At the close of their 2008 Plenary Assembly which met in Cornwall, 22-26 September, the Bishops of Canada issued a pastoral letter, titled “Liberating Potential”, which invites all the faithful “to discover or rediscover,” the message of the Encyclical Humanae Vitae, issued by Pope Paul VI in 1968.
… Read more » … lire la suite »

Au terme de leur Assemblée plénière, qui s’est déroulée à Cornwall, du 22 au 26 septembre, les évêques du Canada ont rendu public un message pastoral intitulé « Un potentiel libérateur ». Les évêques invitent ainsi les baptisés à une découverte — ou une redécouverte — de l’Encyclique Humanae Vitae, publiée en 1968 par le pape Paul VI.
… Read more » … lire la suite »

Canadian federal election guides – 2008

Another federal election has come to Canada. Canadians will go to the polls on October 14 to select members of Parliament in all 308 ridings across the country. For more information about who can vote, the candidates, and the locations of the polls, please see the Elections Canada website.

Here at “Ecumenism in Canada” we have a continuing interest in highlighting the reflections offered by the Canadian churches on matters of public policy. With this in mind, we have compiled the following links to election resources prepared by the churches and their ecumenical justice groups.

• CCCB Federal Election 2008 Guide
• EFC 2008 Election Kit
• United Church of Canada 2008 Federal Election Kit
• Mennonite Central Committee’s 2008 Election Primer
• Citizens for Public Justice 2008 Election Guide
• Candidates Against Poverty

The Catholic bishops of Canada have a long history of public statements on justice issues, both during and between elections. As in recent elections the CCCB has issued an election guide that is intended to enumerate principles of Catholic social teaching that are relevant to the elections. Like all churches, the CCCB does not endorse any political party. Instead, the CCCB’s Social Affairs Commission “encourages Catholics to become better informed about the issues, to voice their concerns with the political candidates … and, most of all, to vote.” The four-page text goes on to list some basic principles from Catholic moral and social teaching to help voters examine and evaluate public policy and programs. These principles include respect for life and the dignity of the human person, as well as the preferential option for the poor. The text also addresses the question of the war in Afghanistan and the debate on the environment. The four Bishops who signed the document call on the political parties to “engage in a peace process for Afghanistan” and to ensure that “future generations … can have a healthy environment.” The Social Affairs Commission admits that “choices can be tough” for Catholics when a political candidate or a political party holds “values that are not fully in line with Church teaching.” Citing the Vatican’s Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, the CCCB Social Affairs Commission points out that “a well-formed Christian conscience does not permit one to vote for a political program or an individual law which contradicts the fundamental contents of faith and morals.”

The Evangelical Fellowship of Canada has also issued an election kit. The EFC says that “Canada needs strengthened families and secure marriages. Canada needs to protect its most vulnerable: children, the poor, the unborn and the disabled.” The EFC’s kit is not entirely focussed on personal and family ethics. It also affirms that “Canada needs to share its blessings with the world, especially meeting commitments made to foreign relief and development work.” The EFC kit includes position papers on various issues, and is expected to be updated with further statements as the campaign proceeds.

The United Church of Canada also regularly issues public statements during federal elections. The United Church website says that their new 2008 Federal Election Kit “takes a non-partisan approach. It lifts up justice concerns that need voice to get on the election agenda and into public awareness. As well as offering a brief background and sample questions on issues important to the United Church, the kit offers tips for asking questions at all candidates meetings and advice on how to use the media effectively.” There are a variety issues that the United Church highlights, however it brings a special focus to Aboriginal issues.

The Mennonite Central Committee serves both Canadian and American churches, both of which are in the midst of elections. However the issues and concerns are different, and an election primer is offered by MCC-Canada for Canadian Anabaptists. The MCC is not a church, and thus does not speak on behalf of its member churches. It therefore frames its election reflection in the form of “questions for Anabaptist Christians to consider during the 2008 federal election campaign.”

As of September 16th, there were no election guides or other resources available on the websites of the Anglican Church of Canada (ACC), the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada (ELCIC), the Presbyterian Church in Canada (PCC), the Canadian Council of Churches (CCC), or KAIROS. If these become available, this website posting will be revised to include these links.

There are two other resources of interest. The Citizens for Public Justice is an independent social justice research and advocacy group. The CPJ has issued election guides during many of the past elections. The CPJ 2008 election guide addresses a number of issues of concern in the current campaign: poverty, immigration, tax policy, and the environment. These are issues that CPJ has addressed for many years, and thus their guide draws on additional resources available through their website. The CPJ invites Canadian voters to consider their electoral choices through the lens of public justice.

The Religious Social Action Coalition of Newfoundland and Labrador has created a new website to encourage candidates to establish a government priority to end poverty in Canada. The coalition is “a nonpartisan group from a broad array of religions — Christians, Muslims, Jews, Hindus and others — united in our religious commitment to call on society to abolish poverty at home and abroad. … It is the goal of our coalition to call upon all candidates for Parliament to pledge to move our society toward greater economic fairness. … To finally fulfill the promise that Parliament made to abolish poverty among Canadian children, even though they have missed their own deadline by seven years. To make sure that working families can find affordable housing. And to fulfill Parliament’s Kelowna pledge to Canada’s Aboriginals. … It is our goal to get citizens talking about poverty — and to make Ending Poverty a voting issue.”

The coalition has established an admirably low-tech website entitled Candidates Against Poverty which lists all the candidates who have taken a simple pledge to make poverty a governmental priority. At this point, the number of candidates who have responded is quite small. Voters can explore the website to see whether their candidates have made the pledge. Voters can also challenge their candidates to make this pledge and have it recorded on the website.
… Read more » … lire la suite »

Saints et martyrs: symposium œcuménique international

[COE News] Les saints et les martyrs – ou tout simplement, les chrétiens et chrétiennes qui ont mené une vie exemplaire – peuvent-ils contribuer à unifier les Eglises dans lesquelles ils sont nés? Un groupe d’experts internationaux va se pencher sur cette question et tout ce qu’elle implique lors d’un symposium organisé dans un monastère italien.
… Read more » … lire la suite »

Saints and martyrs: international ecumenical symposium

[WCC News] Can saints and martyrs – or for that matter, Christians who lived exemplary lives – help unite the churches into which they were born? An international group of experts will discuss this and other related questions at a symposium in an Italian monastery.
… Read more » … lire la suite »

Le Comité exécutif du COE s’apprête à désigner un secrétaire général intérimaire

[Genève] Le Comité exécutif du Conseil œcuménique des Eglises (COE) doit nommer un secrétaire général intérimaire pour la plus grande organisation chrétienne du monde, lors de sa réunion à Lübeck, en Allemagne, du 23 au 26 septembre.
… Read more » … lire la suite »

Les catholiques ont aussi des choses à apprendre de Luther, selon le cardinal Kasper

[Francfort/Wittenberg, Allemagne] Les catholiques romains ont des choses à apprendre du réformateur protestant du XVIe siècle Martin Luther, selon le responsable de l’unité chrétienne au Vatican, alors que les Eglises protestantes d’Allemagne viennent de lancer une décennie de manifestations conduisant à la célébration, en 2017, du 500e anniversaire de la Réforme luthérienne.
… Read more » … lire la suite »

Can women play a strong role in bringing reconciliation and tolerance to the communities in conflict? Can divisions and divides be resolved from a faith-based perspective, when religion often is considered a cause of violence?
… Read more » … lire la suite »

Catholics can learn from Luther too, says Cardinal Kasper

[Frankfurt/Wittenberg, Germany] Roman Catholics can learn from the 16th-century Protestant reformer Martin Luther, the Vatican’s top official for Christian unity, has said, as Protestant churches in Germany prepare to launch a 10-year series of events leading up to the 500th anniversary in 2017 of the Lutheran Reformation.
… Read more » … lire la suite »

The God of Women & the Women of God

The Friends of Sophia fall program features a series with Dr. Mary T. Malone, retired chair of Religious Studies at St. Jerome’s University & the University of Waterloo. Dr. Malone is the author of numerous publications including Women and Christianity (3 vols, 2000-2003) and Praying with the Women Mystics (2006). Dr. Malone will make three presentations:

• Women Mystics, 1150-1450 CE — Sunday, September 21, 2 to 4 pm in St. Andrew’s College Lounge
• Retrieving Women’s Christian Story — Monday, September 22, 11:30 to 1 pm in St. Thomas More College, room 344A
• Do the Medieval Women Mystics Have a Message for Our Time? — Monday, September 22, 7:30 pm in St. Thomas More College Auditorium. Reception to follow.

The Friends of Sophia is an interdenominational group of women, dedicated to nurturing Christian feminist spirituality through educational opportunities, shared experience and liturgical celebration. For further information email mbeavis [at] stmcollege [dot] ca or ursula.wiig [at] usask [dot] ca.
… Read more » … lire la suite »

Sacramental sharing in Saskatoon – UPDATE

As reported here in February, the Roman Catholic Diocese of Saskatoon has issued a revised policy on Sacramental Sharing. This policy is the product of many years of reflection by Bishop Albert LeGatt and the diocesan ecumenical commission. The policy initially introduced in 2005 was revised and re-issued as a result of wide consultations during the implementation of the policy.

When the revised policy was issued last winter, one document originally issued in 2005 remained unchanged. The “Pastoral Notes” issued by Bishop LeGatt are intended to assist priests and lay-people in interpreting and implementing the diocesan policy. Bishop LeGatt has personally undertaken revision of the notes over the past summer, and the revised notes are now available on our website.

• Pastoral Notes for Sacramental Sharing in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Saskatoon (rev. August 22, 2008)

The Notes and the Directives are commended to the people of Saskatoon for study, reflection, and implementation. Questions and comments may be directed to the Saskatoon Diocesan Commission for Ecumenism through the Catholic Pastoral Centre or to the bishop’s ecumenical officer Fr. Bernard de Margerie.

It should be noted that the diocesan policy described in these documents is based on and derived from the Vatican’s Directory for the Application of Principles and Norms on Ecumenism and the Code of Canon Law. Nevertheless, the Saskatoon policy is issued for the Roman Catholic diocese of Saskatoon. It is not intended for the other Catholic dioceses and eparchies in Saskatchewan or elsewhere. In other places, in the absence of local directives the Vatican’s directory and the Code of Canon Law should be consulted.
… Read more » … lire la suite »

North American Ecumenists gather in St. Louis

On September 26, 27 and 28th, the North American Academy of Ecumenists (NAAE) will hold its annual meeting at the Crowne Plaza Hotel St. Louis-Clayton. The theme will be Ecumenical Ecclesiology: One Church of Christ for the Sake of the World.

The Academy, founded in 1957, includes ecumenically active Christian clergy and laity as well as professors and students. Members of the Academy have been prominent in the movement toward reconciliation of the Christian churches.

The members have a shared concern for theological reflection and scholarship. They value hospitality and open conversation. They seek to support those who engage in ecumenical activities and studies in local communities.

The Rev. Dr. Michael Kinnamon, formerly Professor at Eden Seminary in St. Louis and now General Secretary of the National Council of Churches USA, and Dr. Peter Bouteneff, Professor at St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary in New York will address the theme on Friday evening.

Dr. David Daniels of McCormick Theological Seminary in Chicago will offer a third keynote presentation on Saturday morning.

Brother Jeffrey Gros, recently retired Associate Director of the Office of Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference will address the gathered ecumenists at their Annual Banquet on Saturday Evening on The Academics’ Calling to Spiritual Pilgrimage.

A panel of distinguished ecumenists will reflect on the theme and the keynoters’ presentations. A second panel will discuss the practical reality of living in communion today.

For more information or to register online visit www.naae.net

For more information:

Rev. John W. Crossin, OSFS
President, North American Academy of Ecumenists
ph: 202-832-2675
email: crossinwtc [at] aol [dot] com
… Read more » … lire la suite »

Calgary seeks RC director of Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs

The RC Diocese of Calgary invites applications for a part-time Director of Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs. The successful candidate will have an abiding desire for promoting Christian unity and cooperation among peoples of other faiths. He/she will work closely with and report to the Bishop of the Diocese of Calgary, serve as consultant on ecumenical issues for him and other Diocesan offices/institutions, and liaise with representatives of other traditions. She/he will be responsible for providing ecumenical formation for Roman Catholics in the Diocese — parishioners, parish organizations and clergy — in order that the teaching and directives on ecumenism from the Second Vatican Council and post-conciliar documents be put into practice in the diocese.

To do this, the successful candidate will:
• have a solid understanding of Roman Catholic theology on ecumenism and interfaith dialogue;
• be a practicing Roman Catholic, well rooted in his/her faith;
• be ready to dialogue with representatives of other Christian traditions and other faiths;
• have the ability to articulate and communicate Roman Catholic perspectives to others;
• preferably have an advanced degree in Theology and be prepared to pursue ongoing education/formation as necessary.

Closing date for application is November 3, 2008. We thank all applicants for their interest. Only those selected for an interview will be contacted.

Interested persons should send a letter of introduction and curriculum vitae to:
Fran Oleniuk, Administrator, Human Resources
Catholic Pastoral Centre
120 – 17 Avenue SW
Calgary AB, T2S 2T2
By fax (403) 232-6349
By e-mail to humanresources [at] rcdiocese-calgary [dot] ab [dot] ca.
If your e-mail is not confirmed as received, please follow-up by phone to (403) 218-5533
… Read more » … lire la suite »

Canterbury Declaration: Global South Anglican Theological Network

Editor’s note: The following statement was developed during the recent Lambeth Conference but was not released until following a briefing given to the September bishops’ meeting at the Council of Anglican Provinces of Africa (CAPA).

1 August 2008, Canterbury

1. We come as Anglican theologians serving churches in the Anglican Communion outside Western cultural frameworks. Our face-to-face discussions at the Lambeth Conference 2008 have deepened our trust and understanding of one another. We celebrate our bonds of affection in Christ and commit ourselves to take fresh initiatives together for the sake of God’s mission. The Global South Anglican Theological Network is a personal initiative borne of friendship and vocation. We are neither commissioned nor aligned with any organisation or official body in the Communion.

2. We are concerned that the continuing patronising attitude of the West towards the rest of the churches, often perpetrated by technological, educational and financial superiority, is damaging to the theological maturing of the Anglican Communion. We are distressed that the realities in our churches — even the term “Global South” — are often misrepresented and misunderstood within programmes of cultural assimilation and homogenisation of the varied expressions of God’s gifts to his people worldwide.

3. We rejoice however that the Word of God remains sovereign, living and active in accomplishing its good purposes in human hearts and in our lands. We give thanks that the Word has unleashed its saving power and has breathed life in our churches and peoples — “deep calling to deep” — even at the face of human folly and weakness.

4. We rejoice that the Word of God continues to speak to the church, enabling it to discern its true tasks and to speak God’s prophetic voice to peoples, societies and nations. We seek to listen, discern and clarify together what Lord Jesus says to the church.

5. We believe at this present critical juncture in the history of the Anglican Communion it is important for churches outside the traditional Anglo-American trajectories to offer a distinct and critical theological voice: speaking from the context of the global South, offering a theological articulation on issues facing the Communion as we see and read it to the deliberations in the Communion, and giving expression to the trajectories of God’s divine work in our histories.

6. We recognise that we need to draw strength from one another’s insights from the diverse socio-political contexts we serve, and to rediscover and share together how we can best uphold and pass on the faith once delivered to the saints.

7. We commit ourselves to work for the common good of the Communion, with the view that it would rediscover its moorings in the faith and worship of the one, holy, catholic and apostolic church of Jesus Christ, and that our churches would be a sign of hope and reconciliation in this broken world.

8. We invite our colleagues – men and women – working in the global South who share our vision to join in this common task.

Co-convenors:

Rev. Professor Dr Joseph Galgalo, Saint Paul’s University, Limuru, Kenya
Bishop Mark Macdonald, National Indigenous Bishop, Anglican Church of Canada
Bishop Jubal Neves, Diocesan Bishop of Sul-Ocidental Diocese, Igreja Episcopal do Brasil
Rev. Canon Dr Michael Poon, Trinity Theological College, Singapore (Secretary)
… Read more » … lire la suite »