Bishops to vote on joining new ecumenical forum

Published: 2004-10-22

WASHINGTON (CNS) -- The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops faces a major ecumenical decision when the bishops gather for their fall meeting in Washington Nov. 15-18. They will be asked to vote on joining Christian Churches Together in the USA, a new, broadly based ecumenical forum for fellowship, dialogue and joint witness. "The purpose of Christian Churches Together is to enable churches and national Christian organizations to grow closer together in Christ in order to strengthen our Christian witness in the world," says a 25-page background report on the proposal that was sent to all the bishops before the meeting. "CCT-USA would be a forum for Christian dialogue. As an organization it would not be able to speak on behalf of any participant without its agreement," the background material says. Since the Catholic Church entered the ecumenical movement with the Second Vatican Council in the 1960s, Catholic churches have joined national councils of churches in 70 countries. One of the most significant exceptions in the world has been the United States.

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