Statement from Episcopal Anglican Church of Brazil on the Vatican`s Provision

The Vatican's announcement on 20 October of the enactment of a special Apostolic Constitution to take in Anglicans discontented by the ordination of women and homosexual persons certainly represents a new and unexpected level in the relations between the Anglican Communion and the Roman Catholic Church.

For the past 40 years, both churches have maintained a frank and productive dialogue that began with the initiative of Pope Paul VI and Archbishop Michael Ramsey to break centuries of silence between both sides. Such were the winds of the Second Vatican Council, in an era of advancement of dialogue and overcoming indifferences. This process continued in the past few decades with the production of documents and the creation, on the provincial level (including in the province of Brazil), of national committees for dialogue between Anglicans and Roman Catholics.

We give thanks to God for all the work put forth amid much difficulty, but also mutual respect. This was achieved through our capacity to see each other as brothers who confess the same Christ and creedal faith in a constant search to build a common understanding around their theological identities. In this spirit the documents Church Authority I (1976), Church Authority II (1981), Ecclesial Communion (1990),  Life in Christ: Morals, Communion, and the Church (1993), The Gift of Authority (1998), Maria: Grace and Hope in Christ (2004) and Growing Together in Unity And Mission (2007) were published.

All these declarations and the joint actions that ensued have steered us onto a path that has increasingly brought us nearer to the ideal of the unity that Christ so desired. Today we are part of numerous ecumenical organizations and acknowledge each other in baptism, according to a joint declaration signed in Brazil in 2007. 

In stating that the Vatican's initiative represents a new and unexpected level in bilateral dialogue, we mean that it is not directly related to the process that has been ongoing for the past 40 years, as related above, but rather a unilateral initiative that will certainly require deeper analysis. Below are just two elements that merit close attention:

1. The most recent official documents of the Roman Catholic Church have successively reaffirmed not only its identity as a universal church but its singularity as the true and original sign of the presence of Christ among peoples. This implies a self-understanding of ecclesiological and organizational exclusivity that hinders the advancement of dialogue between both our churches.
2. The theological underpinnings for the Vatican's initiative are based on the understanding that the unity of the Church is grounded in the claim of Petrine ministry. This postulate must be seen through the lens of its theological dimension and the historical reality of the See of Rome and to this day has not been satisfactorily resolved in Anglican-Roman Catholic dialogue. 

Clearly, these issues must be faced with honesty and open dialogue, to which we have always been committed in a respectful manner. We express our concern over the initiative unleashed by Rome, considering the way in which it took place and its content.

It is unfortunate that no official instance of the Anglican Communion participated in the process of drafting the Constitution announced by the Vatican. To the surprise of many, not even the Congregation for Christian Unity participated in the internal process in Rome or the announcement of the initiative.

A matter conducted in such a way, privately and under the coordination of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith – that is to say, specifically on a doctrinal level and without any regard for its ecumenical dimension – , would at least merit the transparency expected between two churches in ecumenical dialogue.

If the Constitution were aimed at persons who had already left the Anglican Communion for reasons of differing theological opinion, this would certainly be viewed as pastoral attention to those who are no longer under our pastoral care. But to the extent that it is aimed at persons and communities still within the Communion, even if in dissent, the Constitution creates an ethical problem of interference in the internal affairs of a sister church.

We honestly hope that this interference does not become an obstacle to the future of our dialogue and that, in time, we will be able to become familiar with all aspects of such Constitution – which have been made public recently – and to apply, inasmuch as possible, the principle of respect for the internal autonomy of our churches. The forthcoming conversation between the Archbishop of Canterbury and Pope Benedict XVI in the coming days in Rome may provide a clearer outline of this initiative. We await this conversation, which will be the first face-to-face dialogue between the supreme leaders of our two churches.

In the Brazilian context, we have received and welcomed clergy from the Roman Catholic Church and have cared for these people like brothers who wish to respond to their call to mission, which comes from God. The Episcopal Anglican Church of Brazil has a specific canon for this and we recognize the sacred orders of each person, without a new ordination process. 

We hope that this matter is discussed with sincerity on the international and local levels of dialogue of both our churches and that the progress already made may be restored in the quest to overcome our misunderstandings and resume the path to unity aspired after by Christ and dreamt of by all of us!

Brasília, 6th November 2009

 William Temple (1881-1944)

 

D. Mauricio Andrade

Primate of Brazil

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Ecumenical Solidarity is helping landless people to find ways to overcome eviction in Ariquemes, Brazil

Dear brothers and sisters,

We are going through a time of renewed hope with the work carried out by the leaders of the community of the agricultural workers at the Urupena farm in Ariquemes, in the state of Rondônia.

After an appeal for solidarity by the Episcopal Anglican Church of Brazil (IEAB), through our Bishop Primate and General Secretary in the name of almost 250 people from this Farm, we have received ample and unrestricted solidarity from our own church, from ecumenical movements and organizations, from the organized civil society and from individuals in Brazil and abroad.

The online petition has so far attracted 185 signatures. And this instrument has reached government bodies opening doors to finding a political and institutional solution for the serious problem caused by a judicial decision of eviction signed by a judge from Ariquemes.

FEBRASIL (The Brazilian Spiritist Foundation) and FESUD (The South American Ecumenical Forum)showed their solidarity contributing towards the cost of the flights of two representatives of the community in Ariquemes to Brasilia.  

USPG (The United Society for the Propagation of the Gospel) showed solidarity with the cause of the agricultural workers and publicized their plight widely on their website and also supported the online petition.

Political support from Senator Marina Silva, from advisors of the Ministry of Justice and from human rights militants have been fundamental  for us to gain contacts with the Agrarian Ombudsman and with INCRA (National Institute of Colonization and Agrarian Reform). We managed to get a hearing with the President of INCRA at which were present the Primate Bishop of the IEAB, Dom Maurício, the Revd. Hugo Sanches (Anglican Priest in Ariquemes) and Mr. Derli Cavalheira (representing the people of the settlement.)

Concretely we have convinced INCRA to take on the negotiations between those involved to try to reach an agreement that brings a solution to the problem without needing to evict the families. Next week there will be a meeting between both parts involved to negotiate the possibility of disappropriation of the farm allowing for the families, who have been there for 13 years, to remain on the land.

According to the representatives themselves, after the hearing with Dr. Rolf Hackbart, "we are only a small step away from reaching a solution".

We continue in prayer so that these families may receive the Good News of not being evicted from their homes and finally receiving the definitive ownership of the farm.

In my name and the name of our Bishop Primate, as well as our brothers and sisters in the Urupema farm, I would like to say thank you for all the support and solidarity shown towards us, whether through works or concrete actions.

We ask you to continue to publicize the online petition and we will kep you all informed of the next decisive steps.

We must not disperse, but keep supporting this cause.

Rev. Francisco de Assis da Silva

General Secretary of the IEAB

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Serious threat to landless people in Missionary District - Brazil

Dear brothers and sisters,

Grace and Peace!!

As Provincial Secretary of the Episcopal Anglican Church of Brazil I would like to make public an appeal for the prayers and support of all the Church in relation to a tragic event that will affect about 250 people in “linha 50”, in Ariquemes. Above some pictures from my last visit to them in July.

It is a matter of a court decision of eviction of the settlers in the Urupema farm. After an occupation of over 13 years and the mediation of the INCRA (National Institution of Colonization and Agrarian Reform) in settling these families, the judge Deisy Cristian de Oliveira Ferraz decided to vote for the eviction of the 30 or so families and now the eviction order is in the hands of the Military Police.

We are doing what we can together with political authorities and are looking for support for arranging a meeting between the leaders of the community and INCRA in Brasília, hoping to reach a solution.Our Primate Bishop is in London on an engagement with the Trustees of USPG (United Society for the Propagation of the Gospel) and demonstrates his solidarity in this difficult time. I appeal to the Church that we may intercede with God to reach a pacific and just solution to this situation.

The community – affectionately known as the people from linha 50 (line 50) – is accompanied by our Church and within the settlement we have the Anglican Mission of St. Peter and St. Paul. The community consists of agricultural workers with small plantations of bananas, coca and coffee among other subsistence products. With the ecumenical movement, which involves Anglicans Roman Catholics and the Assembly of God Church, a school was built that attends 40 children in primary school education.

In 2007 the association ASPROJO was constituted, and in 2008 and 2009 received support from the government to the value of 300.000 reals, receiving a milk cooling tank to store the milk produced by the community. In our visit to the area in July I was able to see the progress and joy of the families because of this achievement.

This is all now under threat of being destroyed by a legal decision that was cold and indifferent in the face of the extremely serious social problem that this eviction would create. The Military Police have today already done an inspection of the property and are now keen to evict He families.

The town of Ariquemes does not have the infrastructure to take in 250 people and their belongings. We cannot watch this social catastrophe happen wih our arms folded. Children, women and families are being condemned to misfortune and we need to use all possible resources to avoid this.

We are contacting people who are linked to the Ministry of Justice so that they may support us in initiatives that could at least lead to a dialogue with the judicial Power in Rondonia in order to avoid the eviction.

We need put the ecumenical community into action to avoid the worst.We need to receive support from our fellows brothers and sisters from Anglican Communion in stand before the powers of this world and defend those who are suffering injustices.

If you like to send a message of soldarity to our brothers and sisters in the Missionary District please do that trough our email (xicoasilva@gmail.com) and I`ll forward to them.

If you like to offer a personal support to this advocacy initiative please sign the petition on line at: http://www.petitiononline.com/08102009/petition.html

If someone think is possible to offer some financial support to our Province related to this questions please contact me about procedures ahead.

May God have mercy on us!

Rev. Francisco de Assis da Silva

General Secretary

Episcopal Anglican Church of Brazil

xicoasilva@gmail.com

Honduras: a civil war on the way?

The recent political crisis in Honduras has increased to a dangerous level and could cause a irreversible civil war. Affected for years of power of economical oligarchies that never managed to implement changes in the social pyramid of one of the most poor countries of the continent, Honduras assists the tentative of its elites to legitimize interests with a violent coup d'etat.

 

Despite an unanimous condemnation of the coup from the international society the usurpers are not considering any alternative to negotiate  the returning of deposed Manuel Zelaya, the legitimately elected President.

 

 Isolated and supported only by lying arguments and untenable justifications the President de facto try to remain in the power at the expense of violations of the human rights, imposing suspention of constitutional rights and repressing with violence the popular demonstrations.

 

The brazilian governement now is at the center of the crisis because the deposed President is refuged inside the Brazil's Embassy since last monday. According international law, Brazil is acting in right way beacause is offering refuge for Zelaya.

 

The life of the deposed Presdident is under risk and he has the right to ask for safeguard of his life on account of the political situation  of his country. The despair of the usurpers is the fact that now Zelaya is inside the territory of Honduras, contradicting so all the efforts of maintaining him out of the country.

 

The  Brazilian politics related to international affairs has a tradition of not interference in the internal life of foreign nations but what is taking place in Honduras is a clear violation of the international laws. It is a break of a constitutional order by  violence and a political and military intimidation against its diplomatic representation.

 

The most recent challenge launched by the usurpers against the Brazilian government is the ultimatum  to resolve the political situation of the deposed President Zelaya. The Brazilian Embassy has ten days to decide the status of Zelaya. If not, the usurpers will take measures to result the situation.

 

The nature  of this  declaration  constitutes a serious threat and must be assumed in all his consequences. The UN's Council of Security  manifested itself already on the inviolability of the Brazilian embassy and this threat is only one more sign of what the government de facto is falling in despair.

 

The President Lula issued a statement saying that do not accept threats from an ilegitimate government and if some illegal action is taken against the Embassy, Honduras is violating all international laws. If the army loyal to the usurpers act against the integrity of the Embassy, this action could be interpreted as a declaration of war.

 

It seems to me that  Michelletti is making  most difficult the situation and wants a confrontation that will not be good at all for the Honduran people. This can lead to an end with a bloody conflict and an uncertain result for both sides: supporters of Zelaya and supporters of usurpers.

 

My prayers for Honduras and for the restoration of the democratic order under the leadership of his legitimate President.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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A novidade para a sucessão em 2010

As recentes pesquisas sobre preferência do eleitorado para a sucessão presidencial em 2010 revelam novos e interessantes aspectos que precisam ser considerados.

O primeiro ponto é a inesperada superação do caráter plebiscitário entre o PT e o PSDB materializado nas candidaturas de Serra e Dilma. Até um mês atrás, mais ou menos, o cenário se apresentava como uma eleição pela aprovação ou rejeição do fenômeno Lula, através de sua candidata, contra a oposição liderada pelo PSDB.

As demais candidaturas continuariam reunindo forças minoritárias dentro do espectro político sem ameaçar a polaridade entre as candidaturas de Serra e Dilma. Mesmo com a possibilidade de mudanças "por dentro" na aliança oposicionista do tipo Serra ou Aécio, o cenário tinha uma variável pouco considerável. Fora desse contexto, a oposição mais à esquerda não apresentava nenhuma possibilidade de avanço significativo.

A saída de Marina Silva do PT e a possibilidade de sua candidatura pelo PV é o fato novo que certamente trará um componente desafiador para aqueles que pensavam que não haveria mudanças consideráveis nas estratégias políticas das duas frentes que já se preparavam para um embate entre a continuidade e o retorno. Um embate de oito anos (FHC) contra outros oito anos (Lula).

Com certeza assitiremos a uma reconfiguração da disputa política. A senadora do PV está - desde que seu nome passou a constar da lista de consultas de opinião - surgindo consistentemente como um novo vetor estatístico em ascendente trajetória. Pelo menos em três pesquisas recentes ela só apresentou variação para cima - entre 3 e 6% de votação espontânea.

Paralelamente a esse novo fator Marina, está surgindo um declínio pequeno nas preferências eleitorais pelo governador de São Paulo e pela Ministra da Casa Civil. Apesar de não se poder dizer que haja direta transferência matemática para Marina das perdas de Serra e de Dilma - até porque transitam em faixas ideológicas distintas - é importante destacar que se essa tendência se mantiver Marina tem fôlego para embolar a disputa.

O maior trunfo de Marina Silva é a sua agenda ambiental. Até o momento a questão ambiental sempre foi um item secundário na pauta política do Estado brasileiro. Toda a euforia desenvolvimentista que se assiste no país nos últimos 15 anos está fundada na estabilidade econômica gerada pelo Real e na ampliação da agenda social realizada nos últimos sete anos da era Lula. Tanto numa como noutra a questão ambiental não se afirmou como transversalidade. Esse pode ser o novo componente que não pode ser desprezado por quem deseja legitimar-se perante a opinião pública.

Marina tem a seu favor a coerência de uma vida ligada ao tema e mesmo sua participação no governo Lula foi um atestado de que pautas ambientais ainda são cosméticas na política econômica. A sua saída do governo por contrariar obviamente interesses triunfalistas dos defensores do desenvolvimentismo lhe dá credenciais muito legítimas. Ela saiu como ministra e se credencia a pleitear um retorno como Presidenta.

Temos um longo caminho pela frente até as eleições. Mas com certeza o debate político deixará de ser um simples embate entre triunfalistas do desenvolvimentismo e triunfalistas do financismo. A ambos Marina Silva pode dirigir um questionamento embaraçoso: aonde vamos com esses dois modelos? Que tipo de mundo queremos garantir no próximo século?

 

 

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Discerniment and courage to decide!

As a guest of the PB  I'm participating for the first time in a General Convention.
My feeling is of joy by the warm welcome I received and the constant and efficient work of volunteers who have had a very important role in this GC. My gratitude for the gesture of welcoming to many brothers and sisters from around the world revealing the true meaning which is written on the banner in front of the Convention Center.
I have seen with much appreciation the excellent level of discussions among delegates. Even on controversial subjects I can see a commitment to each other with the truth and with respect. And here I say that this convention will be historic because it can mean a breakthrough in the way of how the TEC believes that it should take its part in the mission of God's people.

For some groups, this GC is almost a character of a referendum in which the TEC will decide whether to continue or not in the Anglican Communion. For  these people maintenance of unity is a submission of a member as a evidence of goodwill. It seems to me that people still do not understand what the Archbishop of Canterbury has said continually about the need to rescue the truth as the founding basis of fidelity to the Gospel. This GC received with great affection the Archbishop, giving to him respect for his honest statements on the life of the Communion. It was a gesture of diplomacy, but also a sincere fraternal welcome. At the panel on the economic crisis a a passionate ovation was given to him recognizing his wise words.  We saw a complete agreement between him and the Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts on the way they understand the causes and the complexity in how the crisis could be faced.

When, in the other hand, it comes to discussing the inclusion of gays and lesbians in the full life of the Church necessarily they are not requirede to say the same words. Those who are not commited with the diversity see this agenda as an irreconcilable dispute that finally will break the unity within the Anglican Communion.

I have heard arguments that we must have patience, wait, show good will and many other adjectives that are unilaterally placed on the shoulders of the TEC. Here perhaps lies the question: why should only some be patients? You can not say that the unity of the Anglican Communion is based only on submission. You can not make the connection between equity and capitulation. Capitulate means losing a war and recognize a winner. You can not compare the Communion with a huge battlefield where some try to raise their flag as final winner.

Resolution B033 is being discussed. With high level of respect for diversity of opinions. I did not see any delegation condemning their opposites for think in a different perpspective. Each defends its belief with deep personal commitment to be understood.  There is no hurry to close the question, but a deep searching process of discerniment.
Certainly there will be a decision to revoke or not the resolution B033, taken in the last Convention. I'd like to say to the sisters and brothers of TEC is: do not be afraid to do what you consider to be done. Raise your hearts to God and feel what He wants you to do. You will never be alone on the road.

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An idol made of flesh

Michael Jackson's death made us think about how humankind is capable of feeling orphaned when one idol fights life's naked frailty. My adolescence's soundtrack was filled by this man's geniality.  Like me, other generations were enchanted with his creativity and glamour.  All of us imagined ourselves mimicking his unusual dance steps.  Joy and magic were part of his performance.  The whole world bowed to his talent, and his fans could be found anywhere.  But, like other idols, Michael also could not resist the weight of his image and fame.  This fragile man could not stand the pressure upon him and suffered awful consequences in his private life, which was exposed by the same media that at times sanctified him and at times took him to hell.  Once, I heard a very creative sentence on TV, which expresses very well who Michael Jackson was:  "a child who was obliged to work as a man and a man who also tried to be a child!"
Michael, follow your way in peace to the beautiful garden where all God's children certainly play and where life is an authentic childhood.  Thank you for your gifts and for making us happy with your music.  You did your best.  Your beautiful songs are going to be engraved in stone, but your failures will be carried away by mercy's winds.

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