Vatican and Al-Azhar: promoting a pedagogy of peace

The Vatican's new YouTube channel has posted a short video about a dialogue this past week between the Vatican's Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue (PCIRD) and a Muslim partner, the Permanent Committee of Al-Azhar for the Dialogue with Monotheistic Religions.

[Centro Televisivo Vaticano, February 24, 2009] Mutual understanding and respect: with this theme began today the traditional encounter between the Permanent Committee of Al-Azhar for the Dialogue with Monotheistic Religions and the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue.The annual reunion of the Joint Committee, ending February 26th, provides the opportunity to examine the specific role of religions in the promotion of a pedagogy and culture of peace between peoples.Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran, President of the Vatican dicastery, underlined that truth should always guide dialogue between religions: "The Pope has greatly insisted upon this issue. Dialogue is important, but it should not lead to syncretism or relativism. I always say: interreligious dialogue does not consist in saying that all religions say more or less the same thing. It means that every believer, every searcher of God, has the same dignity. This is interreligious dialogue, in charity, but first of all in truth."

  Technorati tags: Mots clés : al-azhar, muslim, islam, catholic, vatican, pcird, pontifical council for interreligious dialogue, youtube,
Posted: February 26, 2009 Transmis : 26 février 2009

This Old House: The Renovation of the Christian Church in the 20th Century

An Ecumenical Lenten Study of five reforms that will shape the church of the 21st Century. Join Sandra Beardsall and Nick Jesson as we examine the bricks and mortar of Christ's church and plan for the years ahead. This is a community-build, everyone has a part in building the house of God.

Topics include:

Monday, March 2 @ 6:45 pm • Checking the Blueprints -- Listening Anew to the Word of God in Scripture;
Monday, March 9 @ 6:45 pm • Firming Up the Foundation -- Rethinking the nature and mission of the church;
Monday, March 16 @ 6:45 pm • Moving the Walls -- Reimagining the life of worship;
Monday, March 23 @ 6:45 pm • Barn-Raising Together -- Searching for Christian unity; and
Monday, March 30 @ 6:45 pm • Meeting the Neighbours -- Inter-religious relations.

Five Monday evenings beginning March 2 at St. James' Anglican Church, Saskatoon (corner of Dufferin & 12th Street)
Sessions begin at 6:45 pm. No registration required.
Each evening will include prayer, fellowship, an introduction to the theme, and group discussion.

  Technorati tags: Mots clés : saskatoon, prairie centre for ecumenism, workshop, ecumenism,
Posted: February 13, 2009 Transmis : 13 février 2009

Archbishop of Canterbury honours Canadian Catholic ecumenist

[Lambeth Palace] The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, has awarded the Cross of St Augustine to Monsignor Donald Bolen for his service to Anglican-Roman Catholic relations.

In a private audience at Lambeth Palace the Archbishop paid warm tribute to the theological acumen and spiritual discernment that Monsignor Bolen had put unreservedly at the service of Anglican–Roman Catholic relations during his seven-year assignment to the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity in Rome.

He expressed the debt of gratitude owed by the Anglican Communion, the members of the international commissions of the dialogue, and successive Archbishops of Canterbury and their Representatives to the Holy See for his friendship and dedication.

The Archbishop said, 'Monsignor Bolen has for many years been far more than an able facilitator of Anglican-Roman Catholic dialogue. He has been a friend and colleague whose deep commitment to the possibilities of ecumenical dialogue and our common witness to the truths of the gospel has been unflagging and inspirational. This award is a small sign of the regard -- affectionate and admiring -- in which Don is held and a sign of my personal appreciation of his work and friendship in recent years.'

A priest of the Archdiocese of Regina (Saskatchewan, Canada), from 2001-2008 Monsignor Bolen was the Vatican's officer for relations with the Anglican Communion and the World Methodist Council. In this capacity he served as the co-secretary of the Anglican-Roman Catholic International Commission (ARCIC), the Anglican-Roman Catholic Commission for Unity and Mission (IARCCUM) and the Joint International Commission for Dialogue Between the World Methodist Council and the Roman Catholic Church. He also served on the international commission responsible for preparing texts for the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity.

He currently holds the Nash Chair in Religion at Campion College, Regina, Saskatchewan, and looks forward to resuming parish ministry in the summer of 2009.

The Cross of St Augustine was founded by Archbishop Michael Ramsey. It was first awarded by him on 19 February 1965. It is a circular medallion bearing a replica of the eighth-century Cross of Canterbury and on the reverse side is an engraving of the throne of St Augustine in Canterbury Cathedral.

This cross has historically been awarded to clergy and lay people of other Christian churches who have contributed conspicuously to advancing friendly relations with the Anglican Communion. More recently it has also been given for outstanding service within the Anglican Communion itself.

  Technorati tags: Mots clés : don bolen, canada, vatican, ecumenism, rowan williams,
Posted: February 3, 2009 Transmis : 3 février 2009