World News
Vatican's top ecumenist criticizes mistaken ideas about dialogue
Published: June 11, 2012
MAYNOOTH, Ireland (CNS) -- The Vatican's top ecumenist expressed regret June 8 at the mistaken impression that Protestants are honest in ecumenical dialogue and Catholics are not. Cardinal Kurt Koch, president of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, suggested that the impression stems from the willingness of many Protestant churches to welcome all to the Lord's Supper. The cardinal said there were some Reformed churches in Western Europe where baptism was not a condition for participation in the Eucharist. "I think that is a very dangerous development because baptism and ritual recognition of baptism (are) the basis of all ecumenical endeavors," he added. Cardinal Koch made his comments following his address on "The Relation Between the Eucharist and Ecclesial Communion: An Ecumenical View" at the International Theology Symposium in Maynooth. The symposium preceded the June 10 opening of the International Eucharistic Congress in Dublin. In his address, Cardinal Koch described the relationship between the Eucharist and the church as very important from the ecumenical perspective. "When we speak about the Eucharist, the ecumenical dimension is always present," he said. Speaking afterward to reporters, he said the view of the relationship between the ecclesial and eucharistic communion is very different in the other churches. "It is very important to clarify the position of the Catholic Church and the position of the other churches and deepen the discussion on this for the future," he said.
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