ECUMENICAL CONSULTATIONS HELD ON INDULGENCES

VATICAN CITY, FEB 15, 2001 (VIS) - A communique published yesterday announced that, "for the first time since the Reformation, Catholics, Lutherans and Reformed held an ecumenical theological consultation on the theme of indulgences. The meeting involving the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, the Lutheran World Federation and the World Alliance of Reformed Churches took place in Rome on February 9 and 10, upon the invitation of the pontifical council.

"The purpose was to clarify historical, theological and pastoral issues related to indulgences in order to come to a better understanding of each other. It did not aim at an agreement on indulgences - an issue on which there have been longstanding differences between the Roman Catholic Church and the churches of the reformation.

"The consultation took place in a positive atmosphere which lent itself to honest and constructive discussion. There were common prayers at the beginning of each day and at the end of the consultation."

Presentations on the Catholic understanding of indulgences included addresses on "Historical Aspects of the Indulgence" and "Towards Understanding Indulgences: 'Veterea et Nova'." Lutheran and Reformed responses included addresses on "The Jubilee Indulgence and the Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification" and "A Reformed View of Indulgences."

Bishop Walter Kasper, secretary of the pontifical council, Rev. Dr. Ishmael Noko, secretary general of the Lutheran World Federation, and Rev. Dr. Setri Nyomi, secretary general of the World Alliance of Reformed Churches, took turns chairing the meetings. Cardinal Edward Cassidy, president of the pontifical council, took part in several sessions of the consultations.

It is intended that the papers from this consultation will be published as a contribution to further discussion.

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