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Le centre canadien d'oecuménisme est heureux d'annoncer la nomination de Anthony Mansour au poste de directeur exécutif du Centre. M. Mansour possède une vaste expérience d'homme d'affaires. Il tient une licence dans la physique de Bishop's University dans Lennoxville, Québec ; un MBA de Southeastern University à Washington, C.C ; et un certificat en théologie orthodoxe d'Université de Sherbrooke dans Longueuil, Québec. Il a aussi servi pendant onze ans dans l'Armée de l'air canadienne en tant que capitaine de réserve et détient des brevets de pilote du Canada et des États-Unis. Il a deux enfants, Brent (12) et Elizabeth (10). Un membre de l'Église orthodoxe en Amérique (OCA), il sert de sous-diacre au Signe du Theotokos, une paroisse d'OCA dans Montréal. Il parle couramment l'anglais et le français.
En annonçant la nomination, Jean-Louis D'Aragon, s.j., président du conseil d'administration a énoncé : « Anthony Mansour apporte au Centre de solides dons d'organisateur et de communicateur en plus de nombreuses années de service à la communauté. » Pendant dix ans avec General Electric, Mansour a servi dans Riyadh, Arabie Saoudite, en tant qu'administrateur principal pour le Moyen-Orient et l'Afrique du nord.
Le conseil d'administration du Centre canadien d'oecuménisme a publié un communiqué de presse pour annoncer la nomination.
Le Conseil d'administration du Centre canadien d'oecuménisme est heureux d'annoncer la nomination de Karl Anthony Mansour au poste de directeur exécutif du Centre.
« Anthony Mansour apporte au Centre de solides dons d'organisateur et de communicateur en plus de nombreuses années de service à la communauté », a dit le père Jean-Louis D'Aragon, s.j., président du conseil d'administration.
Anthony Mansour a occupé des fonctions de direction dans des organisations commerciales ainsi que de service communautaire. Toujours impliqué dans la communauté locale, il a participé à des campagnes de collecte d'aliments pour les banques alimentaires locales, de souscription pour la recherche sur la paralysie cérébrale et de motivation pour inciter des bénévoles à contribuer de leur temps et de leur énergie pour aider les autres. Il a souvent accepté d'adresser la parole à divers groupes religieux.
M. Mansour possède une vaste expérience d'homme d'affaires, comprenant dix années auprès de la compagnie General Electric, d'abord à Montréal, puis au service d'information du siège social à Rockville, Maryland, où on lui a confié de plus grandes responsabilités de gestion. Il a dirigé des équipes qui ont su accroître la qualité et la satisfaction de la clientèle pour des clients globaux tels Rubbermaid, Kodak et American Express. Après l'obtention de sa maîtrise en administration des affaires, GE l'a muté à Riyad, Arabie Saoudite, en tant qu'administrateur principal pour le Moyen-Orient et l'Afrique du nord. En plus de diriger les initiatives de qualité Six Sigma de GE, il a fondé et dirigé un groupe de consultation en commerce électronique. Il est récipiendaire de six prix de gestion de GE, dont un pour service remarquable à la communauté. Avant de venir au Centre canadien d'oecuménisme, M. Mansour a occupé d'autres fonctions de gestion auprès d'entreprises technologiques.
Anthony Mansour a aussi servi pendant onze ans dans l'Armée de l'air canadienne en tant que capitaine de réserve et détient des brevets de pilote du Canada et des États-Unis. Il est âgé de 45 ans et a deux enfants, Brent, 12 ans, et Elizabeth, 10 ans. Il exerce aussi la fonction de sous-diacre à l'église orthodoxe du Signe de la Théotokos qui fait partie de l'Église orthodoxe en Amérique. Il parle couramment l'anglais et le français.
M. Mansour détient un baccalauréat en physique de l'Université Bishop, à Lennoxville, QC, une maîtrise en administration des affaires en gestion internationale de la Southeastern University de Washington et un certificat en théologie orthodoxe de l'université de Sherbrooke à Longueuil, QC.
Le Centre canadien d'oecuménisme
Fondé en 1963, le Centre canadien d'oecuménisme a pour objectif de faciliter la compréhension et la collaboration entre croyants de diverses traditions chrétiennes et religions mondiales par l'éducation, le dialogue et des initiatives spirituelles comme la Semaine de prière pour l'unité chrétienne. Il publie une revue trimestrielle, Oecuménisme, qui est distribuée dans 40 pays et met à la disposition du public une bibliothèque spécialisée de 9 000 volumes.
The Canadian Centre for Ecumenism has a new director, effective August 1st. Anthony Mansour, the successful candidate, comes to the CCE from an extensive background in management. He holds a bachelor's degree in physics from Bishop's University in Lennoxville, Québec; an MBA from Southeastern University in Washington, DC; and a certificate in Orthodox theology from the Université de Sherbrooke in Longueuil, Québec. He has also served for 11 years as a reserve officer with the Canadian Air Force and holds both Canadian and US pilot licenses. He has two children, Brent (12) and Elizabeth (10). A member of the Orthodox Church in America, he serves as sub-deacon at The Sign of the Theotokos, an OCA parish in Montréal. He is fluent in both English and French.
In announcing the appointment, Jean-Louis D'Aragon, s.j., chairperson of the board stated: "Anthony Mansour brings strong organizational and communication skills, coupled with his many years of community service." During ten years with General Electric, Mansour served in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, as Senior Manager with responsibility for the Middle East and North Africa.
The Board of the Canadian Centre for Ecumenism has issued the following press release to announce the appointment.
The Board of Directors of the Canadian Centre for Ecumenism is pleased to announce the appointment of Karl Anthony Mansour (age 45) as its new Executive Director.
"Anthony Mansour brings strong organizational and communication skills, coupled with his many years of community service," says Jean-Louis D'Aragon, s.j., Chairperson of the Board.
Mansour has held leadership roles in both business and community service organizations. Always oriented to local community involvement, Mansour has participated in causes such as organizing food-drives for local food banks, fund-raising for cerebral palsy and motivating volunteers to contribute their time and energy in helping others. He has frequently accepted public speaking engagements from diverse religious groups.
Mansour is equipped with a strong business background including ten years with the General Electric Company. Starting with GE in Montreal, he was transferred to the division's GE Information Services head office in Rockville, MD, and was quickly given greater management responsibilities. He led teams that increased quality and customer satisfaction for global clients such as Rubbermaid, Kodak and American Express. After completing his MBA, GE promoted him to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, as Senior Manager with responsibility for the Middle East and North Africa. In addition to leading GE's Six Sigma Quality initiatives he started and led an e-commerce consulting group. He received six GE Management Awards, including one for his outstanding service to the community. Before coming to the Canadian Centre for Ecumenism, Mansour held other management positions with technology companies.
Anthony Mansour also served for 11 years as a reserve officer, Captain, with the Canadian Air Force and holds both Canadian and US pilot licenses. He has two children, Brent (12) and Elizabeth (10). An Orthodox Christian, he serves as sub-deacon at The Sign of the Theotokos, a parish of the Orthodox Church in America. He is fluent in English and French.
Mansour received his Bachelor of Science in Physics from Bishop's University (Lennoxville, QC), a Master of Business Administration in International Management from Southeastern University (Washington, DC), and a Certificate in Orthodox Theology from Université de Sherbrooke (Longueuil, QC).
About the Canadian Centre for Ecumenism
Founded in 1963, the Canadian Centre for Ecumenism facilitates understanding and collaboration among believers of various Christian traditions and world religions: through education, dialogue, and spiritual initiatives such as the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. Its quarterly periodical Ecumenism is received in 40 countries and the Centre maintains a specialized 9,000-volume library accessible to the public.
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For further information:
The Canadian Centre for Ecumenism
2065 Sherbrooke West
Montreal, QC
CANADA H3H 1G6
Tel: 514-937-9176, Fax: 514-937-4986, Email:
Signed articles do not necessarily represent the opinions of "Ecumenism in Canada" or the Prairie Centre for Ecumenism.
Les articles signés ne représentent pas nécessairement les avis de "Oecuménisme au Canada" ou le Prairie Centre for Ecumenism.
The United Church of Canada's 39th General Council has rejected a proposal calling for divestment from Israel, in favour of what is described as a "pro-peace" investment strategy. The proposal originally presented to the General Council called for the church and its congregations to selectively divest from corporations that support or contribute to the Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories.
The General Council is held every three years as the highest decision making body in the United Church of Canada (UCC). The meeting August 13 to 19 was in Thunder Bay, Ontario. Approximately 400 commissioners from across Canada participated in the General Council meeting.
The issue of divestment has come to the General Council after considerable discussion within the United Church and other western churches. The United Church's Toronto Conference has already approved a divestment policy. The Presbyterian Church in the United States (PCUSA) approved a divestment plan at their General Assembly in 2004, but retracted the decision at the 2006 General Assembly following extensive criticism within the PCUSA and from the Jewish community. The United Church of Christ in the U.S. has adopted a divestment policy, while the Episcopal Church USA has opted for a limited divestment, maintaining sufficient shares in affected corporations to allow the presentation of shareholder resolutions. The Church of England's 2006 General Synod considered a divestment strategy but was unable to secure a majority to support the proposal.
Divestment strategies are somewhat more sophisticated than simple boycotts. The strategy was used by churches and governments to combat apartheid in South Africa in the 1980s and early 90s. Other divestment plans have also shown some success. The Interfaith Center for Corporate Responsibility has successfully engaged in dialogue with corporations through the use of shareholder resolutions and divestment. The recent divestment strategies targeting Israel have called for selective divestment, meaning that the church would only dispose of investments in corporations that were promoting or supporting the Palestinian occupation. Moreover, divestment would occur in stages following a dialogue with the corporation, and only when the corporation refused to reform their corporate behaviour. Divestment has been encouraged by the Sabeel Ecumenical Liberation Theology Centre in Palestine. A conference on divestment was held in Toronto in October of 2005. A report on the conference by Dr. Stuart Brown, former director of the Canadian Centre for Ecumenism, is found elsewhere on this website. "A Call for Morally Responsible Investment" was issued by the Sabeel Centre in preparation for the 2005 conference.
The United Church proposal for divestment was modified significantly during the General Council meeting. The final proposal approved Thursday drops the call for divestment, in favour of investment in corporations that are engaged only in peaceful pursuits in the disputed region. The resolution invites the members, congregations, and other church bodies to:
continue to work with the Jewish and Arab communities to promote peace and understanding and the end of hostilities in the Middle East
continue to denounce acts of violence perpetrated against persons on all sides of the conflict
adopt a pro-investment strategy with companies that engage in ethically responsible business, and that contribute to peace and a secure and economically viable Palestinian state alongside a secure and economically viable State of Israel
make financial investments, as they pertain to Israel, Gaza, East Jerusalem, and the West Bank, with Canadian and international corporations and companies that are engaged only in peaceful pursuits in the region
Non-peaceful pursuits would include:
providing products, services, or financial support to groups that engage in violence against Palestinian or Israeli persons
providing products, services, or technology to any government or organization that refuses to recognize the legitimate rights of the State of Israel, including its right to exist as a Jewish state
providing products, services, or technology that sustain, support, or maintain the occupation
having established facilities or operations on occupied land
providing products, services, or financial support for the establishment, expansion, and/or maintenance of settlements on occupied land or settlement-related infrastructure
providing finances or assisting in the construction and/or maintenance of the separation barrier within occupied territories
"Pourquoi une destruction si épouvantable?" C'est la question que les membres d'une délégation pastorale oecuménique n'ont cessé d'entendre à propos des attaques israéliennes contre le Liban.
Parlant de la visite qu'ils ont effectuée du 10 au 15 août à Beyrouth et à Jérusalem, les trois membres de la délégation, le pasteur Jean-Arnold de Clermont, président de la KEK, Mgr Bernard Aubertin, archevêque catholique romain de Tours (France), et Mme Marilia Alves-Schüller, membre du personnel exécutif du COE en charge du programme sur le racisme, ont souligné que les représentants des diverses communautés du Liban qu'ils avaient rencontré s'accordent à dire que la destruction a été délibérée et planifiée.
Pour appuyer cette analyse, les responsables des communautés ont mentionné leur inquiétude devant l'influence croissante qu'exercent les forces néo-conservatrices des Etats-Unis sur les dirigeants de la politique israélienne. Ils mettent particulièrement en question la remarque de Mme Condoleeza Rice, Secrétaire d'Etat américaine, selon laquelle "Les souffrances du Liban sont les douleurs de l'enfantement du nouveau Moyen Orient".
La délégation a aussi souhaité faire part de tout ce que les représentants des diverses communautés du Liban leur avaient dit au sujet de la valeur primordiale inhérente à leur société, sa nature multiculturelle et multiconfessionnelle. Pour ces dirigeants, cela représente une garantie de paix. Ils ont fait observer que les Libanais de toutes les religions - chrétiens et musulmans sunnites et chiites - étaient demeurés fermement unis malgré les pressions énormes de la guerre, sources potentielles de division.
Selon le deuxième message que la délégation a rapporté de sa visite, c'est le conflit israélo-palestinien et non pas le rôle joué par le Hezbollah ou son action qui est au coeur de la crise actuelle. Toutefois, tous les responsables religieux avec lesquels la délégation s'est entretenue ont condamné tout usage indiscriminé de la violence d'où qu'elle vienne, y compris du Hezbollah.
En accueillant la délégation au Centre oecuménique au nom des quatre organisations oecuméniques qui l'avaient parrainée, le pasteur Samuel Kobia, secrétaire général du COE, a convenu que "ce n'est qu'en traitant la question israélo-palestinienne et seulement par un règlement juste et global de cette question que l'on parviendra à la paix et à la sécurité au Moyen Orient".
A Jérusalem, la délégation a entendu le Grand rabbin et le Grand juge du tribunal islamique; chacun de son côté a exprimé les mêmes sentiments négatifs à l'égard de l'autre communauté. "Ils n'ont aucune compassion pour leurs enfants" ont-ils dit tous deux. La délégation a aussi entendu une autre opinion selon laquelle la notion de guerre permanente semble être la pensée dominante au Moyen Orient, et qu'il faut démilitariser toute la manière de penser de la région.
Bien que les perceptions de "l'autre" n'augurent rien de bon pour la capacité de s'asseoir à nouveau ensemble autour de la table des négociations et de surmonter la méfiance mutuelle et le deuil, les membres de la délégations ont aussi entendu de nombreux responsables d'Eglises exprimer leur préoccupation au sujet de la manière dont les gens pourront éliminer la haine de leur coeur et apprendre à vivre ensemble en bon voisinage.
"Expression tangible et concrète de la solidarité de la famille oecuménique et participation au deuil des populations touchées", la visite de la délégation oecuménique a donné un signe de l'intention qu'a le Conseil oecuménique d'élargir sa coordination de la réponse oecuménique à la crise du Moyen Orient et d'entreprendre davantage d'efforts dans ce sens, a dit le pasteur Kobia.
"La situation au Moyen Orient est en train de changer", a-t-il déclaré. "Un nouveau paysage politique, économique et moral exige que de nouveaux éléments interviennent pour parvenir à une paix juste dans la région". De nouveaux programmes du COE pour lesquels la dernière Assemblée (en février 2006) a donné mandat en constitueront la base, a-t-il poursuivi.
Un message daté du 16 août et signé par les secrétaires généraux du COE, de la KEK, de la FLM et de l'ARM, diffusé lors d'une conférence de presse donnée par la délégation, se conclut en ces termes: "A la lumière de tout ce qui nous a été dit, nous allons réfléchir ensemble au cours des semaines qui viennent, dans la prière et dans le sentiment de l'urgence, à la contribution que les Eglises peuvent apporter pour promouvoir la cause de la paix au Moyen Orient."
Le Conseil oecuménique des Eglises s'attache à promouvoir l'unité des chrétiens dans la foi, le témoignage et le service, en vue d'un monde de justice et de paix. Communauté oecuménique d'Eglises fondée en 1948, le COE réunit aujourd'hui 348 Eglises protestantes, orthodoxes, anglicanes et autres, représentant plus de 560 millions de chrétiens; il travaille en coopération avec l'Eglise catholique romaine. Son secrétaire général est le Pasteur Dr Samuel Kobia, de l'Eglise Méthodiste du Kenya. Siège: Genève, Suisse.
La Conférence des Eglises européennes est une communauté de 125 Eglises de tradition orthodoxe, protestante, anglicane et vieille-catholique de tous les pays d'Europe, et de 40 organisations associées. La KEK a été fondée en 1959 et a des bureaux à Genève, Bruxelles et Strasbourg.
La Fédération luthérienne mondiale (FLM) est une communion mondiale d'Églises chrétiennes de tradition luthérienne. Fondée en 1947, la FLM compte aujourd'hui 140 Églises membres dans 78 pays, représentant 66,2 millions de chrétien(ne)s dans le monde.
L'Alliance réformée mondiale (ARM) est une communion de 75 millions de chrétiens réformés de 218 Églises dans 107 pays. Sont membres de l'ARM des Églises congrégationalistes, presbytériennes, réformées et unies dont les origines remontent à la Réforme du 16ème siècle qui fut conduite par Jean Calvin, John Knox et quelques autres. L'ARM dispose d'un petit secrétariat à Genève, en Suisse.
"Why such awful destruction?" was the question heard over and over again by members of an ecumenical pastoral delegation in relation to Israel's attacks on Lebanon.
Entrusted by the World Council of Churches (WCC), the Conference of European Churches (CEC), the Lutheran World Federation (LWF), and the World Alliance of Reformed Churches (WARC) with the mission of expressing global ecumenical solidarity with churches and people affected by the conflict in the Middle East, the delegation returned with the task of transmitting the hopes and expectations of the churches in Lebanon, Palestine and Israel to the international ecumenical family.
Reporting on their 10-15 August visit to Beirut and Jerusalem, the three members of the delegation - CEC President Rev. Jean-Arnold de Clermont, the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Tours (France) Mgr. Bernard Aubertin, and WCC programme executive on racism, Ms Marilia Alves-Schüller – emphasized that the representatives of Lebanon's various communities with whom they met had all agreed that the answer to that question is that the destruction was both deliberate and planned.
In support of that analysis, community leaders mentioned their concern at the growing influence of neo-conservative forces in the US on Israel’s political leadership. In particular they questioned US secretary of state Condoleeza Rice's comment that "The suffering of Lebanon is the labour pains of the new Middle East".
The delegation also wished to strongly affirm all that representatives of Lebanon’s different communities had shared with them about the over-riding value of the multi-cultural and multi-confessional nature of their society. For the community leaders, this represents a guarantee for peace. They noted that Lebanese of all religious faiths - Christians and Muslims, both Sunni and Shi'ia - had remained firmly unified despite the enormously divisive pressures of the war.
The second message members of the delegation brought back was that it is the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and not the role and actions of Hezbollah that is at the heart of the present crisis. Nevertheless, the delegation reported that all religious leaders with whom they spoke condemned all use of indiscriminate violence from whatever source, including Hezbollah.
Welcoming the delegation to the Ecumenical Centre on behalf of the four Geneva-based sponsoring ecumenical organizations, WCC general secretary Rev. Dr Samuel Kobia concurred that "It is only by addressing the Israel-Palestine issue, and only a comprehensive and just settlement of that issue that can bring peace and security in the Middle East".
In Jerusalem, the delegation heard both the chief rabbi and the chief judge of the Islamic court separately voicing the same negative perceptions of each other's communities. "They have no compassion for their children," both men had declared. Another view the delegation also heard expressed was that the idea of permanent warfare seems to dominate thinking in the Middle East, and that there is a need for all thinking in the region to be demilitarized.
Although perceptions of "the other" bode ill for the ability to return together to the negotiating table and overcome mutual distrust and grief, members of the delegation said that they had also heard many church leaders voicing concern about how people can remove the hatred from their hearts and learn to live together as neighbours.
As "a tangible and concrete expression of the ecumenical family's solidarity and a way of sharing their grief," the visit from the ecumenical delegation was a sign of the World Council's intention to broaden its coordination of the ecumenical response to the Middle East crisis, and for more concerted efforts in this direction, Kobia explained.
"The situation in the Middle East is changing," he said. "A new political, economic and moral landscape requires new elements to be brought into the equation for a just peace in the Middle East." New WCC programmes mandated by the WCC's recent (February 2006) Assembly will lay the groundwork for that, Kobia said.
A 16 August message signed by the general secretaries of the WCC, CEC, LWF, and WARC and distributed at a press conference with the ecumenical delegation concludes: "In the light of all that they tell us, we shall during the next weeks reflect prayerfully and urgently together on the contribution which the churches can make in furthering the cause of peace in the Middle East."
The World Council of Churches promotes Christian unity in faith, witness and service for a just and peaceful world. An ecumenical fellowship of churches founded in 1948, today the WCC brings together 348 Protestant, Orthodox, Anglican and other churches representing more than 560 million Christians in over 110 countries, and works cooperatively with the Roman Catholic Church. The WCC general secretary is Rev. Dr Samuel Kobia, from the Methodist Church in Kenya. Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland.
The Conference of European Churches (CEC) is a fellowship of some 125 Orthodox, Protestant, Anglican and Old Catholic Churches from all countries of Europe, plus 40 associated organisations. CEC was founded in 1959. It has offices in Geneva, Brussels and Strasbourg.
The Lutheran World Federation (LWF) is a global communion of Christian churches in the Lutheran tradition. Founded in 1947 in Lund, Sweden, the LWF now has 140 member churches in 78 countries all over the world representing 66.2 million Christians.
The World Alliance of Reformed Churches (WARC) is a fellowship of 75 million Reformed Christians in 218 churches in 107 countries. Its member churches are Congregational, Presbyterian, Reformed and United churches with roots in the 16th-century Reformation led by John Calvin, John Knox and others. WARC has a small secretariat in Geneva, Switzerland.
The Canadian Centre for Ecumenism and the Prairie Centre for Ecumenism join church leaders and inter-church organizations around the world in urging an immediate cessation of hostilities in the conflict between Israel and Hezbullah.
The CCE's new Executive Director Anthony Mansour and the Associate Director Adèle Brodeur write: "We call for an immediate implementation of the UN ceasefire resolution in the Middle East. As Ecumenical Centres, the current situation is contrary to our mission of promoting understanding and mutual respect of each one's religion. We urge people of all faiths to pray for peace."
Rev. Dr. Jan Bigland-Pritchard, Director of the Prairie Centre for Ecumenism, writes: "I would like to add my voice to the many voices calling for an immediate cessation of hostilities. I urge all who read this site to pray for a just and lasting peace in the Middle East and to consider assisting with the humanitarian needs that are emerging." Welcoming the news on Friday evening that the UN Security Council had passed a ceasefire resolution, Bigland-Pritchard added: "It is still too early to measure the effect of the UN resolution passed today calling for a ceasefire, but we shall continue to pray in the days ahead for an end to the violence and for a just and lasting peace."
Church leaders and inter-church organizations around the world have been speaking
out about the current crisis in the Middle East and, despite differences in perspective,
are urging an immediate ceasefire.
The World Council of Churches website news for 8 August: A joint appeal signed today by the leaders of the World Council of Churches (WCC), the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) and the World Alliance of Reformed Churches (WARC) calls "upon Israel and Hezbullah to end the fighting in Lebanon" and "upon the United States, the European Union, and the Arab States to exercise their influence toward this end". It also calls "upon the Israeli government, the Palestinian Authority, and Hamas to end the conflict in Gaza". With the title "A call to end the violence", the joint appeal is signed by WCC general secretary Rev. Dr Samuel Kobia, LWF president Bishop Mark Hanson and WARC president Rev. Dr Clifton Kirkpatrick. Full text at
www.oikoumene.org/en/news/.
In Canada, KAIROS, the umbrella organization for church peace and justice groups, issued a plea for a diplomatic solution in the Middle East on 25 July. It begins: "Over the recent weeks, we have seen the escalation of military conflict between Israel, Palestine and Lebanon. We are deeply troubled by these events, and pray for those who are suffering as a result. We join our voices with the many around the world calling urgently for ceasefire and a diplomatic solution before more lives are lost and more communities devastated. ... The current escalation began in Gaza and continues there. On June 30, 2006, we shared the call of Department of Service for Palestinian Refugees (DSPR). DSPR partners the world over were urged to press their governments to push for a diplomatic solution to resolve the episode of violence that threatened the life of a kidnapped Israeli soldier, countless civilians and Palestinian infrastructure." Full text at www.kairoscanada.org/e/times/current.asp#1.
In the United States, the National Council of Churches' website states that "the NCC has been calling for an immediate ceasefire and a brokered peace since hostilities began in the Middle East. The NCC's Interfaith Relations Ministry has also created a Web page to bring ancient faiths together to pray for peace." The NCC has compiled the responses of Protestant, Orthodox, Anglican and Roman Catholic church leaders from around the world. You can read them at www.councilofchurches.org.
Pope Benedict XVI has spoken repeatedly on this subject, as reported on the Catholic World News website. In an article dated July 17, the Pope "decried both Hezbollah terrorism and Israeli military reactions during his Angelus audience on Sunday, July 16. Reacting to the escalating violence in the Middle East, the Holy Father said that 'neither terrorist acts nor reprisals -- especially when they have such tragic consequences for the civilian population -- can be justified.' The Pope's words were in full accord with a statement
released on Friday, July 14, by Cardinal Angelo Sodano, the Vatican Secretary of State.
That earlier statement had condemned the terror attacks on Israel, but noted that a country's
right to self-defense is limited by the principles of international law." Full text at
www.cwnews.com/news/viewstory.cfm?recnum=45366.
The Pope "voiced his growing dismay at the continued warfare in Lebanon during his weekly public audience on August 9. At the conclusion of his prepared remarks on the apostolic
tradition, the Holy Father told the 6,000 people attending his Wednesday audience that
'my thoughts, full of sorrow, are turning again to the beloved region of the Middle East.'
He insisted that is 'still possible to change the course of events' in the Middle East.
The Pope again gave his support to efforts to obtain an immediate ceasefire, and talks aimed
at achieving 'a just and lasting solution.' Citing the worlds of Pope Paul VI, in his 1965
speech to the UN, the he said: 'If you want to be brothers, let your weapons fall from your
hands.' Pope Benedict reiterated his call for all of the faithful to join in prayers for a
quick resolution of the conflict, saying: 'I renew my call to everyone, to intensify their
prayers for the gift of peace.' Since the outbreak of the war in Lebanon 29 days ago, the
Pontiff has made a point of calling for an end to the fighting -- and begging prayers for
peace -- every time he has spoken in public." www.cwnews.com/news/viewstory.cfm?recnum=45797.
The Anglican Communion News Service website's 19 July entry notes that Dr Rowan Williams, Archbishop of Canterbury and head of the worldwide Anglican Communion, condemned the escalating violence. Writing to church leaders in Lebanon he said: "I have been alarmed at the spiral of violence, the vicious circle of attack and retaliation, that has developed over the last few days. My prayers and sympathy are with the principal victims, the innocent civilians on both sides of the border, who now live in terror and are powerless to prevent the collective suffering at the hands of Hizballah and the Israeli military. "The distress
felt at the destruction not only of life but also the infrastructure so painstakingly rebuilt
after years of conflict will, I know, be acute and reinforce the sense of helplessness at being
caught up in a wider regional struggle. My condemnation of this resort to violence is unequivocal." Full text at www.anglicancommunion.org/acns/articles/41/50/acns4167.cfm.
Geoff Tunnicliffe, the international director of the World Evangelical Alliance(WEA), which represents about 420 million evangelical Christians around the world, said: "The conflict in the Middle East has weighed heavily on all our hearts the past two weeks. While the WEA condemns the violent confrontation and urges all sides to cease retaliatory actions, there is a deeper concern about the welfare of the people living in the region as we waited for information specifically on the condition of our brothers and sisters caught in the conflict." Full text at www.worldevangelicalalliance.com/pressrelease/view.htm?id=617.
The following statements on the conflict in Israel, Lebanon, Gaza, and the West Bank may also be of interest:
Signed articles do not necessarily represent the opinions of "Ecumenism in Canada" or the Prairie Centre for Ecumenism.
Les articles signés ne représentent pas nécessairement les avis de "Oecuménisme au Canada" ou le Prairie Centre for Ecumenism.
During the summer months ecumenical news dries up as church leaders, pastors, and theologians head off on their holiday plans. However, this year a very significant event occurred while we were all at the lake. Since 2001, Methodists have expressed appreciation for the Lutheran-Roman Catholic "Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification" (JDDJ). Not long after the formal affirmation of the JDDJ, representatives of the Methodist World Council and the World Alliance of Reformed Churches gathered with the two signatories to discuss the possibilities of expanding the consensus to include their constituencies. This summer, on July 23, the World Methodist Conference, a gathering of 76 churches in the Methodist tradition, affirmed the Joint Declaration in a signing ceremony together with Lutheran and Roman Catholic representatives.
The Methodist affirmation of the JDDJ includes a "Methodist Statement" on the doctrine of Justification that recognizes the JDDJ's basic consensus in the truths of justification. The JDDJ had used an ecumenical method known as "differentiated consensus," in which the two signatories each express their distinctive emphases in the articulation of the doctrine. The key affirmation of the JDDJ is that the differing emphases of the two signatories are not church dividing, and do not fall within the censure of the Reformation condemnations issued by either community. To adhere to the JDDJ, the Methodist Statement outlines the distinctive Methodist emphasis on the doctrine, and affirms that the Lutheran and Roman Catholic emphases are not sufficient cause for separation between these churches and the Methodist churches.
An Official Common Affirmation was signed on July 23 at the World Methodist Conference in Seoul, South Korea. The common affirmation of the three signatory churches welcomes the Methodist statement and affirms that it "demonstrates Methodist agreement with the consensus in basic truths of the doctrine of justification" as expressed in the JDDJ. The common affirmation ends with a commitment to further dialogue towards a deeper understanding of the doctrine of justification.
The United Church of Canada's 39th General Council has rejected a proposal calling for divestment from Israel, in favour of what is described as a "pro-peace" investment strategy. The proposal originally presented to the General Council called for the church and its congregations to selectively divest from corporations that support or contribute to the Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories.
During the summer months ecumenical news dries up as church leaders, pastors, and theologians head off on their holiday plans. However, this year a very significant event occurred while we were all at the lake. Since 2001, Methodists have expressed appreciation for the Lutheran-Roman Catholic "Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification" (JDDJ). Not long after the formal affirmation of the JDDJ, representatives of the Methodist World Council and the World Alliance of Reformed Churches gathered with the two signatories to discuss the possibilities of expanding the consensus to include their constituencies. This summer, on July 23, the World Methodist Conference, a gathering of 76 churches in the Methodist tradition, affirmed the Joint Declaration in a signing ceremony together with Lutheran and Roman Catholic representatives.
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The Reform of the Papacy: The Costly Call to Christian Unity
Le Conseil d'administration du Centre canadien d'oecuménisme est heureux d'annoncer la nomination de Karl Anthony Mansour au poste de directeur exécutif du Centre.
