Magyar Egyház, 1979 (58. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
1979-05-01 / 5-6. szám
12 MAGYAR EGYHÁZ Excerpts from the Report on the Roman Catholic—Presbyterian—Reformed Consultation at the North American and Caribbean Area Council, New York, N.Y., February 7, 1979 The Roman Catholic/Presbyterian-Reformed Consultation, jointly sponsored by the Bishops’ Committee for Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs and the North American and Caribbean Area Council of the World Alliance of Reformed Churches, is near the completion of its Round III which began in the Fall of 1976. The main theme is “Ethics and the Search for Christian Unity.” We have been working on two specific subthemes: “An Ecumenical Response to Abortion” and “Human Rights and Economic Justice.” The Consultation has been meeting twice annually in plenary sessions and in work groups. Statements on the two subthemes have been prepared. Following in-depth discussions the draft-statemen on abortion was put into the hands of the womenmembers of the Consultation who, after several special meetings, have come up with a joint Draft Statement. Sent out for comments to the entire membership, it is now being rewritten and will be presented for finalizaton. The same procedure has been and will be followed in regard to the draft statement on human rights. It was redrafted by the original four drafters on the basis of comments received and will be presented to the next session. The last meeting of Round 111 of the Consultation is planned for the Fall of 1979. There the ready Statements and Commentaries would receive the ultimate revision and they would be approved for publication. The final document would be an Ecumenical Pastoral Letter to the people of both traditions. Because of its size it would be published in various magazines; reprinted in pamphlet form would be distributed among the churches. Our goal is to get the document to as many pastors and congregations as possible. The principles of approach to the themes we had set at the incept of this Round — and which I described in my interim report to the Area Council in January, 1978 — have been strictly observed and successfully adhered to: we wanted to treat both problems from the viewpoint of the ecumenist, showing with clarity where there is agreement between the two traditions and with clarity where there is disagreement. We undertook the task of discussing these delicate subjects in the conviction that diversity and unity are not mutually exclusive. Being close to the conclusion of this Round of the Consultation we must think of the future. The need to continue the dialogue should not be questioned. Statements of Pope John Paul II have given encouragement to continue and also an assurance of support. I suggest that the Area Council approve, in principle, the continuance of the Consultation. Details as to theme or themes, length and composition of the delegation should be worked out by the Steering Committee of the Consultation and then presented to the parent bodies. Following the pattern of the previous re-constituted rounds the new Round IV could begin in the Fall of 1980. Whether we shall follow the old pattern or set up a new format the goal remains the same: sincere and ardent search for Christian Unity. “The love of Christ leaves us no choice” that we “should live for him” (2 Corinthians 5:14,16). Dr. Andrew Harsanyi 1t ☆ NO KIDDING? With apologies to the author of the 23rd Psalm.. . The State is my Shepherd: I shall not work It maketh me to lie down on good jobs It leadeth me by the still factories. It deadens my soul; it leadeth me in The paths of idleness for politics sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley Of slothfulness and economic disaster, I will fear no evil for it be with me Its doles and paternalism they comfort me It prepareth a Utopia for me by appropriating The earnings of the frugal; it filleth my Head with fool expectations, my mounting Inefficiencies runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow Me all the days of my life and I shall live On the bounty of the state forever. “Father must 1 go to work? No! NO! my darling son We re living now on easy street W’ith funds from Washington. We're cared for now by Uncle Sam So don't get exercised; We do not need to care Because we're subsidized. But if he's going to treat us well And give us milk and honey Please truly tell, Where’s he going to gel the money?
