Emmanuel Delly III, the Iraqi head of the Chaldean Christian church, says security for Christians is improving Iraq.
Delly, one of 23 Roman Catholic leaders recently elevated to the position of cardinal by the pope, told Italy-based news agency Adnkronos International (AKI), "The security situation in Iraq is improving for everyone, including us Christians.
"Christians in Iraq are not separated from other members of society so if the security situation improves, everyone will benefit."
In the interview, Delly spoke of the importance of unity in Iraq and of the cohesion between the diverse groups in the country.
Around three percent of Iraq’s population are Christian (600,000-800,000 people), although many Iraqi Christians fled the country for fear of sectarian violence following the allied invasion of 2003.
Approximately 70 percent of Christians in Iraq are part of the Chaldean community., which recognizes the authority of the pope despite being aligned with eastern rite churches and having its own liturgy and leadership. The Chaldean Church is also found in other parts of the world including the United States, Iran, Turkey, Syria, Lebanon, Egypt and Australia.
On the subject of inter-religious dialogue, Delly said, "I hope that the Vatican continues to speak to other religions.
“Our objective is not to proselytize but to collaborate and live together with others," he added.
During a meeting late last month of the world's Catholic cardinals, Cardinal Walter Kasper, who serves as president of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, briefed the cardinals on relations with other Christians, focusing on the church's relations with the Orthodox, Protestants and Pentecostal movements.
According to the Associated Press, Kasper said the rise of independent, often "aggressive" evangelical movements in Africa and elsewhere had complicated the church's ecumenical task. Nevertheless, the Vatican official told reporters that "ecumenism is not an option but an obligation."
Kasper also spoke highly of the renewal of ties with the Orthodox Church. Earlier last month, the Vatican released a joint declaration with the Orthodox Church in which Orthodox leaders recognized the Roman Catholic pope as the highest rank in the unified Church.
Although Russian Orthodox Patriarch of Moscow Alexis II, who represents around 250 million Orthodox Christians worldwide, did not sign the accord, Kasper remained optimistic, saying that a meeting between Alexis II and Benedict would help heal the rift.
Kasper also admitted that relations with Protestant churches were strained earlier this year by a Vatican document claiming that the Catholic Church was the “one true church of Christ.
According to Agence France Presse, the cardinal said that the amount of criticism over the document was unjustified but conceded that the Catholic Church needed to be more careful in presenting such views.
Kasper said that the Catholic Church had to "give witness to the richness and beauty of our own faith in a positive and welcoming way,” rather than pointing out the weaknesses of other faiths, AFP reported.
He also said that there were encouraging signs emerging from dialogue with Protestants although there were still "differences in the moral domain.”
Comments
gav...
yes...being assimilated into the collective. i'll have to buy a Pope-approved Rosary, and practice standing up and sitting down fifteen times in seven minutes. I'll only have to remember a few mantras so it wll be easier than the church I go to now where they want us to learn the whole Bible. AND...i need to remember NOT to bite the priests fingers when he feeds me those wafers. (do they have anything with a bit of spice on them? maybe some cheez-whiz?)
jester
Assimilation into the whoredom of Babylon? Heaven forbid! As you said, our commission is to reach the world with the gospel, not squander precious time "collaborating" with RC.
Delly said "“Our objective is not to proselytize but to collaborate and live together with others," . No...our objective is to reach the world with the good news of the Gospel in word and deed.
Is it just me, or does the Catholic Church remind anyone else of "The Borg" in the Star Trek:The Next Generation series?
Resistance is futile! You will be assimilated!
P.S. The earliest recorded history of the church is the book of Acts. It is recorded there that the believers were first called "Christians" in Antioch -- not RC, but "Christians". This had nothing to do with the RC movement which developed later.
The problem is, Roman Catholicism is not universal; there are many Christians around the world who ARE part of the Body of Christ, but are not affiliated with RC. In light of that fact, this statement is indeed very troubling:
"Kasper also admitted that relations with Protestant churches were strained earlier this year by a Vatican document claiming that the Catholic Church was the “one true church of Christ."
The word Catholic means universal. It was the name given to the universal Christian Church. The word Catholic comes from two words, "Kata" which means "according to", and "Holos" which means "the whole". The first instance that we find the word Catholic to describe the Church was in the writings of St. Ignatius, Bishop of Antioch. St. Ignatius was the second successor of Peter the apostle who started the Church in Antioch before proceeding to rome. Ignatius was a disciple of John the Apostle and is said to have been the child Jesus set on his knee when He said "let the children come to me and forbid them not". St. Ignatius died as a martyr (fed to the lions) between the years 105-110AD. In the following quote he calls the Church by its name.
"Let that be considered a valid Eucharist which is celebrated by the bishop or by one he ordains (ie. a Priest). Wherever the bishop appears, let the people be there; just as wherever Jesus Christ is, there is the Catholic Church." (Ignatius of Antioch - Letter to the Smyrneans 8:2, 107AD)
Earlier last month, the Vatican released a joint declaration with the Orthodox Church in which Orthodox leaders recognized the Roman Catholic pope as the highest rank in the unified Church.
This is incredible the Catholic Church is returning to the unity it had during biblical times, simply amazing!!!!