Title: ELCA's 'Understanding the Roman Catholic Church' Available June 1 ELCA NEWS SERVICE
May 31, 2006
ELCA's 'Understanding the Roman Catholic Church' Available June 1 06-075-JB
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Following centuries of mistrust and indifference, Lutherans and Roman Catholics today are engaged in formal dialogue and cooperating in a variety of ways and at many levels. The June 1 issue of Mosaic Television, the video magazine of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), focuses on the Roman Catholic Church, its history and its basic beliefs.
Mosaic Television is the quarterly video program produced by ELCA Communication Services. It is intended for educational use in a variety of congregational settings including Sunday school classes, adult forums, youth groups, women's and men's groups, new member classes, congregational councils, committee and other organizational meetings.
The purpose of the video is to help Lutherans and other Protestants develop a better understanding of the Roman Catholic Church, said Tim Frakes, Mosaic Television producer, ELCA Communication Services. Told entirely by Roman Catholics, the 35- minute program is organized into three parts: Roman Catholic beliefs, church history and Catholic Renewal. Portions of the program were recorded in Assisi, Casino, Rome and Trent, Italy, Frakes said.
The program includes interviews with Roman Catholic theologians, scholars, pastors and lay people.
"The most important thing is that we are brothers and sisters in Christ," said the Rev. Robert Hoffman, St. John Neumann Catholic Church, St.Charles, Ill., who was interviewed for the program. "We need to cultivate that relationship and not be fearful of one another but to really come with open hearts and understanding."
"There was a turning point in 2000 when there was a real rebirth, if you will, of spirituality in this country. A large portion of that is Christian and specifically Catholic in nature. We are just having a spiritual reawakening," said Dick Lyles, chief executive officer, Relevant Radio, a radio network for U.S. Catholics, Green Bay, Wis.
"I have great hope that with the development and growth of the mutual approach to the search for Christian Unity, that many of the barriers and perceptions with which we continue to live can be broken down," said Bishop Brian Farrell, secretary, the Pontifical Council for the Promotion of Christian Unity, Rome. "Then we can see how deeply united we are to one another in our common baptism. The things that divide us, yes they divide and have their negative effect on us, but they are minimal compared with the enormous grace of God that brings us together and unites us," he said.
"Understanding the Roman Catholic Church" can be viewed for free on the ELCA Web site. It is also available in VHS and DVD formats. Some ELCA colleges and universities feature Mosaic Television on cable channels.
Each issue of Mosaic Television includes a user's guide with a synopsis of each segment and discussion questions. Annual subscriptions are available through ELCA Communication Services. -- -- --
Specific information about Mosaic Television
subscriptions and the content of each issue is available on the Web at http://www.ELCA.org/mosaic or by contacting ELCA Communication Services by phone at 1-800-638-3522, ext. 6009.
EDITORS: Digital photographs that accompany "Understanding the Roman Catholic Church" can be requested by e-mail at mosaic@ELCA.org or by phone 1-800-638-3522, ext. 6009.
For information contact:
John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or news@elca.org http://www.elca.org/news ELCA News Blog: http://www.elca.org/news/blog