Conversion is key to ecumenical dialogue, Jesuit priest says

Published: 2005-10-21

WASHINGTON (CNS) -- Openness to conversion is the key to authentic ecumenical dialogue, a Jesuit theologian said Oct. 20 in an address marking the 40th anniversary of the North American Orthodox-Catholic Theological Consultation. "The real question that stands before our churches is not whether they are ready to talk about unity, but whether they really desire that unity enough to let our dialogue change us in profound, yet unforeseen ways," said Father Brian E. Daley, a theology professor at the University of Notre Dame and a member of the North American dialogue since 1982. "For the Catholic Church," he said, "growth toward ecumenical unity must unquestionably involve the readiness to accept new forms of synodal decision-making and teaching that will be more complex, more mutual, more inclusive and less centralized than is conceivable within the classical modern model of papal primacy." Father Daley gave his talk on the campus of Georgetown University in Washington, where the consultation was meeting.

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