wfn.org | NCC USA Celebrates Bernardin's Life, Mourns His Death

[George Conklin <gconklin@igc.apc.org>]

National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A. contact:
Carol J. Fouke, NCC, 212-870-2252
Internet: carol_fouke.parti@Ecunet org

NCC 11/15/96 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NATIONAL COUNCIL OF CHURCHES GENERAL ASSEMBLY
CEREBRATES CARDINAL BERNARDIN'S LIFE. MOURNS HIS
DEATH
Joseph Cardinal Bernardin Common Ground Award Established

     CHICAGO, Ill., Nov. 15 --- The National Council of Churches
originality had hoped that Joseph Cardinal Bernardin , Roman
Catholic Archbishop of Chicago, could attend the opening plenary
of its Nov, 13-15 General Assembly to receive the receive of what
is to be an annual award in his honor.

     But the Cardinal's strength was yielding so rapidly to
cancer that he sent his ecumenical officer, Father Thomas A.
Baima, to accept the new Joseph Cardinal Bernardin Common Ground
Award in his stead that morning (Nov. 13) - and to say the
Cardinal's goodbyes to the MOO and its many Protestant and
Orthodox leaders who had been among his friends and colleagues
for decades.

     Standing alongside Council officials at the awards ceremony
was the Rev. Dr. Don Argue, the President of the National
Association of Evangelicals - who that same morning became the
first NAE executive ever to address the National Council of
Churches' top body. Asked to offer a prayer on behalf of all
assembled, Dr. Argue thanked God for Cardinal Bernardin, saying,
we are richer people in our faith and our relationships to each
other for' knowing him"

The General Assembly sent the award along with a burning candle
and a copy of the newly published Common Bible (New Revised
Standard Version) to Cardinal Bernardin's bedside. The occasion
gained a special poignancy when, the following morning, General
Assembly delegates learned that Cardinal Bernardin had died
during the night. The rest of the Assembly was punctuated by
remembrances and prayers, including by a 20-member General
Assembly delegation that offered prayers Thursday afternoon at
Holy Name cathedral.

     Established by vote of the Council's officers, the award's
purpose is to bring "honor and
recognition'.of to those persons whose lives have shown
dedication to the unity of people." It IS named in honor of
cardinal BERNARDIN as "a man of constancy and tenacity in the
search for common ground for the people of God.'1

     The award, designed and produced on prism glass, is etched
with these words.' "In honor of the Vision, Grace and Courage of
Joseph Cardinal Bernardin in seeking Common Ground for the people
of God" A Council official said the award's designers and
creators, Ostrum Glass in Portland, Ore., were so inspired by the
cardinal's life and work that they decided to donate all their
labor and production costs, estimated at $1,500.

     The NCC's General Secretary the Rev. Dr. Joan Brown
Campbell, who has known Cardinal Bernardin "since he was a young
priest" (and who will represent the NCC at the Cardinal's
funeral) hailed the Archbishop as a "bridge builder among
Catholics, between Catholics and Protestants, between Catholics
and Jews. He consistently has found common ground among otherwise
disagreeing partners" on issues as divisive as abortion, the
limits of civil liberties and the role of women in the church,
Dr. Campbell said.        "This Cardinal has found common ground
with Protestants and Orthodox as well as with Roman Catholics'
she said- "He has been an outstanding advocate for social
justice.

     Father Baima, thanking the General Assembly for the award,
said, "You have been his partners in so many works." lie
particularly cited the Religious Alliance Against Pornography, in
which Cardinal Bernardin participated along with Dr. Argue and
NCC officials, including Dr. Campbell. 

      If Cardinal Bernardin had been able to say his good-byes to
the NCC in person, Father Baima said, he likely would have said,
"I am Joseph, your brother. I have tried as a brother first to
listen and then to speak. If any of this has helped heal past
resentment, I am grateful. I wish to tell you how much I love you
and how much this friendship means to me. This relationship has
been a blessing to me

     Dr. Campbell led the 20 member delegation from the General
Assembly to offer prayers Thursday afternoon (Nov. 14) at the
Holy Name Cathedral in honor of Cardinal Bernardin. She brought a
letter of condolence and read it on the cathedral steps, then the
delegation entered the cathedral to pray and sign a book of
remembrances.

     Dr. Campbell and other heads and representatives of several
of the NCC's 33 protestant and Orthodox member denominations were
greeted by Father Baima, who told the NCC delegation, "I am
grateful to the heads of Christian communions tar their visit to
the Holy Name Cathedral today. It is a blessing to us that you
were here in Chicago at the time of our Archbishop's death-

     "Joseph cardinal Bernardin was deeply committed to Christian
unity," he said. "Over the last 10 years, he worked personally
with many of you yesterday, you honored him as the first
recipient of the Common Ground Award, which will also bear his
name.'. Now you have come to his cathedral to offer you support
to us as sisters and brothers in Christ. The Catholic Church of
Chicago welcomes
you."

     "With profound gratitude and love we bring our prayers and
condolences to you and all of the people of the Archdiocese of
Chicago on the death of our brother Joseph Cardinal Bernardin
read Dr. Campbell The letter, which was addressed to Bishop
Raymond Geodert of the Chicago Archdiocese, continued: "We
rejoice that Cardinal Bernardin belonged to us as well. He was
our longtime friend, counselor and partner in the journey of
Christian unity. His gentleness and strength, his gifts of
scholarship and wise counsel, his openness and loving service to
all enriched our lives. without our beloved Joseph, the journey
will be difficult but as people filled with the promises of
Easter, our journey will continue. inspired by the grace of his
life and the power of his death, we recommit ourselves to our
Christian mission. We praise God for' Joseph, a saint for our
time," the letter concluded -

     The NCC will establish a committee to select future
recipients of the Joseph Cardinal Bernardin Common Ground Award.
NCC representatives will consult with both the president of the
National Conference of Catholic Bishops and the Vicar General of
the Archdiocese of Chicago to insure that the highest standards
always will be associated with the award.

                    -end-