European Christian leaders address world trade, ecology, church unity

Published: 2007-09-11

SIBIU, Romania (CNS) -- European Christian leaders deplored the negative consequences of globalization on society and the environment and called on Christians to join other faiths in alleviating poverty and division. "Radical market globalization is deepening the division of human society between winners and losers, harming the value of countless people and having catastrophic ecological implications," said Catholic, Orthodox and Protestant leaders. "Precisely in view of climate change, it is not compatible with sustaining the future of our planet." The leaders' remarks were contained in a Sept. 9 message issued at the end of the third European Ecumenical Assembly in Sibiu. Hungarian Cardinal Peter Erdo of Esztergom-Budapest, president of the Council of European Bishops' Conferences, and Cardinal Walter Kasper, president of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, were among the 2,500 Christians from 44 countries who attended the assembly. The assembly was organized by the Council of European Bishops' Conferences and the Conference of European Churches, a grouping of 124 non-Catholic denominations.

Copyright (c) 2007 Catholic News Service /U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. The CNS news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed, including but not limited to such means as framing or any other digital copying or distribution method, in whole or in part without the prior written authority of Catholic News Service .