Posted on 01/28/2013 3:39:38 PM PST by NYer
(Vatican Radio) The ‘delicate historical moment’ that the ancient Chaldean Church of Babylon is experiencing and the need for unity in its leadership were the chief concerns expressed Monday morning as the Patriarchal Synod opened here in Rome. Emer McCarthy reports:
Convoked by Pope Benedict XVI, under the Presidency of Cardinal Leonardo Sandri, Prefect of the Congregation for Eastern Churches, the Synod has the task of electing a new Patriarch, Pater et Caput of the Chaldean Church, to succeed Cardinal Emmanuel III Delly.
Comprised of fifteen men, the bishops come mainly from Iraq, ancestral home of the Chaldean Church, but also from neighbouring Iran, Syria and Lebanon as well as representatives of the growing Chaldean Diaspora in Australia and North America.
Opening proceedings Monday morning, Cardinal Sandri underscored the crucial timing of the Synod. In his brief discourse the prelate, a bridge between the ancient Eastern Churches and Rome, had two main concerns: Firstly the ‘delicate historical moment’ of the Chaldean Church and secondly the need for unity in its leadership.
He stated: “this act of election of a new Patriarch of paramount importance before God, the Church and all the faithful … especially at this delicate historical moment, is the equal responsibility of each bishop”.
On this, he added, depends “the very future of the Chaldean Church, Her tradition and heritage, her ecclesial, social and historical circumstances, the elaboration and application of pastoral guidelines”.
Cardinal Sandri concluded: “The Chaldean Church invites you to make the necessary sacrifices through the eyes of faith, and to lay aside all personal interests for the benefit of your Church and the Universal Church…in the knowledge that what unites you in terms of spiritual, sacramental and pastoral care is far superior to what divides you so that the unity that strengthens is expressed in this election with all its force and effect”.
All 15 men will spend this week in strict segregation at the Sts. John and Paul retreat centre run by the Passionist Fathers on Rome’s Caelian Hill. Their deliberations begin Monday with day of retreat and meditation led by Bishop Enrico Del Covolo, Rector of the Pontifical Lateran University and Archbishop Rhino Fisichella, President of the Pontifical Council for the New Evangelization.
Tuesday will see the first round of debate and discussion on the current situation of the Chaldean Church in the Patriarchal territory and wider Diaspora. While Wednesday will see the first elections take place according to the Code of Canons for the Eastern Churches
The 15 participating bishops are:
Mar Hanna Zora, Mar Ibrahim N. Ibrahim, Mar Thomas MERAM, Mar Antoine AUDO, S.J., Mar Ramzi GARMOU, Mar Djabrail KASSAB, Mar Jacques ISHAQ, Mar Michel KASSARJI, Mar Shlemon WARDUNI, Mar Rabban AL-QAS, Mar Sarhad-Yawsef Jammo, Mar Mikha Pola Maqdassi, Mar Louis Sako, Mar Amel Shamon NONA, Mar Bashar Matte WARDA.
Speaking before the Synod opening to Vatican Radio’s Sergio Centofanti, Cardinal Sandri expanded on what he sees as the main challenges facing the centuries old church in this “delicate historical moment’:
“The main challenges are those of the Church in general: the faith and in the particular case of the Chaldean Church, of course, a great importance is given to ecumenical and interreligious dialogue. The lack of faith, because Christians are few and many have had to flee, migrate, go elsewhere to seek the peace and security that were missing in their homeland. In this situation of violence and suffering, the faith has faded”.
Q : You visited Iraq recently. What were your impressions?
“My impressions were that despite all we hear from the news, the violence and terrorism, there is a living, vibrant Church in Iraq, which manifests itself through the Chaldean Church and through the Syrian Catholic Church, and through the Latin Church. They are our brothers and sisters who live the Gospel, trying to put all their lives in the hands of the Father, through Jesus Christ, in the fellowship with the Holy Spirit. And I have seen this in the Divine liturgies I attended and I was really heartened by their hope for a better future. And then, seeing that they really feel that they belong to the universal Church with all their soul, the Catholic Church, they feel the Pope’s fatherly embrace, they feel close to him, as indeed, he feels close to them.
Q: An Islamist wind is blowing in Arab countries. Is dialogue possible today with the Muslim world?
We share the belief in one God with Muslims. But there is a common commitment that can also be united with this so-called Arab Spring, which is to give importance to the dignity of the human person, the dignity that is manifested in freedom, especially religious freedom, in the protection of fundamental rights of men and women.
Q: But are there fears for the future of Christians?
Christians, living in a predominantly Muslim country, may have fears, but not because of Islam, because Islam is a religion that wants harmony and peace, all that is deformation of Islam such as violence or those who want to impose their religion by force, have nothing to do with Islam. With authentic Islam there is a possibility of genuine dialogue and understanding.
Catholic ping!
Not really true. But I can't fault him for saying this on such an occasion. It's what one would WISH Islam would be. But most of all, he needs to avoid any offense to the Muzzies in the region, for the sake of his Chaldean brethren. I presume he knows only too well that the Muzzies would cut off all their heads at the drop of a hat. He's not in danger, but they are.
In the Religion forum, on a thread titled Vatican: Chaldean leaders gather for crucial election of new Patriarch, Cicero wrote: Quoting Cardinal Sandri
“Christians, living in a predominantly Muslim country, may have fears, but not because of Islam, because Islam is a religion that wants harmony and peace, all that is deformation of Islam such as violence or those who want to impose their religion by force, have nothing to do with Islam. With authentic Islam there is a possibility of genuine dialogue and understanding.”
To which you responded
“Not really true. But I can’t fault him for saying this on such an occasion. It’s what one would WISH Islam would be” (snip)
I don’t know why Latin Catholic hierarchy in particular cannot really challange Islam using this argument
http://www.theusmat.com/islamandfreewill.htm.
Instead they seem to run around and when it comes time to respond act like an ostrich.
The Chaldean Catholics in those countries are a dwindling minority, threatened with extinction by the Muslims. If they choose to act as martyrs and stand up for the truth, that is their choice and their glory. But I think it is very questionable for someone safe back in Rome to offend the Muslims in those countries, in connection with this conference of the Chaldean bishops.
It’s easy enough for us to criticize Muslims from the relative safety of the U.S. I do it fairly regularly. But I would hesitate to do it if it meant that other Christians would be killed in response to something I said. One thinks of the newsmen who inspired multiple murders with their lies about Americn servicemen’s actions in Iraq, for instance. Dozens of innocent people were killed in reaction to those lies.
It’s another matter for someone with the power and obligation to act who denies the truth about Islam. Obama, for instance, who has actually HELPED Muslim terrorists kill Christians. When he was a Senator he did as much in Kenya, agitating on the taxpayer’s dime on behalf of his church-burning cousin.
By the way, I don’t have time just now to read your linked source, but—looking at the title— I have argued here in the past that the God of Israel and of Christianity is a God of rationality and free will, whereas Allah is a God of completely arbitrary whims who demands submission to those whims. And the Muslims behave accordingly.
Because of recent explanations on FR, I can confidently say that Vatican Radio does not represent the views of The Church.
At the most it has personal views expressed by Cardinal Sandri.
Vatican Radio is the radio station of the city-state of the Vatican -- a pronouncement of the Vatican is separate and may be broadcast (probably will be broadcast on VR), just as Jerusalem Hassidic radio may or may not express the views of the Hassidic community as a whole.
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