A MODEST PROPOSAL
Fr Richard John Neuhaus is defending the US Catholic bishops' decision to join Christian Churches Together in the USA as a "modest enterprise." He says, though, "I don't think we should underestimate the ways in which people who get to know one another and develop relationships of personal trust can then take steps toward forms of cooperation."

It was a controversial move on the part of the bishops -- some of whom were concerned that CCT could turn into another National Council of Churches.

When the Evangelical Covenant Church discussed this issue on the floor of the 2004 Annual Meeting last June, a few delegates expressed similar concern. However, we, too, decided that it was different in nature than all the previous ecumenical organizations. The Covenant has resisted joining "polarizing" organizations like NAE or the NCC. But we, too, signed on to CCT, after about 10 minutes of discussion on the floor of the meeting.