February 18, 2005

SALVADOR, Brazil – Representatives from non Catholic Churches who took part in the Mass to celebrate the beginning of the 2005 Ecumenical Fraternity Campaign in Salvador, Bahia were not allowed to receive communion at the service.

The Mass was celebrated last Sunday in the Salvador Cathedral, by Cardinal Archbishop and President of the Brazilian Bishops' Conference (CNBB), Geraldo Majella.

Eight Churches participated in the launch of the 2005 Fraternity Campaign but only representatives from four Churches: Anglican Episcopal, Syrian Orthodox, Nazareth Baptist and Evangelical Church of the Lutheran Confession, participated in the Mass.

Bishop Majella invited the pastors from those denominations to sit in a place of honor, next to the Altar. However, when it came time to partake in the communion, the Archbishop said he could not administer it to them.

The National Council of Christian Churches of Brazil (CONIC) lamented the unfortunate moment.

"We are surprised by this gesture on the part of the Cardinal, above all because these Churches were invited to participate together in the 2005 Ecumenical Fraternity Campaign," said the Ecumenical Service Coordinator (CESE) in a statement signed by executive director Eliana Rolemberg.

CONIC said that the incident could have been avoided if the pastors had been previously warned that the Archbishop of Salvador could not give them Communion, according to a Vatican norm adopted last year.

Ecumenism, said Anglican Episcopal Bishop Sebastiao Armando Gameleira Soares, of Pelotas, in Río Grande do Sul, is "a difficult path marked by misunderstanding and crosses, but also great progress and enormous joy in the Lord."

Pastor Ervino Schmidt and the Rev. Gabriele Cipriani, of CONIC, said that in order to avoid these situations, Catholic ministers should orient their guests. However, pastors from other denominations, when they are invited, should try and inform themselves about the liturgical procedures of the Churches they are planning to attend.

Latin American and Caribbean Communication Agency