Response to The Chieti Document is Another Step Forward for the Catholic and Orthodox Churches’ Common Understanding in Service of Unity
WASHINGTON—The
North American Orthodox-Catholic Theological Consultation (NAOCTC) has released
its response to the most recent document produced by the Joint International
Commission for Theological Dialogue between the Roman Catholic Church and the
Orthodox Church. Entitled, “Synodality and Primacy During the First Millennium:
Towards a Common Understanding in Service to the Unity of the Church,” this
work of the international dialogue was released in September 2016. It is often
referred to as, “The Chieti Document,” because it was finalized during a
meeting in Chieti, Italy.
The NAOCTC, which is co-chaired by Cardinal Joseph W. Tobin,
Archbishop of Newark and Consultant for the U.S. Bishops’ Committee on Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs, and
by Metropolitan Methodios of Boston, prepared its response during its most
recent meeting, which took place in Washington, DC, from 26-28 October. The
response praises the Chieti Document “as the fruit of perseverance in fidelity
to our one Lord. It is a fruit holding
many seeds, potentially yielding a harvest for the countless members of our
Churches who experience the division every day in their lives and pray for it
to be healed.”
The Chieti
Document discusses the relationship between primacy and synodality during the
first millennium Churches of the East and West. It specifically examines that
relationship on three levels: the local, regional and universal. The NAOCTC
response reflects upon each of the three levels and offers suggestions for
further study and consideration.
The North American dialogue has responded to every agreed statement produced by
the International Dialogue including those finalized at Rhodes (1980), Munich
(1982), Bari (1987), Valamo (1988), Balamand (1993), and Ravenna (2007).
The Chieti
document is posted on the Vatican web site here:
and on the
web site of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople here:
The North
American Orthodox-Catholic Theological Consultation was established in 1965 by
the Standing Conference of Canonical Orthodox Bishops in America, now the
Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of the United States, and by the
National Conference of Catholic Bishops, now the United States Conference of
Catholic Bishops. Since 1997, the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops has
been a co-sponsor.
More information on the work of the North American Orthodox-Catholic
Theological Consultation, including links to the full text of Statements and
other documents, may be found at the respective sites of:
The Assembly
of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of the United States:
www.assemblyofbishops.org/ministries/dialogue/orthodox-catholic/
and The
United States Conference of Catholic Bishops:
www.usccb.org/beliefs-and-teachings/ecumenical-and-interreligious/ecumenical/orthodox/index.cfm
The response to the recent document produced
by the Joint International Commission for Theological Dialogue between the
Catholic Church and the Orthodox Church, “Synodality and Primacy During the
First Millennium: Towards a Common Understanding in Service to the Unity of the
Church,” The Chieti Document of the international dialogue can
be found here: https://www.usccb.org/beliefs-and-teachings/ecumenical-and-interreligious/ecumenical/orthodox/upload/Chieti-Response.pdf
—
Keywords: North
American Orthodox-Catholic Theological Consultation (NAOCTC), Joint
International Commission for Theological Dialogue, Catholic Church, Vatican, Orthodox
Church, “Synodality, Primacy, common understanding, unity of the Church,
international dialogue, The Chieti Document, Cardinal Joseph W. Tobin,
Metropolitan Methodios, dialogue.
###
Media Contact:
Judy Keane
202-541-3200
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