Mennonites and the Roman Catholic Church
by Mark Larimer, New Haven, Ind.
The recent $600 million settlement in Los Angeles by the Roman Catholic Church is the third major scandal of its kind in the last couple of years. In all three, the hierarchy of the Catholic Church has refused to cooperate with law enforcement.
They have shown little or no concern for the victims. Making matters worse, the Catholic Church has shown a preference for protecting the accused (molesters) by moving them to other parishes.
Given this, what is the purpose of Bridgefolk? Is it to eventually merge Mennonites into the Catholic Church? What is Mennonite USA’s stand on this?
Response: Bridgefolk is a grass-roots movement among Mennonites and Catholics who seek to become friends. We meet annually to pray, tell our stories and encourage each other through sharing gifts we believe can strengthen both traditions. Bridgefolk has not taken a position on how such sharing ought to bear fruit in church relationships. What brought us together was a desire to discern the meaning of the many ways we are already connecting in peace building, relief and development, and spiritual formation. We work with the encouragement of the Interchurch Relations Committee of Mennonite Church USA. Our mission statement and additional documentation is readily available at www.bridgefolk.net.
—Marlene Kropf, cochair of Bridgefolk board and member of Mennonite Church USA Interchurch Relations Committee
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