VOTF At Work in the World

International Note:

The Swiss Protestant theologian Brother Roger who founded the Taize ecumenical movement in 1940 died a violent death in his church during an evening service. The Taize community was made up of Lutheran, Evangelical, Anglican, Eastern Orthodox and Roman Catholic monks. Their aim was to foster greater unity among Christian churches. Brother Roger’s particular concern was for the world’s youth growing up in a secular world all but devoid of spiritual nourishment. See the New York Times obituary.

The January 2005 issue of In the Vineyard noted a Paulist Center, Boston, MA invitation to participate in a Taize prayer service. Taize is practiced throughout the Christian world and is often part of Roman Catholic liturgies and services. See the USCCB message of condolences on the death of Brother Roger.

The Taize community web site.

Commentary – [What do you think? Respond to pthorp.ed@votf.org] VOTF members, attorneys Bob Morris and Sharon Harrington, consider the ramifications of legislation that would require a church to open its books.

• Sharon Harrington – “First Amendment protections are not affected by improvements to law”

• Bob Morris – “A church is not just another charity”