The Archdiocesan Christian Unity Commission met during the weekend at Ignatius House to chart the course toward unity and discuss the obstacles.

Members of the commission discussed their roles and agreed that they could disagree with each other and still do their job.

“We should get into the areas of religious freedom, authority in the church and the primacy of the pope because these are definite areas where we have trouble relating to others,” said Father John L. Hein, S.J., a member of the commission.

“We have been raised in a tradition of condemnation, and the papacy—as Pope Paul VI recently pointed out—has been a stumbling block,’ the priest said. “It is a stumbling block, but even more so because of our lack of understanding of what it really means.”

Father Matthew Kemp, priest-secretary said the Constitution on the Church should be studied. “The Church as a sign of unity rather than merely a means to salvation should be studied,” he said.

In discussing fields of ecumenical activity, the group talked of a ministry to labor, an ecumenical vacation Bible school.

The Rev. Daniel Brand told the commission that nothing is being done on dialogue between labor and the Christian Church.

“I don’t think many pastors could handle the situation,” Leo Zuber said, “because it takes background to speak on labor, and we drowse during sermons dealing with generalities.”

Sister Mary Jacob, S.C.M.M., said, “I don’t agree. Society is evolving and we have to look at the situations we are involved with.”

Asked why he accepted the chairman’s job, Ferdindand Buckley said he had some feeling of reservations about his qualifications. “I don’t think I am reactionary, but I don’t believe I’m in the forefront of change.

“However, I deeply appreciate the changes in the liturgy and the idea of unity,” he said.

Buckley also announced that James Eichelberger, an attorney, has been added to the commission since the original appointments were announced.