Non-Catholics Praise Efforts of Vatican Synod

In the first official statement ever made by non-Catholics at a Roman Catholic synod, 10 delegate-observers Tuesday praised the work of the worldwide assembly and said that interfaith talks are essential to bridge church divisions.

“The synod has made it very clear that ecumenism is an essential part of the way forward, and it does not involve a betrayal of divine truth and faith,” said a five-page statement issued by the observers, who represent religious bodies in theological dialogue with the Catholic church.

While not glossing over the doctrinal differences that remain between Catholicism and other branches of Christianity, the observers noted that “some questions which were once divisive have come in time to be seen in a different perspective--not now as church-dividing.”

‘Universal Applause’

Father Diamuid Martin, a spokesman for the Extraordinary Synod of Bishops, said that when the non-Catholic observers’ statement was read, “it was the only one so far to be greeted with universal applause” from the 165 cardinals, archbishops and cardinals attending the two-week gathering.

The synod was called by Pope John Paul II to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Second Vatican Council, a series of sessions from 1962 to 1965 that inaugurated modernization at every level of the church. Cordial relations and discussions with other religions were an important outgrowth of the council.

This is the first time, however, that official observers from other faiths have been invited to any of the eight synods held since Vatican II. Another innovation at this synod, which ends Sunday, is an ecumenical worship service in which the interfaith observers will participate.

‘Deeply Engaged’

“Observers are not detached spectators,” said the statement, read by Prof. Henry Chadwick, an Anglican clergyman who is a member of the Second International Anglican-Catholic Commission. “We are deeply engaged in your discussions.”

Other religious traditions represented by the observers include Greek Orthodox, Coptic, Lutheran, Methodist, Disciples of Christ, Baptist, Pentecostal and Reformed, as well as a spokesman for an ecumenical agency.

“We have been reminded how much of fundamental importance we have in common,” the observers said. “We admire the fearless courage with which the synod looks into the future, especially in the places where Christians are few, poor or persecuted. Listening to persons who have spoken from places like this, we have heard echoes of our own situation, too.”

Cardinal Johannes Willebrands, president of the Vatican Secretariat for Promoting Unity, told a press conference on Monday that Rome has no immediate plans to lift its ban on sharing Communion with Christians of other churches. But he insisted that significant progress in interfaith discussions has taken place since Vatican II.

Contacts Once ‘Unthinkable’

Ecumenical contacts and dialogues--such as the recent exchange of letters between the Pope and U.S. Lutheran Bishop James Crumley--”would have been unthinkable 30 years ago,” Willebrands said.

The ban on intercommunion applies to Catholics receiving the Eucharist in non-Catholic services as well as non-Catholic Christians taking the sacrament in Catholic rites.

But the very fact that the issue of intercommunion has been raised is a sign of strong ecumenical progress, the Dutch cardinal said.