The path of dialogue

The symposium on the book “Harvesting the Fruits”: an overview of the official ongoing dialogue between the Catholic Church and the Churches of the Reformation tradition, Lutherans, Reformed, Anglican and Methodist, opened in the premises of the Pontifical Council for Christian Unity on February 8. In October the President of the Vatican dicastery Cardinal Walter Kasper presented the volume, which illustrates to the new generation the fruits and achievements of forty years of ongoing dialogue. 5 representatives of the Anglican, Lutheran, Reformed, and Methodist Churches, along with Catholic Church dignitaries and observers from other Churches, attended the symposium. After the prayer, Cardinal Kasper delivered the opening address of the plenary session, followed by the speeches of 4 partners in the dialogue with Reformation Churches, who conveyed their impressions on the publication. A separate group of participants worked on the drafting of a document that will serve as basis for Western ecumenical dialogue in the future. Follow excerpts of the address of Cardinal Walter Kasper, titled “Harvesting the Fruits and the future of ecumenism”. Guidelines for the future. Cardinal Walter Kasper opened the symposium drawing a balance of 40 years of bilateral dialogue with the Churches of the Reformation. To this regard the Cardinal set the guidelines for the future development of ecumenical dialogue, namely the reception of “what we have achieved” in the path of dialogue, not forgetting “their positive and shared aspects” but not overlooking “the open questions that remain”. “In other words: an ecumenical realism”. “The last decades have been marked by growing mutual respect, trust and friendship. Indeed, these are the true fruits, which are even more important than the fruits we have gathered in our documents. We have rediscovered ourselves as brothers and sisters in Christ”, His Eminence said. The purpose of “Harvesting the Fruits”. Cardinal Kasper explained the reasons that led the Vatican dicastery to issue an appraisal of the dialogues undertaken so far. “There is a dual response to this”, he said. “Firstly, we hope to keep alive the memory of our achievements over the last decades, ensuring that the rich fruits of our achievements are not buried on dusty shelves”. The second reason that led the Pontifical Council to issue “Harvesting the Fruits” is that “after forty years a new generation stands ready to take up the torch to continue the ecumenical journey. It is normal, indeed it is necessary, that this generation have new and fresh ideas, but it should not start again from zero; rather, it can count upon a solid foundation”. “Harvesting the fruits” shows that “dialogue is worthwhile” and that something can be achieved. “There is no reason to be discouraged or resigned, as many are today”, His Eminence declared. Ecumenism, said the Cardinal, “is entering a new phase of dialogue, which may be less enthusiastic than the dialogue of our youth, but will be more mature and no less imbued with courage and hope. Let us be guided by the awareness that there is no responsible alternative to dialogue, which has been inspired by the Holy Spirit, who will – we believe – bring to fulfilment what he has started”. Cardinal Kasper then delved into the “positive outcomes” of the dialogues and the questions that are still open. The importance of dialogue. Cardinal Kasper also addressed the question regarding the interpretation of Conciliar term “subsistit”, also present in the 2000 declaration “Dominus Jesus”. “Many of our ecumenical partners – he recalled – felt that this formula was a closure”. “It was our mistake not to have elucidated more clearly that the term ‘subsistit’ did not entail a closure for the Conciliar Fathers but, rather, an openness”, His Eminence acknowledged. “The Catholic Church also is not perfect and is in need of constant renewal. Herein lies the importance of ecumenical dialogue, which calls for such a renewal and helps it. Through dialogue, or rather through the exchange of gifts, all the churches learn to grow and to mature in their faithfulness to Christ. The path to full communion is not a one-way movement. All the parts must move. All the parts are in need of repentance and renewal”, he added. Cardinal Kasper closed his address calling upon all the people of God to participate in the ecumenical dialogue: “Ecumenical dialogue is perhaps in danger of becoming a matter for specialists and thus of moving away from the grassroots. But our theological dialogues will bear fruit” if “supported by the faithful, for it is only in this way that these fruits can sustain, guide and inspire them”.