Pope links violence in God’s name to Antichrist

Vatican City (ENInews). Violence committed in the name of God or religion is a “favorite instrument of the Antichrist,” Pope Benedict XVI writes in a new book on the life and teachings of Jesus.

“Violence does not build up the kingdom of God, the kingdom of humanity,” Benedict writes. “On the contrary, it is a favorite instrument of the Antichrist, however idealistic its religious motivation may be. It serves not humanity, but inhumanity.” Continue reading “Pope links violence in God’s name to Antichrist” →

Cardinal Turkson: Today’s Wars Won’t Bring Future Peace

Justice, Peace Council President Stresses Role of Religions in Reconciliation

BERLIN, Germany, NOV. 29, 2010 (Zenit.org).- The wars of today will not lead to the peace of tomorrow, says the president of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace.

This was affirmed by Cardinal Peter Turkson in an address at a congress of the German Bishops’ Conference Commission for Justice and Peace.

The congress, which was held in Berlin in November, focused on the theme, “Wars of Today, Peace of Tomorrow.”

“It is becoming increasingly clear, especially in today’s world, how a seemingly ‘small’ and ‘local’ conflict can trigger ‘global’ consequences,” the prelate observed. Continue reading “Cardinal Turkson: Today’s Wars Won’t Bring Future Peace” →

Vatican celebrates 50 years of ecumenical engagement

The Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity (PCPCU) assembled in November at the Vatican to mark a 50-year landmark in Roman Catholic ecumenical engagement. On Pentecost 1960, as part of preparations for the Second Vatican Council, Pope John XXIII established the Catholic Church’s first secretariat for ecumenical dialogue. The PCPCU is its successor organization, and is the body that held an official international dialogue with Mennonite World Conference from 1998-2003. Continue reading “Vatican celebrates 50 years of ecumenical engagement” →

America magazine article charts steps toward “Our Ecumenical Future;” cites Bridgefolk

A recent article in the Catholic weekly magazine America assesses by Christopher Ruddy, “Our Ecumenical Future” suggested ways for Catholic bishops to promote Christian unity. The article makes positive mention of Bridgefolk and is available online at http://www.americamagazine.org/content/article.cfm?article_id=12544.

Here is an excerpt, in which Ruddy makes four suggestions Continue reading “America magazine article charts steps toward “Our Ecumenical Future;” cites Bridgefolk” →

Bridgefolk Briefs

A few items of interest this week:

From Mennonite Church Eastern Canada: A service of healing between Mennonites and Lutherans will take place later this month in Waterloo, Ontario. Bridgefolk participants might be particularly interested in the story of footwashing as a means of healing relationships.
Click here for a report on the day of reflection for Mennonites and Catholics in South Bend, Indiana. This gathering, involving many friends of Bridgefolk, was previously announced on this site.
Resources from last summer’s conference are now available on the 2010 Conference page. Click here to read the presentations by Abbot John Klassen and Mary Schertz or to view the footwashing liturgy used in our corporate worship.
Share your thoughts on the Discussion page. The current discussion topic explores the interaction of movements and institutions in church life.

Reflections on Catholic-Mennonite peace witness

Click here to read a recent commentary on Mennonite-Catholic peace witness. The reflection is written by Andre Gingerich Stoner, Director of Interchurch Relations (Mennonite Church USA) and longtime friend of Bridgefolk.

Mennonite World Conference endorses dialogue with Catholics, Lutherans

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia – During its annual meeting in July, the Executive Committee of Mennonite World Conference approved participation in a tri-lateral conversation with the Lutheran World Federation and the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity. General Secretary Larry Miller reflected: “Because of our history, we Anabaptists have often seen ourselves as heirs of martyrs, and we need to come to terms with how that affects our view of the world. We also need to see ourselves as members of the wider body of Christ, called to give an account of our convictions and practices, and to receive others as they do likewise.” The dialogue will begin in 2011. The full report can be found here.

Mennonite-Catholic dialogue featured in ecumenical conference

The recent Mennonite-Catholic dialogue will be among the projects discussed at an upcoming ecumenical conference in St. Paul, MN. Hosted by Saint Paul Seminary, “A Century of Ecumenism” will be held June 17-19. The conference is organized by Monsignor John Radano, Vatican staff person for the Mennonite-Catholic dialogue.

From the conference website:

The goal of this seminar is to concentrate the attention of scholars on an assessment of specific achievements of international dialogue. Special attention will be paid to international bilateral dialogues that began immediately after the Second Vatican Council involving the Catholic Church with many different churches and Christian World Communions, and the multilateral dialogue sponsored by the World Council of Churches’ Commission on Faith and Order.

The conference schedule and brochure can be found here.

Justice, Peace Council President Stresses Role of Religions in Reconciliation

Pontiff Encourages Work With the Poor