Minority Churches but open to ecumenical and inter-religious dialogue: that’s the picture that emerged from the recent meeting of the Episcopal Conference of the Scandinavian countries, held at Turku (Finland) in recent days. Together with the Lutheran bishops, invited to take part in the first day’s work, discussion focused on the latest developments of ecumenical dialogue in Norway, Sweden, Finland, Iceland and Denmark, the five countries represented by the Episcopal Conference. Albeit with a small number of faithful in proportion to the population as a whole (Catholics in the Nordic countries as a whole do not exceed 250,000), the presence of the Catholic Churches in the Scandinavian countries does make itself felt in terms of cultural proposals, exchanges of experiences, and projects in the publishing and social fields. The Episcopal Conference also discussed the pastoral letter on marriage and the family, which is still at draft stage, but already eagerly awaited by public opinion. The other questions examined at the meeting included the preparation of the Synod of Bishops due to be held in Rome in October 2005, during which the Eucharist will be discussed as the centre of Christian life. Other topics on the agenda were catechesis, the activities of COMECE, CCEE and the more recent events promoted by these two organizations. A representative of Church in Need presented the most recent religious publication ventures to support catechetical activities and the diffusion of religious literature in the Nordic countries. The Scandinavian bishops also discussed the forthcoming jubilee of the Church in Estonia (invitations to take part in its celebrations have been received); the situation in the Holy Land; relations between Europe and Africa, in view of the meeting planned in Rome in November 2004; and inter-religious dialogue, with particular reference to growing immigration from non-European countries. The next meeting of the Scandinavian Episcopal Conference will be held in Stockholm in mid-September 2004.
