Vatican ecumenists say dialogue, cooperation exist at parish level

Published: 2005-01-20

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- In most parts of the world, ecumenical dialogue and cooperation are a reality even at the parish level, although suspicion among Christians has not disappeared everywhere, said the Vatican's top ecumenists. Cardinal Walter Kasper and Bishop Brian Farrell, respectively, the president and secretary of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, wrote about the state of Catholic ecumenical efforts in the Jan. 17-18 edition of the Vatican newspaper. In the newspaper, L'Osservatore Romano, Cardinal Kasper said the church had reached an "intermediate stage" in which most Catholics are aware of and share the church's commitment to Christian unity, but sometimes they are impatient with the progress made. In most countries, he said, "ecumenical coexistence and cooperation belong to the daily church life of parishes and dioceses." However, the cardinal wrote, "ancient prejudices" based on past errors continue to block progress in some areas.

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