News in Ecumenism

Considering Mercy among Japan's Buddhist, Shinto and Catholic faiths

Considering Mercy among Japan's Buddhist, Shinto and Catholic faiths

by: ucanews.com reporter, Tokyo in Ecumenism,

 There is a direct parallel with the Japanese Christians understanding of God's love which means 'to hold dear'  Representatives from the Buddhist, Shinto, and Catholic communities gather to discuss the concept of mercy during a symposium held last September at Kanazawa Church.

Pope Francis and Archbishop Welby sign Common Declaration

Pope Francis and Archbishop Welby sign Common Declaration

by: Vatican News in Ecumenism,
Pope Francis and the Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby on Wednesday presided at the celebration of Vespers in the Rome church of St Gregory on the Caelian Hill to mark the 50th anniversary of Anglican-Catholic relations. During the liturgy the two leaders signed a common declaration and sent out on mission together 19 pairs of Anglican and Catholic bishops from countries around the world.
Buddhist monks evicted from their pagoda in Vietnam

Buddhist monks evicted from their pagoda in Vietnam

by: ucanews.com reporter, Ho Chi Minh City in Ecumenism,

The monk has been imprisoned three times for a total of 16 years for allegedly opposing the Vietnamese regime and undermining national unity. Church observers say after Lien Tri Pagoda, the government plans to remove a Catholic church and convent the only two religious facilities that remain in the area.

Appeal for Peace from Assisi

Appeal for Peace from Assisi

by: Dr. Robert Moynihan in Ecumenism,

 "This is the spirit that animates us: to bring about encounters through dialogue, and to oppose every form of violence and abuse of religion which seeks to justify war and terrorism." Declaretion of Assisi, a common call from representatives of many religious traditions.

The first pan-Orthodox Council for 1,200 years ends with hope for the future

The first pan-Orthodox Council for 1,200 years ends with hope for the future

by: Tom Heneghan-The Tablet in Ecumenism,

The Orthodox Church has held its first Holy and Great Council in over 1,200 years. If its hierarchs want it to be a success, they will have to follow up soon with another one. “Soon” is a relative term in the Orthodox Church, where ancient debates seem as if they took place yesterday, and preparations for this summit took 55 years before the gathering could open last week in western Crete.

Brotherly embrace: Pope, Armenian leader highlight Christian unity

Brotherly embrace: Pope, Armenian leader highlight Christian unity

by: Cindy Wooden-Catholic News Service in Ecumenism,

All Christians share the mission of “the strengthening of solidarity among nations and peoples (and the) reinforcing of brotherhood and collaboration.” The catholicos warned of modern attacks on the faith, including a selfish lack of concern for “those who long for daily bread and are in pain and suffering,” as well as other “economic, political, social, environmental” problems. 

ST.THOMAS MORE, "The King's Good Servant, But God's First."

ST.THOMAS MORE, "The King's Good Servant, But God's First."

by: Fr. Joseph Santiago CMF in Ecumenism,

Sir Thomas More was an English lawyer, Social philosopher, author, statesman and noted Renaissance humanist. He was an important councillor to Henry VIII and Lord Chancellor from October 1529 to 16 May 1532. Thomas More resigned in 1532, at the height of his career and reputation, when Henry ignored church teaching and declared his marriage to Catherine of Aragon annulled so he could marry Anne Boleyn.

 The Archbishop of York John Sentamu on his pilgrimage

The Archbishop of York John Sentamu on his pilgrimage

by: Joe Shute - The Sunday Telegraph in Ecumenism,

“I’ve been in York for 10 years and wanted to get to know the place better,” he says. “It’s a vast diocese, and once we worked out I needed to spend six days in each deanery, I’m afraid you couldn’t do it under six months.” Over the past 122 days Dr Sentamu has called in at more than 130 schools, 480 churches and 22 hospitals and hospices. Along the way he has waded through the winter floods, been called into spur of the moment baptisms including one in the fountain at Castle Howard.

'Clergy couture' range launched for fashion-conscious female priests

'Clergy couture' range launched for fashion-conscious female priests

by: John Bingham,- The Sunday Telegraph in Ecumenism,

The struggle by female clergy to be admitted to the upper ranks of the Established Church took decades but changed the face of the once crusty male-dominated institution forever. Now they are being enlisted in a new, more subtle, fight but one which could - in its own way - have a profound effect on the how the Church of England is seen for decades to come.

The unholy destruction of Bishop Bell

The unholy destruction of Bishop Bell

by: Charles Moore - The Telegraph in Ecumenism,

"Time and again, in recent child-abuse inquiries, the police have made grandiose, ill-based claims". Justice is not guaranteed by passionate feeling against a particular, horrible crime such as child abuse. It depends absolutely on proper process. "The key legal principle – the presumption of innocence – is being set aside".

Pope, Russian Orthodox patriarch to meet in historic step

Pope, Russian Orthodox patriarch to meet in historic step

by: ASSOCIATED PRESS in Ecumenism,

Pope Francis and the leader of the Russian Orthodox Church will meet in Cuba next week in a historic step to heal the 1,000-year-old schism that divided Christianity between East and West, both churches announced Friday. Francis is due to travel to Mexico Feb. 12-18. He will stop in Cuba on the way and meet with Kirill on Feb. 12 at the Havana airport, where they will speak privately for about two hours and then sign a joint declaration, the Vatican said.

What divides and unifies Chinese Christians?

What divides and unifies Chinese Christians?

by: Michel Chambon - UCAnews in Ecumenism,

Ecumenism is not condemned to disappear from China. Indeed, we can find within the Chinese society and among Chinese Christians a certain number of mediations infusing a path of mutual respect, convergence and relative spiritual communion. Chinese Christians are all aware of sharing the same spiritual filiation and of their duty to better honor Jesus' prayer for his disciples: "they may be one so that the world may believe."

 Pope's “personal ecumenism” of encounter and friendship.

Pope's “personal ecumenism” of encounter and friendship.

by: Christopher Lamb - The Tablet in Ecumenism,

He wants to build on this foundation but his approach is not to debate the finer points of ecclesiology. He instead operates a sort of “personal ecumenism” of encounter and friendship: a strategy that seeks to go round the structures and walls of division. One example of this is his planned visit this October to Lund, in Sweden for a gathering of October Catholic and Lutheran leaders preparing to mark the 500th anniversary of the reformation in 2017. 

Walking Together in the Service of God in the World

Walking Together in the Service of God in the World

by: Declaration after the meeting of Anglican Primates in Ecumenism,

Declaration after the meeting of Anglican Primates, the senior bishops of the 38 Anglican Provinces, that took place in Canterbury between Monday 11 January and Friday 15 January at the invitation of Justin Welby, the Archbishop of Canterbury. We came knowing that the 2016 Primates’ meeting would be concerned with the differences among us in regard to our teaching on matters of human sexuality. We were also eager to address wider areas of concern. 

Is the Church of England a "Church"?

Is the Church of England a "Church"?

by: Carmody Grey - The Tablet in Ecumenism,

 We are not supposed to think of the Church of England as a ‘Church’. When our sovereign was crowned, the Scriptures were placed in her hands with an awesome pronouncement: “We present you with this book, the most valuable thing this world affords.” 

Anglican Communion Avoids Schism

Anglican Communion Avoids Schism

by: Sean Smith - The Tablet in Ecumenism,

Anglican communion avoids schism by banning pro-gay US church for three years. The Archbishop of Canterbury has banned the US Episcopal Church from involvement in the Anglican Communion for three years in an attempt to avoid a general schism. The communion also voted to condemn same-sex marriage as against its teaching.