Italy: biblical evangelism
Leonardo de Chirico
Date posted: 1 Oct 2013
The 2013 Giornate Teologiche was held at
IFED in Padova (Padua) on September 6-7.
There was a time when the word ‘evangelism’ was spoken by evangelicals alone and
its meaning was defined, i.e. the proclamation of the good news of Jesus Christ to a
lost world. These days are gone. Nowadays
Roman Catholics are talking about the ‘new’
evangelisation and its meaning has become
blurred. Moreover, evangelicals seem to put
less emphasis on the verbal communication
of the gospel, preferring ‘different’ methods
of evangelisation. This generation, therefore,
has the responsibility to clarify afresh what
evangelism is and how to do it.
Italy: landmark consensus
Leonardo de Chirico
Date posted: 1 Sep 2014
Nearly 100% of Italian evangelical churches and bodies (85% of Italian Protestants)
on July 19 signed a common statement
reinforcing evangelical commitment to the
gospel of Jesus Christ, as well as providing
biblical standards to assess the mounting
ecumenical pressure
coming
from
the
Roman Catholic Church.
Following a round table on ‘An evangelical
perspective on Roman Catholicism’, promoted by the Italian Evangelical Alliance
and held
in Aversa
on
July
19,
the
Federation of Pentecostal Churches,
the
Assemblies of God in Italy, the Apostolic
Church and the Pentecostal Congregations, concerned by recent ecumenical initiatives
between national and international evangelical and Pentecostal circles and the Roman
Catholic Church and the Pope, believe that
a church which operates as mediator of salvation and presents other figures as mediators of grace is incompatible with the teaching of Scripture, since God’s grace comes to
us by
faith alone
in
Jesus Christ alone
(Ephesians 2.8) and without the agency of
other mediators (1 Timothy 2.5).
Italy: unfair system
Leonardo de Chirico
Date posted: 1 Aug 2014
Since 2011 onwards in Lombardia, some 16
places of worship of various Evangelical
groups have been closed.
Most of
these buildings were used by
migrant churches which ordinarily find it
more difficult to find legal protection and
are often hesitant to be outspoken about
their problems. In 2005 a regional law was passed that allowed the local police to check
whether or not these buildings were registered as places of worship. Its motivation was
to control the presence of Muslim places for
prayer but it was also a form of hostility
towards foreigners.
From Canterbury to Rome
Leonardo de Chirico
Date posted: 1 Apr 2012
The first day of 2012 saw the promulgation of a Vatican document with special reference to the former Anglicans wishing to be in full communion with Rome.
The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith issued a decree which makes provisions for them to be fully accepted into the Roman fold.
Italy: prayer for Egypt
Leonardo de Chirico
Date posted: 1 Oct 2013
After the recent outbreak of violence against
the Christians
in Egypt
in August,
the
Italian Evangelical Alliance organised a
prayer
rally
in
front of
the Egyptian
Embassy in Rome.
On August 24, dozens of people representing several evangelical churches
in Rome
gathered to pray for peace in the country and
for protection for the Christian minority. Recent
reports
from Egypt were
read,
together with biblical passages assuring that
God is in control and cares for his people. A
letter to the Ambassador was signed by the
participants expressing concern for the dangerous situation in which the Christians find
themselves and the hope that action will be
taken to secure protection and religious freedom for all.
Ubicumque et semper
Leonardo de Chirico
Date posted: 1 Dec 2010
Setting up a new Pontifical Council is not something that happens often in the Vatican, given the conservative nature of the institution.
Yet Pope Benedict XVI has just released the motu proprio document entitled Ubicumque et semper (‘Everywhere and always’) that establishes the Pontifical Council for the Promotion of the New Evangelisation.