"Understanding whether there is a true will within our Churches to raise the ecumenical awareness of our members" and "resuming and developing the primary tasks of mutual acquaintance and recognition". This is, according to pastor Jean-Arnold de Clermont, president of Kek (Conference of European Churches), one of the challenges raised by the Third Ecumenical Assembly. Clermont, in his speech in London this evening, made a few preliminary considerations on opening the meeting of the Joint Ccee-Kek Committee (until 24th February), the first "top-rank" meeting after Sibiu, which card. Péter Erdö, president of the Council of European Bishops Conferences (Ccee), will not attend for health reasons. The second challenge that was raised in Sibiu is, according to Clermont, "that of the different forms of secularisation that affect the whole of the European continent and that drive the Churches to give the firmest concrete testimony ever". Hence the "call to develop an ecumenical spirituality that must be up to the tasks that we are called to carry out together", especially for the poor and for the south of the world. (continued)
