This week priests of the Archdiocese of Atlanta received new directives on ecumenism which are effective immediately.

The new guidelines, flowing from recent decisions of the Vatican Council were prepared by the Archdiocesan Commission for Religious Unity. Headed by the Rev. John Mulroy, pastor of St. Joseph’s Church in Athens, Georgia, the Commission is composed of priests and laity in the North Georgia area served by the archdiocese.

The following is a summary of the new directives:

1. Priests and other clergymen -- Catholic priests are encouraged to become acquainted with and meet with clergy of other churches in the neighborhood. They are likewise urged to seek membership in Ministerial Associations unless special denominational reasons would preclude this. Priests have for some time been attending the Metropolitan Atlanta Council of Churches and Georgia Council of Churches as observers, upon invitation of these bodies.

2. Services for religious unity - are highly recommended on occasions such as the Unity Observance in January, neighborhood “Ecumenical Day,” etc.

(a) For these services, so important now to all forms of Christianity, a hall or auditorium is preferable to the church proper. When this is impractical, permission will be granted by the archbishop to hold them in the church itself.

(b) At these services, priests may join other clergymen in the reading of Scriptures (Each using the Bible version of his choice), preaching and recitation of the Lord’s Prayer (including the phrase “For Thine is the Kingdom and the Power and the Glory”).

(c) These services are not to take place in the setting of the Eucharistic Liturgy in either church nor is the interchange of pulpits permitted except as indicated in 2, paragraph (a).

3. Baptism - is held by most Christian churches to be necessary for salvation, either explicitly or implicitly. Christians validly baptized in other faiths who seek membership in the Catholic Church are to be received after proper instruction and formation, but are not to be re-baptized nor given “conditional baptism.” Such “conditional baptism” is permitted only when a prudent doubt exists as to the fact or validity of a previous ceremony. In case of doubtful baptism, proper authorities should be consulted.

4. Eucharist - is the Sign of Unity, and our doctrinal disagreement a sign of our “separateness.” The guidelines issued by the U.S. Bishop’s Commission on Ecumenism direct that inter-communion in the Eucharistic Liturgy may not be practiced at the present time.

5. Mixed Marriages - The Directive of the Archdiocese published August 4, 1965, still retains its validity.

6. Visiting Other Services - When clergymen of other churches attend any Catholic service to witness their own good will, or for civic or social reasons, they are to be welcomed and given a place of honor. If vested in their customary choir robes, they may be given a place in the sanctuary.

Priests and lay Catholics may attend Protestant services, certainly not out of curiosity, but to witness their good will and religious unity, or for civic or social reasons (weddings, funerals, etc.) Under no circumstances, may Catholics receive communion in another church, not absent themselves from Sunday Mass.

7. Exposition of Ecumenism - Catholics are to be instructed frequently on ecumenism so that both they and those of other faiths will be spared serious misunderstanding about those new and welcome changes in Catholic practice.

8. With the millions of unchurched in our nation and the world, our witness and our preaching must be directed mainly to those who have not in any manner acknowledged Christ as Lord and Savior. Baptized and practicing members of other Christian churches are not to be regarded as proper subjects for “conversion” or “proselytization.”