Imagine if the pope were invited to address a summit of Protestant leaders, and used the platform to take a swipe at Italy’s tiny Waldensian Protestant church — complaining that it tries to convert Catholics, and demanding that it shut up about the separation of church and state. Protestants would rightly howl about how crude Read more
Pope Francis has said Christians from different denominations should work for closer ties without waiting for theologians to agree on everything. He told Pentecostal bishops visiting him in Rome that Catholics and Evangelicals should “walk together”. Focussing on differences amounts to “sinning against God’s will”, the Pope said. He said Christians should not wait for Read more
The Vatican will not demand the ‘capitulation’ of the traditionalist Society of St Pius X, a spokesman for the former says. The secretary of the Ecclesia Dei commission, Archbishop Guido Pozzo, told a French media outlet that the Vatican continues to work for reconciliation with the society. Formal talks between the SSPX and the Congregation Read more
Next year Brother Alois, the prior and successor of Brother Roger the founder of Taizé, will be visiting New Zealand from the 9 t0 11 February. He will be accompanied by Brothers Matthew and Ghishlan. While they are in New Zealand they will be taking part in events in Otaki, Wellington and Christchurch. The Taizé Read more
Ecumenical history has been made with the appointment for the first time of a Catholic priest as chair of the Dublin Council of Churches. Fr Damian McNiece is the first Catholic priest to hold the position in the 50 year history of the DCC. The Catholic Church only became a full member of the council six years ago, Read more
A small group of Coptic Orthodox Christians say they are in the process of buying Timaru’s Chalmers Church. This is the second time they have tried to buy this church. If a sale goes ahead the group will rename it St George’s Coptic Church. Businessman Dean van Buuren purchased the church, Friendship Centre and neighbouring Read more
History was made in Canterbury, England, last Friday when the Vatican’s newly formed cricket team played its first ever match against the Church of England. The Anglicans beat the catholics answering the Catholics’ score of 106 with just five balls remaing. The Vatican scored 106 runs to which the Anglican XI replied with 108 runs Read more
The Catholic Archbishop of Westminster will join the Archbishop of Canterbury and representatives of other faiths to bury King Richard III next year. Cardinal Vincent Nichols of Westminster said it is fitting that King Richard’s “remains should be reinterred with dignity and accompanied by the prayers of the Church in Leicester Cathedral, the mediaeval parish Read more
November this year will mark the 50th anniversary of the solemn promulgation of the Second Vatican Council Decree on Ecumenism, Unitatis Redintegratio. It still remains the authoritative document of the Catholic Church setting out the principles of ecumenical dialogue, though much of its teaching was expounded by St John Paul II in his encyclical Ut Read more
Pope Francis wants to reform the papacy to allow greater unity between the Catholic and Orthodox Churches, a newly appointed senior adviser says. Enzo Bianchi was appointed on July 22 as a consultor of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity. The Tablet reported him saying the Pope could allow a council of bishops, including Read more