CHIRISTIAN CHURCHES
Germany: the Pope and the ecumenical process The German Churches wish Benedict XVI’s visit may boost ecumenism. “The Pope is aware that attention will be paid to what he is going to say about Martin Luther”, mgr. Robert Zollitsch, president of the German Bishops Conference, said in an interview with the newspaper “Westdeutsche Allgemeine Zeitung. Nikolaus Schneider, president of the Council of the German Evangelical Church (Ekd), also expects the Pope to give an ecumenical message. Mgr. Zollitsch warned against excessive expectations: “We cannot expect miracles, but I guess the Pope will give one further tangible sign of his esteem, starting off a process that will encourage us spiritually and theologically to go on with the ecumenical process”. Schneider announced that the Pope will also address the problems of Evangelical-Catholic mixed couples who cannot partake of the liturgies together. As to the protests that have been announced for the Pope’s visit, mgr. Zollitsch stated that he respects “the attitude of those who criticize the Pope”, but he asked: “Why don’t such critics just say: Catholics must be able to greet their leader and we respect that? I think tolerance and understanding are quite scarce in such an open society”. Kek: in Prague meeting of the Central Committee “Taking a number of decisions about the future of cooperation between the Churches in Europe and reflecting on the way the Churches should respond to the challenges the world is facing nowadays”. This is the goal for which the Central Committee of Kek will meet in Prague from 21st to 24th September, on the invitation of the Hussite Church of the Check Republic and the Ecumenical Council of the Check Republic. This was announced by a release by the European ecumenical organization, composed of 120 European Christian churches of Orthodox, Protestant, Anglican and Old Catholic traditions. The Central Committee is the board of governors of Kek and has 40 members. “The full job of this Central Committee – Viorel Ionita, interim Secretary General, explains – will be, first and foremost, to decide what direction Kek should go in, in the next few years. And one of the main steps to be made in this direction will be the appointment of the new Secretary General”. The meeting, which will also address the issue of a more effective cooperation between the Churches that are members of Kek, will discuss the preparations for the XIV Assembly of Kek, and will review a number of reports, including one drawn up by the Commission of the Churches for Migrants in Europe (Ccme). Austria: celebration on the safeguard of creation “The ecological crisis is the external sign of man’s internal crisis”, said Nikolae Dura, president of the Ecumenical Council of Austrian Churches (Örkö), announcing an ecumenical celebration in Vienna on 16th September on the safeguard of creation. The Austrian Catholic News Agency Kathpress reported that the celebration will be presided over by Dura, by Mgr. Stephan Turnovsky, Auxiliary Bishop of the capital, by Lutheran Bishop Michael Bünker and by woman Anglican Pastor Aileen Hakl. Dura said in a communiqué released by Örkö that “consumption has limits” and that “people have to acknowledge they are living in an irresponsible way at the expense of future generations”. “Each of us is co-responsible for the ecological crisis and can do something for the conservation of creation”, added Dura in an interview with Kathpress. In these days, Austria and other countries are celebrating “Time for Creation”, from 1st September (Creation Day) to 4th October (liturgical memorial of St. Francis of Assisi), a time to reflect on the issues of sustainability, the protection of nature, and the need to adopt sustainable lifestyles. In 2008, Örkö decided to establish the celebration “Time for Creation” and recommended that it be added to the liturgical calendar of all churches supporting this initiative.
