Bishops map out the road to unity

BY A STAFF REPORTER ATTHEIR pre-Christmas meeting at Archbishop's House, Westminster, the
bishops of England and Wales las we reported last weekl cancelled all previous directives on church unity moves in favour of the Vatican "Directory on Ecumenism". They issued their own guide-lines for priests and laity in this country.
The CATHOLIC HERALD went to press early last week because of Christmas, and we were unable to give as much information about this important document as we would have wished. For this reason we now reprint substantial sections of it.
The bishops welcome the "Directory on Ecumenism," quoting the Council Document on the subject that "the establishment of unity must be the concern of all of us, and at the same time; in all that we do we must be completely loyal to our faith."
They add that "before we can profit from concrete encounters and activities, a thorough preparation of minds and hearts is needed, to enable us to reap the benefits of the ecumenical situation." Our first contribution to Christian Unity, the bishops say, is "our own spiritual renewal."
MUTUAL TRUST The document then gives detailed directives on a number of topics. On the subject of Catholic membership of local Councils of Churches it has this to say:
COne of the consequences of the reappraisal by the Second Vatican Council of the relationship between the Roman Catholic Church and the Churches of other Christians is a change of policy with regard to membership of local Councils of Churches.
Whereas previously we felt unable to accept more than observer/consultant status, it is now possible to accept full membership. Where then it seems desirable, Catholic units (such as parish or deanery) may become full members of local Councils of Churches, playing their full part, and contributing to costs which may otherwise be borne by others while Catholics are reaping some of the benefits!'
BAPTISM The Bishops' document also modifies the Catholic attitude towards baptism conferred by ministers of other churches. Quotations within the bishops' statement are from the 'Directory on Ecumenism."
eAs a practical expression of our renewed recognition of the value of "baptism conferred by ministers of the Churches and ecclesiastical communities separated from us", our practice with regard to conditional baptism must be modified.
When "some Christian separated from us, led by the grace of the Holy Spirit and by his conscience, seeks full communion with the Catholic Church," if he has received baptism in one of the Eastern Churches, he is not to be conditionally baptised, for "there can be no doubt cast upon the validity of baptism as conferred among separated Eastern Christians."
In respect of other Christians. conditional baptism should not be administered indiscriminately, but only when, after investigating as far as reasonably possible the circumstances of the baptism already administered, a reasonable doubt of the fact, or of the validity, still exists.
In this difficult matter we hope to be helped by enquiries that are being made by the Faith and Order Department of the British Council of Churches into the norms and beliefs concerning baptism in member churches.
In all cases of reception into full communion with the Catholic Church, details of the person's baptism and the fact of reception, with the names of witnesses, should be entered in the baptismal register of the parish where he is received.
A new form for the reception of those who wish to enter into full communion with the Catholic Church is being prepared. Until this comes into use, the Profession of Faith referred to in the Directory is to be made in the form currently in use., JOINT WORSHIP One of the most forceful sections of the document is that dealing with joint worship other other Churches. It has this to say: eThe section in the "Direc
tory on Ecumenism" on sharing spiritual activity and resources with our separated brethren is very important. The introduction calls for careful reading. Every word has been weighed. It expresses the concern of the Holy See for real unity and the desire that our sharing in sacred things and actions should be authentic and sincere. This Episcopal Conference shares that concern,
On the other hand, as Archbishop Ramsey said in his lecture in Dublin. on 23rd June, 1967, "There remain differences between Rome and Canterbury which are formidable." Similar and perhaps even greater differences remain between Catholics and other Christians, some of them about the eucharistic presence and sacrifice, and about the minister of the Eucharist.
Our conduct, then, must not imply that these differences do not exist. or are of only minor importance: just as our conduct ought also to express the real bonds of unity which do actually exist. It is this demand for authenticity and sincerity which lies behind the guidance of the Directory.
This guidance the Episcopal Conference commends to the Catholic priests and people of England and Wales.
The principle of "reciprocity" has application everywhere in ecumenical matters. For example, though the conscientious difficulty of one Christian will always be respected by another, care must be taken not to give offence by offering or accepting invitations out of good will when one has not sufficiently thought out first whether one is able to give and take equally.
• Another example is that the principle demands that as Catholic priests are to ask for baptismal certificates from other churches, they should readily issue them, if they are requested by the ministers of other churches or ecclesial Communities.
Catholics not only may attend, but are encouraged to attend. joint non-Eucharistic services of prayer for unity, and should take the initiative in arranging them., CO-OPERATION eUnder the heading of "prayer for any common concern," in which it is hoped that Catholics will join, we
would include annual or perio dic services, not primarily concerned with unity, that are held by associations to which Catholics belong with others as members.
Co-operation in arranging such prayer is specially desirable, rather than that any community should be faced with a pre-arranged form.
The place of such a service should be agreed by those taking part. When all who are to participate are agreed that in the given situation it is pastorally desirable, there is no difficulty on our side about its being held in a church or chapel. Catholic or otherwise.
With the permission of the Ordinary, a non-Catholic may be invited to preach in a Catholic church at noneucharistic services, The "Decree on Ecumenism" of the Second Vatican Council makes it clear that, while while attendance at Matins and Evensong and similar worship in other churches should not be indiscriminate, it is not to be ruled out; and the Directory instances the desire to be informed as a reason for occasionally going to the services of other Churches.
If we pray with them, and sometimes share in their customary non-eucharistic worship, it will greatly help us to understand and to appreciate the religious life of other Christians.
Such attendance is permissible by way of exception, as a sign of that partial communion already existing between us and of our desire for the greater unity for which we pray.
When Catholics do attend, it is specially to be noted that they should take part in the common responses, hymns and actions, as the Directory suggests., THE EUCHARIST eft should also be noted that from this participation "reception of the Eucharist is always excluded." This prompts us to observe that attendance at the Eucharist of other Christians gives rise to special problems.
Save in the cases mentioned in the Directory. reception of the Eucharist is always excluded. One reason for this is that receiving Communion together in this sacrament is regarded in the historic tradition of Christendom, from the earliest days, as the supreme sign of unity already existing. To be separated by differences in faith was to be "out of communion" with each other.
The Directory implies that eucharistic services are included among the liturgical services of our separated brethren in which Catholics can be permitted to assist occasionally, provided they do not receive the eucharist nor act as reader or preacher.,