Latin American Mennonites hold first Catholic dialogue

The first official dialogue between Catholic and Mennonite churches in Latin America on Aug. 15–16 produced a statement affirming a common faith in Christ and a joint vision to work for peace and justice.

Held in Bogotá, Colombia, the dialogue was one of three regional Catholic–Mennonite discussions taking place around the world as a result of previous meetings between Mennonite World Conference (MWC) and the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity.

Three Anabaptist conferences of Colombia – Mennonite Church, Mennonite Brethren, and Brethren in Christ – organized “Called Together for Peace,” along with the Department for Ecumenical Catholic Bishops Conference and the Pontifical Bolivariano University.

Some 65 representatives of Catholic and Mennonite churches participated, including MWC general secretary Larry Miller and representatives from Guatemala and Mexico.

“I have been able to get to know a new world that I never knew before,” said Monsignor Fidel Cadavid, the bishop of Quibdo. “Without knowing one another, it is impossible to practice ecumenism.”

“I see a great affinity [between our churches] in peace work,” he said. “Working together, we will have more strength and be more effective in our advocacy.”

Participants developed “lines of action” in which Catholic and Mennonite churches of Colombia could work together. They drafted a joint statement that an MWC delegation will share with the Vatican during a visit in October.

Participants noted that in the Colombian context, wounds in the relationship between Catholic and Mennonite churches are much fresher than the 16th-century era of martyrdom.

“Fifteen years ago a meeting like this would have been impossible,” said Amparo Beltran, a member of the Catholic Church who has been active in promoting ecumenical dialogue in Colombia.

A sense of unity was evident in the final liturgy, led by members of both churches. Participants stood in a close circle while representatives of each church lit a candle symbolizing their commitment to work together as brothers and sisters in Christ

“The significance of this dialogue is that it has been an effort to break down barriers of distrust, prejudice, and hostility and to practice Jesus’ commandment to love one another,” said Peter Stucky, pastor of a Mennonite church in Bogotá, and a MWC representative.

—Shalom Wiebe for MCC