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11/15/11 1:45 PM
Another Interfaith Papal Prayer Meeting At Assisi by Zenit.Org, 1/23/02 DITC Comments: The pope organized yet another interfaith prayer meeting for world peace. As with the last Assisi prayer event, almost every religion showed up as well as many Protestants. But to pray for world peace to pagan gods is ludicrous. Oh, it's nice to get together with other people for potluck, but to pray? Who are they praying to? Does it even matter anymore who God is to these people? Perhaps he has simply become a fig newton of the imagination of man? So many religions, cults and sects of Christianity were present. Catholics, charismatic Catholics, Orthodox, Jews, Muslims, Buddhists, Shintoists, Confusionists, Zoroastrianists and others all got together with the Anglican Communion; World Lutheran Federation; Alliance of Reformed Churches; Pentecostals; World Baptist Alliance; Friends World Committee for Consultation (Quakers); Salvation Army; and the World Council of Churches. The only world peace these people are going to accomplish is the short lived peace of the antichrist! ZENIT - The World Seen From Rome Code: ZE02012325 Date: 2002-01-23 Religious Leaders Who Will Attend Day of Prayer in Assisi Significant Orthodox, Muslim and Jewish Presence VATICAN CITY, JAN. 23, 2001 (Zenit.org).- Hundreds of representatives of the world´s religions will convene in Assisi, Italy, on Thursday, united for a common purpose: to pray for God´s gift of peace and to condemn violence as a profanation of his name. The religious leaders who go to St. Francis´ city will have the same objective, but they will not pray together. Each religious group will pray in a particular place -- including the Zoroastrians, who will light their liturgical fire in an open-air cloister. A seven-car "peace train" will take the participants from the Vatican to Assisi. As was the case for the Assisi prayer meeting convoked by the Pope in 1986, the response of Christian leaders on this occasion has been overwhelming. There will be representatives of the Anglican Communion; World Lutheran Federation; Alliance of Reformed Churches; Pentecostals; World Baptist Alliance; Friends World Committee for Consultation (Quakers); Salvation Army; and the World Council of Churches, an ecumenical organization. The most significant response came from the Orthodox Churches, beginning with Patriarch Bartholomew I of Constantinople, "first among equals" among Christians of the so-called Eastern schism. He will be joined by 16 other Eastern Churches. The most striking presence will be that of Archbishop Pitrim, metropolitan of Volokolamsk; and Juriev, patriarchal vicar of Moscow, who is representing Alexy II, the Orthodox patriarch of Moscow. Following the collapse of the Soviet Union, the Russian Orthodox Church has shunned contact with the Roman Pontiff. Muslim cooperation The most numerous leaders in Assisi after the Christians will be the Muslims. The meeting itself is in response to the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on the United States, and John Paul II is interested on promoting Muslim participation. Saudi Arabia, Iran, Iraq, Egypt, Jordan, Jerusalem, Morocco, Sudan, the Philippines, Libya, and several European countries, black African countries, and the United States will send Muslim representatives. Rashid Benhagi, Algerian film director, explained to Vatican Radio how Muslims have regarded this convocation. "Prayer is a time of recollection," Benhagi said. "If we stopped to pray before we did anything, to see what is within us, to bring to the fore this inner, human dimension, then, I think, we would be able to control irrational actions, actions that don´t make any sense." "At this time, when the word has been given to arms, an event of this kind leads us above all to reflect," he said. "When such an event takes place at a time of chaos, it is more forceful. "Thank goodness there is someone who says: ´Stop for a while, and let´s look at those differences that impel us to kill one another.´ Then we begin to analyze and we realize that in reality religion has nothing to do with it, because there are other factors at play, whether political, economic, etc." Dialogue with Judaism Judaism will be represented in Assisi by leaders from Israel, the United States, France, England, Belgium, Brazil and Italy. Among them are: --Rabbi Joseph H. Ehrenkranz, director of the Center for Christian-Jewish Understanding (United States) --Professor Leon Feldman, secretary of the International Committee for Interreligious Consultations (United States) --Rabbi Ron Kronish, director of the International Coordinating Council in Israel (Jerusalem) --Rabbi Alan Placey, responsible for interreligious questions, Office of the Chief Rabbi of the United Hebrew Congregations of the British Commonwealth of Nations (London) --Chief Rabbi David Rosen, president of the International Council of Christians and Jews (Jerusalem) --Rabbi Israel Singer, president of the governing board, World Jewish Congress (United States) Chief Rabbi Giuseppe Laras of Milan, president of the Assembly of Rabbis of Italy, explained over Vatican Radio the presence of these representatives at the Day of Prayer: "It is a response to a terrible situation. In dramatic situations one is more concentrated, as is correct, on values of the spirit, on the power of prayer." He continued: "I am thinking of that passage of Exodus in which Moses, while Amalek´s attack is taking place, raises his hands to heaven and Israel prevails over the adverse and violent elements that sought its destruction. What does it mean to raise one´s arms to heaven? It means to invite everyone to change their perspective, directing it toward spiritual values, because this relation with God and with the heavens, with the transcendent, gives us the strength to overcome contingent violence, which often tries to impose itself." Buddhist presence Buddhists will be present too. Geshe Tashi Tsering will represent the Dalai Lama at Assisi. Along with him are representatives of the principal Buddhist schools and denominations, especially Zen, as well as Rissho Kosei-kai, a lay association. Father Massimiliano Mizzi, director and founder of the International Franciscan Center for Dialogue, explained to ZENIT that for Buddhism, "peace is, above all, a human virtue, which stems from the harmony in one´s heart. And inner peace is attained through prayer." The Buddhists will meet for prayer in a Romanesque hall overlooking the plains. One of them began to intone the litanies that are repeated by all, in order to obtain harmony within as well as with creation. Representation of all religions Five important leaders of Hinduism from India will also be in Assisi. With them will be believers in Tenrikyo, Shintoism (the president of the Korean National Center for Confucianism), as well as leaders of Sikhism, Zoroastrianism and traditional African religions.
Another Interfaith Papal Prayer Meeting At Assisi by Zenit.Org, 1/23/02
DITC Comments: The pope organized yet another interfaith prayer meeting for world peace. As with the last Assisi prayer event, almost every religion showed up as well as many Protestants. But to pray for world peace to pagan gods is ludicrous. Oh, it's nice to get together with other people for potluck, but to pray? Who are they praying to? Does it even matter anymore who God is to these people? Perhaps he has simply become a fig newton of the imagination of man? So many religions, cults and sects of Christianity were present. Catholics, charismatic Catholics, Orthodox, Jews, Muslims, Buddhists, Shintoists, Confusionists, Zoroastrianists and others all got together with the Anglican Communion; World Lutheran Federation; Alliance of Reformed Churches; Pentecostals; World Baptist Alliance; Friends World Committee for Consultation (Quakers); Salvation Army; and the World Council of Churches. The only world peace these people are going to accomplish is the short lived peace of the antichrist!
Date: 2002-01-23
Religious Leaders Who Will Attend Day of Prayer in Assisi
Significant Orthodox, Muslim and Jewish Presence
VATICAN CITY, JAN. 23, 2001 (Zenit.org).- Hundreds of representatives of the world´s religions will convene in Assisi, Italy, on Thursday, united for a common purpose: to pray for God´s gift of peace and to condemn violence as a profanation of his name.
The religious leaders who go to St. Francis´ city will have the same objective, but they will not pray together. Each religious group will pray in a particular place -- including the Zoroastrians, who will light their liturgical fire in an open-air cloister.
A seven-car "peace train" will take the participants from the Vatican to Assisi.
As was the case for the Assisi prayer meeting convoked by the Pope in 1986, the response of Christian leaders on this occasion has been overwhelming.
There will be representatives of the Anglican Communion; World Lutheran Federation; Alliance of Reformed Churches; Pentecostals; World Baptist Alliance; Friends World Committee for Consultation (Quakers); Salvation Army; and the World Council of Churches, an ecumenical organization.
The most significant response came from the Orthodox Churches, beginning with Patriarch Bartholomew I of Constantinople, "first among equals" among Christians of the so-called Eastern schism.
He will be joined by 16 other Eastern Churches. The most striking presence will be that of Archbishop Pitrim, metropolitan of Volokolamsk; and Juriev, patriarchal vicar of Moscow, who is representing Alexy II, the Orthodox patriarch of Moscow. Following the collapse of the Soviet Union, the Russian Orthodox Church has shunned contact with the Roman Pontiff.
Muslim cooperation
The most numerous leaders in Assisi after the Christians will be the Muslims. The meeting itself is in response to the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on the United States, and John Paul II is interested on promoting Muslim participation.
Saudi Arabia, Iran, Iraq, Egypt, Jordan, Jerusalem, Morocco, Sudan, the Philippines, Libya, and several European countries, black African countries, and the United States will send Muslim representatives.
Rashid Benhagi, Algerian film director, explained to Vatican Radio how Muslims have regarded this convocation.
"Prayer is a time of recollection," Benhagi said. "If we stopped to pray before we did anything, to see what is within us, to bring to the fore this inner, human dimension, then, I think, we would be able to control irrational actions, actions that don´t make any sense."
"At this time, when the word has been given to arms, an event of this kind leads us above all to reflect," he said. "When such an event takes place at a time of chaos, it is more forceful.
"Thank goodness there is someone who says: ´Stop for a while, and let´s look at those differences that impel us to kill one another.´ Then we begin to analyze and we realize that in reality religion has nothing to do with it, because there are other factors at play, whether political, economic, etc."
Dialogue with Judaism
Judaism will be represented in Assisi by leaders from Israel, the United States, France, England, Belgium, Brazil and Italy. Among them are:
--Rabbi Joseph H. Ehrenkranz, director of the Center for Christian-Jewish Understanding (United States)
--Professor Leon Feldman, secretary of the International Committee for Interreligious Consultations (United States)
--Rabbi Ron Kronish, director of the International Coordinating Council in Israel (Jerusalem)
--Rabbi Alan Placey, responsible for interreligious questions, Office of the Chief Rabbi of the United Hebrew Congregations of the British Commonwealth of Nations (London)
--Chief Rabbi David Rosen, president of the International Council of Christians and Jews (Jerusalem)
--Rabbi Israel Singer, president of the governing board, World Jewish Congress (United States)
Chief Rabbi Giuseppe Laras of Milan, president of the Assembly of Rabbis of Italy, explained over Vatican Radio the presence of these representatives at the Day of Prayer: "It is a response to a terrible situation. In dramatic situations one is more concentrated, as is correct, on values of the spirit, on the power of prayer."
He continued: "I am thinking of that passage of Exodus in which Moses, while Amalek´s attack is taking place, raises his hands to heaven and Israel prevails over the adverse and violent elements that sought its destruction. What does it mean to raise one´s arms to heaven? It means to invite everyone to change their perspective, directing it toward spiritual values, because this relation with God and with the heavens, with the transcendent, gives us the strength to overcome contingent violence, which often tries to impose itself."
Buddhist presence
Buddhists will be present too. Geshe Tashi Tsering will represent the Dalai Lama at Assisi. Along with him are representatives of the principal Buddhist schools and denominations, especially Zen, as well as Rissho Kosei-kai, a lay association.
Father Massimiliano Mizzi, director and founder of the International Franciscan Center for Dialogue, explained to ZENIT that for Buddhism, "peace is, above all, a human virtue, which stems from the harmony in one´s heart. And inner peace is attained through prayer."
The Buddhists will meet for prayer in a Romanesque hall overlooking the plains. One of them began to intone the litanies that are repeated by all, in order to obtain harmony within as well as with creation.
Representation of all religions
Five important leaders of Hinduism from India will also be in Assisi. With them will be believers in Tenrikyo, Shintoism (the president of the Korean National Center for Confucianism), as well as leaders of Sikhism, Zoroastrianism and traditional African religions.
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