ALL ROADS LEAD TO ROME:

Christian group awaits Catholics with open arms (DENISE FORD-MITCHELL, November 19, 2004, THE SAGINAW NEWS)

Years ago, the idea of Catholics conducting any type of joint service or alliance with mainline Protestant and Orthodox Christians was unthinkable.

All that changed this week when U.S. Roman Catholic bishops joined Christian Churches Together in the U.S.A., forming the broadest Christian group in the land.

The new alliance, which links American evangelicals and Catholics in an ecumenical organization for the first time, is set to kick off next year.

The organization also would include mainline Protestants, Orthodox Christians, black and other minority churches plus religiously oriented groups such as the Salvation Army and World Vision.

"There is a new spirit today that is open to one another as fellow Christians, which is a good thing," says the Rev. Mark J. Molldrem, pastor of Resurrection Lutheran Church, 2110 Brockway in Saginaw.

"The people of the congregations have been open to one another for a long period of time, and now it's nice to see the leadership become more engaged in that by formalizing constructive relationships."

In the context of the modern West we've more in common than we do separating us.

Posted by Orrin Judd at November 21, 2004 8:32 AM