Free Republic
Browse · Search
Religion
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

The use of the Cathedral by other faiths
TidingsOnline ^ | 06/10/05 | Rt. Rev. Alexei Smith

Posted on 06/23/2005 2:52:16 PM PDT by murphE

The cornerstone of Our Lady of the Angels Cathedral boldly proclaims, in the words of the Prophet Isaiah, "My House Shall Be a House of Prayer for All Peoples." We enflesh those words in number of ways.

Since its dedication, an innumerable number of interfaith prayer services have been held in our Cathedral. Last month for example, representatives of the Armenian, Evangelical Christian, Baha'i, Jewish, Muslim, Buddhist, Sikh, Evangelical Lutheran, Presbyterian, Methodist, United Church of Christ, Roman Catholic and Greek Orthodox Faiths lead a large congregation of diverse people in an Interfaith Prayer Service commemorating the life of our Late Pope, John Paul II.

Earlier this week, as part of the seventh International Conference on Buddhist Christian Dialogue, representatives of various Buddhist traditions and Catholic, Southern Baptist, and Episcopal clergy gathered in the Cathedral to conduct a Buddhist Christian Prayer Service. An Interfaith Prayer Service is currently being planned to be held at the Cathedral prior to the upcoming inauguration of our new mayor, Antonio Villaraigosa.

In addition to such services, the Cathedral has hosted a number of sacred music events, such as choral presentations, organ recitals and performances, reflecting the diversity of faith found in our city. An Interreligious art exhibit, Passion and Passover, recently graced the walls of the side chapels of the Cathedral, featuring the works of Jewish and Christian artists.

The Cathedral has also been made available to members of other faiths in times of civic tragedy, such as the recent funeral for a member of the Airport Police Department who was so tragically killed in an act of violence: a non-Catholic, his funeral service was conducted by a Baptist Minister.

Occasionally we are asked by a single denomination to use the Cathedral. Our Guidelines for the Ecumenical and Interreligious Use of the Cathedral specifically state: "If a particular denomination is celebrating a special moment in its life and history, then the Cathedral may be available for Prayer Services, Vespers or other non-sacramental celebrations" [III.A].

The Guidelines further state: "The use of the Cathedral's altars is reserved for the celebration of the Eucharist by Catholic priests and bishops according to the usages of Catholic Churches, that is, those in communion with the Bishop of Rome" [III.B]. And further: "The celebration of Eucharistic or other sacramental liturgies by other denominations is best reserved to the designated places of worship of those denominations or other appropriate locations" [ibid].

Last Sunday, we were honored to host the Pontifical Divine Liturgy of His Holiness, Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians, at our Cathedral. Why this exception to the above guidelines?

In Unitatis Redintegratio, the Vatican II Degree on Ecumenism, the special position of the Eastern Churches is specifically noted: "These Churches, although separated from us, yet possess true sacraments, above all --- by apostolic succession --- the priesthood and the Eucharist, whereby they are still joined to us in closest intimacy" [III.14]. This cannot be said of all Christian Churches, but certainly can be said of the Armenian Church.

In light of the conciliar document and the Ecumenical overtures of both our late Pope, John Paul II, and our current Pope, Benedict XVI, to the Eastern Churches, and acknowledging the hospitality extended by Karekin II to John Paul II during his pastoral visit to Armenia, when the Pope celebrated Mass on the altar of the Catholicos' Palace Chapel, we were singularly honored to host that spiritually rich and historic liturgy on our Cathedral altar.

Given the religious diversity of our city, it is fitting that our Cathedral be used both ecumenically and interreligiously, that it truly serve as the spiritual heart of Los Angeles.


TOPICS: Apologetics; Catholic; Current Events; Religion & Culture; Theology; Worship
KEYWORDS: armenians; catholic; catholiclist; ecumania; interfaith
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-80 ... 101-104 next last
To: murphE; onyx; GipperGal

Taj Mahony *ping*


21 posted on 06/23/2005 11:52:40 PM PDT by kstewskis ("I don't know what I know, but I know that it's big..." Jerry Fletcher)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Gerard.P; murphE

Anybody who opposes the goings-on mentioned in this article is just being hypocritical. In addition to the plethora of interfaith activities he participated in, the late Holy Father twice invited pagans to Assisi to break the 1st Commandment. When Mahoney engages in these types of things, everyone can clearly see it for what it is: synchronism and indifferentism and they rightly oppose him and these events. When the late Holy Father did the same types of things he is applauded for bringing people together to bring about a brotherhood of peace. How can anyone rail against Cdl Mahoney in one breath, and in the next condemn others who criticise the same activities hosted by the late Holy Father? How could JPII have been good and right about these things, and Mahoney terrible and wrong?


22 posted on 06/24/2005 7:04:47 AM PDT by sempertrad ("Welcome to Knight Burger. What will... ye have?" - MST3K)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 17 | View Replies]

To: sempertrad
Countdown to Neo-Catholic thread-derailment

10...9...8...
23 posted on 06/24/2005 8:07:11 AM PDT by te lucis ("For pity's sake, end the Council quickly." -Padre Pio)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 22 | View Replies]

Comment #24 Removed by Moderator

Comment #25 Removed by Moderator

To: sempertrad

I don't recall anyone who loved the late Pope supporting the Assisi blunder. There is much to love in John Paul II beside his errors in judgement. Mahoney, on the other hand, stands for nothing but heterodoxy, in this incident and in general.


26 posted on 06/24/2005 9:09:37 AM PDT by annalex
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 22 | View Replies]

To: Siobhan

HOLY ECHMIADZIN
The Seat of the Catholicos of All Armenians

This, by the way, is the "grim air hangar"'s counterpart.

27 posted on 06/24/2005 9:15:02 AM PDT by annalex
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 20 | View Replies]

To: annalex

By the time one gets to be pope, I would expect he'd know the 1st Commandment. I would expect he'd know that it is a sin to encourage sin.
The event mentioned in the above article is the entire message of the late Holy Father's pontificate come to life. Assisi I&II were not two "blunders" in an otherwise traditional, orthodox pontificate. He participated/hosted many, many similar events over the last 26 years.

And if JPII did not think the Cdl was guilty of general heterodoxy (made evident by getting the red hat and never having been disciplined), who are any of us to say otherwise?


28 posted on 06/24/2005 11:22:18 AM PDT by sempertrad ("Welcome to Knight Burger. What will... ye have?" - MST3K)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 26 | View Replies]

To: sempertrad

I think that both John Paul II and Mahoney got ecumenism wrong.


29 posted on 06/24/2005 11:45:36 AM PDT by annalex
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 28 | View Replies]

To: annalex
But ecumenism was, above everything else, JPII's top priority. He was all about ecumenism.

I'd be careful if I were you. Saying JPII got anything "wrong" will get you in heap big trouble here. :-)
30 posted on 06/24/2005 12:24:04 PM PDT by sempertrad ("Welcome to Knight Burger. What will... ye have?" - MST3K)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 29 | View Replies]

To: sempertrad

No, ecumenism is what various Catholic schismatics like to beat him over the head with. The late Pope's legacy also includes defeat of Communist ideology, marginalization of the liberation theology, developing the theology of the body, and, timid as it was, resistance to sundry innovators in the church. Nor was his entire ecumenist effort wrong. His incessant travel, for example, made the world more aware of Catholicism and quite possibly stemmed the decline in vocations.


31 posted on 06/24/2005 12:33:56 PM PDT by annalex
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 30 | View Replies]

To: kaehurowing
Re: "Disillusioned Episcopagans can at least "swim the Tiber." But where will Catholics swim to if the Catholic Church heads down the same path?"

Underground. We have to face the fact the True Church will be a remnant as Scripture describes. Christ asked "Will Faith be alive when I return"

Holding firm is the only option despite events and the whole world against us, it is the only option.
32 posted on 06/24/2005 1:43:43 PM PDT by Mark in the Old South (Sister Lucia of Fatima pray for us)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 18 | View Replies]

To: annalex
No, ecumenism is what various Catholic schismatics like to beat him over the head with.

Not sure who you're talking about or what they say which is akin to beating him over the head, but I notice that many Catholics utter not one peep over his ecumenical "blunders" or the paganistic spectacles that were most of his Masses, but they go absolutely postal when Mahoney does the very same things. Why? That's what I'm trying to figure out. That, and why we are free to make judgments about the Cdl when, by all accounts, JPII not only never judged likewise, but obviously approved of him.

His incessant travel, for example, made the world more aware of Catholicism and quite possibly stemmed the decline in vocations.

Was the world less aware of Catholicism before travel became easier?

All his incessant travel did was earn him worldly celebrity status. He was looked upon by the world as a spiritual and holy man. So is the Dali Lama. So is Billy Graham. But being able to recognize the Pope when you see him on TV hardly means that one is "more aware of Catholicism." Being aware of something doesn't mean one is aware of what exactly it is and means. And if we both agree that JPII "got ecumenism wrong" I imagine people the world over are considerably less aware of Catholic teachings then they were 26 years ago.
33 posted on 06/24/2005 1:50:40 PM PDT by sempertrad ("Welcome to Knight Burger. What will... ye have?" - MST3K)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 31 | View Replies]

To: sempertrad

You have a point about Mahoney not doing anything John Paul II did not do; in fact, Cardinal Mahoney returned a favor received by the late Pope in Echmiadzin.

John Paul's celebrity status is simply a reflection of love many people, and many non-Catholics, felt for him. Which is the best ecumenical policy. Also, it is degrading to simply call him a celebrity because he was a celebrity with, and because of, substance.


34 posted on 06/24/2005 1:58:59 PM PDT by annalex
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 33 | View Replies]

To: murphE

Please, by all means. Why not just hand the keys over to the local Imam and be done with it. Considering the looks of that monstrosity, I'd actually be in favor of that.


35 posted on 06/24/2005 2:03:59 PM PDT by Antoninus (Benedictus qui venit in nomine Domini, Hosanna in excelsis!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: sempertrad

Unless you're a member of the Society of St. Pius I, I consider you a 'latinizer' and a follower of the radical Pope St. Leo.


36 posted on 06/24/2005 2:08:05 PM PDT by Antoninus (Benedictus qui venit in nomine Domini, Hosanna in excelsis!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 22 | View Replies]

To: annalex
The late Pope's legacy also includes defeat of Communist ideology,

I must have missed this. When was Communist ideology defeated and why hasn't anyone told China?

37 posted on 06/24/2005 3:18:22 PM PDT by murphE (These are days when the Christian is expected to praise every creed but his own. --G.K. Chesterton)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 31 | View Replies]

To: murphE

It's dead in China as well.


38 posted on 06/24/2005 3:20:15 PM PDT by annalex
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 37 | View Replies]

To: annalex
It's dead in China as well.

Really. Tell that to the underground Church, being arrested, jailed and tortured. If it's dead in Russia, what happened to the KGB? When were the arrests and trials? What about all the political prisoners? When were they released? Boy you'd think at least a few of them would have been on Oprah by now.

39 posted on 06/24/2005 3:25:38 PM PDT by murphE (These are days when the Christian is expected to praise every creed but his own. --G.K. Chesterton)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 38 | View Replies]

To: murphE

Communism is economic central planning. That is dead even in China. In all formerly communist countries Christianity is growing, including China.

I know the late Pope was not alone in transforming the world, but his contribution is among the greatest in late 20 century.


40 posted on 06/24/2005 3:35:42 PM PDT by annalex
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 39 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-80 ... 101-104 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
Religion
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson