Pope Benedict XVI and Ecumenism

I don't believe it's an overstatement to say that Pope Benedict XVI has surpassed most of his predecessors, perhaps even his immediate predecessor, in his commitment to true ecumenism or, as he phrased it, his commitment "to rebuild the full and visible unity of all Christ's followers." Indeed, the Holy Father began his papacy with those very words when he delivered the first message of his pontificate to the College of Cardinals in the Sistine Chapel on April 20, 2005. Here's more of what he said on that day:

"With full awareness, therefore, at the beginning of his ministry in the Church of Rome which Peter bathed in his blood, Peter's current Successor takes on as his primary task the duty to work tirelessly to rebuild the full and visible unity of all Christ's followers. This is his ambition, his impelling duty. He is aware that good intentions do not suffice for this. Concrete gestures that enter hearts and stir consciences are essential, inspiring in everyone that inner conversion that is the prerequisite for all ecumenical progress.

"Theological dialogue is necessary; the investigation of the historical reasons for the decisions made in the past is also indispensable. But what is most urgently needed is that "purification of memory", so often recalled by John Paul II, which alone can dispose souls to accept the full truth of Christ. Each one of us must come before him, the supreme Judge of every living person, and render an account to him of all we have done or have failed to do to further the great good of the full and visible unity of all his disciples.

"The current Successor of Peter is allowing himself to be called in the first person by this requirement and is prepared to do everything in his power to promote the fundamental cause of ecumenism. Following the example of his Predecessors, he is fully determined to encourage every initiative that seems appropriate for promoting contacts and understanding with the representatives of the different Churches and Ecclesial Communities. Indeed, on this occasion he sends them his most cordial greeting in Christ, the one Lord of us all."

Since then Pope Benedict has certainly followed through on his commitment to ecumenism as his "primary task." The Catholic Church's relationship with the Orthodox Church hasn't been this cordial since the two separated a thousand years ago. His outreach to the Anglican Church, especially to those within that communion who believe their Church has abandoned its traditional teachings in both faith and morals, promises to bear remarkable fruit in the years to come. The pope's issuance of the Apostolic Constitution providing for Anglicans entering into full communion with the Church is a document well worth reading and a likely blueprint for the future embrace of other Christian communities.

And now, in a fascinating article by Deacon Keith Fournier, we read about a group of Lutherans -- the Anglo-Lutheran Catholic Church -- who are apparently in the process of petitioning the Vatican for acceptance into full communion with the Catholic Church. They may be only one small group within the entire Lutheran community, but it is the decisions of such small communities that often lead to similar decisions by other, larger groups.

I was only vaguely familiar with the Anglo-Lutheran Catholic Church (I can recall once joking that their name pretty much covered all the bases), but after visiting their website this morning I promise not to joke about them any more. They describe themselves as "an ecumenical, traditional, liturgical, episcopal denomination that bases its beliefs in Holy Scripture and the teaching of Christ and the apostles." And when I visited the page with the heading "Official Statements," I found links to a series of documents issued by the Catholic Church. Indeed, in its self-description, the Church states that it "accepts as confessional...the Catechism of the Catholic Church, and the documents and decrees of all Ecumenical Councils recognized by the Roman Catholic Church, and the Magisterium of the Catholic Church." Sounds to me like a denomination ready to come home.

This movement toward unity may be just one more small step forward, but it is also one more sign of the work of the Holy Spirit in bringing to reality the prayer of Jesus:

"I pray not only for them, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, so that they may all be one, as you, Father, are in me and I in you, that they also may be in us, that the world may believe that you sent me. And I have given them the glory you gave me, so that they may be one, as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may be brought to perfection as one, that the world may know that you sent me, and that you loved them even as you loved me." [Jn 17:20-23]

What a marvelous sign to the world Christian unity would be! Let's make it not only a major part of our daily prayer, but also a part of our lives as we work and minister together in the world with our brothers and sisters in Christ.

God's peace...