The Apfelbaum Foundation, founded in 1989, works in partnership with others for a growing together of worlds

[ German ]

We Are Church has won the Integration Award 2017, from the Aprelbaum Foundation - together with Prof. Günter Hegele of the professional Evangelical academics in Germany.

Founded in 1989, the charitable Apfelbaum Foundation promotes long-term and applied initiatives for community growth and development.

The citation reads:

"The Foundation gives you the Integration Award 2017

• for your persistent development and perseverance of the internationally networked Movement We Are Church and
• for your empathic and creative proposals for reforms in your own Catholic Church, but also for your 'yes' to the Reformation 500 years ago and to a reconciled Diversity of Christians in an ecumenical spirit. "

We are Church, in receiving this prize, sees itself in very good company. Hans Küng and OikoCredit were first prize winners in 1996. Other laureates and winners include: Eugen Drewermann, Alice Schwarzer, Rupert Neudeck, Monika Hauser, Richard Schröder, Karl-Josef Kuschel, Tilman Zülch and Lamya Kaddor. 
Recipient organisations include, among others, Amnesty International, the Reconciliation Service for Peace, the Terre des Femmes, the MSF, the OSCE, the Nes Ammim in Israel.

We have received regular support from the Apfelbaum Foundation from their priority fund "convergence of religions", and this has been an incentive for us over many years.  Now, at the beginning of this Anniversary Year of The Reformation, The Integration Award 2017 will spur us on to continue our work for a more integrated world.

We Are Church Germany

by Tony Flannery C.Ss.R
This January marks a significant milestone in my life; the eighteenth of the month is my seventieth birthday. I have wondered how best to mark it. I am not by nature a ‘party person’, so that option did not greatly appeal to me. Having spent forty years of my life ministering as a priest, I am now into my fifth year when I am forbidden by Church authorities to minister publicly. I have decided to honour my age, and my lifetime, by ignoring the Church censures, and celebrating a public Mass. Since I would not be allowed to do so either in a Catholic church or other Catholic controlled building, I have chosen, with the kind permission of the committee, to celebrate it in the local community hall in the village where I now live, which means that the Mass will take place in Killimordaly Community Centre on Sunday, January 22nd, at 2.30pm.

Why am I doing this? I don’t think that I am doing it just for the sake of defying Church authorities. Neither do I want it to be the beginning of an unofficial ministry on my part. I have no wish to start a new ecclesial movement. My reasons are as follows:

1. For the last five years I have been in something of a ‘limbo’ state, neither fully in or fully out of the priesthood. I have known from an early stage that there was no possibility of a resolution of the dispute between myself and the Vatican. So this public Mass will be for me a way of acknowledging the forty years of my life, and the work I did as a priest—a way of acknowledging who I am.

2. Since my dispute with the Vatican went public I have received enormous support from people all over the country, and indeed internationally. Eucharist is essentially a thanksgiving and In this Mass I am giving thanks for the good will of many people.

3. Since the beginning of my difference with the CDF, I have consistently held to one fundamental point. I don’t have any problem with the Church exercising authority. Every institution needs an authority structure. But authority must be exercised in a way that is just, and that respects the dignity of the person. In my experience, and in the experience of many others whom I have come to know in these past years, Church authority is exercised in a way that is unjust and abusive. For that reason I hope that my action will highlight once again the urgent need for change in the way the Vatican deals with people who express opinions that are considered to be at odds with official Church teaching.

4. In celebrating this public Mass I am also saying something else that I regard as important. The Mass, the Eucharist, is not in the ownership of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, or indeed of the Vatican. It belongs to the believing communities. That was where it began in the early Church, and where it finds its true meaning. My hope is, in this time of great change and upheaval in Church and society, that the believing communities begin, by whatever means possible, to regain ownership of the Eucharist. My late Redemptorist confrere, and distinguished theologian, Bernard Haring, put it this way: “The people of God have a God-given right to the Eucharist. On the basis of human law, to deprive the people of God of the Eucharist is objectively gravely sinful”

I am somewhat apprehensive about presiding at a public mass after almost 5 years in the wilderness, but to quote Macbeth, “to go back is as tedious as to go on” and I now feel the urge to take a positive step.

Directions:
For those who may wish to come to this event from various parts of the country, this is how you will find Killimordaly Community Centre:
Leave the M6 at exit 16, and take the road to KILTULLAGH.
Having reached the village of Kiltullagh – the church is clearly visible in front of you – follow the sign for Ballinasloe.
After about two hundred yards take a left off this road, and follow the signs for ATTYMON. After about a mile you will pass the hurling pitch on your right. A few hundred yards further on you will see the Community Centre, also on the right.

After the Mass refreshments will be available in the local pub, The Earl Inn, about a mile from the hall.

Somebody sent me the following, for directions on a Sat Nav or a phone. Don’t know if my copy and transfer of them will work.

Sat Nav coordinates
N53.306831,W8.621337
Smart phone directions Google Maps
https://goo.gl/maps/fy7weCczqCA2

Send a birthday message to Tony on 18 January

Dans son message pour le 50ème anniversaire  de la Journée mondiale de la Paix, 1er janvier 2017, « Non-Violence : Un style de de politique pour la Paix », le pape François appelle à construire la paix par une non-violence active. Il se réfère  aux nombreuses communautés dans le monde qui subissent différentes formes de violence, et appelle tous à s’engager à « reconnaître mutuellement comme don sacré leur immense dignité ».

WAC (We Are Church/Nous sommes Eglise) International souscrit à ce message important, et engage son organisation et ses membres dans le monde à pratiquer la non-violence, la vie communautaire et le respect de la planète. Nous soutenons le pape alors que sur cette question critique, il s’adresse en leur rendant hommage aux personnes de toutes convictions et manières de vivre.

Nous souhaitons souligner que le message Journée Mondiale de la Paix représente un changement historique par rapport à ceux du Magistère de l’Eglise dans le passé. Le pape François est sur la même longueur d’ondes que « l’Appel  à l’Eglise catholique pour se recentrer sur la non-violence évangélique » issu de de la Conférence de Rome (11-13 avril 2016), qui fut une assemblée du peuple de Dieu d’Afrique, Amériques, Asie, Europe, Proche Orient et Océanie se composant de laïcs, théologiens, membres de congrégations religieuses, prêtres et évêques.

WAC International note particulièrement le passage du message du pape qui reconnaît que « c’est aussi un programme et un défi pour les responsables politiques et religieux, les dirigeants des institutions internationales, et ceux du monde économique et des média que de suivre les Béatitudes dans l’exercice de leurs responsabilités respectives. C’est un défi de construire la société, les communautés et les entreprises en promouvant la paix. On fait preuve de miséricorde quand on refuse le rejet des personnes, les atteintes à l’environnement, ou que l’on recherche la domination à tout prix. Cela exige la volonté de faire face au conflit, de le résoudre et d’en faire le point de départ d’un renouveau… La non-violence active est une façon de montrer que l’union est réellement plus puissante et plus efficace que le conflit…. Il est sûr que les différences peuvent créer des affrontements. Mais nous devons y faire face de manière constructive et non-violente, de sorte que les tensions et les oppositions puissent produire l’union dans la diversité et être source de vie. »

« Nous demandons au pape François et aux autres responsables de notre Eglise d’appliquer ce message pour la conduite de notre propre Eglise » a déclaré Sigrid Grabmeyer, présidente de WAC International. Trop souvent, les fidèles de l’Eglise ont été rejetés ou traités sans respect. Les désaccords ont été mis sous le tapis ou perçus comme dangereux, même quand ils ont pour origine l’amour profond de notre foi. Nous recherchons les occasions de dialogue et de solutions créatives des problèmes pour apporter la paix à l’intérieur de notre Eglise.

WAC International a incité ses membres et communautés à observer la Journée Mondiale de la Paix par la prière, l’étude de la non-violence active, et le soutien renouvelé aux objectifs exprimés par le pape François.

WAC International (ex IMWAC) fondé à Rome en 1996, est un regroupement de divers mouvements nationaux de réforme de l’Eglise, qui s’est engagé au renouveau de l’Eglise catholique sur la base du Concile Vatican II (1962-1965) et sur l’esprit théologique qui en est issu.

 We Are Church appoggia  il messaggio di papa Francesco per la Giornata Mondiale della Pace e chiede che esso venga  messo in pratica all’interno della Chiesa

Nel suo messaggio per il cinquantesimo anniversario della Giornata mondiale della Pace  “La nonviolenza: stile di una politica per la pace” papa Francesco ha proposto il perseguimento   della pace mediante la nonviolenza attiva. Egli ha indicato le molte situazioni nel mondo coinvolte in varie forme di violenza e ha chiesto ad ogni popolo di impegnarsi a riconoscere in ogni altro popolo una dignità simile alla propria.

Il movimento internazionale We Are Church appoggia questo importante messaggio ed impegna sé stesso e i propri membri nel mondo a praticare la nonviolenza in ogni manifestazione della vita collettiva e nella migliore gestione di ogni problema dell’umanità. Noi condividiamo il fatto che il papa, esprimendo le sue riflessioni critiche, abbia riconosciuto il ruolo di ogni popolo, di qualsiasi fede e di qualsiasi  modo di vivere.

Vogliamo sottolineare che il messaggio per la Giornata Mondiale della Pace contiene un cambiamento di portata storica nei confronti di gran parte del precedente magistero della Chiesa. Papa Francesco è sulla stessa lunghezza d’onda dell’ “Appello alla Chiesa Cattolica perché ritorni alla centralità della nonviolenza contenuta nel  Vangelo” lanciato dalla Conferenza di Roma (11-13 aprile 2016) che fu “un’assemblea del Popolo di Dio,  composta da laici, teologi, membri di congregazioni religiose, preti e vescovi provenienti dall’Africa, dalle Americhe, dall’Asia, dall’Europa, dal Medioriente e dall’Oceania”.

Il movimento internazionale We Are Church ha apprezzato specialmente quella parte del messaggio di papa Francesco che dice “Questo è anche un programma e una sfida per i leader politici e religiosi, per i responsabili delle istituzioni internazionali e i dirigenti delle imprese e dei media di tutto il mondo: applicare le Beatitudini nel modo in cui esercitano le proprie responsabilità. Una sfida a costruire la società, la comunità o l’impresa di cui sono responsabili con lo stile degli operatori di pace; a dare prova di misericordia rifiutando di scartare le persone, danneggiare l’ambiente e voler vincere ad ogni costo. Questo richiede la disponibilità di sopportare il conflitto, risolverlo e trasformarlo in un anello di collegamento di un nuovo processo…. La nonviolenza attiva è un modo per mostrare che davvero l’unità è più potente e più feconda del conflitto...Certo, può accadere che le differenze generino attriti: affrontiamoli in maniera costruttiva e nonviolenta, così che le tensioni e gli opposti [possano] raggiungere una pluriforme unità che genera nuova vita, conservando le preziose potenzialità delle polarità in contrasto».

“Noi chiediamo a papa Francesco e agli altri leader della Chiesa che il governo della nostra Chiesa sia coerente con  quanto scritto nel messaggio” ha detto Sigrid Grabmeier, Presidente di We Are Church International. “Troppo spesso il Popolo di Dio  è stato messo da parte o trattato con sufficienza. Il dissenso è stato nascosto sotto il tappeto o visto come pericoloso anche quando era espressione della nostra profonda fede. Noi ci sforziamo di trovare le occasioni per un vero  dialogo e di proporre soluzioni creative ai problemi, come metodo per un clima pacificato all’interno della nostra chiesa”.

Il movimento internazionale We Are Church ha invitato  i suoi membri e i suoi gruppi a partecipare alla Giornata Mondiale della Pace con la preghiera, con  lo studio su come agire secondo i principi della nonviolenza attiva e con l’impegno a seguire quanto detto da papa Francesco.

Roma, 29 dicembre 2016       WE ARE CHURCH International

[Italian]  [German] [French]

In “Nonviolence: A Style of Politics for Peace,” his message for the 50th anniversary of World Peace Day, January 1, 2017, Pope Francis has called for peacebuilding through active nonviolence. He identifies the many communities throughout the world impacted by various forms of violence, and calls on all people to commit to “acknowledge one another as sacred gifts endowed with immense dignity.”

We Are Church International endorses this important message, and commits itself and its members around the globe to the practice of nonviolence, community-building, and good stewardship of the earth. We commend our Pope for addressing this critical issue in a way that honors people of all faiths and ways of life.

We wish to underscore that the World Peace Day Message is a historical moment which changes course from much of the past Magisterium of the Church. Pope Francis is on the same wavelength as  the “Appeal to the Catholic Church to recommit to  the centrality of Gospel nonviolence” born from  the Conference of Rome (11-13 avril 2016), which was “an assembly with  people of God from Africa, the Americas, Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and Oceania included lay people, theologians, members of religious congregations, priests, and bishops”.

We Are Church International especially notes the portion of Pope Francis’ message that acknowledges, “This is also a programme and a challenge for political and religious leaders, the heads of international institutions, and business and media executives: to apply the Beatitudes in the exercise of their respective responsibilities. It is a challenge to build up society, communities and businesses by acting as peacemakers. It is to show mercy by refusing to discard people, harm the environment, or seek to win at any cost. To do so requires ‘the willingness to face conflict head on, to resolve it and to make it a link in the chain of a new process’… Active nonviolence is a way of showing that unity is truly more powerful and more fruitful than conflict…Certainly differences can cause frictions. But let us face them constructively and non-violently, so that ‘tensions and oppositions can achieve a diversified and life-giving unity,’ preserving ‘what is valid and useful on both sides’. “

“We call on Pope Francis and other leaders of our Church to apply this message to the governance of our own Church,” said Sigrid Grabmeier, Chair of We Are Church International. “Too often, the people of the Church have been discarded or treated with disrespect. Disagreement has been swept under the rug or seen as dangerous, even when it comes from deep love of our faith. We seek the opportunity for dialogue and creative problem-solving as part of peacemaking within our Church.”

We Are Church International has urged its members and communities to observe World Day of Peace with prayer, study of active nonviolence, and recommitment to the goals expressed by Pope Francis.

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We Are Church International (IMWAC) founded in Rome in 1996, is a global coalition of national church reform groups. It is committed to the renewal of the Roman Catholic Church based on the Second Vatican Council (1962-1965) and the theological spirit developed from it. 

Contact: Marianne Duddy-Burke, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., +1 617 669 7810