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Category: Synod on the Family

“Follow Pope Francis’ way of dialogue and reform!”

[Portuguese]

To date more than 50 international Catholic organisations have signed an ‘Appeal to the Synodal Bishops’ due to meet in Rome in October 2015 to address major issues related to Catholic family life.

In a spirit of dialogue as urged by Pope Francis and motivated by the Spirit of God all of these organisations are calling on the bishops to listen attentively to what they are saying so as to make our Church a more compassionate family.

The outcomes from this Synod will have a critical bearing of the relevance of Catholicism to the needs of our time.

The Appeal outlines the fundamental problems experienced by Catholic families throughout the world:

The social and economic problems of the family should be widely discussed by the Synod, particularly those affecting the most vulnerable, children and women.

Regarding the divorced and remarried and their admission to the Eucharist, the practice of the early Church should be adopted, as it is done in the Orthodox Church.

Concerning the Motu Proprio (Apostolic letter) of Pope Francis on the canonical process of nullity of marriage we agree with and welcome the simplification of the procedure, but question the concept of annulment as such.

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Category: Synod on the Family

“Follow Pope Francis’ way of dialogue and reform!”

[German] [Italian] [Portuguese]

All matters concerning the family and sexual ethics have been an important part of the reflections of our organizations and movements for many years. We were inspired by the renewal brought into the Church by the Second Vatican Council, which we believe has now been taken up very clearly by Pope Francis.

Over the years we have been deeply concerned about the constantly growing gap between the convictions and conscience of a vast majority of the People of God and the doctrinal teaching and pastoral practice of the Magisterium of the Church.

The two synods called by Pope Francis give hope that the time has come for a new fidelity to the Gospel, so that doctrinal teachings are no longer an obstacle to the faithful who want to practice the Christian virtues in family life.

We participated in the dialogue promoted by the two questionnaires of the Office of the Synod in many ways. As a result, in what follows we present our thoughts and proposals to you as the participants in the Synod on the main issues that we believe should be addressed.

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Category: Women's Equality

Streamed live on Jul 25, 2015

This day-long forum was an exciting and engaging event designed to inspire, educate and inform participants about the role of women in the church today, and why women are largely missing from the new tone and trends in the church.

 

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Category: Italy

Leggendo l’Instrumentum Laboris per il Sinodo di ottobre

La lettura dell’Instrumentum Laboris , il documento base per la discussione del Sinodo dei vescovi di ottobre sulla famiglia che è stato diffuso dal Vaticano martedì 23, è utile per capire a che punto è il percorso verso questa assemblea dopo mesi di interventi pesanti di ogni tipo da parte di conservatori “importanti” come quelli di alcuni Cardinali e di loro amici. Nel frattempo si sono pronunciati tanti gruppi di base che, per la loro stessa natura, non compaiono sulla scena mediatica mentre invece sono abbastanza rappresentativi di quella vasta area dell’universo cattolico che non si sente molto rappresentata da un’assemblea di dignitari ecclesiastici, anziani, maschi e celibi, senza che una donna o dei giovani vi possano intervenire. Per fortuna, grazie a papa Francesco, in questo caso almeno, il sistema delle risposte al questionario, inviato dalla Segreteria del Sinodo per un’ampia consultazione, ha ovviato in parte a questo deficit di presenze.
Ciò premesso, faccio alcune osservazioni leggendo, punto per punto, le questioni principali come emergono dall’Instrumentum (dopo le conclusioni di ottobre con la Relatio Synodi) che ha dovuto tenere conto della consultazione della base.

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Category: Latest News

 

A guide to the new Encyclical

The Encyclical on Vatican website - - PDF version

„Unleugbare Realitätsbeschreibung, Hoffnungsdokument und Handlungsaufforderung zugleich“

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Category: Statements /Press Releases

[English] [Italian] [French] 

  El culto a los santos y los procedimientos usados para alguien sea así declarado, son con frecuencia ambiguos. Esta forma de religiosidad- la veneración a los santos- se ha mantenido en todo el mundo católico durante siglos.  Aunque  respetamos los sentimientos religiosos de  tantos católicos, nosotros creemos que el culto a los santos debe estar basado en el Evangelio.

  “Somos Iglesia” tiene un punto de vista crítico hacia este culto  y de manera especial en estos últimos años ya que la mayoría de los santos que se han proclamado proceden de congregaciones religiosas y en concreto, son sus fundadores. En muchos casos se ha dado preferencia a los miembros de grupos conservadores de nuestra iglesia.  

    Otra razón de nuestra preocupación es la canonización de varios  de los últimos papas, ya que parece ser un procedimiento usado por el Vaticano para resaltar más el prestigio y poder del papado.  

  Sin embargo, esto no significa que no debamos honrar a los cristianos que han sido testigos del Evangelio de manera extraordinaria.

   Tal es el caso del asesinado arzobispo de San Salvador, Monseñor Óscar Romero. ¡Nuestra alegría por San Romero!

 Con gozo participaremos el 23 de mayo en espíritu y oración en la gran manifestación de alegría del pueblo de El Salvador.

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Category: Latest News

Press Release

Limerick, 16.04.2015. “With the resignation of Pope Benedict we are at the end of an era, and this is our best chance to renew the church for a long time“, Father Tony Flannery of the Irish Association of Catholic Priests (ACP) said during an international conference in Limerick that brought together over 30 Catholic priests and church citizens from Ireland, Austria, Australia, Germany, India, Italy, Slovakia, Switzerland, the U.K. and the U.S.. The four-day meeting was hosted by the ACP.

“The election of Pope Francis has begun a new era in Catholicism”, Father Flannery added. The meeting called on the Bishops of their respective countries courageously and publicly to support the vision and the programme of Francis for the Church. A key issue will be to devolve authority away from the Vatican to local churches. Connected to this is the need to enhance the authority of the local church, especially parishes.

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Category: Statements /Press Releases

[Spanish]

The International Movement We Are Church fully support Ireland’s Marie Collins’s call for Bishop Juan Barros of Chile to be removed from his office as Bishop.

Marie Collins is herself a survivor of clerical sex abuse and Pope Francis in 2014 appointed her to the Vatican Commission for Protecting Children from Clerical Abuse.

We believe that Pope Francis should move immediately to suspend Bishop Juan Barros .

The new bishop is accused of  protecting Chile's most notorious paedophile priest Fernando Karadima.

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Category: Latest News

At this year's IMWAC-Council meeting member groups confirmed their support for Pope Francis’ goals for reformation in the spirit of the Second Vatican Council and encouraged the bishops to increase their backing.

Key issues were the Family Synod and Council 50 meeting in Rome November 2015.

The delegates decided on three priorities that IMWAC believes should be adopted by the Family Synod:

  • An open and sensitive handling of those who have remarried, and Catholics in families that don´t follow the narrow standards of the Roman Catholic teaching.
  • Respectful and non-discriminatory acceptance of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people,
  • A fundamentally new understanding of sexuality and major events in human life to guide the development of the Church's moral teaching and pastoral practice. 

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Category: Statements /Press Releases

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Innsbruck-Absam / Munich / Rome, March 11, 2015

[Italian] 

The International Movement We Are Church, in view of the second anniversary of the election of Pope Francis, calls to all the forces of reform to continue to support a consistent course of reform in line with the Second Vatican Council and to counteract the growing resistance within the church. The cardinals and bishops here especially have the duty to ensure that the epochal change, launched 50 years ago by the Council, can succeed in the Roman Catholic Church.

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Category: Ireland

We Are Church Ireland protests about unacceptable image of women

 

 

 

‘We are Church Ireland’ held an one hour vigil outside the Papal Nunciature on 14 February 2015 to protest against the continuing display on the website of the Vatican-based Pontifical Council for Culture of  a headless and limbless bound figure of a woman which women from over the Catholic world have and continue to find offensive.

 

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Category: Synod on the Family

 At the conclusion of the III Extraordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops, celebrated in 2014 to treat the topic, The Pastoral Challenges of the Family in the Context of Evangelization, Pope Francis decided to make public theRelatio Synodi, the document which concluded the synod’s work. At the same time, the Holy Father indicated that this document would be the Lineamenta for the XIV Ordinary General Assembly to take place from 4 to 25 October 2015 to treat the topic, The Vocation and Mission of the Family in the Church and Contemporary World.

The Relatio Synodi, which is sent as the Lineamenta, concludes in the following words: “These proposed reflections, the fruit of the synodal work that took place in great freedom and with a spirit of reciprocal listening, are intended to raise questions and indicate points of view that will later be developed and clarified through reflection in the local Churches in the intervening year leading to the XIV Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops” (Relatio Synodi, n. 62)

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Category: Latest News

Pope Francis said the theologian is first of all a believer who hears the word of God and who humbly listens to what the Holy Spirit says to the churches. His remarks came in an address on Friday to members of the International Theological Commission. The Pope noted that the Commission’s mission is to study doctrinal problems of great importance, especially those which present new points of view. In his speech, the Pope said he wanted to draw particular attention to the importance of listening. He also noted the significantly greater presence of women on the Commission.

 

 

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Category: Latest News

 

 

Noi Siamo Chiesa says "The speeches of Pope Francis in Strasbourg have an importance that the media have not grasped"  [Italian]

 

 

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Category: Synod on the Family

by Christian Weisner

 

Article in German in the Austrian journal KIRCHE IN:

 

The Extraordinary Synod of Bishops at the Vatican about the family ("The pastoral challenges of the family in the context of evangelization") that ended October 19, 2014, is the beginning of a synodal path that Pope Francis explicitly desires. What surprises and tensions happened there, reports Christian Weisner from Rome, who was accredited for the magazine KIRCHE IN in the "Sala Stampa", the press service of the Vatican.

 

Imagine a global corporation in extreme crisis, which also publishes the negative results of its worldwide customer survey, and then lets its regional representatives deliberate new concepts before the eyes of the world in order to develop concrete solutions within eleven months. This is exactly what has happened in recent weeks and months in the Roman Catholic Church.

 

After years where dialogue within the church has been suppressed, the first remarkable step was to invite the faithful to respond to the usual pre-Synod questionnaire. Francis wanted to get a factual picture of the living reality at the grassroots, not an over optimistic one made by the bishops. The discrepancy between the teachings of the Church and the lived reality – shown by the "Instrumentum laboris" across cultures - is so obvious that it cannot be put swept under the carpet. What the Church calls "irregular” or “not accepted situations" is a common reality in all parts of the world. "The reality is more important than the idea," said Francis in "Evangelii Gaudium" paragraph 231.

 

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Category: Latest News

We Are Church groups throughout the world thank Pope Francis for his address, which they consider to be extremely important.

 

Here, courtesy of Zenit.org, is a translation of the Pope’s address Tuesday to participants in the World Meeting of Popular Movements, organized and promoted by the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, in collaboration with the Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences and with the Directors of several Movements.

 

He met with the group in the Old Hall of the Synod.

 

[Spanish (Original)]  [Italian]  [German]  [Portuguese]  [French]

 

Again, good morning.

 

I am happy to be among you; moreover, I will share a confidence with you: this is the first time I have come down here; I had never come here before. As I was saying, I am very happy and I give you a warm welcome.

 

Thank you for accepting the invitation to discuss so many grave social problems that afflict the world today – you who suffer inequality and exclusion in your own flesh. Thank you to Cardinal Turkson for his hospitality. Thank you, Eminence, for your work and your words.

 

This meeting of Popular Movements is a sign, it is a great sign: you have come to put in the presence of God, of the Church, of peoples, a reality that is often silenced. The poor not only suffer injustice but they also struggle against it!

 

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Category: Latest News

 

 

 

We thank Vatican News for this information

[Italian] [French] [Spanish]

 

The World Meeting of Popular Movements has issued a statement at the beginning of their three day conference in Rome, which begins on Monday.

 

The culture of encounter at the service of poor people and poor nations

 

As long as the problems of the poor are not radically resolved by rejecting the absolute autonomy of markets and financial speculation and by attacking the structural causes of inequality, no solution will be found for the world’s problems or, for that matter, to any problems. Inequality (inequidad) is the root of social ills.1

 

The thinking of Pope Francis, and how he has constantly accompanied the excluded in their struggles and their efforts to organize, have inspired and motivated us to hold this World Meeting of Popular Movements. We wish to bring to God, to the Church and to the world the voice of the voiceless. Not so that they raise their voice no more, but because they are silenced by those who hold economic power. We wish to practice the culture of encounter in the service of poor persons, of poor peoples and of this poor Church for the poor which, together with the Holy Father, we all long for. We want to listen to one other, to judge and to act on the basis of the lived experience of those sectors most seriously assaulted in their dignity by social injustice, by an economy of exclusion and by an idolatrous system of money. Together we want to discuss the structural causes of so much inequality (inequidad) which robs us of work (labor), housing (domus) and land (terra), which generates violence and destroys nature. We also want to face the challenge Francis himself sets puts to us with courage and intelligence: to seek radical proposals to resolve the problems of the poor.

 

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Category: Statements /Press Releases

 

Media release                                                                        Rome, October 18, 2014

 

[French]  [German]  [Italian] [Spanish] [Portuguese]

 

This day at the end of the Extraordinary Synod has initiated a long overdue process of broad and open dialogue for the entire Church. This cannot be stopped.

 

The International Movement We Are Church supports all efforts to continue this throughout the global Church until the resumption of debate in the October 2015 Synod. Unlike the current synod, the one in 2015 must herald full application of the theological sciences and active participation of the people in the pews. Only then will informed and realistic answers to the many pressing issues be found.

 

It is high time that the foundations of the Church's sexual teaching are developed in line with modern science. This must and will lead to a relinquishing of incorrect or outdated doctrines and the further development of teaching.

 

We believe of importance will be:

  • A return to the primacy of individual conscience (Cardinal John Henry Newman).
  • A new and holistic view of sexuality, which opens up a reasonable approach to questions of homosexuality and homosexual partnerships.
  • An inspiring interpretation of the relevant biblical texts and Jesus’ Message.
  • Following the Council of Trent a sophisticated understanding of marriage as a sacrament.

 

The International Movement We Are Church expects the further discussion among the world’s Bishops in 2015 to produce:

 

  • An offer of welcome to divorced and remarried couples, following the example of the Orthodox Churches and as the Bishops of the Upper Rhine made public in 1993.
  • An active stand by the Roman Catholic Church against the criminalization of homosexual people who are being persecuted in many countries, even as far as incurring the death penalty.
  • A view of marriage and the various forms of family as a lifetime community, which assumes responsibility in love and solidarity.
  • Support, especially for those families who have to live, for social or political reasons, in very bad and detrimental conditions.

 

After years of suppression of dialogue in the local church, Pope Francis took the remarkable step of asking all members of the Church to respond to the pre-Synod questionnaire. The "Instrumentum Laboris" has afforded a global insight, which can no longer be ignored.

 

The beatification of Pope Paul VI taking place on the last day of the Synod recognises his great work in opening the Church to the world and continuing the work of the Second Vatican Council convened by his predecessor. However he also determined teaching on marriage and sexual matters exploiting Church politics where he ignored the vast majority of the votes of the Birth Control Commission convened by him. The 1968 Encyclical “Humanae Vitae” resulted in much loss of credibility for the Church as an institution and for its teaching on human sexuality.  This must not continue after this Synod.

 

CONTACT IN ROME:

Christian Weisner, cell phone: + 49-172-5 18 40 82, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

CONTACT IN AUSTRIA:
Dr. Martha Heizer, Chair of International Movement We are Church
cell phone: +43 650 4168500, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

 

CONTACTS IN OTHER COUNTRIES: 

 

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Category: Statements /Press Releases

Media release                                                                          Rome, October 5, 2014

 

[German] [Italian]  [Spanish]

 

The International Movement We Are Church welcomes the fact that Pope Francis has today launched a bold new process of broad and open dialogue in the Catholic Church. With the beginning of the Synod we are sure it will be accompanied by the Holy Spirit and cannot be stopped.

 

We are Church asks the Cardinals and Bishops at the Synod not to waste time with fundamentalistic discussions but honestly and jointly pursue pastoral solutions to the many pressing questions. Theological doctrine and pastoral needs should not be played off against each other.

 

After years of oppression of all dialogue within the church, it was a remarkable development when Pope Francis invited all believers, the “people of God” to answer a questionnaire in preparation for the synod. The worldwide results that the survey “Instrumentum laboris“ clearly shows cannot be ignored: The traditional teaching of the Church has lost contact with real life and with the different types of family life in our time. What they call “irregular or not accepted situations“ is a widespread reality in all parts of the world. „The reality is more important than the idea“ (Evangelii Gaudium 231).

 

·         It is high time that the theological basis for the sexual teaching of the church are re-developed in line with the findings of modern human sciences. Even the survey „Instrumentum laboris” finds the traditional understanding of natural law “highly problematic, if not completely incomprehensible”.

·         It is high time that the “sensus fidelium” (the „sense of the faithful”) as well as the primacy of individual conscience (Cardinal John Henry Newman) is re-discovered as the key point of Christian life and teaching.

·         It is high time that church leaders open up a new approach to homosexual partners and divorced and remarried couples - not only out of mercy but of justice. Why don’t they follow the example of the Orthodox Churches with remarried couples?

·         It is high time that the church supports all families who live in very poor and hard situations because of the neoliberal economic systems in an authentic and credible way.

 

This first meeting of the Synod has an overwhelming majority of Cardinals and Bishops who were appointed by the two previous Popes. There are very few women, experts and auditors in the Synod. Until now, people from reform groups are not invited to the synod, although We Are Church proposed a number of experts to Cardinal Lorenzo Baldisseri. Therefore the process of the Synod can not and must not be limited to the Synod Hall. The International Movement We Are Church will support processes of open dialogue in many countries in the period up to the second Synod meeting in October 2015.

 

Dr. Martha Heizer (Chair), cell phone in Rome:+43 650 4168500, martha.heizer@inode.at

Christian Weisner, cell phone in Rome:+ 49-172-5 18 40 82, media@we-are-church.org

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Category: Synod on the Family

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We thank FutureChurch for this commentary

 

Along with Synod participants, thousands filled St. Peter’s Square this evening for a prayer service to open the Synod. Several couples gave testimonies about their lives. One couple told the story of their separation and reunion during a difficult period of their marriage.

 

Prelates lined up in chairs and appearing later in the service Pope Francis offered hopeful words prioritizing mercy over rigid adherence to unbending rules.

 

He asked for three things.

 

1.  The gift of listening for the synod fathers: to listen in the manner of God, so that they may hear, with him, the cry of the people; to listen to the people, until they breathe the will to which God calls us.

2.  Openness toward a sincere discussion and a spirit of fraternity

3.  A willingness to be able to overcome situations of difficulty with persistence, patience and creativity

As he ended he prayed, “The wind of Pentecost blow upon the Synod’s work, on the Church and on all of humanity….Undo the knots which prevent people from encountering one another, heal the wounds that bleed, rekindle hope.”

 

Let’s hope that Pope Francis gets at least a little of what he wants. We know Catholics stand with him in hoping for the same.

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Category: Synod on the Family

 

From Christian Weisner

 

At breakfast we welcomed Miriam Duignan from the London based Wijngaards Catholic Institute for Research.

 

In the morning, Martha attended the second day of CCRI’s seminar in the Oratory of S. Francesco Saverio del Caravita and had lunch with Rene Reid.

 

I was busy too preparing the press pack and my statement for tomorrow’s press conference.

 

In the afternoon Martha Heizer, Miriam Duignan, Deborah Rose-Milavec and I were at the International Conference "The ways of love" of the European Christian LGBT Forum in the Faculty of the Waldenses. It was the same room where we had our Shadow Synod in autumn 2001. The forum was chaired by the Vatican expert Marco Politi. The Australian Bishop Geoffrey Robinson was one of the speakers. Here I met him for the first time. I thanked him deeply for his clear analysis he made in his book "Confronting Power and Sex in the Catholic Church: Reclaiming the Spirit of Jesus". Five years ago I had helped to organize the German translation of his book.

 

Later this evening Raquel arrived from Spain.

 

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Category: Synod on the Family

 

 The video is in Italian but below is information in English

 

Vatican City, 3 October 2014 (VIS) – A press conference was held this morning in the Holy See Press Office during which Cardinal Lorenzo Baldisseri, secretary general of the Synod of Bishops, outlined the structure of the Extraordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops on the Family, to be inaugurated by the Pope during a solemn mass in St. Peter's Basilica next Sunday.

 

The Cardinal explained that among the 191 Synod Fathers there will be 61 Cardinals, one Cardinal Patriarch, 7 Patriarchs, one major archbishop, 67 metropolitan archbishops, 47 bishops, one auxiliary bishop, 1 priest and 6 religious. There will also be 16 experts, 38 auditors and 8 fraternal delegates. He also remarked that since this assembly will consider the theme of the family, special emphasis has been given to married couples, parents and family heads, a total of 12 persons; there is also one married couple within the group of experts.

 

Read more

 

 

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Category: Synod on the Family

 

2 October 2014

from Christian Weisner in Rome

 

Martha Heizer and I have arrived with a train in Rome this evening. Our Hotel is only 150 meter away from the Vatican. In the local „Trattoria“ I met four journalists I know quite well from Germany. Martha, Deborah (Future Church) and myself enjoyed the simple but very good food and discussed the recent deveopements in the Church. Everybody is curious if the Synod will bring any hope and results.

 

German speaking Pfarrer-Initiatives: www.kipa-apic.ch/index.php?na=0,0,0,0,d&ki=259179

 

Pfarrer-Initiative Munich: gemeindeinitiative.org/index.php/aktuell-test/196-eine-stimme-fuer-die-laien

 

Central Comittee of German Catholics: www.zdk.de/veroeffentlichungen/pressemeldungen/detail/Synode-soll-Verkuendigung-zu-Fragen-von-Ehe-und-Sexualitaet-grundlegend-neu-bedenken-897y/

 

You will find the latest interview with Cardinal Kasper in the German newspaper ZEIT as an attachment.

Catholic Church Reform had its first seminar today: http://ncronline.org/blogs/where-i-stand/catholic-church-reforms-alternate-gathering-family-highlights-lay-vocation

 

There is still a lot do for IMWAC’s press conference on Saturday. Mariella Laera (Silver&Cherry) from Rome is very, very helpful in many ways: Sending out our invitation to the media, printing the press-pack and posters, signposting, organizing a translator and translation equipment. Tomorrow I will have to finalize our statement and our press pack.

 

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Category: Statements /Press Releases

 

A number of We Are Church groups support the work of Kairos Palestine and agree with their statement concerning the situation in Gaza.

 

Diplomatic pressure for Peace: A call for Sanctions

 

"So now, you kings, come to your senses, You earthly rulers, learn your lesson”.

Psalms 2:10

 

What is going on these days in Gaza is not war. It is a massacre of civilians, men, women and children. More than 650 people killed and over 4000 injured, the majority being civilians; this cannot be justified as an act of self-defense! What is going on in Gaza is blind evil striking out through a wrong vision of security, self-defense and peace.

 

We implore God Almighty who told us: “Ask and it will be given to you, search and you will find,, knock and the door will be open to you.” ( Mt.7;7) O lord we have asked, and we have knocked, and we have been seeking justice and peace for years. But no doors have been opened and we have been treated very unjustly. Lord, open the hearts and minds of all, those who are afraid and insecure, those who kill, and the people of Gaza who, despite a 7 year-old siege and three consecutive assaults believed that they were secure in their rebuilt homes, but their homes are demolished and their lives taken.

 

It is time for a radical change of concepts and positions. Israelis and Palestinians can live together in peace and mutual love if the root causes of injustice are removed. Education given to the people was negative in past years. A new education must start: love is possible, coexistence is possible. The concept of fear and insecurity should change. The concept of killing so easily hundreds of men, women and children must change. Lords of war, you are on the wrong path. All the killings, all your violence, all your weapons will not bring you security and will not take away your fear.

 

The ways of peace are ways of peace. Only these can lead to security and peace. Israel and all Israel's friends must understand that after sixty years of killing and violence, the salvation and the survival of Israel will never be achieved by the present violence.. Israel's friends must help Israel understand, if their love for Israel is sincere and if they truly care for the human being, whether Israeli or Palestinian, things must change. The present Palestinian Authority has chosen this path of peace, and maintains its right and constant position, even if it has lost its popularity among its own people, who see that these ways of peace facing Israeli violence are fruitless.

 

The same conversion should happen in the hearts of Israeli Authorities. All their armies, weapons and reprisals are useless and fruitless. Seeking peace can only be achieved through peaceful means.

 

We call upon all who care for human dignity, and human life to act now without any further delay. We call upon the international community, governments, churches and civil society to exert pressure on Israel to abide by international law and to lift the siege on Gaza and put an end to its military occupation of the Palestinian Territories in accordance with UN resolutions. And to overcome and remove all the obstacles that have hindered the long awaited peace. It takes wisdom and compassion over and above being fair to both parties of this conflict – especially when one is an occupier and the other is occupied. There needs to be an exerted effort and resolve to bring about peace for all: Israelis and Palestinians whereby everybody feels secure and enjoying freedom and equal rights in a democratic sovereign state. No more repetition of invasions and massacres and senseless killing, whether individual or collective as it is happening now in Gaza.

 

We call on the Churches to assume their responsibilities towards the Holy Land, the land of their roots, if they truly care for their roots, and for the Holy Land and its people. Many churches seem to be indifferent or intimidated to take action. Churches need to put pressure on Israel and also on their governments to end Israeli impunity and hold her accountable.Such Diplomatic pressure is needed now more than ever. It is a question of saving lives but also imposing accountability for criminal acts. As in similar International situations, now is the time for Economic and Military Sanctions .

 

Almighty God, heavenly Father, hear our prayers. Help us work together towards freedom, justice and peace Fill our heart with love and compassion and help us achieve just peace without which no security can be guaranteed for anybody. Remind us that we are all created in your image, and that we can all triumph over every evil and live in your peace, and not only by human treaties and agreements.

 

National Coalition of Christian Organizations in Palestine

Kairos Palestine

 

Kairos in

Britain

Canada

South Africa

 

We Are Church in

Brazil

Alder Calado

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

+43 650 4168500

Chile

Enrique Orellana

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+56-2-26979575

France

Didier Vanhoutte

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Italy

Vittorio Bellavite

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+39-3331309765

The Netherlands

Henk Baars

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+031 6 41170229

Spain

Raquel Mallavibarrena

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+34-649332654

United Kingdom

Valerie Stroud

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Category: Statements /Press Releases

 

We Are Church groups congratulate LCWR on a successful conference and applaud their commitment to action 2015 through 2022.

 

We followed the reports from the conference and applaud the patience and dignity with which the affairs were conducted.  We are very happy that Sr Elizabeth Johnson was honoured for her contribution to the people of God through her theological reflection.

 

We wish Sr Sharon Holland every blessing in her new role as leader of LCWR.

 

Rest assured we are in solidarity with you all as you discern the way forward for hopeful new outpourings of the Spirit on our Church and the full involvement of all in ministries in the Church.

 

We Are Church in:

 

Austria

Gotlind Hammerer

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Brazil

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Didier Vanhoutte

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  1. Statement from We Are Church groups on the situation in Iraq
  2. Vatican: It's a Man's World
  3. Fr. Felipe Berríos: Back in Chile
  4. Excommunication of Dr Martha Heizer
  5. ‘Banning Women from Priestly Ordination has no basis in the New Testament‘
  6. Message of Solidarity to LCWR (USA)
  7. Muere Tomás Balduino, el obispo de "los pobres de la Tierra"
  8. The International Movement We Are Church (IMWAC) critically reflects on the canonization of John Paul II
  9. International Movement We Are Church welcomes the change of course with Pope Francis
  10. International Church Reform Groups Seek Meeting with Pope Francis
  11. Press Release re UN committee report
  12. Österreichs Bischöfe berichten dem Pontifex über die Situation der heimischen Kirche
  13. Bocciati i ruiniani, molti cardinali dalla “fine del mondo”. Capovilla cardinale
  14. Francesco, la stanchezza del Papa solo
  15. Church reform at all levels
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