The Gathering was most grateful to Professor Garrone for replacing the Waldensian speaker Paolo Ricca, who was prevented by serious illness from giving his promised address. Professor Garrone welcomed the preparatory paper and came to grips with its contents from a Waldensian point of view. We do not yet have a full English translation of his address, but we give an idea of what he said below.
Like Mgr Chiaretti, he spoke of the Italian agreements on mixed interconfessional marriages, and pointed out the immense importance of getting these texts known and received, rooted in the life of the churches.
Professor Garrone spoke of the identity of interchurch families, forged not in opposition but in mutual enrichment, both for the couple and for all those around the couple. An approach that takes both communities equally seriously can open up new possibilities, and help the churches towards a deeper, more open dialogue on sensitive questions. He asked interchurch families to take seriously the different contributions they bring, from their different histories, in which God had been at work. They need not be too preoccupied with what they have to do. Our hope is based on what God has already done, what God has already given.
Professor Garrone put four critical questions to interchurch families. They had not become a pressure group or a trade union fighting the bosses, but could they explore further how the churches can live in gratitude through their different experiences, could they share their hopes and anxieties in a way that would help the churches towards this gratitude?
Then, was there not a tendency in the paper to paint an idealised picture of interchurch families? Not all couples are fervent. Not all are outstanding people. We are all fallible; we share the weaknesses of everyone else in the world. We must not idealise the ‘domestic church’. Being two-church is not so important as being in Christ. The question for our children, as for us, is can we believe in God, not which church they or we belong to.
When it comes to ‘double belonging’, don’t try to be superhuman! Some families cannot manage it. I am not against it, said Professor Garrone, but do not let it become a chain. Some Christians are happy to belong to the church of their spouse. A man may say: ‘I remain a Catholic, but for the present, I live with my wife in the Protestant Church’. Or the other way round – but this raises the question of eucharistic practice.
On this difficult question, the preparatory paper is very sensitive. You must help the churches to get beyond resignation on this question. You are entitled to insist on your needs, that a way through may be found. Meanwhile, practise hospitality at home; open your family meals to others; offer people from different churches a way of enjoying a meal together, in the presence of Jesus. This can be a sign of God’s calling to the churches.
Vol 12, # 1, 2004