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Ecumenism (Religion)

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  • [Catholic Caucus] Doctrinal Note on Marian titles: Mother of the faithful, not Co-redemptrix

    11/04/2025 9:08:50 AM PST · by fidelis · 7 replies
    Vatican News ^ | 04 November 2025 | Vatican News
    The document of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, approved by Pope Leo XIV, offers clarifications on titles applied to the Blessed Virgin Mary, and calls for special attention to the use of the expression, “Mediatrix of all graces.”The Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith on Tuesday, 4 November 2025, published Mater populi fidelis (“The Mother of the Faithful People”), a Doctrinal Note “On Some Marian Titles Regarding Mary’s Cooperation in the Work of Salvation.” Signed by the Prefect, Cardinal Víctor Manuel Fernández, and the Secretary for the Dicastery’s Doctrinal Section, Monsignor Armando Matteo, the Note was...
  • ADDRESS OF POPE LEO XIV TO A DELEGATION OF "AID TO THE CHURCH IN NEED"

    11/03/2025 10:14:46 PM PST · by Cronos · 4 replies
    Vatican ^ | 10th October 2025 | Pope Leo XIV
    In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Peace be with you! Good morning to all of you, and welcome. Dear Brothers and Sisters, I am pleased to greet you, dear members of Aid to the Church in Need International, as you gather in Rome during this Jubilee of Hope. Your visit is timely, for our world continues to witness rising hostility and violence against those who hold different convictions, including many Christians. In contrast, your mission proclaims that, as one family in Christ, we do not abandon our persecuted brothers and sisters....
  • Moroccan cardinal says Church must ‘abandon’ idea of ‘true religion, false religion’

    11/03/2025 4:19:11 PM PST · by ebb tide · 20 replies
    LifeSite News ^ | November 3, 2025 | Charles Richards
    Moroccan cardinal says Church must ‘abandon’ idea of ‘true religion, false religion’Cardinal Romero's scandalous remarks echo comments made by Pope Leo XIV during an October sermon he delivered in St. Peter's Basilica. In an essay that appeared on the Vatican’s official news website last week, Moroccan Cardinal Cristóbal López Romero, SDB, repeated a scandalous claim first made by Pope Leo XIV last week that implies the Catholic religion does not possess the fullness of truth.“Religions, for their part, have the responsibility to offer paths of meaning and truth, not of domination,” Romero suggested. “No religion can appropriate the truth, as...
  • Stars of Hope: Pope Leo’s 3 challenges to students - "Look higher still — toward Jesus Christ, the Sun of righteousness, who will guide you along the paths of life."

    11/01/2025 10:28:54 PM PDT · by Cronos · 6 replies
    Aleteia ^ | 31st October 2025 | Daniel Esparza
    “Do not look to shooting stars, on which fragile wishes are entrusted. Look higher still — toward Jesus Christ, the Sun of righteousness, who will guide you along the paths of life.” In an address to young people gathered at the Vatican on October 30, 2025, Pope Leo XIV delivered a stirring call to students worldwide: “Do not settle for appearances or fads; dream of more; long for something greater.” The meeting, part of the Jubilee of the World of Education, was filled with joy, laughter, and reflection. The Pope combined warmth, wisdom, and wonder in his speech — inviting...
  • Should You Go to Church?

    10/21/2025 10:50:19 PM PDT · by Cronos · 128 replies
    The Trumpet ^ | 20th October 2025 | Joel Hillicker
    churches were bursting with visitors on September 14. Many people hauled themselves to church for the first time in a long time—or ever. In some places, there were lines just to get in the doors, and attendance exceeded that of Christmas or Easter. Why? Because four days earlier, Charlie Kirk had been murdered Americans saw a man murdered because he had spoken out for family, masculinity, femininity, responsibility and tradition—not merely as “conservative values” but as binding biblical principles. He stood up for what he believed, and people across America thought, I should be like that. Jesus Christ, whom all...
  • THE SACRAMENT OF THE EUCHARIST - catechism of the Catholic Church (sections 1&2 only) {Ecumenical Thread}

    10/20/2025 2:57:13 AM PDT · by Cronos · 34 replies
    THE SACRAMENT OF THE EUCHARIST 1322 The holy Eucharist completes Christian initiation. Those who have been raised to the dignity of the royal priesthood by Baptism and configured more deeply to Christ by Confirmation participate with the whole community in the Lord's own sacrifice by means of the Eucharist. 1323 "At the Last Supper, on the night he was betrayed, our Savior instituted the Eucharistic sacrifice of his Body and Blood. This he did in order to perpetuate the sacrifice of the cross throughout the ages until he should come again, and so to entrust to his beloved Spouse,...
  • John 5: 1-16 Healing of a Cripple by the Pool of Bethesda {ecumenical}

    10/13/2025 5:05:03 AM PDT · by Cronos · 4 replies
    A Catholic moment ^ | Laura Kazlas
    Water is the predominate feature of the old testament reading, the responsorial psalm, and the gospel reading today as well. The water in these readings are portrayed as healing and the source of all life. In the first reading from the book of the Prophet Ezekiel, the water was portrayed as majestic, fresh and life giving as it flowed out from underneath the temple. The temple of course is where God dwells and all life on earth flows from this source, because God is our creator. All life on earth exists because of water. This is the same with our...
  • 1300-Year-Old Communion Bread with ‘Farmer Christ’ Image Discovered in Ancient Eirenopoli

    10/11/2025 6:31:47 PM PDT · by fidelis · 16 replies
    Arkeonews ^ | 10 October 2025 | Leman Altuntaş
    In the rugged hills of Karaman province, Türkiye, a remarkable archaeological discovery has emerged from Topraktepe, the site of ancient Eirenopolis. During recent excavations, archaeologists uncovered five carbonized bread loaves dating back to the 7th–8th centuries CE, including one with a depiction of Christ and a Greek inscription translating to, “With our thanks to Blessed Jesus.”Unlike the traditional Pantokrator imagery of Christ as ruler and savior, this loaf portrays a “farmer” or “sower Christ,” symbolizing the connection between faith, labor, and agricultural fertility. The remaining loaves bear cross-shaped imprints, suggesting their possible use in early Christian rituals as Eucharistic or...
  • Vice Prefect: Muslims can also pray in the Vatican Library

    10/08/2025 8:09:45 PM PDT · by ebb tide · 31 replies
    katholisch.de ^ | October 8, 2025 | Vice Prefect: Muslims can also pray in the Vatican Library
    Vice Prefect: Muslims can also pray in the Vatican LibraryEven in the most important library in Christendom, Muslims do not have to give up their prayers. "Of course, some Muslim scholars have asked us for a room with a carpet for praying and we have given it to them," said Giacomo Cardinali, Vice-Prefect of the Vatican Apostolic Library, to the newspaper "La Repubblica" (Wednesday). The Vatican's book collection contains "incredibly old Korans", Cardinali continued. "We are a universal library, there are Arabic, Jewish, Ethiopian collections and unique Chinese items."
  • Anglican grouping GAFCON objects to female Archbishop of Canterbury

    10/03/2025 2:04:05 PM PDT · by Cronos · 17 replies
    Reuters ^ | October 3rd, 2025
    GAFCON, a grouping of conservative Anglican churches across Africa and Asia, said the Church of England's appointment of its first female Archbishop of Canterbury showed that the English arm of the church had "relinquished its authority to lead". "Today's appointment makes it clearer than ever before that Canterbury has relinquished its authority to lead. The reset of our beloved Communion is now uniquely in the hands of GAFCON, and we are ready to take the lead," the alliance said in a statement on Friday.
  • Debunking the alleged “Pagan” Roots of Marian Devotion. No, there is no linkage to Ishtar/Diana/Astarte)

    10/01/2025 7:45:28 AM PDT · by Cronos · 316 replies
    Cronos ^ | 1st October 2025 | Cronos
    The claim that Marian devotion in Catholicism is derived from pagan goddess worship—specifically Ishtar, Diana, or Astarte—is a persistent but thoroughly discredited myth rooted in 19th-century anti-Catholic propaganda, most notably Alexander Hislop’s *The Two Babylons* (1853). This narrative, often recycled in modern social media and evangelical circles, alleges that Mary’s veneration as the Mother of God (Theotokos) or Queen of Heaven is a Christianized version of ancient pagan goddess cults. However, linguistic, historical, biblical, and cultural evidence reveals no connection. This compiled text is inspired by discussions with our fellow freepers and I hope offers a detailed, accessible refutation of...
  • Evangelical Lutheran Church in America lists Bible verses "that we now recognize as harmful"

    09/25/2025 8:57:01 AM PDT · by Red Badger · 109 replies
    Not The Bee ^ | John Knox
    I think if Luther had seen this video, it's entirely possible that he might have kept his 99 problems with the Catholic church to himself. BEHOLD: When you're too woke for Jesus: At the 2025 ELCA Churchwide Assembly, a woman lists all the biblical texts that "say things about women and girls that we now recognize as harmful" and which advance "sexism and the patriarchy." Last 40 seconds especially #ELCA #Lutherans pic.twitter.com/gUIZP28Gof— Protestia (@Protestia) September 25, 2025In the ... ELCA, we believe all people are created equally in the image of God. God intends for everyone to flourish. But because...
  • {Ecumenical} Faith is a hit among Gen Z. The Catholic Church may have influencers to thank

    09/15/2025 9:30:38 PM PDT · by Cronos · 12 replies
    CNN ^ | 15th September 2025 | Joseph Ataman and Christopher Lamb
    After decades of declining attendance and dwindling faith in much of the Western world, Roman Catholicism could be witnessing an unexpected revival. ...the renewal is coming from the unlikeliest of corners: Gen Z. For these young people, whose life online is often impossible to parse from their “IRL”(In Real Life) existence, this move towards faith is at least partly due to the growing ecosystem of Catholic personalities on social media: clergy and layfolk alike, preaching, teaching, meme-ing and streaming – influencing teens and young adults. France has become a hotspot for this youthful turn towards God. Baptisms among 18- to...
  • Pope Leo to preside at ecumenical commemoration of modern martyrs

    09/09/2025 7:43:51 PM PDT · by ebb tide · 3 replies
    Vatican News ^ | September 8, 2025 | Christopher Wells
    Pope Leo to preside at ecumenical commemoration of modern martyrsPope Leo will join with representatives of other Churches and Ecclesial Communities on the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross for an ecumenical ceremony commemorating 21st century martyrs and witnesses of the faith. Pope Leo XIV is set to preside at a prayer service to remember the many Christians of our time who have been killed on account of their faith in Christ.The Holy Father will be joined by representatives of other Christian Churches and ecclesial communities for an “Ecumenical Commemoration of Martyrs and Witnesses of the Faith of...
  • A Monogamous Isaac Prays for His Barren Wife

    09/01/2025 5:03:43 PM PDT · by CondoleezzaProtege · 3 replies
    TheTorah.com ^ | Dr.Shana Strauch-Schick, Dr.Moshe Lavee
    Genesis 25 describes the infertility suffered by Rebekah (and Isaac), Isaac’s subsequent prayer and God’s affirmative response. …Isaac is exceptional among the patriarchs for foregoing polygamy, even when faced with a barren wife. Only he relies on prayer to solve his problem. …The biblical narratives present Rebekah in an especially active role, both in the story of her difficult pregnancy, in which she goes to consult with YHWH on her own, and in the story of the blessing of Jacob and Esau, in which she defies and manipulates her husband…
  • How Does Hell Work

    08/27/2025 7:37:08 AM PDT · by silent majority rising · 30 replies
    Chabad.org ^ | August 27, 2025 | Tzvi Freeman
    Why Does Torah Talk About Punishment? A Jew, the Torah says again and again, must connect to G‑d from the heart. When you serve G‑d out of fear of retribution, you may be better off than someone who does not serve G‑d at all, but you’re not serving Him from your heart. You are serving Him only to avoid pain. If so, why do you need to know about punishment—whether in this world or in the afterlife and Gehinnom? Why do the classic works on Jewish ethics find it necessary to discuss these things? Simply because you need to know...
  • Chuck Girard dies at 81 (CCM "Love Song," father of podcaster Alisa Childers)

    08/14/2025 7:08:11 AM PDT · by WhiteHatBobby0701 · 4 replies
    Protestia ^ | August 13, 2025 | Protestia
    Chuck Girard, the founding member of ‘Love Song’- one of the first Christian rock bands and one of the most prominent ‘Jesus Music’ artists- passed away on Monday at the age of 81. His wife shared on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/chuckgirardmusic/): This is Chuck’s wife, Karen. It is with great sorrow, yet also great joy, to let you know that Chuck has moved to Heaven and will be eternally with Jesus! He left this earth at rest and in total peace, surrounded by family. We praise the Lord for His great mercy and for His gift of Chuck’s music, message, and heart....
  • Hope-Killing Precepts: Catholicism’s Key Departure From Scripture And Its Vast Ramifications

    08/08/2025 3:48:54 PM PDT · by Roman_War_Criminal · 1,907 replies
    Harbingers Daily ^ | 8/7/2025 | Jonathan Brentner
    Five hundred years have passed since the Reformation began, and yet the influence of the Roman Catholic Church remains strong. I’m not referring to the mammoth oligarchy that seeks to dictate the lives of an estimated one billion people, but rather its continuing influence upon churches outside its realm, including many that adhere to the inspiration and inerrancy of Scripture. While attending Talbot Seminary, I wrote my master’s thesis on Roman Catholic Justification in the Light of Scripture. In my study, I discovered that Catholicism’s key departure from Scripture was its firm insistence that God’s justification of sinners happens at...
  • The Real Reason Our Culture Is Falling Apart - Stephen Meyer Explains

    08/02/2025 6:52:15 AM PDT · by beejaa · 12 replies
    YouTube ^ | Aug 1, 2025 | Stephen Meyer
    Today's video is a reflection on the 40th anniversary of Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn’s chilling speech, "Men Have Forgotten God." There are many sobering parallels between the collapse of spiritual life in Soviet Russia and today’s cultural crisis in America like how the rise of materialism, scientific atheism and nihilistic worldviews are contributing to a decline in faith especially among Gen Z. If you've ever wondered why belief in God seems to be fading, and what can be done about it, this is a conversation you can’t afford to miss... As a special gift Dr. Meyer would like you to download his...
  • How did Peter walk on water?

    07/14/2025 6:36:51 PM PDT · by kawhill · 190 replies
    bibleask.org ^ | June 9, 2018 | Bible Ask
    The account of Peter walking on water is one of the most remarkable and faith-inspiring narratives in the New Testament. This event, recorded in the Gospel of Matthew, not only demonstrates the miraculous power of Jesus but also provides profound lessons about faith, doubt, and trust in the Lord.