Christian churches together – USA

Bishop Richard J. Sklba recounted in a "Herald of Hope" column on our Catholic Herald on his acting as official signatory for the U.S. Catholic bishops at the inauguration of Christian Churches Together. And there they are on the list of CCT Member Organizations, "US Conference of Catholic Bishops".

For the first time in the history of the modern ecumenical movement the "five families" of contemporary American Christianity pledged themselves to working for full visible unity and common witness in the Church: Catholic, Evangelical/Pentecostal, ethnic/African American, historic Protestant, and Orthodox.

Or at least somebody with each of the five family names.

Later in the ceremony, the official representative of each "family" was called forth to sign the foundational document.

Here’s where a slight clarification for the record might be helpful for future historians. The Methodist master of ceremonies was so taken by the eminence of Cardinal Mahony’s presence that the cardinal was summoned at that moment. He looked at the document, saw my name neatly typed in place and decided not to cause any awkward embarrassment ... so Cardinal Mahony forged my name!

Makes this sound like signing a Friendship Card.