Page 3, 12th July 1991

12th July 1991

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Page 3, 12th July 1991 — Respect local beliefs charismatics told
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Respect local beliefs charismatics told

by Paul Goodman EVANGELISTS working in the third world should respect the culture of those to whom they are preaching the gospel, Cardinal Francis Arinze — the president of the pontifical council for
inter-religious dialogue declared at a charismatic conference at Brighton earlier this week.
"The appro(ted missionary method of the church," he said, "is that the herald of the gospel should pay great attention to each people and culture that is receiving the good news.
"The missionary who comes to a new people must listen to, observe, and try to understand the people and their customs, symbols, myths, stories and teachings. This will help the missionary to bring the people the good news of Jesus Christ so that it can strike deep roots among them."
Nigerian-born Cardinal Arinze was speaking to a workshop session at the week long ecumenical conic, ence, which was organised by the International Charismatic Consultation on World Evangelisation and took as its slogan "that the world may believe".
The conference, which was attended by almost 3,000 people from 115 different countries, also addressed by Catholics Fr Ranieri) Cantalamessa, who spoke to a plenary session, Sr Angeline Bukowiecki, who chaired a workshop on women in evangelisation, and Fr Tom Forrest, who conducted the closing session.
Conference organisers said that they hoped it would be a "significant happening, influencing the Decade of Evangelisation in a marvellous way". They described its purpose as being "to discover afresh the heart of God and his desires and purposes for the world".
Cardinal Basil Hume of Westminster and local Bishop Cormac Murphy O'Connor of Arundel and Brighton visited the conference to celebrate mass for those Catholics attending and mix with participants. Dr George Carey, the Archbishop of Canterbury was present.
Cardinal Hume commented: "I know that many who are involved in charismatic renewal are also actively engaged in ecumenism and evangelisation, giving expression to the words of Pope John Paul II, 'on the eve of the third Christian millennium it is more urgent than ever that Christians bear common witness to the gospel.'
Cardinal Arinze's theme was "the present day challenge of bringing Christ to people of different religions" — which he described as the best collective title for beliefs often labelled "pagan" or "idolatrous". Both these words, he said, are unacceptable due to their "negative connotations".
Although such religions have, he said, "negative elements," he praised the "great attention to the earth, the seasons, and indeed to the whole of creation" shown by worshippers.




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