Photo Review: Ecumenical 'Event' At Assisi

Diocese Report ^

[narses]

	Pope John Paul II (C) gathers with other religious leaders for a prayer in St. Francis Basilica January 24, 2002. Leaders of world's religions, from Christians to Muslims, from Buddhists to animists, met in Assisi Italy on Thursday to blow against the winds of war and pledge never again to use God's name to justify violence. REUTERS/Paolo Cocco	Geshe Tashi Tsering, representing Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama, delivers his speech during the Day of Prayer for Peace in the World ceremony in the square of Assisi's Lower Basilica of St. Francis, central Italy, Thursday, Jan. 24, 2002. Imams, patriarchs, monks and rabbis from around the world joined Pope John Paul II on Thursday to pray for peace in a ceremony designed to proclaim that religion must never be used to justify violence. (AP Photo/Pier Paolo Cito)
	Representatives of different religions light candles during their daylong retreat to pray for peace in front of Assisi's Lower Basilica of St. Francis, central Italy as Pope John Paul II sits in the background Thursday, Jan. 24, 2002. Imams, patriarchs, monks and rabbis from around the world joined the pontiff on Thursday to pray for peace in a ceremony designed to proclaim that religion must never be used to justify violence. (AP Photo/Pier Paolo Cito)	Pope John Paul II, left, looks down as Jewish representatives carrying candles walk past Pope John Paul II, left, during a celebration for peace in front of Assisi's Lower Basilica of St. Francis, central Italy, Thursday, Jan. 24, 2002. Imams, patriarchs, monks and rabbis from around the world joined Pope John Paul II on Thursday to pray for peace in a ceremony designed to proclaim that religion must never be used to justify violence. (AP Photo/Pier Paolo Cito)
	Patriarch Bartholomew I, spiritual head of the world's Orthodox Christians, Pope John Paul II, and Anglican Bishop Richard Garrard, from left, pray in Assisi, Italy's St. Francis lower basilica, Thursday, Jan. 24, 2002. Representatives of the world's religionsjoin the pontiff to pray for peace in a ceremony designed to proclaim that religion must never be used to justify violence. (AP Photo/Plinio Lepri)	Buddhists pray inside Assisi's Franciscan convent, in central Italy, during a day of prayer for peace in the world, Thursday, Jan. 24, 2002. Imams, patriarchs, monks and rabbis from around the world joined Pope John Paul II on Thursday to pray for peace in a ceremony designed to proclaim that religion must never be used to justify violence. (AP Photo/Crocchioni, POOL)

[Jeff Chandler]

these nutty Catholics

Hey, I resemble that remark!

[NYer]

Thank you for posting a very informative response. It all sounds so much more complex than the catholic church. It is not surprising to me that some catholics don't read the bible. They probably use the same excuses for not reading as for not praying ... lack of time, family activities, etc. Only last night, I happened to watch a roundtable discussion on EWTN that included two converts to catholicism. The topic of the discussion was on bringing lax catholics back into full communion with the church.

Each of the protestant converts singled out the lack of zeal or enthusiasm they met when talking with other catholics. They talked of their enthusiasm about Confession and receiving the Eucharist but could not understand why fellow parishioners were "flat" (best word I could come up with). It has been my own experience that cradle catholics just take so much of their religion for granted, never questioning or pondering it. My love for the bible began with a short class I attended several years ago at my parish. It was so interesting and informative.

How do evangelical ministers conduct their Sunday services? Do you use the bible throughout the service? In the catholic church, Sunday's service is focused on the Eucharist. It includes 3 bible readings - one from the Old Testament, one from the New Testament and the Gospel (from one of the 4 books written by the apostles). Catholics are encouraged to read the bible but I don't know of anyone personally who invests much time in it. Then again, many of our prayers are centered around the major events in the life of Christ and these require meditation on scripture.

Spiritually I was born into a Methodist family. I became a Christian in college

Not sure I understand this statement ... aren't Methodist's christians?

[drstevej]

Me: Spiritually I was born into a Methodist family. I became a Christian in college

NY: Not sure I understand this statement ... aren't Methodist's christians?

Me: I grew up and was baptized as an infant in the Methodist church but it was not until about the time I started for college that I realized my sin and need for a savior. I placed my trust in Him at that time. I am not saying that the gospel was never preached in my church (I attended regularly) but I never heard and understood it. As the hymn says, "I once was blind but now I see."

In my church many assumed that people who attended church were Christians, whereas the Bible says that "Unless you believe that I am you will die in your sins." Jesus, the Divine I am, paid the penalty for my sin at the cross. He died in my place that I might be reconciled to the Father.

Does that clarify my statement?

Protestant worship services vary widely but most evangelical services include biblical teaching/preaching, congregational singing, prayer and observance of the Lord's Supper.

In the churches I have served communion has been observed on either a weekly or monthly basis. The sermons are usualy 35-40 minutes in length and focus on explaining and applying a section of scripture. Often we preach consecutively through a book of the Bible. (If interested, freep me your address and I'll send a tape or two as illustration). The music in our church is awesome. We have a 50 member choir, as well as instruments and many talented soloists. We usually have 20 minutes or so of worship in song. Ocassionally we will do a brief drama that illustrates the sermon lesson. Recently we use powerpoint so that people who are visually oriented can track well with the sermon. We give people an outline of the sermon so they can take notes and study on their own. Often we include discussion questions based on the passage for people to use for personal or family devotions or small group studies.

In addition to worship we have adult Bible Fellowship classes which meet the at the same time as our two services. These usually include 40 minutes of teaching and interaction led by our pastors and others in our church. In our church we have three teaching pastors so often when I am not preaching in the worship service, I teach a class.

These adult Bible Fellowship classes allow for questions and answers which helps people understand through asking questions. Additionally we have 60-100 small groups that meet during the week for Bible Study and prayer.

Teaching is an important part of what we do (and it is consistant with the Great Commission (Mt. 28:18-20). Our church mission statement is:

The mission of the Chapel on the Campus is to glorify God by making disciples of Jesus Christ. As His disciples we are called to exalt God, edify one another; evangelize the lost, and extend love and compassion to all.

[narses]

P:erhaps my education was deficient, nonetheless, the quote answers your question vis-a-vis the point made here. As to atheists, how would they pray? What difference would this discussion have to them?

(FYI, I believe if you look you will find St. Thomas quotes St. Augustine in his works on the subject.)

[RnMomof7]

This is a shame , I fear the Pope is being poorly advised on theses matters.

[Catholicguy]

. Whatever happened to Church Militant?

I'm right here :)

[Catholicguy]

Were I a Catholic these pictures would drive me nuts!

LOL They have driven some CINO's nuts

[Catholicguy]

Catholics are encouraged to read the bible

The entire Mass is from the Bible and Catholics, routinely, get more of the Bible at Mass than do protestants at their services.

One of the biggest shibboleths in the world is that protestants know the Bible. They know SOME verses - usually memorised to prove others wrong.

Were a Catholic and a protestant to go to service every day in their own communions, the Catholic would hear the entire Bible. The protestant wouldn't.

[Salvation]

They have driven some CINO's nuts

We have all been asked to pray for peace.

What is wrong with the heads of all these different religions getting together to pray for peace?

Or does God not listen to some people's prayers because they belong to a different denomination? How can we, mere earthlings, judge?

I think the Pope showed leadership and reconciliation here, not weakness and schism.

Pray unceasingly. Pray unceasingly. Pray unceasingly. Pray unceasingly. Pray unceasingly. Pray unceasingly. Pray unceasingly. Pray unceasingly. Pray unceasingly. Pray unceasingly. Pray unceasingly. Pray unceasingly. Pray unceasingly. Pray unceasingly. Pray unceasingly. Pray unceasingly. Pray unceasingly. Pray unceasingly. Pray unceasingly.

[drstevej]

Indeed they would hear the entire Bible. Hearing is not understanding.

I'll send you a tape of one of our sermons, you take a tape of the Mass in your church. Give them to six people who do not regularly attend church and ask which taught them more about the Bible.

Or you send me your tape and I'll do the experiment.

[sitetest]

Dear Catholicguy,

When I view these photos, what strikes me the most strongly is that it is the Vicar of Christ who called these others to visit him, and it is the Vicar of Christ who sits in the center of the dais, with the nearly-Catholic Orthodox on one side, and the once-Catholic Anglican on the other.

It seems the others are part of the audience. His audience. He calls, they come. He presides, they attend.

What do you make of that, CG?

sitetest

[Catholicguy]

Amen, brother. He is the Vicar of Christ for all Christians (well, 'cept for the sspx)

[Catholicguy]

Amen, brother. He is the Vicar of Christ for all Christians, everyone really - well, 'cept for the sspx :)

[sitetest]

Dear Catholicguy,

"(well, 'cept for the sspx)"

LOL.

Be nice. They believe they think he's the Vicar of Christ.

sitetest

[Catholicguy]

I'll send you a tape of one of our sermons, you take a tape of the Mass in your church. Give them to six people who do not regularly attend church and ask which taught them more about the Bible.

No thanks. With all due respect, your view of the Bible is, frequently, in error.

[Land of the Irish]

I'm right here :)

LOL. I said militant; not milktoast.

[Catholicguy]

You made some excellent points. BTW, what do you make of such columns? Do you think they are intended to show the Pope in as positive a light as possible, or do these type of columns try to make us anxious, skeptical, doubtful and questioning?

I wonder why there aren't posts about this event that explain just how this action by the Pope is permisible? I guess there are just too many "loyal" Catholics who like to involve the Pope in controversy and never give him the benefit of the doubt. I guess that is considered "christian" by some

[Catholicguy]

Indeed they would hear the entire Bible. Hearing is not understanding

Nor is your preaching Teaching. Teaching is done in the Catholic Curch which speaks with the authority of Jesus. One needs to "hear" to learn. But, one must be sent, by Jesus, to Teach. We have no authority to call ourselves and oppose the Church He established. Matt:16,18,19

[Catholicguy]

Our ancestors from the Ol' Sod, in their graves, would be spinnng faster than an anenometer atop Mt. Washington were they to hear an Irishman opposing the Pope. That is what King Hank did

[drstevej]

***Nor is your preaching Teaching. Teaching is done in the Catholic Curch which speaks with the authority of Jesus. One needs to "hear" to learn. But, one must be sent, by Jesus, to Teach. We have no authority to call ourselves and oppose the Church He established. Matt:16,18,19***

This statement is a part of the explanation why so many former Catholics are attending our churches and hearing the Word with joy and excitement. :-)