This evening, an agreement will be signed in which the baptismal rites of several Reformed Churches and that of the Catholic Church are mutually recognized. Signatories include the Christian Reformed Church, which sponsors Calvin College, a major liturgical center in the US.
This is “costly” ecumenism rather than “easy” ecumenism. Differences are not ignored but are discussed in long-term dialogue projects with concrete goals. And this project’s happy ending happens tonight.
Leaders of U.S. Roman Catholic and some Protestant churches will sign a historic agreement Tuesday in Austin by which the two traditions will formally recognize each other’s liturgical rites of baptism.
The product of seven years of talks among five denominations, the agreement will be signed at 7:15 p.m. Tuesday at a prayer service and celebration at St. Mary Cathedral. The service will be open to the public and will be part of the opening day activities of the national meeting of Christian Churches Together in the U.S.A., which will continue through Friday in Austin.
Thanks, Rocco Palmo.