Toulouse, Aug. 16, 2007 (CWNews.com) - Catholic, Protestant, Orthodox, and Anglican officials are moving toward agreement that would establish limitations on proselytism and set a common policy on religious conversions.
At a meeting last week in Toulouse, France-- co-hosted by the World Council of Churches and the Pontifical Council for Inter-Religious Dialogue-- a group of 30 representatives from different Christian groups began the work of elaborating a code of conduct that would be acceptable to all Christian bodies. The group plans to continue that work, with the goal of producing an accord within the next 3 years.
The challenge addressed by speakers at the meeting in Toulouse was to define the difference between energetic evangelization (which all the groups endorse) and "sheep-stealing" campaigns to lure believers from other congregations. The speakers agreed that Christians should not denigrate the faith of other Christian groups.
Father Fiorello Mascarenhas, an Indian Jesuit and charismatic leader, said that one test of proper evangelization should be the ability to inspire "inter-religious dialogue and religious harmony" and to spur cooperation in charitable efforts.