Benedict XVI: Kobia prays for renewed commitment to ecumenical openness and a dialogue of conversion

Geneva — In congratulating the newly-elected pope, World Council of Churches (WCC) general secretary Rev. Dr. Samuel Kobia prayed for “renewed commitment” to “ecumenical openess” and “a dialogue of conversion”. Describing Benedict XVI as a man “known for his theological integrity and ecclesial loyalty, his evangelical simplicity and pastoral sensitivity,” Kobia expressed his hope that his
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Posted: April 20, 2005 • Permanent link: ecu.net/?p=129
Categories: News • In this article: Benedict XVI, Joseph Ratzinger, Samuel Kobia, WCC Transmis : 20 avril 2005 • Lien permanente : ecu.net/?p=129
Catégorie : News • Dans cet article : Benedict XVI, Joseph Ratzinger, Samuel Kobia, WCC

Papal Reflections on Marriage and the Family

Papal Reflections on Marriage and the Family

I found this article on the Vatican Information Service about Pope Benedict’s comments at a Rome congress on “The Family and the Christian Community.” I think that he has some positive affirmations to make about families, but I find it interesting that as I was trying to attend to the positives, he kept turning to the negatives. So, for example, he speaks about marriage but ends the section by cautioning about “pseudo-marriage” and divorce.

I wonder whether this gives us some insight into Benedict’s character, or at least some insight into his attitude towards married life. He ends his comments by calling for more vocations to the priesthood and religious life. That’s not exactly a rousing endorsement of marriage.

We should remember that Benedict’s favourite theologian is Augustine of Hippo, who had very similar fears about marriage. It is good and natural in theory, but a risky venture that might imperil your salvation. One is better off avoiding it altogether.
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Posted: June 7, 2005 • Permanent link: ecu.net/?p=138
Categories: Vatican News • In this article: Benedict XVI, family, marriage Transmis : 7 juin 2005 • Lien permanente : ecu.net/?p=138
Catégorie : Vatican News • Dans cet article : Benedict XVI, family, marriage

A Catholic Philosopher Argues for Relativism

“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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Posted: November 6, 2005 • Permanent link: ecu.net/?p=170
Categories: News • In this article: Benedict XVI, Catholic Transmis : 6 novembre 2005 • Lien permanente : ecu.net/?p=170
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Benedict XVI and the Future of Interreligious Theology

“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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Posted: March 16, 2006 • Permanent link: ecu.net/?p=215
Categories: News • In this article: Benedict XVI, events, interfaith, Joseph Ratzinger, theology Transmis : 16 mars 2006 • Lien permanente : ecu.net/?p=215
Catégorie : News • Dans cet article : Benedict XVI, events, interfaith, Joseph Ratzinger, theology

Interchurch families a laboratory of unity: Benedict XVI

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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Posted: May 26, 2006 • Permanent link: ecu.net/?p=234
Categories: News • In this article: Benedict XVI, Christian unity, interchurch families, marriage, pope Transmis : 26 mai 2006 • Lien permanente : ecu.net/?p=234
Catégorie : News • Dans cet article : Benedict XVI, Christian unity, interchurch families, marriage, pope

Open Letter to Pope Benedict XVI

Open Letter to His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI by 38 Leading Muslim Scholars and Leaders.
In an unprecedented move, an open letter signed by 38 leading Muslim religious scholars and leaders around the world was sent to Pope Benedict XVI on Oct. 12, 2006. The letter, which is the outcome of a joint effort, was signed by top religious authorities. All the eight schools of thought and jurisprudence in Islam are represented by the signatories, including a woman scholar. In this respect the letter is unique in the history of interfaith relations.
The letter was sent, in a spirit of goodwill, to respond to some of the remarks made by the Pope during his lecture at the University of Regensburg on Sept. 12, 2006. The letter tackles the main substantive issues raised in his treatment of a debate between the medieval Emperor Manuel II Paleologus and an “educated Persian”, including reason and faith; forced conversion; “jihad” vs. “holy war”; and the relationship between Christianity and Islam. They engage the Pope on an intellectual level concerning these crucial topics–which go well beyond the controversial quotation of the emperor–pointing out what they see as mistakes and oversimplifications in the Pope’s own remarks about Islamic belief and practice.
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Posted: October 21, 2006 • Permanent link: ecu.net/?p=273
Categories: Dialogue, Documents • In this article: Benedict XVI, interfaith, Islam, Joseph Ratzinger, statements Transmis : 21 octobre 2006 • Lien permanente : ecu.net/?p=273
Catégorie : Dialogue, Documents • Dans cet article : Benedict XVI, interfaith, Islam, Joseph Ratzinger, statements

New papal reflection on evolution

On Wednesday April 11, Pope Benedict XVI published a new book in German on the subject of creation and evolution. The book apparently arises out of the Schülerkreis, a group of his graduate students that continue to meet with him each fall. The annual gatherings have attracted a great deal of attention since Benedict was elected pope, particularly because the participants — each a former student of Benedict — represent some of the most well-known and highly-regarded theologians in Germany and around the world. In 2006 the gathering was held at Castel Gandolfo on the subject of creation and evolution.

It should be remembered that, in his 1950 encyclical Humanae Generis, Pope Pius XII taught that the “hypothesis” of evolution does not conflict with Catholic faith so long as it does not deny “that the spiritual soul is immediately created by God.” In 1996, John Paul II went further and stated that new knowledge leads to the recognition that the theory of evolution is more than an hypothesis. He pointed out, as many biologists would also insist, that there are “theories” of evolution rather than one theory.
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Posted: April 13, 2007 • Permanent link: ecu.net/?p=311
Categories: News • In this article: Benedict XVI, books, creation, evolution, Joseph Ratzinger Transmis : 13 avril 2007 • Lien permanente : ecu.net/?p=311
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Pope encourages Latin Mass

On Saturday, Pope Benedict XVI issued a motu proprio entitled Summorum Pontificum, on the use of the 1962 Latin Mass. The document has been widely expected for some months now.
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Posted: July 7, 2007 • Permanent link: ecu.net/?p=334
Categories: Documents, News • In this article: Benedict XVI, Catholic, eucharist Transmis : 7 juillet 2007 • Lien permanente : ecu.net/?p=334
Catégorie : Documents, News • Dans cet article : Benedict XVI, Catholic, eucharist

Spe Salvi, the Pope’s Encyclical on Christian Hope

Benedict XVI’s second Encyclical, “Spe Salvi” which is dedicated to the theme of Christian hope, was published today. The document – which has an introduction and eight chapters – begins with a quote from the Letter of St. Paul to the Romans: “spe salvi facti sumus” (in hope we are saved).
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Posted: November 30, 2007 • Permanent link: ecu.net/?p=389 In this article: Benedict XVI, Catholic, encyclicals, hope Transmis : 30 novembre 2007 • Lien permanente : ecu.net/?p=389 Dans cet article : Benedict XVI, Catholic, encyclicals, hope

Spe salvi : Encyclique de Benoît XVI de l’espérance chrétienne

Aujourd’hui est publiée la seconde Encyclique de Benoît XVI, Spe Salvi, qui comprend une introduction suivie de huit chapitres, et qui s’ouvre passage de l’Epître aux romains où Paul dit que nous avons été sauvés dans l’espérance.
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Posted: November 30, 2007 • Permanent link: ecu.net/?p=390
Categories: News • In this article: Benedict XVI, Catholic, encyclicals Transmis : 30 novembre 2007 • Lien permanente : ecu.net/?p=390
Catégorie : News • Dans cet article : Benedict XVI, Catholic, encyclicals