Posted on 06/23/2005 2:52:16 PM PDT by murphE
The cornerstone of Our Lady of the Angels Cathedral boldly proclaims, in the words of the Prophet Isaiah, "My House Shall Be a House of Prayer for All Peoples." We enflesh those words in number of ways.
Since its dedication, an innumerable number of interfaith prayer services have been held in our Cathedral. Last month for example, representatives of the Armenian, Evangelical Christian, Baha'i, Jewish, Muslim, Buddhist, Sikh, Evangelical Lutheran, Presbyterian, Methodist, United Church of Christ, Roman Catholic and Greek Orthodox Faiths lead a large congregation of diverse people in an Interfaith Prayer Service commemorating the life of our Late Pope, John Paul II.
Earlier this week, as part of the seventh International Conference on Buddhist Christian Dialogue, representatives of various Buddhist traditions and Catholic, Southern Baptist, and Episcopal clergy gathered in the Cathedral to conduct a Buddhist Christian Prayer Service. An Interfaith Prayer Service is currently being planned to be held at the Cathedral prior to the upcoming inauguration of our new mayor, Antonio Villaraigosa.
In addition to such services, the Cathedral has hosted a number of sacred music events, such as choral presentations, organ recitals and performances, reflecting the diversity of faith found in our city. An Interreligious art exhibit, Passion and Passover, recently graced the walls of the side chapels of the Cathedral, featuring the works of Jewish and Christian artists.
The Cathedral has also been made available to members of other faiths in times of civic tragedy, such as the recent funeral for a member of the Airport Police Department who was so tragically killed in an act of violence: a non-Catholic, his funeral service was conducted by a Baptist Minister.
Occasionally we are asked by a single denomination to use the Cathedral. Our Guidelines for the Ecumenical and Interreligious Use of the Cathedral specifically state: "If a particular denomination is celebrating a special moment in its life and history, then the Cathedral may be available for Prayer Services, Vespers or other non-sacramental celebrations" [III.A].
The Guidelines further state: "The use of the Cathedral's altars is reserved for the celebration of the Eucharist by Catholic priests and bishops according to the usages of Catholic Churches, that is, those in communion with the Bishop of Rome" [III.B]. And further: "The celebration of Eucharistic or other sacramental liturgies by other denominations is best reserved to the designated places of worship of those denominations or other appropriate locations" [ibid].
Last Sunday, we were honored to host the Pontifical Divine Liturgy of His Holiness, Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians, at our Cathedral. Why this exception to the above guidelines?
In Unitatis Redintegratio, the Vatican II Degree on Ecumenism, the special position of the Eastern Churches is specifically noted: "These Churches, although separated from us, yet possess true sacraments, above all --- by apostolic succession --- the priesthood and the Eucharist, whereby they are still joined to us in closest intimacy" [III.14]. This cannot be said of all Christian Churches, but certainly can be said of the Armenian Church.
In light of the conciliar document and the Ecumenical overtures of both our late Pope, John Paul II, and our current Pope, Benedict XVI, to the Eastern Churches, and acknowledging the hospitality extended by Karekin II to John Paul II during his pastoral visit to Armenia, when the Pope celebrated Mass on the altar of the Catholicos' Palace Chapel, we were singularly honored to host that spiritually rich and historic liturgy on our Cathedral altar.
Given the religious diversity of our city, it is fitting that our Cathedral be used both ecumenically and interreligiously, that it truly serve as the spiritual heart of Los Angeles.
Taj Mahony *ping*
Anybody who opposes the goings-on mentioned in this article is just being hypocritical. In addition to the plethora of interfaith activities he participated in, the late Holy Father twice invited pagans to Assisi to break the 1st Commandment. When Mahoney engages in these types of things, everyone can clearly see it for what it is: synchronism and indifferentism and they rightly oppose him and these events. When the late Holy Father did the same types of things he is applauded for bringing people together to bring about a brotherhood of peace. How can anyone rail against Cdl Mahoney in one breath, and in the next condemn others who criticise the same activities hosted by the late Holy Father? How could JPII have been good and right about these things, and Mahoney terrible and wrong?
I don't recall anyone who loved the late Pope supporting the Assisi blunder. There is much to love in John Paul II beside his errors in judgement. Mahoney, on the other hand, stands for nothing but heterodoxy, in this incident and in general.
HOLY ECHMIADZIN
The Seat of the Catholicos of All Armenians
This, by the way, is the "grim air hangar"'s counterpart.
By the time one gets to be pope, I would expect he'd know the 1st Commandment. I would expect he'd know that it is a sin to encourage sin.
The event mentioned in the above article is the entire message of the late Holy Father's pontificate come to life. Assisi I&II were not two "blunders" in an otherwise traditional, orthodox pontificate. He participated/hosted many, many similar events over the last 26 years.
And if JPII did not think the Cdl was guilty of general heterodoxy (made evident by getting the red hat and never having been disciplined), who are any of us to say otherwise?
I think that both John Paul II and Mahoney got ecumenism wrong.
No, ecumenism is what various Catholic schismatics like to beat him over the head with. The late Pope's legacy also includes defeat of Communist ideology, marginalization of the liberation theology, developing the theology of the body, and, timid as it was, resistance to sundry innovators in the church. Nor was his entire ecumenist effort wrong. His incessant travel, for example, made the world more aware of Catholicism and quite possibly stemmed the decline in vocations.
You have a point about Mahoney not doing anything John Paul II did not do; in fact, Cardinal Mahoney returned a favor received by the late Pope in Echmiadzin.
John Paul's celebrity status is simply a reflection of love many people, and many non-Catholics, felt for him. Which is the best ecumenical policy. Also, it is degrading to simply call him a celebrity because he was a celebrity with, and because of, substance.
Please, by all means. Why not just hand the keys over to the local Imam and be done with it. Considering the looks of that monstrosity, I'd actually be in favor of that.
Unless you're a member of the Society of St. Pius I, I consider you a 'latinizer' and a follower of the radical Pope St. Leo.
I must have missed this. When was Communist ideology defeated and why hasn't anyone told China?
It's dead in China as well.
Really. Tell that to the underground Church, being arrested, jailed and tortured. If it's dead in Russia, what happened to the KGB? When were the arrests and trials? What about all the political prisoners? When were they released? Boy you'd think at least a few of them would have been on Oprah by now.
Communism is economic central planning. That is dead even in China. In all formerly communist countries Christianity is growing, including China.
I know the late Pope was not alone in transforming the world, but his contribution is among the greatest in late 20 century.
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