NEWS RELEASE
Mennonite World Conference (MWC)
For Immediate Release
November 2, 1998
STRASBOURG/VATICAN CITY – For the first time, Mennonite and Catholic theologians met in international dialogue, October 14-18, to discuss the reasons for the centuries long separation between the two churches, starting in the sixteenth century. The meeting took place in Strasbourg, France.
This international consultation was sponsored by the Mennonite World Conference (Strasbourg) and the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity (Vatican City). Dr. Helmut Harder (Winnipeg, Canada) and Bishop Joseph Martino (Philadelphia, Pa., USA) were co-chairmen. Dr. Larry Miller (Strasbourg) and Monsignor John A. Radano (Rome) served as co-secretaries.
The purpose of the consultation was to promote better understanding of positions about Christian faith held on each side and to contribute to overcoming prejudices that have long existed between Mennonites and Catholics.
In this meeting, two sets of papers were presented. The first consisted of a profile by each church describing for the other “who we are.” The Mennonite profile was given by Dr. Howard J. Loewen (California, USA) and the Catholic profile by Rev. James Puglisi, SA (Rome/USA). The second set of papers focused on historical questions helping to shed light on the reactions to each other in the 16th century. Dr. Peter Nissen (Nijmegen, The Netherlands) spoke on “The Catholic Response to the Anabaptist Movement in the Sixteenth Century” and Dr. Neal Blough (France) on “Anabaptist Images of Roman Catholics during the Sixteenth Century.” The various presentations and the discussion of issues was aimed at contributing towards a healing of memories between the two churches.
On one afternoon, the consultation participants visited a village outside of Strasbourg where they were welcomed to a Mennonite church by its elder, Andre Nussbaumer, and were addressed by a Catholic sociologist of religion, Dr. Jean Seguy, on the history of Anabaptist-Mennonite and Catholic relations in France. At lunch on Thursday, October 15, Dr. Marc Lienhard, Lutheran theologian, shared his insights on religious dissidents in 16th century Strasbourg. Members of both delegations attended Sunday worship at the Strasbourg Evangelical Mennonite Church.
Other participants on the Mennonite side were Dr. Mario Higueros (Guatemala), Dr. Nzash Lumeya (Congo), and Rev. Andrea Lange (Germany). Other Roman Catholics were Monsignor John Mutiso-Mbinda (Rome/Kenya) and Dr. Joan Back (Rome/England). It is anticipated that the dialogue will continue in October 1999.