Catholic, Lutheran Dialogues Bear Fruit
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Single Issue: $1.00 Publication Mail Agreement No. 40030139 CATHOLIC JOURNAL Vol. 95 No. 14 September 20, 2017 Family reunited Catholic, Lutheran dialogues bear fruit A two-year journey to bring a refugee family from By Mark Pattison laration on the Doctrine of Justi - Shaking off some of Luther - cording to Johnson. Affirmation Burundi to Saskatoon fication, which “changed the anism’s darker moments is “an of “Declaration on the Way: concluded Sept. 14 when a WASHINGTON (CNS) — teaching of each church,” as a on going and unfinished task,” Church, Ministry and Eucharist” late-evening flight landed Catholic-Lutheran ecumenical watershed moment. The declara - Johnson said. “We disavow” at last year’s ELCA assembly and a family of seven was efforts have borne fruit over the tion — which stated that Chris - Martin Luther’s anti-Semitic won approve from “99 per cent- reunited. The family is past 50 years, noted two speakers tians are redeemed by “grace writings from later in his life, and plus” of assembly delegates, she among almost a quarter-mil - in a joint address Sept. 15 during alone . while calling and equip - Lutherans are still dealing with noted. The document attempts to lion refugees who have fled Georgetown University’s “1517 - ping us to do good works” — has violent wrongs committed reach common theological ground the years-long civil war. 2017: Lutherans and Catholics: since been affirmed at least in part against Anabaptists nearly 400 between the two faiths. “That was — page 3 Then and Now” conference. by the World Methodist Council, years ago, for which “the only a way of telling the church, ‘Get A living document Kathryn Johnson, director of the Anglican Communion and the possible recourse was to ask for - on with this, please,’ ’’ she said. ecumenical and inter-religious World Communion of Reformed giveness.” Archdeacon Catherine relations for the Evangelical Churches. But progress is undeniable, ac - — gRACES OF , page 15 Harper, one of the organizers Lutheran Church in America, the of a recent largest U.S. Lutheran body, said Mary’s Meals a sign of God to the world Anglican/ she rejects the concept of “ecu - Catholic menical winter” as if to describe a retreat, says stall in ecumenism. “There are By James Buchok granted, of being part of this amaz - the rule of signs of change that we’re seeing ing church of ours, of people who life is like a around us,” she said, adding WINNIPEG — Bringing food have given their life to Jesus.” living docu - “autumn” may be a better de - to the suffering in wartorn coun - He spoke of being in Somalia, ment: “We scription and noting that tries is dangerous, but the greater where, among all the other ruins, change it Christians will have to decide danger is believing you’re superi - the church had been decimated, depending on our circum - “what to do with the harvest.” or to the people you think you are and he had never felt so alone. Johnson said there exists a stances so that we can grow helping. “There was a complete absence of “deep misunderstanding we have of in Christ’s likeness through “It’s not like that and it should church.” But as he prayed that each other still,” which needs a prayer and worship and acts never be like that,” says the morning he realized it was Sept. “hermeneutic of generosity” to of service, and as we founder of Mary’s Meals, a group 8, “Our Lady’s birthday, and I overcome despite 50 years of dia - practise these disciplines, that feeds more than a million began thinking what could be a logue. “There are no easy thanks - children a day. “It’s about a whole more wonderful thing than being we will grow more in the givings or cheap repentances,” she lot of us walking together,” said in this place where people are nature of Jesus Christ.” added during the presentation, Magnus MacFarlane-Barrow, a starving and scared and bringing — page 6 “Lutheran-Catholic Dialogue: Scottish man who, one day in them food. A gift from Our Lady Reconciliation Accomplishments and Challenges.” 1992, quit his job and, with his on her birthday.” She cited the 1999 Joint Dec - brother, started trucking dona - He spoke of refugee camps At the opening mass for the tions to people stuck in the up - and women who had walked school year in Regina, heaval in Bosnia-Herzegovina. more than a hundred miles; some Magnus MacFarlane-Barrow Archbishop Donald Bolen Mary’s Meals, named for the had watched their children die of told teachers and school Mother of Jesus, now works in 13 hunger on the way. giving them our time.” division staff that the arch - countries. “Our Holy Father Pope Francis MacFarlane-Barrow said today diocese has made healing MacFarlane-Barrow was one talks about ‘the sin of efficiency’ in South Sudan six million people and reconciliation with of many presenters taking part in aimed at those of us involved in are chronically hungry while war indigenous peoples a major the 16th Annual Marian Eucha - this kind of work. We can make rages, with no sign of ending. pastoral and educational pri - ristic Conference, Aug. 25 - 27 in the mistake of getting caught up Children have lost their parents ority, and rejoiced that Winnipeg. in the numbers and how efficient and lost their communities, they Regina Catholic Schools MacFarlane-Barrow said it was we are in terms of implementing arrive alone in villages looking shared that priority. a blessing to be among the many our projects and losing sight of for food. — page 7 priests and religious at the confer - the person in front of us and lov - ence. “It’s easy to take that gift for ing that person in front of us and A ‘new protest’ — SOUTH SUDAN , page 8 “We need a new protest Campaign puts women at peace table today . a strong one, to not connect God and our church - es to intolerance, injustice, By Michael Swan “It really is taking a look at all o lic Bishops president Bishop bigotry, violence, terrorism, The Catholic Register of what women are capable of Doug Crosby protested in a letter racism, sexism, rigidity, dog - doing in terms of peace building,” to Foreign Affairs Minister matism, anti-eroticism, TORONTO (CCN) — The said Toronto Development and Chrystia Freeland that elevating homophobia, self-serving international development organi - Peace archdiocesan council presi - abortion to “the core of Canadian power, institutional self-pro - zation of the Catholic Church in dent Sylvia Santin. foreign policy” ignores the larger, tection, security for the rich, Canada is demanding the federal Santin says it is “unfortunate” deeper and more urgent concerns ideology of all kinds, and government adopt a feminist for - that Canadian policy has become of women in poor countries. just plain stupidity,” writes CNS/Rolex Dela Pena, EPA eign aid policy that diverts so focused on providing access to “They include Canada’s eco - Ron Rolheiser, OMI. PRIEST RELEASED — A senior emphasis from enabling abortion abortion in poor countries. The nomic partnerships with countries — page 11 Philippine priest taken hostage by to delivering lasting peace. upcoming campaign, she said, in which female infants are mur - Islamic State-inspired militants in Development and Peace is set will be “far more positive or dered for not being male; those in Strategic move the southern city of Marawi has to launch a national campaign broader looking in terms of what which women earn less than men been freed after almost four called “May Peace Be With Her.” it means to support women.” for the same job or where they do In a strategic move of great months of captivity. Rev. Teresito Local Development and Peace In June, Minister of International not enjoy the same privileges importance, Pope Francis Soganub, vicar-general of the groups intend to meet with their Development Marie-Claude Bibeau under the law, including the right recently issued a motu pro - Prelature of Marawi, said he was members of Parliament in late announced Canada was launching a to education or protection from prio which will return doing as well as could be expected November to demand that new “feminist international assis - rape, physical violence, and other following his ordeal. A local authority over liturgical Canadian policy ensures women tance policy,” but so far its most forms of abuse,” Crosby wrote. Maute terror group captured translations to the confer - Soganub and 30 other church are involved in peace negotiations prominent and public commitment “It is difficult to comprehend how ences of bishops, by means workers at Marawi cathedral around the world and that local has been to fund contraception, abor - the policy agenda you have of a change in canon law. May 23, the first day of fighting women’s groups receive support tion providers and groups lobbying advanced truly represents the — page 13 in the Islamic city. They also tore in quests for peace and reconcilia - to liberalize abortion laws in Africa, interests of women, particularly down and desecrated icons and tion in wartorn countries such as Latin America and Asia to the tune those that are already at risk.” other sacred images and tried to the Democratic Republic of of $650 million over three years. set fire to the building. Congo and Syria. Canadian Conference of Cath - — OVERSEAS , page 4 2 Prairie Messenger INTERNATIONAL NEWS September 20, 2017 Belgian brothers group to reject Vatican decree By Jonathan Luxmoore sion statement and argumenta - minal situation with the utmost is performed only if there is no be examined “with greater cir - tion.” caution,” said the organization, more possibility of providing a cumspection than previously,” OXFORD, England (CNS) — It added that it “always took whose board members include reasonable treatment perspective but conceded that the order’s Belgium’s Brothers of Charity into account shifts and evolutions Herman Van Rompuy, a former to the patient,” the statement hospitals were not yet ready to Group, which runs 15 centres for within society,” and “emphatical - European Council president and said.