wfn.org | Repeating related news release of 27 May 1999

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

CONFIRMATION OF JOINT DECLARATION ON THE DOCTRINE OF JUSTIFICATION
BETWEEN THE LUTHERAN WORLD FEDERATION AND THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH

GENEVA, 27 May 1999 (lwi) - The Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of
Justification can now be the object of a joint action of confirmation
between the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) and the Roman Catholic
Church.

On the basis of responses from its member churches, the LWF Council
affirmed the Joint Declaration on 16 June 1998. And on 25 June 1998
the Roman Catholic Church gave its response to the same Declaration.
At that time it was clear that the two dialogue partners had not
affirmed the Joint Declaration in the same way.

However, an action of joint signing could only take place if the two
parties involved had the same understanding of the significance of
such a signing. In consultations between the Roman Catholic Church
and the LWF, discussions have taken place to clarify the basis for a
joint signing, leading to a possible *Official Common Statement*
which could be jointly signed, and a short explanatory *Annex* to
this Statement.

The LWF General Secretary, Rev. Dr. Ishmael Noko today received a
letter from the President of the Pontifical Council for Promoting
Christian Unity,  H.E. Edward Idris Cardinal Cassidy, informing that
the Holy See has approved these texts, opening the way for the
signing of the Joint Declaration.

Details about the time and place of the signing ceremony of the Joint
Declaration will be announced here on 11 June 1999 at a press
conference jointly by Dr. Noko and Cardinal Cassidy.

(The Lutheran World Federation (LWF) is a global communion of
Lutheran churches. Founded in 1947, the LWF now has 124 member
churches in 69 countries representing 58 million of the world*s 61.5
million Lutherans. Its highest decision-making body is the Assembly
which meets every six or seven years. Between Assemblies the LWF is
governed by a 49-member Council, which meets annually and its
Executive Committee.)

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Lutheran World Information
Assistant Editor, English: Pauline Mumia
E-mail: pmu@lutheranworld.org
http://www.lutheranworld.org/