'Ecumenical, not economical'

The 1960s were a fantastic decade. They gave us, among others, the flower people, Malta's independence, the Beatles, students' protests all over the West, and Vatican II. This assorted array of topics bred an air of optimism.

I was teenager during the 1960s. I vividly remember, for example, the new hope that was ushered in by Vatican II. The liturgy in Maltese was the most tangible innovation. However, other innovations there were aplenty. Several public gathering were held in different villages in Malta to explain what Vatican II was doing and how it would affect the Church.

Fr Joe Bernard, SJ, one of Malta's most holy and intelligent priests, addressed one such activity in Balzan. He referred to ecumenism. It was the first time I had heard this word. I was not alone. Fr Bernard must have noticed the blank faces that stared at him and suspected that the audience had misunderstood the term: "Ecumenical, not economical," he said. He went on to explain that many divisions plagued Christianity both in the east and west and that it was time to try and heal these divisions, which were like deep lacerations disfiguring the body of Christ.

Much water has passed under the ecumenical bridge since then. Catholics considered Protestants (our separated brethren in the west) and Orthodox believers as heretics and enemies. I presume they returned the compliment.

When in the 1960s the English Anglicans in Malta wanted to conduct a short procession from the building that today houses the Central Bank to Castille, all hell broke loose and the Maltese Church protested vehemently with the government. This was the Church's standard reaction to 'heretics' the world over. The attitude of the Protestants and the Orthodox towards Catholics was similarly nasty.

Thanks to the myriad ecumenical prayer meetings and theological study groups that were set up between different churches since Vatican II a lot of progress has been registered. The progress with the Orthodox has been considerable, to the extent that at one point during the last years of John Paul II's pontificate a possible union between the Catholic and Orthodox churches was being mooted. Alas, it was not to be.

Moreover, there are still tensions between Catholics and Orthodox in a number of eastern Europe countries. The conflicts between different Christian groups in Bethlehem and at the sanctuary of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem are scandalous. There has been both progress and setbacks with many Protestant groups. The introduction of women priests and gay bishops did not help. However, by and large, the atmosphere is clearer and saner in most countries.

Locally, ecumenism is promoted by the Diocesan Ecumenical Commission and by the Malta Ecumenical Council. The latter body brings together representatives from the following Christian traditions: Roman Catholic, Anglican, Church of Scotland, Methodist, German Lutheran, Greek Orthodox, Serbian Orthodox, Coptic Orthodox, and Seventh Day Adventist. The council meets regularly to plan events and to discuss matters of ecumenical interest.

The Diocesan Commission's role is to work pastorally on a parish and diocesan level to make local Catholics more aware of ecumenism.

A national ecumenical service will be held at St Andrew's Scots Church, South Street, Valletta, on January 21 at 6.30 p.m. The service will be led by Paul Slater, a lay Methodist elder, while Fr René Camilleri will deliver a reflection. Another ecumenical service will be held at the Millennium chapel, Paceville, on January 19 at 7.30 p.m.

joseph.borg@um.edu.mt