Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Beijing (Agenzia Fides) - A delegation of Chinese academics and religious led by Rev. Peter Zhao, director of the Institute for the Study of Christianity and Culture and the Sapientis Press Publishing House recently visited a number of the principal universities and academic institutes in Britain. The 10 day visit, 10-20 May, focused on the theme “The role of faith in a globalised world”. The initiative was sponsored jointly by the Chinese Institute for the Study of Christianity and Culture and the British Organization for Cultural Exchange with China. This was the first time a delegation of Chinese Catholic academics made an official visit to Britain.
Under the general heading, the following themes were discussed: inculturation and globalisation; Social Doctrine of the Catholic Church and modern society in Britain and China; sharing of research; assistance for students, care for Chinese students in Britain; attitudes of young people in China and in Britain with regard to the world today and Christianity; ecumenism and interreligious dialogue in the globalised world; the role of inter-religious dialogue today in China and in Britain.
While in London Rev Zhao presented a new review Catholic Studies the first of its kind since 1950 which has three goals: be a forum of dialogue among Catholic scholars in China, a space for dialogue on religion among Catholic and other scholars in China and meet the demand of many Chinese Catholic scholars for illumination on the thought of Vatican II.
During the ten days the Chinese delegation visited the following colleges: St. Edmunds College, University of Cambridge; Heythrop College, University of London; the department of Theology, University of Birmingham; the department of Theology, Hope University Liverpool; Christ’s College Oxford; Whycliffe Hall, Oxford (Anglican seminary); The Institute for the study of Christianity, Oxford University; The Commission for other Faiths, Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales. The delegation also had talks with the Missionaries of Saint Columban and was also received by Cardinal Murphy O’Connor, Archbishop of Westminster who spoke about the evangelising mission of the Church in Britain.
“Cultural Exchange with China” is an organisation of missionary institutes and bodies working in China and university professors who have taught in Chinese colleges. The missionaries of the Society of Saint Columban for Foreign Missions belong to the organisation which held its 5th annual general meeting in April. The director of Cultural Exchange with China, Fr. Eamonn O’Brien, ssc, said: “We want to build a bridge between the Church in China and the Church in Britain to promote ecumenism and inter-religious dialogue”. (Agenzia Fides 23/05/2006 Righe: 39 Parole: 468)
