AFRICA : KENYA : ARCHBISHOP CALLS FOR UNITY AND ECUMENISM

CISA REPORT
Archbishop-Lele-urges-Churches-to-Work-in-Unity

NAIROBI, November 02, 2012 (CISA) – Catholic Archbishop Boniface Lele of Mombasa Archdiocese has urged churches to work in unity and promote ecumenism within their Christian teachings.
The Archbishop, who is current Chairman of the Catholic Bishops’ Commission for Ecumenism reminded that there was more that could unite the Churches and their followers than that could easily divide them.
“It is up to us to exploit that which can easily unite us while disregarding that which can divide us,” said the Archbishop.

He made the remarks on October 31, when a group of Christians from various denominations, Catholics included, named Nairobi Ecumenical Group paid him a courtesy call at this office at the Kenya Catholic secretariat, Westlands, Nairobi.
The group which promotes unity among Christians from different denominations within Nairobi and its environs was led by Father Roger Tessier from the Catholic Church and Ms Njeri Kang’ethe from the Presbyterian Churches of East Africa (PCEA).

The Archbishop told the group that the Catholic Church has a great commitment to the promotion of Christian unity.
“The Vatican II Council situates the mystery of the Church within the mystery of God’s wisdom and goodness which draws the whole human family and indeed the whole of creation into unity with himself,” he explained.
He added that the Catholic Church has set up a department of the Roman Curia known as the Pontifical Council for promoting Christian Unity.

“This department has the mandate to promote full communion among all Christians. The Constitution “Pastor Bonus” promotes, on one hand, the ecumenical spirit action within the Catholic Church and, on the other hand, cultivates relations with other Churches and Ecclesial Communities”, said Archbishop Lele.

The group had called on the Archbishop Lele to deliberate on closer link between the Catholic Church and other churches with special emphasis on the preparations for the 2013 Week of Christian Unity, to be marked between January 18-25, 2013.
Among those present included the Executive Secretary of the Commission, Father Charles Odira and National coordinator for the Laity in the Catholic Church, Mr Cosmas Maithya.
SHARED FROM CISA NEWS

Comments