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” →

Official communique issued jointly by the MWC and the PCPCU

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. Continue reading “Official communique issued jointly by the MWC and the PCPCU” →

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” →