In a Nutshell
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One reason Pope Benedict XVI has made "the recovery of full and visible Christian unity a priority of [his] pontificate" is that he is "quite aware" -- based on experience in his native Germany -- "of the painful situation that the rupture of unity in the profession of the faith has entailed for so many individuals and families." The pope spoke of this in Cologne, Germany, where he also said that divisions among Christians of different denominations "are contrary to the will of Jesus, and they disappoint people's expectations." Later, the pope spoke again of ecumenism and the family, this time in Poland. It is common today that a man and woman of "different traditions, different religions or different Christian denominations decide to start a family," he noted, adding that while this decision entails some risks, it also can serve a valuable ecumenical role. Pope Benedict said: "Thanks to the spread of ecumenical dialogue on a larger scale, the decision can lead to the formation of a practical laboratory of unity. For this to happen there is a need for mutual good will, understanding and maturity in faith of both parties and also of the communities from which they come." |
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Moving ecumenically toward the greatest, not the least, common denominator
By Father John W. Crossin, OSFSCatholic News Service
Ecumenism seeks unity in substance. Christian unity will not be superficial.
Some mistakenly think ecumenism means that:
Ecumenism in the tapestry of parish life
By Father Dan DanielsonCatholic News Service
The people in our parish are quite conscious that most Protestants are not our enemies. They are our sisters and brothers in faith. Ecumenism has created a wonderful new spirit in the church.
In our community we have held ecumenical services on Good Friday and a service on Thanksgiving morning. We even have had interfaith services on the anniversary of the 9/11 attacks. And most dramatically, we held a service in the spirit of the Jubilee Year 2000 -- the sort of service encouraged by Pope John-Paul II -- at which we apologized to one another for our prejudices, fears and lack of effort in bringing our churches together.
When husband and wife belong to separate Christian traditions
By Mary Jo PedersenCatholic News Service
"We don't agree on everything, but we have a deep faith in Christ and share many beliefs. We see the Holy Spirit working in our lives and in our home."
That comment came from a couple who met recently with other interchurch couples in one of the many focus groups the U.S. bishops sponsored as part of their National Pastoral Initiative on Marriage. The focus groups were a way of listening to couples as the bishops prepared to issue a pastoral letter on marriage, probably in 2007.
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Faith in the Marketplace | |
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 This Week's Discussion Point: Describe an ecumenical activity you've participated in on the local level. |
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Selected Response From Readers: |
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