(Brother/Frere) Roger Schutz/ Taize founder dies

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/4158886.stm

Christian leader stabbed to death

The 90-year-old founder of the French-based Taize Christian ecumenical community has been stabbed to death at a prayer service.

Police detained a woman after the assault on Swiss-born Roger Schutz, who was known as Brother Roger.

Around 2,500 young people were at the Reconciliation church in Burgundy at the time of the attack.

Brother Roger founded the community during World War II to provide refuge to people of all Christian churches.

Brother Alois, 51, nominated by Brother Roger as his successor, was returning from the World Youth Day jamboree in Cologne to take his place, a community spokesman said.

Taize unites members of several Christian denominations from some 30 countries and attracts tens of thousands of young people each year for prayers and meditation.

Shock and confusion

Some of those at evening prayers on Tuesday are reported to have overpowered a Romanian woman after Brother Roger was stabbed.


Brother Roger was one of the best loved Christian leaders of our time


Dr Rowan Williams
Archbishop of Canterbury


The public prosecutor in nearby Macon, Jean-Louis Cost, said there seemed little doubt that the attack was premeditated. He said the woman had bought a knife the day before and "the intention to kill was obvious".

Mr Cost said her explanation was not clear at this stage, but she said she had tried for several months to contact Brother Roger - who was no longer granted private meetings.

He added that he had ordered that a psychiatric examination of the woman be carried out.

Pope Benedict XVI, due to travel to Cologne on Thursday for World Youth Day, said he was particularly dismayed at news of Brother Roger's death as he had received "a moving letter from him" only this week

Brother Roger had written to say he was sorry that he could not attend the celebrations himself because of his ill-health.


The death has horrified Christians around the world


The news of the horrific death sent shockwaves through the Christian world:


* German Prelate Heiner Koch said all the participants in World Youth Day were praying for "this great figure"

* The president of the French Bishops' Conference, Archbishop of Bordeaux Jean-Pierre Ricard, expressed "deep grief" for the loss of "this great figure of a researcher and witness of God, impassioned by unity among Christians and reconciliation"

* The Church of England's Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, said it was an " indescribable shock" to lose "one of the best-loved Christian leaders of our time"

* The Bishop of Manchester, the Right Reverend Nigel McCulloch, who had personal links with Brother Roger, described him as "one of the great visionaries of our time - a man of love and reconciliation who inspired young people all over the world to pray and to know God".

 

If he is dead he doesn't need our prayers.

Blessings

followinghim

 

Never heard of him.

 

If I went around posting:" Never heard of him." every time some guy I never heard of got mentioned on this board as being a highly important baptist leader, I would have been a member of the 10.000 posts club already.

 

How sad!

 

No disrespect intended by any means, please understand.


But I hate this title being on the screen .

"Brother" Roger
C4K
Moderator

 

If he is dead he doesn't need our prayers.

Blessings

followinghim </font>[/QUOTE]I think we all know what "need our prayers" mean
within the context of a death and the family
members related. I have not heard of him as well
but perhaps he really did live his life in humility not seeking the spotlight.

Please keep us updated on the funeral and the
justice process, as this is an important story
to our European brothers and sisters in Christ.

Praying
Aslanspal

 

No Matt, sorry, I probably should not have posted such a petty attempt at humour in a serious thread.

I have no problems whatsoever with your post.
I also have no problems with "Brother" bring used as part of a screen name.

It just takes me off guard every time I see "Brother Roger dies" on the menu. It gives this Brother Roger a little shock.

Apologies to all - I did not mean to treat this matter lightly.

Roger

 

C4K, when I read the title, before actually reading the OP, I thought that it actually was referring to you. I, too, am glad that you are alive.

 

Thanks fellas - let me fix that .

Matt won't get this, but it reminds me of an Andy Griffith episode where the rumour went around that Barney was dead. .

 

I thought the same thing.

Also sorry to hear the other Brother Roger has died and what a horrible death.

 

I was actually stunned by such violence in such a peaceful setting. Although not as famous, our quiet little Irish town was stunned by the stabbing murder of an innocent woman at a taqxi rank Wednesday night.

And people try to tell us that man is basically good .

 

What is a "taqxi rank"?

 

Ha - ha!

I hit an extra "q".

A taxi rank (stand)

Maybe I'd get some respect if I was dead .