wfn.org | Nordic Lutheran, Catholic theologians prepare to dialogue

[FRANK_IMHOFF.parti@ecunet.org (FRANK IMHOFF)]

COPENHAGEN, Denmark, March 10, 1998 (lwi) - Lutheran and Roman Catholic
theologians in the Nordic countries are preparing for dialogue to clarify
their views on the offices of deacon, priest, bishop and the teaching of
the Eucharist. The initiative originally came from the churches in Sweden
and Finland who then invited the other churches. The Danish Council on
Inter-Church Relations recently decided to take part in the preparatory
talks as well.

General secretary of the Council on Inter-Church Relations, Rev. Ane
Hjerrild, told the Danish newspaper Christian Daily: "The situation in the
Nordic countries is a special one unlike that found in other parts of the
world. The Nordic countries are characterized by their big Lutheran
churches and a Catholic church is in a clear minority. The aim is to find
out what a regional dialogue might lead to. Earlier, the Swedish and
Finnish churches made contact with the Vatican, but the other Nordic
churches warned against a possible split between them, thinking it a better
idea to establish contact and dialogue at the Nordic level."

Roman Catholic bishop in Denmark, Czeslaw Kozon, says that the Nordic
Catholic Bishops' Conference is ready for the dialogue, and has appointed
participants in the talks. He says he considers such a meeting will be
interesting because the Lutheran churches who are usually in a minority, in
the Nordic context, although established, may evaluate the questions
differently.

A number of theologians, expert in their fields, will be asked to
contribute to the dialogue.

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Lutheran World Information
Editorial Assistant: Janet Bond-Nash
E-mail: jbn@lutheranworld.org
http://www.lutheranworld.org/