Quotes and news

Cardinal Walter Kasper, the Vatican's chief ecumenist, has just penned the history of ecumenism in a 207-page book entitled Harvesting the Fruits: Basic Aspects of Christian Faith in Ecumenical Dialogue. The book celebrates the good and abundant work that has been done to promote understanding among Christians.

Four decades of official Catholic dialogues with the Anglican Communion, the Lutheran World Federation, the World Methodist Council and the World Alliance of Reformed Churches have led to recognition of a strong shared faith in Jesus Christ and the Trinity, the content of the creed and baptism, the book said.

However, it acknowledged serious differences that still exist. The areas of contention centre on, among others, priestly ordination, authority in the Church and an authentic interpretation of Scripture.

Marriage not just a private matter

'Marriage: Life and Love in the Divine Plan' is the title of a draft pastoral letter that US bishops will vote on during their November meeting in Baltimore. The bishops hope to reverse what they call "a disturbing trend" of viewing marriage as "a mostly private matter" with personal satisfaction as its only goal.

The 57-page pastoral letter cites four "fundamental challenges to the nature and purpose of marriage" - contraception, same-sex unions, easy divorce and cohabitation.

Climate change requires ethical solutions

Climate change and its devastating effects on the world's poorest countries can be mitigated only with an ethical approach based on solidarity and justice for all, Caritas Internationalis warned. "The answer to climate change lies in the hands of humanity - in a revived sense of solidarity and a realisation that we all have a duty to work toward the common good," said Lesley-Anne Knight, secretary-general of Caritas, in the introduction to a major report entitled 'Climate Justice, Seeking a Global Ethic'.

Caritas Internationalis, the Vatican-based umbrella organisation of Catholic charities around the world, is focusing on the ethical, moral and theological aspects of climate change because "scientific and economic arguments are important, but they are not enough", the report said.

'Europe needs Christian values' - Pope

If European unity is based only on geography and economics, it cannot succeed in promoting the common good of Europe's citizens and rest of the world, Pope Benedict XVI said.

The recognition of the dignity of the human person and the obligation to work for the common good - values Christianity fostered on the continent - are what inspired the movement toward European unity and are the only guarantee of its success, the Pope said in welcoming Yves Gazzo as the new head of the European Commission's delegation to the Holy See.

The Pope said the EU did not bring those values to the 27 member countries, "but rather it is these shared values that have given birth to and were like a gravitational force" that drew the countries together.

Compiled by Fr Joe Borg