Free Republic

After disagreements on the Russian war against Ukraine, relations between the Russian Orthodox Church and the Vatican were "practically frozen". Now dialogue has been resumed.

Rome Newsroom, Apr 21, 2023 / 09:25 am The head of the Coptic Church is scheduled to offer the Orthodox Divine Liturgy in the Catholic Archbasilica of St. John Lateran in Rome on May 14. According to Father Martin Browne, an official at the Vatican Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity, this liturgy will take place in the context of an official visit of Coptic Pope Tawadros II of Alexandria to the Vatican and “has been arranged following appropriate consultation.” In comments to the National Catholic Register on April 21, Browne drew a distinction between the Orthodox liturgy scheduled for May...

About 50 Anglican clergymen, who are not in communion with the Catholic Church, took part in religious services at the highest-ranking papal basilica in Rome on Tuesday, April 18. The Vatican later released a statement of regret, attributing the incident to a failure in communication. The clergymen, who were accompanied by Bishop Jonathan Baker of the Church of England, are part of the Anglican Communion, which broke away from the Catholic Church in 1534 amid King Henry VIII’s frustration that he could not receive an annulment for his marriage. The Catholic Church does not consider Anglican holy orders valid and...

from the Archbishop of Canterbury website: An Iftar is the meal that Muslims share, often with other friends and neighbours, at the end of each day of fasting in the month of Ramadan. Speaking before the breaking of the fast, Archbishop Justin expressed his appreciation for the good relations that Christians and Muslims enjoy in the UK, and spoke of the need of people of different faiths to stand together against the backdrop of terrible violence and suffering, particularly in the Middle East. “There is much that we need to talk about, and much that we can work on together;...

WCC, Roman Catholic Church underscore commitment to walking, praying, working togetherDuring a visit with Pope Francis in Rome on 23 March, a World Council of Churches (WCC) delegation and the Roman Catholic Church committed to walking, praying. and working together for justice, reconciliation, and unity.Those gathered noted that, as the WCC is entering a new phase of leadership, the global fellowship expresses gratitude for the message of Pope Francis to the WCC 11th Assembly, particularly the vision that a common mission as followers of Christ is to bring reconciliation to the world and to inspire churches to continue their journey...

The Vatican Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue praised the Muslim period of Ramadan as 'important' to Christians in a message which contained no mention of Jesus Christ.VATICAN CITY (LifeSiteNews) — The Vatican has issued Ramadan greetings to Muslims, writing that the Islamic period of Ramadan is important also to “Christians.” In a message released March 24, the Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue addressed the Muslim world via a “congratulatory message” under the title “Christians and Muslims: promoters of love and friendship.” Dated March 3, the message was signed by the Dicastery’s prefect, Cardinal Miguel Ángel Ayuso Guixot, M.C.C.J, and its secretary. “The...

Participants including Bishop Vincent Long OFM Conv, Bishop of Parramatta, are seen following a multifaith prayer service as part of a worldwide fossil fuel Divestment Week of Action at St Patrick's Cathedral, Parramatta. Image: Michael O’Farrell/ARRCC/SuppliedOn Thursday 9 March, a multi-faith prayer service was held at St Patrick’s Cathedral, Parramatta, as part of a worldwide fossil fuel Divestment Week of Action, initiated by the global Catholic Laudato Si’ Movement. Held during the season of Lent, the Week of Action is to encourage people of faith across the world and their organisations to consider divesting from fossil fuels as part of...

Denver, Colo., Feb 21, 2023 / 09:35 am The three Abrahamic religions — Judaism, Christianity, and Islam — now share a common place to worship in the predominantly Muslim United Arab Emirates with the opening of the Abrahamic Family House in Abu Dhabi. Such was the dream of Pope Francis and Grand Imam Ahmed Al-Tayeb, who in 2019 signed a historic pledge calling for peace and brotherhood between religions and nations. Four years later a synagogue, church, and mosque sit opposite a secular visitor pavilion in an interfaith complex meant to encourage goodwill and understanding. Representing the pope for the...

As is well known, big-hearted Pope Francis doesn’t take sides in the Israel-Palestinian conflict. As far as he is concerned, both sides are equally guilty of unleashing violence against the other; both deserve to be chastised and their respective acts of violence equally deplored. But of course there is no moral equivalence between Palestinian terror groups, that plot to stab, shoot, and blow up with rockets innocent civilians, and the IDF, that seeks to defend the people of Israel by punishing and preventing such attacks. (snip) Note the order of things. The Pope first expressed his sorrow about the “dozens...

Pope Francis once again championed the notion of 'fraternity' through interreligious action in various ecumenical speeches over the weekend.JUBA, South Sudan (LifeSiteNews) –– Both in his ecumenical “pilgrimage of peace” and in his message for the International Day of Human Fraternity, Pope Francis recently called for religions to “increasingly intertwine” in the “service of brotherhood.” Over the past few days, Pope Francis has once more renewed his oft-spoken calls for increased interreligious dialogue and activity, reawakening concerns that leading prelates have made in the wake of such statements over the years. Religions must ‘increasingly intertwine’ to promote ‘fraternity’The first came...

Rome, Italy, Feb 5, 2023 / 11:35 am (CNA). Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI’s death was used by people in a self-serving way, Pope Francis said aboard the papal plane returning from South Sudan on Sunday. “I think Benedict’s death was instrumentalized by people who want to serve their own interests,” he said during an in-flight press conference Feb. 5. People who instrumentalize such a good and holy person, Francis added, are partisans and unethical. There is a widespread tendency to make political parties out of theological positions, he said. “I leave it alone. These things will fall on their own,...

'Heretical' pastors invited to preach in Catholic churches for 'unity week'ROME (ChurchMilitant.com) - The diocese of Rome has invited pro-LGBT Protestant pastors from the heretical Waldensian sect to preach at Catholic churches during the "Week of Prayer for Christian Unity."Dr. Daniele Garrone, president of the Federation of Evangelical Churches in Italy (FCEI) — an association of liberal Protestant denominations — will preach at Rome's main diocesan service on Thursday in the Catholic church of Santa Maria delle Grazie al Trionfale. The ecumenical week of prayer, from Jan. 18–25, will climax with Pope Francis leading vespers in the Papal Basilica of...

The Synod on Synodality has been strongly criticized by the late Cardinal Pell, who said it ‘has neglected, indeed downgraded the Transcendent.’VATICAN CITY (LifeSiteNews) — The next key stage of the Synod on Synodality will be preceded by an “Ecumenical Prayer Vigil,” Pope Francis has announced, which is aimed to further the “path to Christian unity and the path of synodal conversion of the Church.” Speaking to those assembled in St. Peter’s Square after the Sunday Angelus January 15, Pope Francis announced the ecumenical event which will take place on September 30. The 86-year-old Pontiff stated: The path to Christian...

ROME – Nearly three years ago, a black man named George Floyd died at the hands of a white police officer, sparking mass protests throughout the United States and beyond with demonstrators demanding an end to systemic racism. The ripple effect of Floyd’s death continues to be felt, so much so that it is serving as a catalyst for this year’s “Week of Prayer for Christian Unity,” which will see believers throughout the world discussing how to join forces in fighting racial injustice. Held annually, the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity will be held Jan. 18-25. Its theme will...

ROME — Pope Francis told Muslim elders in Bahrain Friday that God is the source of peace and he “never brings about war, never incites hatred, never supports violence.” “I have come among you as a believer in God, as a brother and as a pilgrim of peace,” the pontiff told the Muslim Council of Elders, so that “we can journey together.” In passing, the pope also addressed concerns of alleged human rights abuses in the majority Sunni Muslim nation, especially of the country’s minority Shiite Muslim community. In recent years many Shiite activists have been imprisoned or deported, and...

Egypt’s Mount Sinai – just a hop, skip and a jump from Israel – is the site most commonly known as the place where God appeared to Moses to give him the Ten Commandments – the primary covenant in Judaism, as well as the foundation for most other religions and many modern-day laws. Now, this mountain will be a venue for many nations to gather, to receive their newest creed emanating from the world’s highest and most exalted religion of “Climate Change.” Yes – climate change has become the latest addition to world religions, leaving others in the dust as...

Between November 6th and 18th, 2022, the UN climate conference COP 27 will take place on the Sinai Peninsula, in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt. Religious communities and religious leaders have a key role to play in addressing climate change and climate justice, which requires deep transformation within society. The knowledge of what changes are critically needed to diminish long-term harm to the planet is readily available. However, bringing about change in action demands deeper changes in attitude, a change of heart. This has been the domain of religions for millennia. Religions are sources of inspiration for the transformation of heart...

Religious leaders gather in Sinai to receive “Climate Justice Ten Commandments” And Hashem said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. They shall rule the fish of the sea, the birds of the sky, the cattle, the whole earth, and all the creeping things that creep on earth.” Genesis 1:26 Some 40,000 attendees have flocked to the Sinai Desert including over 100 world leaders as well as leaders in business and other sectors. Christian, Muslim, Jewish, and other religious figures will participate in a UN conference on climate change that is taking place this week and next....

Schick’s accusation of right-wing extremism towards faithful Catholics follows similar smears against the Berlin March for Life participants.(LifeSiteNews) — German Archbishop Ludwig Schick has stated that rejecting other religions as a Catholic is a sign of “right-wing extremist tendencies” and that he sees these tendencies among “certain pro-life activists.” Schick, who is the archbishop for the diocese of Bamberg, talked about the danger of “right-wing ideas” among members of the Church in an interview with domradio.de. “Whoever is a Christian must stand up for freedom, for unity, for worldwide solidarity and worldwide charity, otherwise he does not deserve the name...

Kazakhstan is home to 18 religious’ denominations, making it one of the most ethnically diverse countries in the world. In September, it opened its doors for a global interfaith dialogue. Its capital Astana hosted the 7th edition of the Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions. Delegates from more than 50 countries came together, urging peace and consolidation around the world. “The efforts of world leaders, the efforts of international organizations are not enough to overcome the challenges that humanity is facing. And the voice of spiritual leaders who have great authority among the world's population, calls for the...