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To: Hebraic Heritage Newsgroup <heb_roots_chr@geocities.com>, Hebraic Heritage Newsgroup 2 <heb_roots_chr@geocities.com>
Subject: APOSTASY AND ECUMENISM
Date: Sun, 7 Feb 1999 16:35:41 -0800
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From: Eddie Chumney
To: heb_roots_chr@geocities.com
Subject: Apostasy and Ecumenism

APOSTASY AND ECUMENISM IN THE NEWS

ITALIANS FASCINATED BY FORMER COMMUNIST LEADER'S VISIT WITH POPE
January 8, 1999 Victor L. Simpson, Associated Press Vatican City
(AP)

While he is an ardent foe of communism, Pope John Paul II has not
shied away from meeting with leaders from communist countries
like the former Soviet Union and Cuba. Even so, his visit today
with Italian Premier Massimo D'Alema is stirring up an unusual
amount of attention. For many Italians, the pope's meeting with
D'Alema the first former communist to head a West European
government is a sign of acceptance for Italians loyal to the
nation's "other church'' the Italian Communist Party.

D'Alema will meet with the pope today for the first time since he
became premier of Italy, where communists have fenced with
Catholics for power for more than four decades. The meeting has
riveted the Italian public. RAI, the state-run TV network,
scheduled live coverage and newspapers have devoted pages to the
visit, even supplying diagrams of D'Alema's route through the
Vatican palaces. The Vatican and the Italian church have long
battled to keep Italy's communists out of power, seeing them as
threats to religious freedom in the overwhelmingly Roman Catholic
nation.

But communists remained a force to be dealt with,
and some leading Catholic politicians believed that Catholics and
communists would jointly lead the country in a "historic
compromise.''

MESSAGE TO MUSLIMS AT END OF RAMADAN
Vatican City, Jan 8, 1999 (VIS)

Made public today was the annual message sent by the Pontifical
Council for Inter-religious Dialogue to Muslims on the occasion
of Id Al-Fitr (the feast of the Breaking of the Fast) at the end
of Ramadan, the monthlong Muslim period of fasting. The message,
in English and French and signed by council president Cardinal
Francis Arinze, has been customary since 1967. In 1991, however,
it was personally sent by Pope John Paul in 1991 because of the
suffering and devastation in the Middle East caused by the Gulf
War. Following are excerpts from the 1999 message, entitled
"Christians and Muslims: Witnesses of God's Love and Mercy."

"God loves all human beings, excluding no one. He is the source
of all love in the family, in society, in the world. ... God is
the Merciful One." "There are many ways of showing love,
expressions of our faithfulness to the Merciful One: almsgiving,
. care for orphans, the aged, the sick, for strangers, as also
the commitment to promote human dignity and in favor of human
rights, commitment to development, to the fight against the many
evils in our society such as illiteracy, the influence of drugs,
the abuse of minors, violence against women."

"Offenses against the love of neighbor are also numerous:
ignoring the needs of others, refusing the duty of solidarity,
hatred, discrimination based on sex, race or religion, injustice
in all its forms. There is great convergence between our two
religions in condemning such faults. "God's love for humanity is
universal, going beyond political frontiers, beyond the
differences of race, culture or religion, beyond political or
ideological options, independent of any particular social
situation."

"I am addressing to you this message fully conscious that we,
both Christians and Muslims, have not always loved and respected
each other as God requires of us. ... Nevertheless it is
important at the same time to note and to make known the numerous
situations where Christians and Muslims live peacefully and
fruitfully together." Cardinal Arinze closed by renewing his
"expressions of friendship and esteem."

POPE ISSUES CALL TO ARMS: BATTLE "PROTESTANTISM", MEXICAN FAITHFUL
URGED

Mexico City (AP) - A million faithful packed a dusty Mexico city
racetrack yesterday to hear a CALL TO ARMS from Pope John Paul - a
summons to take to the streets and CONFRONT THE CHALLENGE OF
PROTESTANT EVANGELISM.

"Mexico always faithful!" chanted the crowd, intent on showing the
Pope that their affection hasn't diminished since his first trip to
the country in 1979.

John Paul urged his audience to IGNORE THE SEDUCTIONS of what he
called "UNTRUTHFUL IDEOLOGIES" and to spread the word of the Catholic
church - a central theme of his visit, in which he has called upon his
church to AGGRESSIVELY COMBAT inroads made by "Protestantism".

METHODIST MINISTERS PERFORM 'HOLY UNION' IN DEFIANCE OF RULES
January 16, 1999 By Jennifer Kerr, Associated Press Sacramento,
Calif. (AP)

With tears and a kiss, two women exchanged promises Saturday in a
"holy union'' ceremony blessed by more than 90 United Methodist
ministers in a dramatic mass defiance of a church law against same-sex
marriages. "I promise to love you the rest of my life,'' a tearful
Ellie Charlton, 63, told Jeanne Barnett, 68, a retired state
unemployment administrator. Behind them on the stage, the ministers
lined up on risers and chanted a blessing that could cost them their
jobs: "O God, our maker, we gladly proclaim to the world that Jeanne
and Ellie are loving partners together for life.''

"If anyone wants to file charges against us, this is what the
charges are for, praying this prayer,'' said the Rev. Donald
Fado, pastor of St. Mark's United Methodist Church in suburban
Sacramento, the organizer of the ceremony that was part church
service and part civil rights demonstration. "In our church,
unfortunately, I'm allowed to come into their home and bless
their house, bless their car, bless their tractor and even bless
their dog, but I am not allowed to bless them,'' Fado said.

More than 1,000 clergy, lay leaders, gay men, lesbians and other
supporters filled the Sacramento Convention Center for the
ceremony, which featured folk songs, dancing and poetry.

SAME-SEX UNIONS SUPPORTED
Religion Today 1/15/99

The new Episcopal bishop of Chicago supports the blessing of
same-sex unions, but says he hopes supporters and critics of his
viewpoint will listen to one another. William Persell told
Ecumenical News International that the church faces a critical
period of "shaking out" as it deals with controversial social
questions. "We're in a time when we have to learn and accept
each other."

"Every church I have been in has had a large gay and lesbian
membership," Persell said. "How do you say to people they're
second-class, even though God created them as gay and lesbian? We do
precious little in the church to encourage long-term relationships
among same-sex couples. We ought to honor those." He was elected Nov.
14, assumes position this month, and will be consecrated at a
ceremony in March. He replaces Bishop Frank Griswold III, chosen in
1997 as presiding bishop of the Episcopal Church.

CATHOLICS AND JEWS AGREE TO FORGE ALLIANCE
By Victoria Combe, Religion Correspondent London Telegraph
1/21/99

A breakthrough in Jewish-Catholic relations has been achieved
after private negotiations between British rabbis and the
Vatican. The two faiths came to an agreement in Rome last week
to end 2,000 years of antagonism between them and forge an
amicable partnership. The agreement was significant because it
demonstrates that both faiths are willing to accept each other's
legitimacy and work together, rather than against each other.

Until now, dialogue between the faiths has been thwarted by the
old Catholic teaching that the Jewish Covenant between God and
Abraham was superseded by the coming of Jesus Christ. During the
talks, Vatican representatives assured the rabbis that the Church
believed that Christianity was the fulfilment of the Jewish Covenant,
but not its replacement.

Sir Sigmund Sternberg, president of the Reform Synagogues of
Great Britain, and seven British rabbis from the World Union for
Progressive Judaism spent two days in talks with the Vatican
before meeting the Pope. The negotiations were led by Cardinal
Edward Cassidy and Msgr Dr Remi Hoeckman of the Vatican's
Commission on Religious Relations with Jews.

Cardinal Cassidy agreed that the two faiths should establish a
partnership based on their "shared ethical values" and together
should be a "light unto the nations". The cardinal drew on the
words of the Pope who declared during a visit to Australia in
1986 that the Catholic faith is rooted in the "eternal truth of
the Hebrew Scriptures and in the irrevocable Covenant made with
Abraham". The Second Vatican Council document of 1964, Lumen
Gentium (Light of the Nations), draws on the words of St Paul,
saying that Jews are "most dear to God for God does not repent of the
gifts He makes, nor of the calls He issues".

RABBI INVITED TO READ FROM BIBLE IN PRAYER SERVICE WITH POPE
Weekend News Today By Andra Brack Source: TampaBay Online Sat Jan 23,
1999

Rabbi Robert Jacobs believes his invitation to read from the
Bible during a prayer service with Pope John Paul II is nothing
short of extraordinary. ``I have never heard of a rabbi reading
in a basilica anywhere in the world, and certainly not with a
pope,'' the 90-year-old rabbi said. ``I was simply amazed by the
invitation.'' The pope's visit to St. Louis Tuesday and Wednesday is
being welcomed not only by Catholics, but by local Protestants, Jews
and other religious leaders as well. Perhaps no event is more
symbolic of that than the prayer service Wednesday at the historic
Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis.

The service will open with the blowing of the Jewish shofar, a
ceremonial ram's horn. Jacobs will wear his yarmulke and tallit
- a prayer shawl - and read from the book of Isaiah. Rabbi David
Rosen of Jerusalem, who is the Jewish representative on the bilateral
commission of the state of Israel and the Vatican, said he knew of no
rabbi participating in such a service with a pope.

John Paul has declared unity among the religious community one of his
goals for the next millennium. Jacobs will be among 95 interfaith
representatives - including Eastern Orthodox, Anglican, Protestant,
Muslim, Buddhist and Hindu leaders - at the service. Twenty of them
will enter the sanctuary and greet the pope afterwards. ``There has
never been a pope like him,'' Jacobs said. ``Throughout his 20-year
papacy he has been a close friends of many Jews throughout the
world.'' Bishop Ann Sherer of United Methodist Church in suburban
Chesterfield said John Paul's willingness to meet with representatives
of other faiths shows that ``God is moving among us.''

GROWTH OF ISLAM

MRS. CLINTON MARKS MUSLIM HOLIDAY AT WHITE HOUSE
Reuters January 21, 1999 Washington

First lady Hillary Rodham Clinton invited about 100 Muslims to
the White House complex Thursday to celebrate Eid al-Fitr, the
Muslim holiday that marks the end of the fasting month of
Ramadan. "Eid Mubarak,'' Mrs. Clinton told the Muslims gathered in
the Old Executive Office Building beside the White House, using an
Arabic greeting exchanged by many Muslims on the holiday.

Eid al-Fitr, which was celebrated earlier this week, caps the end of
Ramadan, the month when Muslims abstain from food, drink and sex
during daylight hours. The holiday's timing can vary in different
countries depending on the sighting of the new moon marking the start
of the month in Islam's lunar calendar. The White House went to some
trouble to arrange Thursday's event, inviting several local Muslims to
offer speeches, setting aside a room for prayer and inviting guests to
enjoy a variety of Middle Eastern foods at a reception afterward.

CORONATION MIGHT BECOME MULTI-FAITH CEREMONY
By Victoria Combe, Religion Correspondent London Telegraph
1/18/99

A proposal to replace the coronation service with a multi-faith
installation ceremony for the Prince of Wales is being considered by
the Church of England. The former Bishop of Durham, the Rt Rev David
Jenkins, is leading a group of academics, theologians and clergy that
has met privately over the past 18 months to discuss reform of the
1,000-year-old service. The Archbishop of York, Dr David Hope, has
attended the meetings in Sheffield as an "observer" but the status of
the group remains unofficial. No formal report has been made to
Lambeth Palace or the General Synod.

The consultation group recommends that the historic ritual should be
replaced with a more secular ceremony with contributions from other
faiths. Instead of being exclusively Anglican and led by the
Archbishop of Canterbury, the group wants leaders of the Roman
Catholic and Methodist Churches, the Chief Rabbi and a representative
of Islam to play a role. It has also proposed removing the Eucharist
from the coronation service, claiming it makes the ceremony
exclusively Anglican.

Such reforms would throw into question the establishment of the
Church of England and the monarch's role as Defender of the Faith and
Supreme Governor of the Church of England. The coronation service is
adjusted slightly for each monarch but since the Reformation it has
been explicitly Protestant. In 1953, the Queen swore in her
Coronation Oath to "maintain in the United Kingdom the Protestant
Reformed Religion established by law".

The Prince of Wales has already declared his desire to protect
all faiths in Britain and has said he would like to be "Defender
of Faith" rather than "Defender of the Faith" when he succeeds to the
throne . Ironically, the title Defender of the Faith was bestowed on
Henry VIII by the Pope before the Reformation and referred to
protection of the Roman Catholic faith.

BAD BECOME MAD AS VATICAN REFORMERS DRIVE SATAN OUT
London Times 1/25/99

The Vatican, which ten days ago decreed that God was not to be
imagined as "an old man with a white beard", will this week seek
to recast the image of Satan, arguing that the Church needs a
"more subtle and sophisticated" definition of evil for the
millennium.

A Vatican commission of theologians and liturgical experts has
revised longstanding 17th-century rituals governing exorcism, or
the casting out of devils. A new formula drops references to
Satan, or the Devil, as the embodiment of evil, in favour of
definitions more compatible with modern concepts of
"psychological disturbance".

"In revising the form of words for exorcism, we have re-thought
the nature of the evil we are trying to root out," one member of
the commission said. Officials said the Church was not revising
"scriptural references" to the Devil or suggesting that people
should cease believing in "the Evil One". But priests conducting
exorcisms should deal with evil as a force "lurking within all
individuals" rather than as a force, traditionally embodied as
Satan, threatening human beings from without.

Definitions of "demonic possession" and the rituals for dealing
with it have largely remained unaltered since Pope Paul V
(1605-21) issued the Rituale Romanum in 1614. It was revised
under Leo XIII (1878-1903) but not substantially changed.

Monsignor Corrado Balducci, the Vatican's chief exorcist, said
the Church had to adapt to modern thinking and "be more careful
in distinguishing between possession by evil spirits and what are more
commonly called psychiatric disturbances". He added: "We are changing
the rules for the millennium as part of the continuing process of
liturgical reform which followed the Second Vatican Council in the
1960s."

The new definition will be presented tomorrow by Cardinal Jorge
Arturo Medina Esteves, Prefect of the Congregation for the Divine Cult
and the Discipline of the Sacraments. According to Vatican officials,
under the new rituals priests will be encouraged not to refer any
longer to the Prince of Darkness, the Accursed Dragon, the Foul
Spirit, the Satanic Power or the Master of Deceit. Instead the
formulas refer more vaguely to "the cause of evil". They also
introduce for the first time an appeal to the Virgin Mary to help to
combat evil in an "afflicted individual", a reflection of Pope John
Paul II's personal commitment to the Marian cult.

CHRISTIANS VOTE FOR UNITY DESPITE DIFFERENCES
January 24, 1999 By Julia Lieblich, Associated Press St. Louis
(AP)

Nine Christian denominations voted Sunday to move toward a broad
affiliation of churches a rare victory in a four-decade
campaign to unite 20 million Protestants, despite their
differences. "We can do it. We must do it, and we did it,'' said
a euphoric Vivian Robinson, president of the Consultation on
Church Union. But it may be too soon to celebrate. Presiding
Episcopal Bishop Frank T. Griswold noted that the Episcopalians'
approval of the document depends on the group's success in
hashing out leadership differences. "If we can't resolve this
question we might have to go our separate ways,'' he says.

It was almost 40 years ago that group's Presbyterian and
Episcopalian founders, citing Jesus' call for "one faith, one
baptism, one God,'' called for a Protestant superchurch. When the plan
was derailed by denominational loyalties and disagreements, the group
opted for a proposal for church affiliation without merger. The new
document asks participating churches to declare publicly in the year
2002 that they are Churches Uniting in Christ. These churches would
agree to share one baptism and to recognize one another as "authentic
expressions of the one church of Jesus Christ.''

They would also fully accept one another's ministers as
"instruments of God's grace'' by the year 2007. The churches
would regularly celebrate Eucharist together and join forces to
fight racism.

**********************************************************************

To educate, train and equip for study both the Jew and
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Please visit the Hebraic Roots Global Network
Web Site located at:

http://www.hebroots.org/

Eddie Chumney
Hebraic Heritage Ministries Int'l