Third European Ecumenical Assembly

Christian unity remains the central goal of all Europe's churches - but when, how and whether this will happen remained unclear in the final message of the five-day Third European Ecumenical Assembly (EEA3) here last week.

Under the title of 'The Light of Christ shines upon all. Hope for renewal and unity in Europe', EEA3 was co-organised by the Council of European Bishops' Conferences (Catholic) and the Council of European Churches (125 other Christian denominations).

They chose this ancient town in central Transylvania (part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire until 1919) for both its East European location and centuries-long history of co-existence between the main churches established here - Orthodox, Catholic, Lutheran, Protestant and Evangelical.

Consolidating progress achieved at two previous assemblies in 1989 and 1997 and under the 'Carta Oecumenica' signed in 2001, the final 10-point Assembly Message, a disappointingly brief overview of recommendations issued by nine discussion forums, broke no new ground on the issue of unity - described as "not meaning uniformity".

Continued dialogue on divisive doctrinal issues was advocated along with a broad Christian consensus on moral values and lifestyles derived from the Gospel. Other points included commitments for increased mutual contacts and joint action on migration, anti-Semitism, inter-faith dialogue, environmental protection, overseas development, and Africa.

The dramatic challenge here by the Zimbabwean general secretary of the Lutheran World Federation, Rev. Ishmael Noko, that all Christians should reunite around the Eucharistic table in 2017, the 500th anniversary of the launch of the Reformation by the German Augustinian monk Martin Luther, seems unlikely to be met.

Fr Vanni Xuereb, president of the Curia's Commission on the Church in Malta and Europe, told The Sunday Times: "Sibiu once again reminded me that the division is more about pride, power and politics. Many prejudices still have to be overcome, especially at church leadership level. Yet Sibiu also marked a renewal of hope that our common faith in the Lord Jesus Christ will allow all Christians to transform words into deeds."

The other Maltese church representative, Fr Alfred Vella, director of the Emigrants' Commission, will be writing reports for the Maltese and English language media mainly focusing on the migration and related issues addressed at the EEA3 and a previous Catholic meeting. "Malta's illegal immigration challenge seemed little known," he said.

Starting and ending with a spectacular show organised by the Sibiu town hall in the city's huge central square, the assembly's plenaries were held inside a huge tent pitched in the town's central park.

The 437 women (including some 30 women priests) and 713 male delegates roughly reflected in terms of religious affiliation the near 50:50 global divide of the world's two billion Christians between Catholics and non-Catholics. Each day opened with morning prayer - an ecumenical 'fusion' of chants, hymns and prayers with reflections from church leaders.

A stark reminder of continuing divisions however were the separate Eucharistic services in local churches on the feast of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the following Sunday for Catholics, Anglicans, Orthodox, Lutherans and Protestants

"Recovery of full, visible unity between all Christians is a pastoral priority to which I have given much attention," Pope Benedict XVI said in his message to the EEA3. "We Christians must be aware of our task of helping Europe and the world hear the voice of the one who said: 'I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life' then help to build a better future for the peoples of Europe."

His Holiness hoped that the assembly would create "spaces for encounter for unity in legitimate diversity... in an atmosphere of mutual trust... where people are aware that our common roots reach much deeper than our divisions. May the Lord bless your families, communities, churches and all those who declare themselves to be disciples of Christ... in Europe."

These friendly, inclusive words were interpreted by many as 'damage control' for the statement in July from the Vatican's Congregation of Doctrine of the Faith (reiterating ideas in the controversial CDF document Domine Jesus of 2000) that the Churches of the Reformation were not churches in the proper sense.

This statement was "very unfortunate from an ecumenical point of view", the leader of the German Evangelical Church, Bishop Dr Wolfgang Huber, said in his plenary speech. "Christian churches and confessions are different colours in the spectrum of the one light. One church's claim to be the sole, true manifestation of the foundation, Jesus Christ, to be the only 'Christ existing as congregation' inevitably downgrades other churches and obstructs the churches' common radiance."

The Reformation launched in 1517 did not want to start a new Church, he emphasised, but rather "expose the then obfuscation of the faith so that the light of Christ could shine brightly for all. Our common origins and history must be seen as an important common source and ecumenical point of departure."

The Vatican's keynote speaker, Cardinal Walter Kasper, president of the Pontifical Council on Council Unity, also struck a conciliatory, though frank tone. In the CDF document he said "the Catholic Church set out differences that unfortunately exist and... reminded us of the task that lies before us. I know that many... felt hurt by this. I, too, had problems with it. For the hurt and pain of my friends is my hurt and pain as well. It was not our intention to hurt or belittle anyone. We wanted to bear witness to the truth, just as we expect other churches to, and just as other churches already do. "

"Cosy... fake ecumenism... being nice to each other, do not get us very far; the only way forward is dialogue in truth and clarity. Since we are not as one in our understanding of the Church and, to a great extent, the Eucharist, we cannot gather at the one table of the Lord and eat the one eucharistic bread or drink from the one eucharistic cup. It does not help to conceal wounds; we need to leave them open, even when there is pain; only then can we treat them and, with God's help, heal."

However, the CDF document explicitly stated that "Jesus Christ is also salvifically present in a saving way in the churches and ecclesial communities... divided from us, too", the Cardinal said. "Differences do not affect being a Christian... the question of salvation; (they) are linked to... the way salvation is mediated and the visible form of the Church."

"There is no ecumenical progress without conversion and penance (demanding) readiness for renewal and reform... necessary in every Church. A new evangelisation is called for. What is needed is the solid fare of committed, lived faith. For Europe cannot be just an economic and political unit; if she is to have any future, Europe needs a shared vision and a shared set of basic values."

On his way to Bucharest for his first official visit to Romania (which joined the EU this January) Josè Manuel Barroso, President of European Commission, told the assembly plenary of the EC's long-standing 'fruitful dialogue' with all the major religions present in Europe.

This dialogue would "acquire an open, transparent and regular character under the forthcoming Reform Treaty. Europe's mission in the 21st century should be to favour economic and social development but it must also defend and spread the values to which Europeans are attached," he said.

"Ecumenism can contribute to the consolidation of values with which the large majority of European citizens identify themselves as well as better mutual understanding I am certain that Europe can count on your contribution to overcome its divisions and achieve unity."

However, the Anglican Bishop of London, the Rt. Rev. Richard Chartres, warned against churches becoming just 'cheerleaders' for value systems developed by non-church actors. 

"We must engage with the dominant community, celebrating with our fellow citizens where we can, but seeing where we all need to grow in the light of Christ."