Front Page

Diverse Implications of World Christianity

April 7, 2011 – "We must avoid stereotypes," said Rev. Dr Nikolaus Schneider, chair of the council that coordinates relations and activities within the Evangelical Church in Germany (EKD). As diverse groups encounter one another in the contemporary dynamics of world Christianity, he added, the key questions are whether the calling of the church is being fulfilled by a given community, and whether Jesus Christ is to be found there. Schneider made his comments during a wide-ranging discussion of Christianity in the 21st century during a three-day visit by EKD leaders to the Ecumenical Centre in Geneva, Switzerland.

UCC, Disciples Leaders Call for End to Anti-Muslim Actions

April 6, 2011 – Leaders of the United Church of Christ and Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) issued a joint statement today condemning the March 20 burning of a Quran in Florida and calling for religious tolerance. "We condemn Quran burning as a desecration to the religion of Islam and offensive to all people of faith," the statement says. "It is not only an insult to the sacred scriptures of Muslims in America and around the world, but it demeans the values we hold as Americans and the love toward others we profess as Christians." Signed by the Rev. Geoffrey A. Black, UCC general minister and president, and the Rev. Sharon E. Watkins, Disciples general minister and president, along with justice, international mission and interfaith leaders from both denominations, the statement also calls the recently held U.S. House hearings on the radicalization of Islam "problematic and ill-conceived."

Easter Message

Episcopal Church Presiding Bishop's 2011 Easter Message

April 7, 2011 – "We give thanks for the Resurrection, and we become part of Jesus' ongoing work, as we become aware of its power in our own lives." Episcopal Church Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori says in her 2011 Easter Message, "We give thanks for the Resurrection, and we become part of Jesus' ongoing work, as we become aware of its power in our own lives." The following is the Presiding Bishop's Easter Message:

General News

Bishops Ignored Own Guidelines in Johnson Critique

April 7, 2011 – The U.S. bishops chose not to follow their own guidelines in handling disputes between bishops and theologians before issuing a critique last week of a 2007 book by a prominent U.S. theologian. In a statement dated March 24 and released March 30, the bishops' doctrine committee said that the book, Quest for the Living God: Mapping Frontiers in the Theology of God by Fordham University theology professor St. Joseph Sr. Elizabeth A. Johnson, is marred by "misrepresentations, ambiguities and errors" and "completely undermines the Gospel and the faith of those who believe in the Gospel."

Ecumenical News

"We Cannot Be Ecumenical by Ourselves"

April 8, 2011 – Five general secretaries of international ecumenical organizations engaged in lively conversation with leaders of the Evangelical Church in Germany (EKD) on Friday 8 April, the final day of the EKD Council's visit to the Ecumenical Centre in Geneva. The general secretaries are heads of the ACT Alliance, the Conference of European Churches (CEC), the Lutheran World Federation (LWF), the World Communion of Reformed Churches (WCRC) and the World Council of Churches (WCC). "One of the most pressing challenges we face is religious intolerance," said John Nduna of ACT Alliance, a coalition of churches and church-related agencies working in human development and emergency assistance.

Spanish News

El CMI Alienta a Celebrar El Domingo Por La Paz Plantando Árboles Y Usando Las Redes Sociales

8 abril 2010, GINEBRA, Suiza – El Consejo Mundial de Iglesias (CMI) alienta a los cristianos y las iglesias de todo el mundo a que el domingo 22 de mayo, al despuntar el día, celebren la paz de Dios en sus cultos, organicen una vigilia del amanecer, planten un árbol como símbolo de paz o utilicen los medios de comunicación social para compartir oraciones por la paz con cristianos de todos los rincones del planeta. "Cada árbol se convertirá en un símbolo duradero de nuestros esfuerzos comunes para traer la paz de Cristo a nuestro mundo que sufre," dijo el pastor Dr. Olav Fykse Tveit, secretario general del CMI.

Mensaje De Pascua 2011 De La Obispa Presidente De La Iglesia Episcopal

7 abril 2010 – "Damos gracias por la Resurrección, y formamos parte del trabajo en curso de Jesús, al paso que nos damos cuenta de su poder en nuestras vidas." La Obispa Presidente Katharine Jefferts Schori de la Iglesia Episcopal, dice en su Mensaje de Pascua 2011: "Damos gracias por la resurrección, y formamos parte del trabajo en curso de Jesús, al paso que nos damos cuenta de su poder en nuestras vidas."

Religiones Oran Por Un Proceso Electoral Sin Violencia

8 abril 2011, CIUDAD DE GUATEMALA – Teniendo como escenario la Plaza de la Constitución en la ciudad de Guatemala, guías espirituales de la religión musulmana, budista, cristiana y maya, celebraron el pasado 31 de marzo, una oración interreligiosa para pedir por el cese a la violencia, especialmente en el proceso electoral que oficialmente arranca en mayo, pero que ha provocado ya enfrentamientos entre simpatizantes de los partidos políticos en contienda, así como ataques y desacreditaciones entre los candidatos en sus actividades proselitistas. "Que no sean las diferencias que puedan haber por partido político o por historias pasadas, las que dominen nuestras comunidades, sino que debe ser la vida, el futuro y la esperanza.

Publican Novela Basada En La Vida Del Fraile Alemán Martín Lutero

7 abril 2010, ARGENTINA – "Matar a Lutero" es la historia del fraile alemán Martín Lutero, el creador de la Reforma Protestante que, diseminada por la Europa del siglo XVI, sacudió los cimientos del Vaticano y la Iglesia Católica. Escrita por el escritor cristiano Mario Escobar, fue publicada recientemente por Grupo Nelson. En medio del escándalo por sus ideas, Lutero huye apresuradamente de Worms. Desde Roma a Madrid, pasando por Alemania, país del reformador, todos quieren la cabeza de Lutero para entregarla en bandeja de plata al Emperador Carlos V. Hay órdenes de "atraparlo y matarlo sin miramientos."

Primado Anglicano Pide Revisión Del Sistema De Seguridad En Las Escuelas

8 abril 2010, RÍO DE JANEIRO, Brasil – Al pedir el consuelo de Dios para las 11 familias que tuvieron sus hijos y hijas asesinadas por el joven que invadió una escuela municipal en Río de Janeiro, el obispo primado de la Iglesia Episcopal Anglicana del Brasil (IEAB), Maurício Andrade, reivindicó la revisión del sistema de seguridad en los colegios públicos. "Lamentamos y rogamos a Dios que consuele a los familiares, enjugue sus lágrimas y renueve la esperanza en la resurrección," manifestó el primado. Fueron asesinados en la masacre tres niñas y un niño de 14 años, cuatro de 13 años, una de 12, una aún no fue identificada y otra aguarda documento.

International News

Czechoslovakia's Secret Church

April 8, 2011 – Throughout the 41 years of Communist rule in the former Eastern bloc country, an underground network of groups and individuals kept the Catholic faith alive, even to the point of ordaining married men and women. Last week, their achievement was belatedly honoured It was at a moving ceremony at Vienna's UN-City Church on Saturday last week, 21 years after the fall of the Iron Curtain, that the largest and best-known underground circle in the former Czechoslovakia – called "Koinótés" and founded by the late Bishop Felix Maria Davidek – received the Herbert-Haag-Foundation Award for Freedom in the Church, which is bestowed annually on persons and institutions "for courageous actions within Christianity."

On Anger, Reform and Diarmuid Martin in Ireland

April 8, 2011, DUBLIN, Ireland – Although the sexual abuse crisis has been devastating for the Catholic church everywhere it's erupted, the meltdown in Ireland is fairly unique in scope and scale. Catholicism was effectively the state church, running the country's schools, hospitals and orphanages. As a result, when the church served people well, it had a massively positive social impact – and when the church failed and abused people, the damage was correspondingly immense. Add accumulated Irish resentments over clerical power and privilege, plus a generalized backlash against all social institutions related to the recent economic collapse and failures of the political class, and you have a prescription for real angst.

Secretary General Expresses Shock and Sympathy at Brazil School Shooting

April 8, 2011 – The Secretary General of The Anglican Communion Canon Kenneth Kearon has expressed his sympathy to Bishop Filadelfo Neto of Rio de Janeiro diocese following the murder of schoolchildren there. On Thursday, at least 12 students were shot dead and 12 others were wounded after a 23-year-old former pupil entered Escola Municipal Tasso da Silveira school with two revolvers and began shooting. Canon Kearon, who is on a visit to Brazil, said, "This is a shocking tragedy and my prayers are with the families of the young victims and all who are injured." He was recently in the Rio de Janeiro diocese and is currently visiting the Diocese of the Amazon.

The Primate of Brazil on the School Shooting:
"This Is a Moment of Sorrow and Pain"

April 8, 2011 – Tragedy in Tasso da Silveira Elementary School, Rio de Janeiro Brasilia, April 7th, 2011. "I am the resurrection and the life." John 11,25. With great sadness we have been witnessing a day of tragedy in a school environment, at Tasso da Silveira elementary school, in Rio de Janeiro. It is time for us to discuss our security system, especially the security in our public schools. It was a beautiful day, which looked like a normal day, just one more day of school for so many young students of Tasso da Silveira elementary, in Rio de Janeiro.

Middle East News

AJC Condemns Hamas Missile Attack on School Bus

April 7, 2011, NEW YORK – AJC called for international condemnation of the Hamas regime in Gaza after an anti-tank missile landed next to a school bus in southern Israel. "Today's attack that critically injured an Israeli teenager on a school bus and wounded the driver shows clearly again that Hamas holds no regard for human life or interest in supporting any efforts to achieve Israeli-Palestinian peace," said AJC Executive Director David Harris. Thousands of rockets and mortars have been fired from Gaza since Israel left the coastal territory in 2005, and transferred it to the Palestinian Authority. The situation has worsened since Hamas violently seized control of Gaza in a coup against the PA in June 2007.