[SCOBA] The Orthodox-Catholic Theological Consultation Holds Its 74th Meeting

[Communications Department]

SCOBA
The Standing Conference of the Canonical Orthodox Bishops in the Americas
8 East 79th Street, New York, NY 10075-0106


PRESS RELEASE
June 6, 2008


THE ORTHODOX-CATHOLIC THEOLOGICAL CONSULTATION 
HOLDS ITS 74th MEETING

ORTHODOX, CATHOLICS EXAMINE MEANS OF EXPRESSING AUTHORITY, SACRAMENTAL 
NATURE OF THE CHURCH


NEW YORK - The North American Orthodox-Catholic Theological Consultation 
examined how the two church bodies understand ecclesial authority and the 
sacramental nature of the Church at their 74th meeting at Hellenic 
College/Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology in Brookline, 
Massachusetts,  from June 2-4, 2008. 

Archbishop Daniel Pilarczyk of Cincinnati and Metropolitan Maximos of 
Pittsburgh chaired the meeting. 

At the first theological session, Father Paul McPartlan of The Catholic 
University of America offered an analysis of the October 2007 document of 
the international Orthodox-Catholic theological dialogue, “Ecclesiological 
and Canonical Consequences of the Sacramental Nature of the Church: 
Ecclesial Communion, Conciliarity and Authority.”  Also known as “The 
Ravenna Document,” this text examines the canonical structures that serve 
the understanding of koinonia (community) in the Church at the local, 
regional and world-wide levels.  Father McPartlan is himself a member of 
the international dialogue.  A Catholic reaction to the document was then 
presented by Father John Galvin and an Orthodox reaction by Robert Haddad, 
Ph.D.

At the second session, Father Joseph Komonchak, from Catholic University, 
presented a select bibliography on synodality and commented on a number of 
the sources.  Jesuit Father Brian Daley of the University of Notre Dame, 
presented an overview and commentary of the Cyprus Agreed Statement, the 
2006 document of the Anglican-Orthodox theological dialogue, titled “The 
Church of the Triune God.”  This was followed by brief presentations by 
Father David Petras and Father  McPartlan on how the two churches might 
function were there reestablishment of full communion.

At the third session, Metropolitan Maximos presented the paper, “Will the 
Ecclesiology of Cardinal Ratzinger Influence the Pontificate of Pope 
Benedict XVI?”  This was followed by discussion of the Consultation’s 
efforts exploring primacy and synodality so far.  The discussion continued 
at the fourth session. 

While at Holy Cross, the members also shared in the spiritual life of the 
seminary, attending Vespers on Monday evening and a celebration of the 
Divine Liturgy in the seminary chapel on Tuesday morning, presided over by 
Metropolitan Maximos. 

Father John Erickson of Saint Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary, 
who had been an Orthodox member before he was named seminary dean in 2002, 
was welcomed back to the Consultation.  He takes the place of Dr. John 
Barnet, also of Saint Vladimir’s Seminary.  The next meeting is slated for 
October 23-25, in Montreal, Quebec.  It will be sponsored by the Canadian 
Conference of Catholic Bishops, which has been an official participant in 
the North American Consultation since 1997. 

In addition to the co-chairs, the Consultation include Orthodox 
representatives Father Thomas FitzGerald (Secretary), Father Nicholas 
Apostola, Susan Ashbrook Harvey, Ph.D., Father James Dutko, Paul 
Meyendorff, Ph.D., Father Alexander Golitzin, Robert Haddad, Ph.D., Father 
Paul Schneirla, Father Robert Stephanopoulos, Father John Erickson, Father 
Theodore Pulcini, and Father Mark Arey, General Secretary of SCOBA 
(staff). 

The additional Catholic members are Jesuit Father Brian Daley (Secretary), 
Thomas Bird, Ph.D., Holy Cross Father Lucien Coutu, Father Peter Galadza, 
Chorbishop John D. Faris, Father John Galvin, Father Sidney Griffith, 
Father Joseph Komonchak, Father Paul McPartlan, Father David Petras, 
Sister Susan K. Wood, Vito Nicastro, Ph.D., and Paulist Father Ronald 
Roberson, who serves as staff.

The North American Orthodox-Catholic Theological Consultation is sponsored 
jointly by the Standing Conference of Canonical Orthodox Bishops in the 
Americas (SCOBA), the Bishops' Committee for Ecumenical and Interreligious 
Affairs of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), and 
the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops. Since its establishment in 
1965, the Consultation has issued 22 agreed statements on various topics. 
All these texts are now available on the SCOBA Website at  
http://www.scoba.us/resources/orthodox-catholic.html and at the USCCB 
website at 
 http://www.usccb.org/seia/orthodox_index.shtml.