The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, has today welcomed an address given by the Roman Catholic Cardinal Walter Kasper as a ‘clear and helpful contribution’ to the debate on women in the episcopate.

Cardinal Kasper had been invited by the Archbishop to address the annual meeting of all serving Church of England bishops, at which senior women clergy and those involved in the ministry of women were also present.

The Archbishop said, ‘I was particularly grateful that Cardinal Kasper was able to accept my invitation to address us directly on this topic. He himself has said, “Our friends’ problems are our problems too”. So, as we consider whether women should be ordained as bishops in the Church of England and what shape any possible legislation should take, it is important to have this kind of honesty and clarity about how changes made here might impact upon the common commitments of our two communions to the search for full visible unity in Christ’s Church. Nothing is served by avoiding these hard questions, and I appreciate the spirit in which the Cardinal has shared his perspectives with us.’
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By Nicholas Jesson In his address to a gathering of ecumenical leaders in Warsaw on May 25, Pope Benedict XVI has expressed strong support for pastoral care of interchurch families. Speaking to the Polish Council for Ecumenism and leaders of other religious groups, Benedict encouraged the work of a bilateral commission of the Catholic bishops’ conference
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Le 8 mai 2006 — Vingt dirigeants d’églises canadiens, représentant les membres du Conseil canadien des églises, ont fait appel au premier ministre Stephen Harper pour annoncer promptement six nouvelles initiatives dans le combat contre le VIH/SIDA. Les mesures rapides que les dirigeants d’églises veulent incluent l’annulation des dettes ont dû par pays avec des
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May 8, 2006 — Twenty Canadian church leaders, representing the member churches of the Canadian Council of Churches, have appealed to Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper to promptly announce six new initiatives in the fight against HIV/AIDS. The sweeping measures the church leaders want include cancellation of debts owed by countries with HIV/AIDS rates above
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Each year the Prairie Centre for Ecumenism holds a conference to promote education and understanding among Christians of various denominations. This year, the institute is being replaced by an inter-church retreat that will focus on worship. The theme is Gifts to Each Other: Exploring Our Treasures of Worship and Prayer. “It’s one of those things
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The annual Holocaust Memorial Service will be held Sunday, April 30th at 1:30 p.m. Hosted by the Congregation Agudas Israel at 715 McKinnon Ave., Saskatoon. This year, the keynote speaker is Philip Weiss. Born in 1922 in Drohobycz, Poland, Philip, along with his parents, his brother and sister, were first placed in a ghetto, then
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En reconnaissance de sa contribution à l’œcuménisme au plan local, national et international, l’Ordre du mérite œcuménique pour 2006 est décerné à Renaude Grégoire. Née en 1960, dans le souffle du Concile Vatican II et le signal donné de l’ouverture aux autres confessions chrétiennes, Renaude Grégoire a fait ses études en théologie à l’Université de Montréal, en côtoyant les grands penseurs chrétiens de diverses confessions chrétiennes.
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The Prairie Centre for Ecumenism will be hosting a very special retreat this summer, perhaps a unique event in Canada. Pastors and members of three very different church traditions – the Ukrainian Catholic Church, Mennonite Church Saskatchewan and the Foursquare Gospel Church – will spend three days together sharing their treasures of corporate worship and private devotion. Each worship session will be led by a member of the tradition to which it belongs, with explanations of the service’s meaning and time for questions. In addition we will be introduced to ways of private prayer and devotion characteristic of these traditions, with explanations and private time in which to ‘try out’ different types of prayer for ourselves.

Thursday May 25 to Saturday May 27, 2006 at Queen’s House of Retreats (601 Taylor St. West, Saskatoon)

Costs: $175 live-in, $150 commuters. Please register with Queen’s House directly (tel. 306-242-1916) by May 10 to ensure the viability of this event. If you would like more information about the retreat, contact the PCE at (306) 653-1633. This event will be held in lieu of the 2006 Summer Ecumenical Institute.
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CBC’s Quirks & Quarks interview with Bro. Guy Consolmagno, a Jesuit astronomer, on science & religion.
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In recognition of her contribution to ecumenism on the local, national and international levels, the 2006 Ecumenical Leadership Award is presented to Renaude Grégoire. Born in 1960, in the aura of the Second Vatican Council and the opening up towards other Christian denominations, Renaude Grégoire studied theology at the University of Montreal, rubbing shoulders with the great thinkers of the various Christian churches.
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La Fondation Carnegie pour l’avancement de l’enseignement a publié, le 18 novembre 2005, les résultats d’une étude qui révèle que les séminaires catholiques, protestants, orthodoxes et juifs aux États-Unis intègrent avec succès les connaissances théoriques aux habiletés pratiques nécessaires aux étudiants pour leur rôle futur de chefs de file de leurs communautés de foi. Le
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On 18 November 2005, the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching issued the results of a study which stated that Roman Catholic, Protestant, Orthodox and Jewish seminaries in the United States are doing a good job of integrating academic knowledge with the practical skills students will need as leaders of faith communities. The report
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Deux groupes de Canadiens de diverses Églises ont recueilli plus de 100 000 $ en cinq ans pour la lutte contre le sida en Afrique en fabriquant des anges. Les groupes, basés à Ottawa et à Victoria, sont liés à deux paroisses catholiques, toutes deux dédiées à la Sainte Croix. Des groupes de vingt à
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Two groups of Canadians from several churches have raised over $100,000 in five years for AIDS projects in Africa by making craft angels. The groups, based in Ottawa and Victoria, are linked to two Roman Catholic parishes, each named Holy Cross. Groups of twenty to thirty people that include a range of ages and religious
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Provinces de l’ouest Le South East Saskatoon Interchurch Group (SESIG) a récemment célébré son quinzième anniversaire par un service interconfessionnel composé de lectures, de chants et de présentations multimédias. Le SESIG a été créé en 1990 par cinq Églises. Il compte présentement dix-huit Églises membres, dont les Églises de l’Alliance, orthodoxe, pentecôtiste, luthérienne, méthodiste, catholique
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West The South East Saskatoon Interchurch Group (SESIG) recently celebrated a fifteen-year anniversary in an interdenominational service that included readings, song and multimedia presentations. SESIG was formed in 1990 by five churches; it currently has eighteen member churches, including the Alliance, Orthodox, Pentecostal, Lutheran, Methodist, Roman Catholic, Mennonite, Baptist, United, Presbyterian, Christian Science Society and
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VATICAN CITY (ELCA) — Focusing on “spiritual ecumenism,” Cardinal Walter Kasper, president of the Pontifical Council for the Promotion of Christian Unity, the Vatican, said the Roman Catholic Church is preparing a booklet on ecumenism with suggestions for how Catholic parishes can express commitment to ecumenism in their local settings. Kasper made the comment in
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ISTANBUL, Turkey (ELCA) — A 17-member delegation from the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) met here March 17 with His All Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew. The Lutherans offered official greetings to the patriarch, suggesting he visit the ELCA churchwide office in Chicago, as he did with his predecessor, Patriarch Demetrios. The greeting was read
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“Benedict XVI and the Future of Interreligious Theology” is the subject of a talk by Francis Clooney, S.J., at 8 p.m., March 24, 2006 at Sam Sorbara Auditorium in Brennan Hall, 81 St Mary Street, Toronto. The evening is sponsored by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada in collaboration with the University of Toronto’s Centre for the Study of Religion, Regis College, and the University of St Michael’s College. For more information call (416) 926-7115 or (416) 926-1300 ext 3317.

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CHICAGO (ELCA) — Leaders of the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) welcomed an invitation from the World Council of Churches (WCC) to consider entering into plans with other Christian world communions for a common assembly in the next decade. The Rev. Mark S. Hanson, LWF president and presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
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Les assemblées du COE ont adopté des textes qui proposaient une vision — ou précisaient les qualités — de « l’unité que nous recherchons ». L’Assemblée de Porto Alegre, au Brésil, est invitée à étudier et à adopter la présente invitation adressée aux Églises.
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WCC assemblies have adopted texts offering a vision, or identifying the qualities, of “the unity we seek”. This assembly in Porto Alegre, Brazil, is invited to consider and adopt the present invitation to the churches.
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[Toronto • February 19, 2006] The Muslim Canadian Congress has condemned attacks on Churches in Pakistan and Nigeria that have led to the death of 15 Christians, including women and children. In an appeal to Muslims across the world, the Muslim Canadian Congress is urging them to resist the temptation of participating in public demonstrations
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Prominent national Canadian Muslim organizations and umbrella groups have signed an unprecedented statement praising Canada’s collective response to the cartoon controversy, saying Canada has “made Canadian Muslims proud.” “Despite a few small occurrences, Canada’s collective response to this controversy has allowed us to overcome this crisis and strengthen our democracy,” says Dr. Tyseer Aboulnasr, a
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[Toronto • 17.2.2006] The United Church of Canada has sent a letter to the Islamic Council of Imams expressing the church’s “deepest regret that the name of Muhammad has been so tragically misused in the depictions of cartoons first published in Europe, but now also in Canada.” The letter strongly condemns the publication of the
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[Porto Alegré, Brazil • 14.02.2006] Christians and Muslims should work together to “put out the fire” caused by the controversial publication of cartoons depicting the prophet Mohammed, according to Rev. Dr Samuel Kobia, general secretary of the World Council of Churches. The publication of the cartoons, which first appeared last year in a Danish paper
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“Transforme le monde, Dieu, dans ta grâce” est le thème choisi pour la Neuvième Assemblée du ConsConseil œcuménique des Églisese réunira à Porto Alegre, Brésil, du 14 au 23 février 2006. L’Assemblée sera un temps de rencontre, de prière, de célébration et de délibération pour des milliers de chrétiennes et de chrétiens du monde entier.
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Four Canadian cities will host Taizé weekends in February-March 2006: Montreal (10-12 February), Quebec (17-19 February), Ottawa (24-26 February), Toronto (3-5 March). A brother of Taizé will lead the times of prayer, reflection. All of these gatherings, which are designed for young adults between the ages of 17 and 30, are part of the “pilgrimage
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Quatre villes du Canada accueilleront une rencontre de Taizé sous forme de fin de semaine en février-mars 2006 : Montréal (10-12 février), Québec (17-19 février), Ottawa (24-26 février), Toronto (3-5 mars). Un frère de Taizé sera présent à chacune de ces rencontres. Ces rencontres sont organisées en réponse à une invitation du service de la
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Semaine de prière pour l’unité chrétienne 2006 Du 18 au 25 janvier Cette année, le thème de la Semaine de prière pour l’unité chrétienne nous remémore une promesse de Jésus : « Car, là où deux ou trois se trouvent réunis en mon nom, je suis au milieu d’eux. » (Matthieu 18, 20) Être réceptif à cette
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Week of Prayer for Christian Unity 2006 18-25 January The theme of this coming Week of Prayer for Christian Unity sets before us a promise of Jesus: “where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them” (Matthew 18, 20). Being as receptive as possible to the presence of Jesus in
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The Prairie Centre for Ecumenism has traditionally had open office hours five mornings per week. Starting the first week of 2006, the office hours will be: Monday — 1 to 5 p.m. Tuesday — 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday — 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday — 8:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. Friday to
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À la suite d’un accord provisoire, les membres de l’Église évangélique luthérienne en Amérique ( ELCA ) et de l’Église méthodiste unie en Amérique peuvent pratiquer l’hospitalité eucharistique. L’accord provisoire a été approuvé le 11 août 2005 par 94% des 1 018 délégués à l’assemblée de la ELCA à Orlando, Floride. Les Églises comptent ensemble
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Members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) and the United Methodist Church in America can share Communion under an interim agreement approved 11 August 2005. The interim pact was approved by 94% of the 1,018 delegates attending the ELCA meeting in Orlando, Florida. The churches have a combined membership of 13 million and
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Le Conseil canadien des Églises a célébré et consacré ses nouveaux locaux le 2 octobre 2005. Tous étaient les bienvenus, en tant qu’estimés collègues, pour le début officiel d’un nouveau ministère ouvert sur plus de possibilités au plan œcuménique et interreligieux. Les nouvelles coordonnées sont : 47 Queen’s Park Crescent East, Third Floor, Toronto, Ontario
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The Canadian Council of Churches celebrated and consecrated their new offices on 2 October 2005. Everyone was invited to attend as cherished colleagues as the CCC officially began its ministry of further and future ecumenical and inter-faith possibilities in its new location. The new address is: 47 Queen’s Park Crescent East, Third Floor, Toronto, Ontario
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L’Alliance du Grand Edmonton ne fait pas qu’organiser des campagnes pour améliorer les revenus des pauvres et promouvoir le logement abordable. Elle s’occupe aussi de développer des relations afin d’acquérir assez de pouvoir pour devenir la voix des sans-voix. Depuis sa fondation, en mai 2005, quelque quarante institutions, comprenant des Églises, des congrégations religieuses, des
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West The Greater Edmonton Alliance (GEA), while working on campaigns to improve wages for the working poor and to defend affordable housing is also busy building relationships in order to gain the necessary strength to become the voice of the voiceless. Since its founding in May 2005, about forty institutions, including churches, religious congregations, social
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[Genève • 19.12.2005] Plus que deux mois avant que se tienne en 2006 la Neuvième Assemblée du Conseil œcuménique des Eglises! Les organisateurs lancent une invitation aux Eglises et aux chrétiens du monde entier pour qu’ils accompagnent et soutiennent cet événement. “Les Assemblées sont souvent des tournants dans la vie du Conseil œcuménique et celle-ci
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With two months remaining until the World Council of Churches‘ 9th Assembly in 2006, the organizers have launched an invitation to churches and Christians everywhere to accompany and support the event. “Assemblies are often turning points in the life of the World Council and this Assembly will surely leave its mark on ecumenical history,” says
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Un rapport de voyage par Dr. Stuart Brown, Centre canadien d’oecuménisme. Le but de ce voyage était d’assister à un colloque international sur les investissements responsables : « Une Réponse non violente à l’occupation israélienne? » Notre Centre s’est inscrit parmi les soixante agences qui ont parrainé le colloque, qui était organisé par les Amis canadiens du Sabeel.
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The Prairie Centre for Ecumenism’s 21st birthday party will be celebrated with an open house on November 17 at 4 p.m. Come and join us for tea and cake. In addition we will be dedicating our new photocopier!

“Walking in someone else’s shoes: Using empathy to heal conflict” is the title of the 2005 Restorative Justice Week workshop. Keynote speaker: Mary Rose Boyer, and additional workshops. At Mount Royal Mennonite Church (610 Avenue O North, Saskatoon) on November 15, from 1:30 to 9 p.m. $15 for registration, $7 for underwaged persons, students no
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40 YEARS OF WCC-ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH COLLABORATION: KASPER AND ARAM I TO ADDRESS THE RENEWAL OF ECUMENISM IN 21ST CENTURY Forty years after they set out on an ecumenical journey together, the World Council of Churches (WCC) and the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity (PCPCU) are celebrating their joint anniversary with a public event
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“After the first few months of the new pontificate, the general impression is that no one within the Church is seriously criticizing the central theses – philosophical and theological – of Benedict XVI’s preaching. But that’s not the way it is. One Catholic philosopher has disputed one of the main points of Joseph Ratzinger’s thought: the one dealing with the natural law and relativism. The philosopher is Dario Antiseri, a professor of social sciences methodology at the Free International University of Social Studies in Rome.”

The above comes from Sandro Magister, an Italian journalist. The full text can be found at www.chiesa.espressonline.it. Magister’s article includes a translation of a major piece of Dario Antiseri’s original journal article.
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International Meeting on Responsible Investment:
“A Non-Violent Response to the Israeli Occupation?”

Toronto, Ontario, 25-29 October 2005
A trip report by Stuart Brown, Canadian Centre for Ecumenism
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SÃO LEOPOLDO, Brazil (ELCA) — Some people find it confusing that Lutherans are involved in many different “full communion” relationships, the Rev. Mark S. Hanson said in a panel discussion on ecumenism here Oct. 13. “I always say that’s because our confessions call us to seek deeper unity in the church but allow greater flexibility
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Nelson – Calgary – Saskatoon – Winnipeg, 4-18 October 2005
A trip report by Stuart Brown, Canadian Centre for Ecumenism
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Nelson – Calgary – Saskatoon – Winnipeg, 4 – 18 octobre 2005
Un rapport de voyage par Stuart Brown, Centre canadien d’œcuménisme
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[Montreal] On the Montreal leg of his visit to Canada, Aram I, Catholicos of Cilicia of the Armenian Apostolic Church and president of the Central Committee of the World Council of Churches, addressed leaders of various churches at a dinner held at the Armenian Prelature of Canada on 26 September. The next day saw His
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