wfn.org | Lutheran-Roman Catholic Dialogue Continues 'Hope of Eternal Life' Theme

[<NEWS@ELCA.ORG>]

Title: Lutheran-Roman Catholic Dialogue Continues 'Hope of Eternal Life' Theme
ELCA NEWS SERVICE

>November 17, 2008  

Lutheran-Roman Catholic Dialogue Continues 'Hope of Eternal Life' Theme
08-192-JB/USCCB*

CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The U.S. Lutheran-Roman Catholic Dialogue
added to its current round of meetings on the topic of "Hope of
Eternal Life" a new study on the sacrament of the Eucharist.  The
Oct. 10-14 session at St. Paul's College, Washington, D.C., was
the sixth of Round XI in the historic relationship between
Lutherans and Catholics that began 43 years ago at the end of the
Second Vatican Council.

Dialogue participants have explored beliefs and practices
related to eternal life in Christ since the round began in 2005.
At the October session a special task force from the Dialogue
membership welcomed Msgr. John Radano, former undersecretary,
Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, The Vatican, as
part of a new discussion on areas of consensus and disagreement
between Catholics and Lutherans on eucharistic doctrine. The new
initiative is the result of conversations between members of the
Pontifical Council and the Rev. Mark S. Hanson, presiding bishop
of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA).

In response to a written message from Hanson to Pope
Benedict XVI in September 2007, the Pontifical Council suggested
that the ELCA and the U.S. Roman Catholic Church seek to
formulate a joint teaching statement, said the Rev. Lowell G.
Almen, Lutheran co-chair of the U.S. dialogue and former ELCA
secretary. The statement would acknowledge the mutual confession
of the churches of the real presence of Jesus Christ in the
Eucharist, he said.

"The Eucharist is the place of encounter with Christ who is
eternal life," said the Rev. James Massa, executive director,
Secretariat for Ecumenical and Interreligous Affairs, U.S.
Conference of Catholic Bishops, Washington, and also one of the
two staff coordinators of the dialogue.  "I see it as
particularly appropriate that we take up Bishop Hanson's proposal
precisely at a time when the dialogue team is talking about
prayers for the deceased as part of its overall treatment of
eternal life. For many Christian believers the Eucharist is the
preeminent prayer of thanksgiving for Christ's life-giving
sacrifice, to which he joins all of the faithful, living and
dead."

The dialogue adopted a time line for conclusion of the
current round, which includes a review process for a Common
Agreement on Eternal Life. Drafters have presented portions of a
draft text that treat the topic from a biblical-historical,
systematic and pastoral standpoint. "The report, when completed,
will be helpful to both pastors and members of parishes," Almen
said. "It will serve as a resource for teaching and discussion as
members of congregations ponder questions about death and dying
as well as the promise of eternal life in Christ."

Almen added, "The report also will highlight the broad
reality of the Church throughout time and eternity.  After all,
as we gather at the table of our Lord, we are surrounded by all
the faithful who have gone before us, the great cloud of
witnesses, as we anticipate the eternal banquet of our Lord."

The next session of the dialogue is March 12-15, 2009, in
Washington. Participants will examine a complete draft of the
common statement and also consider the contents and format of a
possible publication that would include the statement along with
a series of essays based on papers that have been presented over
the course of the round.

Participants in the October 2008 meeting mourned the loss of
one of the longest serving members of the U.S. Lutheran-Roman
Catholic Dialogue, the Rev. John Reumann, professor emeritus of
New Testament and Greek, the Lutheran Theological Seminary at
Philadelphia. Reumann, who died June 6, 2008, was remembered by
dialogue participants in a memorial service at the end of the
meeting.

Last year the dialogue held a memorial mass for the passing
of another long-serving member, the Rev. George Tavard A.A., an
Augustinian of the Assumption priest and prolific author, who
died in 2007.

>---

* Information for this release was provided by the U.S.
Conference of Catholic Bishops.

Information regarding the U.S. Lutheran-Roman Catholic
Dialogue is at http://tinyurl.com/5rx4hu on the ELCA Web site.     

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