This conclusion was reached during a meeting organized by the National Commission for Interreligious Dialogue and Ecumenism (NCIDE) of the Catholic Church of Pakistan during this Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. The event brought together clergymen and faithful from many groups representing different denominations.
Father Francis Nadeem, NCIDE’s executive secretary, urged the participants to «work on common development projects promoted by Christians,» and he invited them to a silent prayer «for these died in the tsunami and for the survivors who lost everything.»
He further said that «ecumenical unity has to reach to the grass root level among [and help] the common people» who are living in difficult times.
Father Nadeem concluded telling his audience that for the Week of Christian Unity Pope John Paul II himself had urged the faithful «to follow Christ’s will which calls believers to unity.»
Reverend James Ashiq, pastor of the Full Gospel Assembly, thanked the NCIDE for the «invitation to a common prayer» because it enables us «to be closer to the faithful.»
Reverend Munir Phool of the American Presbyterian Church also welcomed the appeal to Christian unity saying that his Church recently worked on a «common project with the Catholic Church to send money to Tsunami victims.»
Father Inayat Bernard, the local parish priest who organized the event, said that «it is important to promote Christian unity and avoid highlighting the negative things that might separate us.» He reminded everyone that «it is every Christian’s duty to pray and work for unity in the world.»
