics Meet For More Probing of the Past and Pondering the Future

NEWS RELEASE
Mennonite World Conference (MWC)
November 3, 1999

Why did a few Mennonites sit down with several Roman Catholics for seven days of talking – again? From October 12-18, seven Mennonites and six Roman Catholics met for conversation, designed to dispel misunderstandings from the past and to gain a more accurate knowledge about each other in the present. The Mennonites came on behalf of the member churches of Mennonite World Conference (MWC). The Catholics participated at the direction of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity (the Vatican).

This was the second get-together of these 13 people. The first of the International Dialogues, held last fall, was hosted by the Mennonites in Strasbourg, France. The Catholics hosted this year’s event in Venice, Italy. This second round permitted the participants to inch past the initial politeness between two parties who know each other only a little, but have reason to suspect each other a lot. Continue reading “Mennonites and Catholics Meet For More Probing of the Past and Pondering the Future” →

Mennonite – Roman Catholic International Dialogue

NEWS RELEASE
Mennonite World Conference (MWC)
For Immediate Release
November 3, 1999

VENICE, Italy – The second meeting of the Mennonite-Roman Catholic international dialogue took place in Venice, Italy, at the Casa Cardinal Piazza, October 12-18, 1999. Co-sponsored by the Mennonite World Conference (Strasbourg) and the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity (Vatican City), the dialogue began in 1998 and is anticipated to run for five annual sessions after which it will issue a report. Dr. Helmut Harder (Mennonite, Winnipeg, Canada) and Bishop Joseph Martino (Roman Catholic, Philadelphia PA, USA) are co-Chairmen.

Two sets of papers were presented. One set was historical in nature as the two sides seek to foster the healing of memories between Mennonites and Catholics. Continue reading “Mennonite – Roman Catholic International Dialogue” →