Colloquium of Roman Catholic and Anglican Canonists in Rome 30 April–1 May 1999

Extract

On 30 April and 1 May 1999, the Pontifical University of St Thomas Aquinas in Rome (the Angelicum) hosted a Colloquium on the subject of the Comparative Law of Church Property, organised in collaboration with the Centre for Law and Religion at Cardiff Law School. It was attended by Anglican and Roman Catholic canonists and a representative of the Eastern Catholic Church. It is believed that this was the first meeting of its type since the Reformation and was a unique opportunity for canon lawyers to engage in ecumenical dialogue. It represented a response by canonists to the welcome given by the Anglican Communion at the Lambeth Conference in 1998 to the encyclical letter of Pope John Paul II Ut Unum Sint. Such a meeting would have been unimaginable ten years ago but the substantial common interest which the subject raises coupled with strong friendships forged during the Colloquium has revealed a great potential for events such as these. The Archbishop of Canterbury, who is to chair (jointly with Cardinal Cassidy) a major consultation in Canada in May 2000 reviewing Anglican/Roman Catholic relationships, had expressed his support for the Colloquium and the further initiatives which it might herald. The President of Ireland also sent a personal message of support for the event.