Global Council Network

Witnesses of a renewed Church for the times to come

On the Occasion of the Fiftieth Anniversary of the Opening of the Second Vatican Council, the International Movement We Are Church (IMWAC) and theEuropean Network Church on the Move (EN/RE), Witness to and Hope for a Church Ever More Free and Human, Built on Communities of Baptized Christians Deeply Committed to Ministry in the Church and Justice in the World 

Rome, October 9th, 2012

„Witnesses of a renewed Church for the times to come“ 

PDF - DE - EN - ES - FR - IT - PT

1.         The Second Vatican Council endorsed a profound renovation of the Catholic Church, both in its own structures and in its relationship to the world.The transformation in the liturgy was one of the central and most visible fruits of the Council, especially in its use of vernacular languages and its celebration based on the local community. The constitutions “Lumen Gentium” and “Gaudium et Spes” contain definitions of the Church itself (now seen as the People of God) and of the value of the secular world and how we might minister to it.

2.         The encyclical “Pacem in Terris”, written by John XXIII while the Council was in session and, indeed, while he was dying, must be considered a part of the whole conciliar experience. Other very important questions were proposed with new perspectives: ecumenism, inter-religious dialogue, liberty of freedom and of conscience. These documents most especially generated the progressive movement that exists in the Church today and invited a dialogue with the Magisterium on all issues that are part of Catholic life.

3.         During the last fifty years a tension has developed concerning the proper interpretation of the Council and its application to contemporary concerns. This tension was already present in the documents of the Council itself: for some, the Council called for significant change; for others, continuity was paramount.

4.         In reality, change and continuity are not mutually exclusive. During the Council a “Pact of the Catacombs” was signed by forty bishops under the leadership of Bishop Helder Camara (Brazil) and Cardinal Lercaro (Bologna) in Santa Domitila Catacomb in Rome calling for a Church focused on service and on the poor. These ideas were later developed, particularly in South America, as a preferential option for the poor.

5.         As the official Church became more resistant to the spirit of Vatican II, many Catholics found a way to work within the Church in fidelity to a change they believe Vatican II intended: a collegial and democratic Church; pluralism and dialogue within the Church; gender equality and the acceptance of diverse sexual orientations; the ordination of women and married people for the service of the People of God but not to enhance a new clericalism; a separation between religion and state, allowing for the appropriate autonomy of both but, at the same time, a strong engagement of believers for justice and peace. This progressive movement derived these changes from the Council itself, indeed from the Gospel and the best of Church tradition, and the pastoral needs of God’s People.

6.         A number of pastoral initiatives followed: base communities; the celebration of Eucharist in the absence of a priest; conscience decisions about birth control and sexual morality; support as well as critique of the Vatican and the episcopate; a demand for justice for the victims of sexual abuse, and punishment for the perpetrators and those who enabled them.

7.         In the secular world at large, and in the Vatican II Church, people have a right to freedom of speech. Thus, groups of priests and laity have organized to express their experience of what it means to be a Catholic in today’s world. Freedom of speech derives from the belief that if all are heard, there is a better chance that we will heed the voice of the Spirit and hear the echo of the Gospel. To silence peremptorily, and it seems, arbitrarily, the voices of theologians, women religious, and responsible people at large is to suffocate the breath of life in the Church itself

8.         Thus, when Austrians proclaim a Pfarrer Initiative, or South Americans develop Liberation Theology, or women religious determine to speak not deductively from doctrine, but inductively from their experience, or an American Catholic Council develops a Catholic Bill of Rights and Responsibilities, or Asians and Africans speak of the need to define God and Christ differently, the first response should be to listen and the second should be to dialogue. Only concerned and committed Catholics would develop such initiatives. Our response should be gratitude rather than dismissal, enlightenment rather than censure, discernment in all cases, but not deafness.

9.         The International Movement We Are Church (IMWAC), national progressive groups around the world, and the European Network Church on the Move (EN/RE) decry the persecution of our colleagues when they raise questions respectfully, questions millions of other Catholics share. We welcome instead an emerging Spring, and awakening dawn inside the Church and await the life and the light they bring with them. When we engage in dissent and “civil disobedience” it is not because we are self-indulgent, but because we are deeply concerned

10.       In 2012, clergy and lay people are still defined in terms of hierarchical priorities rather than as partners, members and colleagues. There is no warrant for this in the Gospel. Indeed, St. Paul reminds us that unless there are different members, all of whom are necessary, there is no Body of Christ.

11. The institutional Church has developed a non-democratic structure reflecting the Roman Empire rather than the Kingdom of God. It is sad to note that the world at large has seen more clearly the need for democracy and equality than the Church that derives from the message of Jesus. In the secular world, non-democratic decisions have no credibility and indeed, are far less stable. Democracy is not against the nature of the Church, since the Spirit has been given to everyone and since democracy does not mean an unrestrained majority voice as much as it means respectful dialogue.

12.       In all democracies there are different levels of responsibility; respect for human rights and of all minorities is the very DNA of a true democracy.

13.       This is very different from monarchical absoluteness. In a truly collegial Church, conscience is no less sacred than the Magisterium. Monarchy conflicts with both the Church’s Gospel tradition and the pastoral requirements of the contemporary age. John XXIII once reminded us that we have nothing to fear from the secular world and that we have no right to become prophets of doom. Monarchy has no principled or intrinsic right within the Church. Collegiality has biblical, conciliar and pastoral authority in the Church. IMWAC and the European Network Church on the Move insist that the Church must be plural and inclusive in its structures and internal policies as well as in its relationship to the world.

14.       We address a word to our brother bishops attending the Synod in Rome (October 7 to 28) to consider dialogue with Catholics who long to be part of the Church even when they differ on some issues. This is in accord not only with Vatican II and Canon Law, but with the Spirit and the Gospel. IMWACand the European Network Church on the Move will meet in Rome in December, 2015, to celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of Vatican II and to witness to the life it has given to the Church and the light it offers to guide us into the future. Our intention is not division or dissent, but peace for the Church at large. “See how these Christian love one another” was once seen as the best sign that we are a community of Christ. If we lose this, all the other signs we devise are misdirections. Without love we perish; we lose Jesus Christ; and we distance ourselves from God. No one of us in the Church wants that to happen.

First Global Forum of the People of God

This book reports on the rich work of associations, movements and communities of Catholic reformers from Africa, the Americas, Asia and Europe

Click to read the first 20 pages

Format : Grand Format (170x240)
Number of pages : 224
Date de publication : 09/10/2018
ISBN : 9782414174065

Printed Book 19,50 €

Digital Book : format Pdf   1,99 €

CLICK HERE TO ORDER THE BOOK

Summary

This book reports on the rich work of associations, movements and communities of Catholic reformers from Africa, the Americas, Asia and Europe, who delegated their representatives to Rome from the 20th to the 22th of November 2015 in the framework of the Council 50 project, to "manifest their feeling for the good of the Church (Second Vatican Council Lumen Gentium IV, 37)" as requested by Pope Francis. They presented the situation of the Catholic Church and the reform movements in their country and identified the challenges that the world must take up as a priority. From their experiences, they proposed reforms so that the Catholic Church testifies of the Spirit of Jesus and be evangelical inspiration for the way that the world should meet these challenges.

Biography of François Becker

François Becker, an honorary university professor, a Christian of Catholic faith, is working since his retirement, in international networks of Christian reformers so that the Catholic Church becomes an evangelical inspiration for the world of the 21st century, as well as in several associations in order that Europe, which is more and more pluriconvictionnal, becomes more cohesive by promoting active European citizenship and by effectively implementing Human Rights and the European Social Charter. After having represented the INGO European Network Church on the Move at the Council of Europe, he was commissioned by an international collective of associations of Catholic Reformers to animate the Council 50 project and to organize in this framework the First Global Forum of the People of God.

 

A Voice of Asia for Reform of Church

In Asia, Catholics make up only three percent of its population, these Catholics need each other; they need to network with each other.

by Dr. Paul Hwang
Director of the Center for Asia Peace and Solidarity under WTI
Chairperson of Theological Committee of Pax Romana- ICMICA

 Background

 I would like to begin this essay with Pope Francis’ well known ideas of Church as “field hospital” and which “goes forth” to the marginalized. In the papal exaltation Evanglii Gaudium, he mentions Church to go forth many times by which he means as follows: “I prefer a Church which is bruised, hurting and dirty because it has been out on the streets, rather than a Church which is unhealthy from being confined and from clinging to its own security. I do not want a Church concerned with being at the centre and which then ends by being caught up in a web of obsessions and procedures.” (no. 49) This ecclesiological view goes well with and is more strongly expressed in his view on church as “field hospital”. He said, “I see the church as a field hospital after a battle. It is useless to ask a seriously injured person if he has high cholesterol and about the level of his blood sugar! You have to heal his wounds.”

 However, realities of the churches in Asia and the world including Roman Curia hardly find a right subject or force to push through the job within the church communities. There has been an urgent need for their renewal about which Francis points out: there is “ecclesial structures which can hamper efforts at evangelization” (no.26). Yes, it is a problem of structure or “structural sin” seen in the current hierarchical structure of the church everywhere. He goes further that the renewal of structures demanded by “pastoral conversion” can only be understood in this light.

 Read the article

Catholic reform groups gather in Rome

The ‘Council 50’ meeting that took place in Rome from 20-22nd November 2015 aimed ‘to relight the flame of the Second Vatican Council’ and was timed to mark 50 years since it closed. After two years of planning, 100 delegates from Catholic reform movements around the world came together and worked on a combined declaration addressing key areas of focus for reform in the Church.

by Miriam Duignan for RENEW

The weekend in Rome in the sprawling La Salle monastery and conference centre felt like an autumn retreat for Catholic reformers. A three-day summit of discussions, presentations, workshops and prayer--not to mention the important rituals of dining and drinking together! The assembled group consisted of lay people, women religious and priests ranging in age from students in their twenties, to the 88-year-old Giovanni Franzoni, who was present during the Second Vatican Council. I was struck by the enthusiasm, energy and determination of the group who, despite language barriers as well as cultural and generational differences, debated key aspects of Church reform. Though some topics were harder to agree on than others, this was a remarkably harmonious gathering with moments of joy and struggle. Ultimately, it united a group of people who are dedicated to doing what often feels like an impossible task – calling on the Roman Catholic Church to reform itself.

Getting Council 50 off the ground often felt like staging a UN event: our planning meetings involved multiple groups and nationalities working together. It happened quite frequently that five languages were being spoken around the table at once – not for the faint hearted! ‘Council 50’ was founded by the European Network Church on the Move, together with the International Movement We Are Church (IMWAC) whose many engaged and enthusiastic members were joined by other international reform groups to help organize, fundraise and network. The event received many messages of solidarity from noted theologians, including Leonardo Boff and Hans Küng. The whole project was ably led by Francois Becker from France, a retired physics professor, now 80, whose idea of a relaxing retirement is to rally reform minded Catholics into forming a global movement!

The most striking aspect of the event was the diversity of people who came to Rome from so many countries, including Burkina-Faso, Cameroon, Gabon, Togo, South Africa, Argentina, Brazil, Ecuador, Mexico, the United States, India, Indonesia, the Philippines, South Korea, Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Holland, Italy, Poland, Spain, and the United Kingdom. To make it as universal as possible, the event was multi-lingual with professional interpreters speaking via personal headsets and an impressive Liturgy that was translated into four languages by the organizing committee.

The choice of Dr Nontando Hadebe as the keynote speaker was inspired. Her excellent presentation was full of challenging insights and positive ideas for change. A theologian from Zimbabwe, Dr. Hadebe introduced the idea of God as an interconnected reality, reflected in the interconnectedness of people all over the world throughout history, including between the laity and hierarchy. She reflected on how church leaders had remained silent on topics such as HIV infections and the kidnapping of hundreds of girls by Boko Haram. Dr. Hadebe pointed out that this is a sign of fear of addressing the need to change attitudes towards women. She also expressed the need for an ‘encyclical of the kitchen, living room and neighbourhood’ rather than the Church ‘only focusing on the bedroom’.

Later on, speakers from five continents described their common efforts to create structural and spiritual reforms for a more decentralised Catholic Church and demonstrated how much we all have in common, despite our different social and cultural backgrounds. The panel included some well-known names such as Jamie Manson from the National Catholic Reporter and Christian Weisner, the spokesperson for IMWAC.

The aim of the Council 50 gathering was to bring the ‘People of God’ together from around the world to share how they are “being Church,” in their political, sociological, historical, and cultural contexts. Other aims included raising up the work of base communities and, most importantly, to produce a Declaration informed by the weekend’s dialogues. And it worked!  A group statement was drafted based on workshop discussions held during the event. Included in the Declaration are calls for a greater focus on social and economic justice, environmental action and a preferential option for the poor. As well as an appeal for reforms in the areas of sexuality and family, ministries and gender equality and governance and dialogue within the Church.

The Catholic reform movement is often dismissed as an American and European concern. We are accused of imposing a western, secular idea of democracy and inclusion onto a Catholic tradition that cannot change. And yet, in Rome, we had 100 people from every corner of the world debate and agree on some controversial topics. Those from the global South enthusiastically embraced and often led the call for an end to discrimination and exclusion—an overarching area of concern across all categories of discussion and nationalities.  One of the most powerful statements within the Declaration is a pledge to: ‘Help to make known the experiences of those whose voices often go unheard, and those whom the Church finds hardest to hear, such as women, LGBTQI people, and divorced and remarried people. And to share the experiences of marginalized and rejected people with fellow members of the Church, so that they may gain in understanding and compassion’.

The ‘Council 50 Charter’ was finalised and given to Pope Francis, via an intermediary, during the celebration of the fiftieth anniversary of the close of the Second Vatican Council (December 8th, 2015). The delegates of this unprecedented gathering of worldwide reform movements agreed to on-going networking and to hold subsequent conventions - in 2018 in Latin America and in 2021 in South Africa.

Address by Dr Nontando Hadebe

Perspectives opened by Pope Francis for the evolution of the Catholic Church and reforms to meet the challenges of our evolving 21st century world

Address by Dr Nontando Hadebe at the Council 50 conference from 20 to 22 November 2015

Complete text: [English]  [French]

  1. Introduction

It is a great honour for me to be asked to present my paper at this historical event initiated by Council 50 under the theme “Towards a Church inspired by the gospel, for the world.” I would like to thank the organizers, Fr Francois Becker and his team for all they have done to make this event possible by bringing us together from different parts of the world. I am also privileged to be part of this group of activists within the Catholic church seeking both internal and external change and transformation. The internal change refers to the structures of the Church and the external change refers to structures in the world - the two need to happen for the gospel to respond to the challenges of our evolving 21st Century world. I have come to know many of you through the excellent papers and contributions that you have made. Reading through these, I was struck by three things. Firstly the consensus on the need for structural change within the Church based on concrete context-specific experiences in each region. An extraordinary sign of the coming together of the contextual and global! The demand for reform is not a textbook assessment but emerges from real life experience of structural oppression in the church! The second point is that this shared sense that reform of ecclesial structures must happen for the church to fulfil her mandate inspired by the Gospel and for the world represents ‘the sense of the faithful’ sensus fidelium. History shows the critical role of the sensus fidelium in times when the Church was in danger of losing the fundamentals of faith and mission. Vatican II set the Church on a different path that opened the redefined the church both structurally and in relation to the world. These two are related - only a radically transformed church could radically transform the world. The definition of the Church as the ‘people of God’ and the call for equal participation of the laity in the priesthood of Christ represents an inclusive participatory model that allows the Church through all her members to bring the liberating message of the gospel to the world. This call for reform of the structures is central to Pope Francis who in his latest address to the Italian bishops makes change mandatory for the survival of the Church. Hence the sensus fidelium for structural reform expressed in the theme of Council 50 as well as in your papers is echoed by Pope Francis. Of equal importance is that the sensus fidelium expressed by this group is not theory but actual experiences of oppression by laity and specific groups such as women, LGTBIQ and ethnic minorities. The injustice in the Church that is championing human rights is a heresy. Lastly this gathering is praxis orientated. I have noted with excitement from your papers the practical reforms suggested that are necessary for the Church to fulfil her mission in the world as defined by Jesus in the gospels, developed further by Vatican II and recently by Pope Francis. The perspectives of Pope Francis particularly his vision of the Church as a field hospital feature prominently in the contributions that I have read. I concur with practical suggestions from all the regions and what impressed me is the common vision that emerges from this gathering.

What is interesting for me is that the contributions from the regions which were made independant of each are mysteriously weaved into my paper. The Spirit is clearly at work. I will start my paper with a brief discussion on the shared vision of Pope John XXIII and Pope Francis which is rooted in the liberating ministry of Jesus. This will form the background context of this paper. Then I will move on to the theological foundation for reform which  will focus on three aspects:  the method of contextual theology; interconnectedness using Trinitarian theology and applying it to seven themes. I appropriate the symbol of the Trinity as a central focus of my paper because it captures one of the perspectives of Pope Francis namely the interconnectedness of everything. I will propose that the concept of interconnectedness is best described in the symbol of the Trinity as it presents to us core values that are central to the reform of the church that is inspired by the gospel and for the world. These values are equality, mutuality, reciprocity, unity that does not dissolve difference and orientation towards justice and liberation. Based on these values I will propose seven themes on interconnectedness that can contribute to the evolution of the Catholic church and reforms that can help us respond to the our mission of Council 50 - “Towards a Church, inspired by the gospel, for the world”. I will conclude with a call to recognize this time as a kairos moment for the church an opportune time to act decisive and will cite from the Kairos Document from South Africa which was written in the context of oppression but focused on the theologies in the churches that were operating in response to the context.

Read the paper  [English]  [French]

 

 

Message from Card. Pedro Casaldaliga

We dream for a Church more democratic and fraternal, more mystic and engaged.

Dear brothers and sisters,
Your meeting is very important to stimulate the creativity and the responsibility.  Christians from the pew are the base of the new Church we dream of and of society now full of capitalism.
We must engage ourself for a project global and multicultural. We dream for a Church more democratic and fraternal, more mystic and engaged. To follow Jesus  for the reign.
Accept, all, a strong embraze on the light of Vatican two

Card. Pedro Casaldaliga
Bishop em of São Félix, Brazil

Chers Frères et Soeurs

Votre rencontre est très importante pour stimuler créativité et responsabilité.  Les chrétiens de base sont le fondement de la nouvelle Eglise dont nous rêvons et de la société actuellement emplie par le capitalisme. Nous devons nous engager dans un projet mondial et multiculturel. Nous rêvons d’une Eglise plus démocratique et fraternelle, plus mystique et engagée pour suivre Jésus pour le règne.
Acceptez, tous, mes sincères amitiés dans l’esprit de Vatican II
Card. Pedro Casaldaliga
Evêque émérite de São Félix, Brazil

 

Report from Council 50 - November 2015

The ‘Council 50’ gathering in Rome from 20-22nd November, sought to shine new light on the seeds of the Second Vatican Council, marking 50 years since it closed.

 “We are ready to help Pope Francis implement the Second Vatican Council now” declared the 100 delegates representing worldwide catholic reform movements.

Grass roots groups from every continent worked on a combined declaration and will continue networking in 2018 in Latin America and in 2021 in Africa.

 Reform movements from across Europe, Asia, Africa and the Americas gathered last weekend in Rome for a lively and inspiring conference. The aim of ‘Council 50’ was to relight the flame of the Second Vatican Council and make visible the prophetic voice of the ‘people of God’ that has continued to thrive despite 35 years’ of suppression during the last two pontificates. The assembled group consisted of priests and lay people as well as men and women religious. Together, they demonstrated the great potential to revive the Church so that we can better contribute to healing many of the urgent problems in the world.

Keynote speaker, Dr Nontando Hadebe, a theologian from Zimbabwe, welcomed the perspectives opened up by Pope Francis to evolve the Catholic Church to meet the challenges of the 21st century. She introduced the idea of God as an interconnected reality reflected in the interconnectedness of people all over the world throughout history, and between cultures, the laity and hierarchy, all religions and between heaven and earth. She reflected on how church leaders had remained silent on topics such as HIV infections and the kidnapping of hundreds of girls by Boko Haram. Dr Hadebe pointed out that this is a clear sign of the fear of addressing the need to change attitudes towards women. She also expressed the need for an ‘encyclical of the kitchen, living room and neighbourhood’ rather than the Church only focusing on the bedroom.

Later on, speakers from five continents presented their common efforts to create structural and spiritual reforms for a more decentralised Catholic Church and demonstrated how much we all have in common, despite our different social and cultural backgrounds.

A group statement has been drafted based on workshop discussions held during the event (on topics such as nonviolence, peace based on social and economic justice, environmental action, women’s role in the Church and on sexual teaching - especially concerning LGBT people). The ‘Council 50 Charter’ will be finalised and given to Pope Francis during the celebration of the fiftieth anniversary of the close of the 2nd Vatican Council (December 8th, 2015). Conscious of the 'signs of the time', this statement declares the commitment of reform movements to working for a revival of the Church that demonstrates the power of the Gospel to meet the challenges of our time.

The delegates of this historic and unprecedented gathering of worldwide reform movements agreed to ongoing networking and to hold subsequent conventions - in 2018 in Latin America (50 years after the Conference of Latin American Bishops in Medellín, Columbia) and in 2021 in Africa.

‘Council 50’ was founded by the European Network Church on the Move (EN-RE) and the International Movement We Are Church (IMWAC) and benefits from the contributions, participation and support of members of the following networks and associations:

American Catholic Council, Amerindia, Articulacion Continental de Comunidades eclesiales de base, Asociación de Teólogos Juan XXIII, Australian Coalition for Church Renewal, Catolicas por el dercho a decider, Center for Asia Peace and Solidarity (CAPS), Comunita’ Cristiane di Base Italiane/Italian Grassroot Communities, Coordination of European Base Communities, Corpus, European Forum of LGBT Christian Groups, Federacion latinoamericana para la renovacion de los ministerios, International federation for a renewed Catholic Ministry, Institute for Theology and Politics, Kairós/Nós Também Somos Igreja – Brasil, Movimiento Fé y Politica, Brasil, Pax Romana, Réseau des Anciens Jecistes d’Afrique, Rede brasileira de grupos catolicos LGBT, Redes Cristianas, Vision of Faithful People, Netherlands, We Are Also Church, South Africa, The Wijngaards Institute for Catholic Research, Women's Ordination Worldwide (WOW) & World Forum Theology and Liberation.

Committee of Recommendation / Messages of Solidarity:

Leonardo Boff (Brazil), Pedro Casaldaliga (retired bishop of São Félix, Brazil), José Maria Castillo (theologian, Spain), Giovanni Cereti (theologian, Italy), Paul Collins (Australian Coalition for Church Renewal), Duarte da Cunha (Secretary of the conference of Bishop Conferences of the European Union), Giovanni Franzoni (former Abbot of St Paul and one of the founders of grass root community of San Paolo, Rome), Bishop Jacques Gaillot (Bishop of Partenia, Paris), Nontando Hadebe ( theologian from South Africa and Zimbabwe), Hermann Haering (Prof of Theology, The Netherlands/Germany), Paul Hwang (Center for Asia Peace and Solidarity, South Korea, present in Rome), Douglas Irvine (WAACSA, South Africa, present in Rome), Marco Cassuto Morselli (Presidente dell’Amicizia Ebraico-Cristiana di Roma, Italy), Jon Sobrino (Jesuit theologian, San Salvador), Hans Kueng (Stiftung Weltethos, Germany). Raniero La Valle (journalist, Italy), Germaine Lipeb (Réseau des Anciens Jecistes d’Afrique), Anthony Padovano (CORPUS, USA), Luiz Carlos Susin (World Forum Theology and Liberation, Brazil), Juan José Tamayo (Asociación de Teólogos Juan XXIII, Spain), José María Vigil (theologian, Panama), Alex Zanotelli (missionary, Italy)

Supporting reforms in the Church and Society

Base movements from all continents support Pope Francis’ call for substantial reforms in the Roman-Catholic Church and in Society.

Press release   Rome, November 20, 2015


Convention ‘Council 50’: Towards a Church – Inspired by the Gospel – for the world’ with more than 100 delegates of worldwide catholic reform movements in Rome, November 20-22, 2015.

This Coming weekend reform movements from diverse continents, countries, cultures and theological tendencies are gathering in Rome and will present a variety of fruits and projects grown from the Second Vatican Council for an inclusive Church for the 21st century. They are bringing their practice, experience and reflexions to Rome and hope to show their potentialities for a revival of the Church, as St Francis of Assisi did in his time.

 ‘Council 50’ aims to reaffirm the values and the spirit of the Council and to give space and opportunity of networking between the different experiences that sprang from it. ‘Council 50’ intends to revivify the disappointed hopes, to relight the flame of the Council, and to renew the impetus towards the future. So it is making visible the prophetic part of the ‘people of God’ in the Church too often hidden and unknown.

  ‘Council 50’ strongly supports Pope Francis’ efforts against all resistance: for the renewal of the Roman-Catholic Church, for interreligious dialogue and for a more just and peaceful world. ‘Council 50’ wants to help change the dogmatic and legalistic attitude of the Church into a pastoral and evangelic attitude inspired by the Gospel and in line with the Second Vatican Council. Hence the leitmotiv ‘Council 50: towards a Church – inspired by the Gospel – for the world’.

  ‘Council 50’ is a networking process that contributes to strengthen the ‘sensum fidei fidelium’ that is one of the key theological teachings of the theological thoughts of the Second Vatican Council as expressed in the dogmatic constitution ‘Lumen Gentium’. This Council brought so much hope 50 years ago but because of unsatisfactory decrees and Pope Francis’ predecessors the prophetic part of the Church at the peripheries of the world were too often ignored, hidden, and even condemned. The teaching of this Council is still waiting to be implemented.

The convention will start Friday, November 20th 2015 at 6 pm in Casa La Salle in Rome. On Saturday morning Dr Nontando Hadebe, woman theologian from Zimbabwe and South Africa, will present the keynote speech: ‘Perspectives opened by Pope Francis for the evolution of the Catholic Church and reforms to meet the challenges of our evolving 21st century world’. Following her speakers from different continents will present their experiences, expectations and proposals for the renewal of our Church and it’s implication in the world.

8 workshops will focus on the challenges facing the world as War and Peace, Social and economic justice, Environment (Encyclical Laudato Si’) and Social issues. Following from that and inspired by the Gospel concrete means will be developed for different models of Church Organization which can foster inter and intra religious dialogues as well as inter convictional dialogues.

This convention follows up the international conference that commemorated and renewed the ‘Pact of the Catacombs’ for a poor church signed by 42 bishops shortly before the end of the Council in the Domitilla-Catacombs on November 16th, 1965.

The Council 50-Charter built from the discussions of the workshops during the event in Rome will be drafted and will be given to Pope Francis during the celebration of the fiftieth anniversary of the close of the Council (December 8th, 2015). Updating the ‘Pact of the Catacombs’ that was signed by the bishops 50 years ago, the Council 50-Charter will be a ‘Pact of the People of God’, hopefully followed up by the bishops of our Church.

‘Council 50’ was initiated by the European Network Church on the Move and the International Movement We Are Church and benefits from the contributions, participation and support of members of the following networks and associations:

American Catholic Council, Amerindia, Articulacion Continental de Comunidades eclesiales de base, Asociación de Teólogos Juan XXIII, Australian Coalition for Church Renewal, Center for Asia Peace and Solidarity (CAPS), Coordination of European Base Communities, Corpus, European Forum of LGBT Christian Groups, International federation for a renewed Catholic Ministry, Institute for Theology and Politics, Kairós/Nós Também Somos Igreja – Brasil, Pax Romana, Réseau des Anciens Jecistes d’Afrique, Redes Cristianas, We Are Also Church South Africa, Wijngaards Institute for Catholic Research, World Forum Theology and Liberation

Committee of Recommendation / Messages of Solidarity:

Leonardo Boff (Brazil), Card. Pedro Casaldaliga (Bishop em of São Félix, Brazil), J.M. Castillo, Giovanni Cereti (theologian), Paul Collins (Australian Coalition for Church Renewal), Duarte da Cunha (Secretary of the conference of Bishop Conferences of the European Union), Giovanni Franzoni (former Abbot St Paul, Rome), Bishop Jacques Gaillot (Bishop em, Paris), Nontando Hadebe (woman theologian from South Africa and Zimbabwe), Hermann Haering (Prof of Theology, The Netherlands/Germany), Paul Hwang (Center for Asia Peace and Solidarity, present in Rome), Douglas Irvine (WAACSA present in Rome), Marco Cassuto Morselli (Presidente dell’Amicizia Ebraico-Cristiana di Roma), Jon Sobrino (Jesuit theologian), Hans Kueng (Stiftung Weltethos, Germany). Raniero La Valle (journalist), Germaine Lipeb (Réseau des Anciens Jecistes d’Afrique), Anthony Padovano (CORPUS, USA), Luiz Carlos Susin (World Forum Theology and Liberation), Juan José Tamayo (Asociación de Teólogos Juan XXIII, present in Rome), José María Vigil (theologian, Panama), Alex Zanotelli (missionary)

100 Participants coming from:

Argentina, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Chile, Equator, France, Gabon, Germany, Great Britain, India, Indonesia, Italy, Mexico, the Netherlands, Philippines, Poland, Senegal, Spain, South Africa, South Korea, Switzerland, USA, Zimbabwe

 

Study of Vatican II recommended

The Catholic Bishops in England and Wales are recommending that all Catholics make a special effort during the Year of Faith (2012-2013) to study the four Constitutions which they describe as the Pillars of the Council

 Their website gives the following introduction and invitation

The 'Year of Faith' will begin on 11 October 2012, the 50th anniversary of the Second Vatican Council. The documents of the Council offer very important teaching in support of the Church’s ongoing mission.

It is suggested that you read and study four Constitutions described as the ‘pillars of the Council’. 

These Constitutions are:

I. Lumen Gentium - on the Church

II. Sacrosanctum Concilium - on the Sacred liturgy

III. Dei Verbum - on Divine Revelation

IV. Gaudium et Spes - on the Church in the Modern World

One of the repeated themes of Pope Benedict’s writings has been the importance of reading and interpreting the documents of Vatican II in the right way, using what he describes as the ‘right hermeneutic’, or interpretation.

The use of a correct interpretive approach is essential to reaching a proper understanding of the Truth in Scripture and in the teaching documents of the Church. This correct approach is sometimes called a ‘hermeneutic of continuity’. This may sound a little complicated, but in simplicity it affirms that a Catholic can only properly understand a Christian teaching if he or she takes into account what both Scripture and the Magisterium have said on a subject. Any understanding which fastens on what Scripture says to the exclusion of the Magisterium (the teaching authority of the Church) or which fastens on this or that statement of the Magisterium in preference to others may be incorrect.

Downloads

Documents of the Second Vatican Council

The Bible

Catechism of the Catholic Church

The Magisterium of the Church  (from the Catechism of the Catholic Church)

85 "The task of giving an authentic interpretation of the Word of God, whether in its written form or in the form of Tradition, has been entrusted to the living teaching office of the Church alone. Its authority in this matter is exercised in the name of Jesus Christ."47 This means that the task of interpretation has been entrusted to the bishops in communion with the successor of Peter, the Bishop of Rome.

86 "Yet this Magisterium is not superior to the Word of God, but is its servant. It teaches only what has been handed on to it. At the divine command and with the help of the Holy Spirit, it listens to this devotedly, guards it with dedication and expounds it faithfully. All that it proposes for belief as being divinely revealed is drawn from this single deposit of faith."48

 

Le Concile, 50 ans après Bilan

Helmut Krätzl qui a été un témoin du Concile et qui est aujourd’hui Evêque auxiliaire émérite de l’Archidiocèse de Vienne (Autriche) a prononcé cette conférence le 27 février 2012 à Vienne et le 2 mars 2012 au Centre paroissial de Will (Suisse).

Il a aimablement communiqué le texte de son propos au Bureau de la "Plate-forme ‚Nous sommes Eglise", organisme catho-réformateur autrichien fondé à la suite des accusations de pédophilie portées contre le Cardinal Hermann Groer, alors archevêque de Vienne, lequel a été en conséquence relevé de ses fonctions par le Pape Jean-Paul II.  

 Le Concile, 50 anLe Concile, 

 Picture By Rosso Robot - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=30798268

Vatican II Themes - Richard McBrien

NCR brings us six important essays by Fr Richard McBrien

The Second Vatican Council understood the church as ecumenical, that is, embracing "the whole wide world" of Christians. The Body of Christ consists not only of Catholics, but also Eastern Orthodox, Anglicans (in the United States they are known as Episcopalians), Protestants, and Oriental Christians alike.

 

      -- The Church as an Eschatological Community 

     -- The Church is Ecumenical 

     -- The Church as Communion

     -- The Church as Mystery, or Sacrament

     -- The People of God

     -- The Church as Servant

"What Happened at Vatican 2"

The Second Ecumenical Council of the Vatican, or Vatican II, put the condition and future of the Catholic faith on the table for discussion.

Nearly 45 years after the three-year council ended, the effects of Vatican II are still being felt, from the role of laity to the language used in services.

For the annual Cole Lectures at Vanderbilt University, the Rev. John W. O'Malley delivers two talks about "What Happened at Vatican II." The Oct. 21 and 22, 2010, lectures were held in Benton Chapel on the Vanderbilt campus.

 

Stories of Vatican II: The Human Side of the Council.

Tablet Lecture, 5 October 2012, by Robert Blair Kaiser

In a few days, the pope will be commemorating the 50th Anniversary of the beginning of the Second Vatican Council. He will do so at a synod of the world's bishops who may be told, that the Council did not have much of anything new to say to the world's more-than-one billion Catholics, and that, when the Council did come up with anything arresting and original, it was wrong and should be reversed and repudiated. In a way, the pope himself is saying the Council was a failure.

So, curiously, is Hans Kung. He is saying the Council did not go far enough. A good many liberal Catholics are echoing Kung. Just a few weeks ago, the late Cardinal Martini of Milan said in his last interview that the Church that Pope John XXIII tried to update is 200 years behind the times. In a way, both wings in the Church are saying the Council was a failure.

I do not believe the Council was a failure. It has already changed the way we live--and think--as Catholics. In my opinion, as one devoted to the memory of Vatican II, I believe the charter that was written there is the only thing that will save the Church, the people-of-God Church, not the hierarchical Church.

Read more (PDF)