COMMISSION ON ECUMENICAL AFFAIRS (ECEA)

Labels: , ,

The Commission on Ecumenical Affairs functions in accordance with the prescriptions of the new Code of Canon Law, as embodied in the revised Vatican documents "Directory Concerning Ecumenical Matters" and "Ecumenical Collaboration," at the regional, national, and local levels.

Using the facilities of its permanent secretariat - the John XXIII Ecumenical Center, it maintains contact with the Vatican Secretariate for Promoting Christian Unity and keeps the bishops informed of matters emanating from here.

While assists Philippine bishops to establish diocesan ecumenical commissions, it fosters dialogue with ecumenical councils and leaders of other Christian Churches.

The Commission recommends to the CBCP measures to implement the Decree "Unitatis Redingratio" and represents the Conference in ecumenical conferences while maintaining constant dialogue with mainline Protestant Churches.

So gone are the days of the narrow religious mind. Ecumenism, like a fresh wind, is today at work in what unites churches rather what separates them. In 1969 a tentative agreement on a mutual recognition of the validity of Baptism between the Catholic and Lutheran Churches in the Philippines saw fruition in a Baptismal Agreement finally signed in February of 1972, followed by another such agreement with the Philippine Episcopal Church in 1980.

The Ecumenical Encounter initiated by Pope Paul VI at the Apostolic Nunciature in1970 opened up more ecumenical dialogues at the Union Theological Seminary, the National Council of Churches in the Philippines, and the United Methodist Church.

In 1981, Pope John Paul II met with representatives of Christian Churches, also at the Nunciature, and in 1988 a National Ecumenical Consultative Commission was organized under the auspices of Malacañang, with Bishops Cariño, Iñiguez and Bacani in its ranks. In 1993, Bishop Deogracias S. Iñiguez, Jr., as Chairman of this Commission, attended the meeting of the Ecumenical Commission of Episcopal Conferences in Rome.

In 1994 a joint cooperation named "Ecumenism in Action" was launched by the Commission and the NCCP. And in August of 1994, a first Medical mission to Bacolor, Pampanga took place with 30 participants from various Christian Churches during the World Youth Day celebration with the Holy Father, particularly in the Inter-Religious Forum, in January 1995.

Chairman: Abp. Fernando R. Capalla

Vice Chairman: Bp. Deogracias S. Iñiguez, Jr.

Members:
Bp. John F. Du
Bp. Zacharias C. Jimenez
Bp. Socrates B. Villegas

Executive Secretary:

Ms. Madeleine Dannug

Address:

Focolare Movement
1876 Villa Barbara Int.
Dominga St., 1300 Pasay City

Telephone: 928-8010
Fax: 521-9321
e-mail: ecumenical@cbcpworld.com