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Purifying Memory
[1] INTRODUCTION
The impetus for establishing CIHIC came from the realisation that a large proportion of English speaking people,
had a very negative view of the place of the Catholic Church in history. This was due to generations of people
in England being subjected to state sponsored myths and distortions, together with the censorship of positive Catholic
achievements.
When setting out to rectify this problem, CIHIC recognised that some Catholic kings, Churchmen and others had not
acted in a Christian manor. But, as their crimes were already well advertised, there was no need to repeat them.
CIHIC would concentrate on correcting the more numerous false accusations.
In preparation for the new millennium, pope John Paul II called for a 'Purification of Memory'. As a contribution
to the healing of historically based animosities, he wanted Catholics to admit faults of the past and ask pardon
from the decedents of those involved. As a first step, he asked the International Theological Commission to prepare
a document, and it was published in the year 2000.
CIHIC has set this page aside so as to make the document, and further developments, better known.
[2] In May 2000, Cardinal Ratzinger provided a brief outline of the theological document.
Cardinal Ratzinger Explains Purification of Memory
www.cwnews.com/news/viewstory.cfm?recnum=12411
[3] The easiest way to access the full document is to type - Memory and Reconciliation - into the Google Search
Engine. Or it is available by clicking:
MEMORY AND RECONCILIATION: THE CHURCH AND THE FAULTS OF THE PAST
The following are examples of efforts being made to heal the scars of history.
[4] London
Catholic & Protestant Martyrs (pdf).
[5] The Martyrs and Christian
Unity - by the Secretary of UNITAS [www.unitas.org.uk]. ; (pdf).
(Both papers have been taken from the Tyburn & London section of : The Seed of the Church
: Martyrs of Christian Unity)
This version: 19th December 2007
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