wfn.org | Vatican Emissary Visits Louisville Seeking Christian Unity

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23-October-1996 
 
 
96424Vatican Emissary Visits Louisville Seeking Christian Unity 
 
                      by Jerry L. Van Marter 
 
LOUISVILLE, Ky.--Signaling the Roman Catholic Church's "irrevocable 
commitment" to the ecumenical movement, a top Vatican official came to 
Louisville Oct. 7-8 -- the first official visit ever by a Papal emissary to 
Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) denominational headquarters. 
 
     Monsignor John Radano, an American (and Yankees fan) from New Jersey, 
serves on the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity at the 
Vatican.  He told the Presbyterian News Service that though the Roman 
Catholic Church is "a relative late-comer to the ecumenical movement," he 
believes the Vatican's relationship with such international ecumenical 
bodies as the World Council of Churches is "a good partnership." 
 
     Through his attendance at WCC meetings Radano has become friends with 
the Rev. Eugene Turner, associate stated clerk of the General Assembly, who 
arranged for his visit.  "We really are extremely grateful [for Radano's 
visit]," stated clerk the Rev. Clifton Kirkpatrick told a group of national 
staff members gathered Oct. 7 for conversation with Radano.  "Presbyterians 
know we are only one part of the body of Christ and that we will not be 
whole until the church of Christ is whole." 
 
     Since Vatican II, a Papal enclave in the early 1960s that opened up 
the Roman Catholic Church to ecumenical participation with other 
Christians, the Vatican has conducted both bilateral and multilateral 
conversations with a variety of other Christian churches and bodies, Radano 
said.  These relationships "are not without tensions," Radano said, "but we 
are finding many ways of cooperation." 
 
     Many Christian bodies are beginning to plan celebrations to mark the 
new millenium and much of Radano's time these days is involved in seeking a 
broadly ecumenical focus for the ushering in of the year 2000.  Pope John 
Paul II issued a papal letter in 1994 "mainly to stimulate Roman Catholic 
readiness for such an event, but also to indicate the importance of 
ecumenical celebration around the new millenium," Radano said. 
 
     An informal group of church leaders has begun meeting, he added.  "We 
still have not found exact plans but should be able to have an ecumenical 
celebration [to mark the new millenium]," Radano said.  "What's important 
is that everybody is trying to figure out a way...it is realistic to expect 
we will find that way." 
 
     On matters of liturgy and doctrine, the Vatican is finding plenty of 
room for constructive dialogue.  Issues such as justification by faith have 
long separated Catholics from Lutherans, for example.  But fruitful 
dialogues are continuing. 
 
     More problematic are agreements on social pronouncements.  On issues 
ranging from birth control to abortion to the role of women in the church, 
the Vatican is still far apart from many other churches.  "Matters of faith 
and order are okay," Radano said, "but addressing social issues is still 
very hard."  But, he added, "we're still trying to find ways." 
 
     Visits to other churches -- like his visit to Louisville -- are very 
important, Radano concluded. "We can't simply remain separated.  We have to 
find a way to live together, despite the differences that still exist." 

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