THE Catholic Church in Australia has taken a landmark step along the road to ecumenism by signing a covenant with other Churches at the fifth national forum of the National Council of Churches in Australia (NCCA) in Adelaide earlier this month.
Bishop Michael Putney of Townsville represented the Catholic Church at the forum from July 9-13, where all 15 member Churches reaffirmed their commitment to one another ‘as partners on the ecumenical journey’.
All members also agreed to join in common prayer with each other and care for each other and pledged that they would explore further steps ‘to make more clearly visible the unity of all Christian people in this country’.
The Catholic Church was one of 10 Churches which agreed to share physical resources and consult each other before major new developments are undertaken.
Along with six other member Churches, it also agreed to explore issues and strategies for mission together.
The Catholic Church was one of nine Churches which agreed to recognise each other’s baptism and to promote the use of a common baptismal certificate.
The signing of the covenant is believed to be an international benchmark.
NCCA President, Uniting Church Rev Professor James Haire, said no one else had been able to produce anything as comprehensive.
Bishop Putney said the covenant was an important step in the ecumenical movement.
