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Covering the Vatican
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munions. The council is engaged in international theological dialogue with
the following:
• The Orthodox Churches
• The Oriental Orthodox Churches
• The Malankara Churches
• The Anglican Communion
• The Lutheran World Federation
• The World Alliance of Reformed Churches
• The World Methodist Council
• The Baptist World Alliance
• The Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
• Some Pentecostal groups
The council’s section on the Vatican’s Web site includes extensive docu-
mentation of those dialogues and other developments in Catholic ecumenical
relations. In 1974 Pope Paul VI established the
Commission for Religious
Relations with the Jews
, distinct from the council but under its aegis.
Cardinal Kurt Koch is president of both the council and the commission.
Bishop Brian Farrell is secretary of the council and vice president of the com-
mission. Phone 06-6988-3072 or 4083. E-mail
office1@chrstuni.va .Pontifical Council for the Family
Responsible for pastoral ministry to families, this council promotes strong
Christian marriage, family life, and responsible procreation and coordinates
initiatives in defense of human life from conception to natural death. Among
issues it addresses—often in conjunction with other dicasteries such as the
Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith—are natural family planning, mar-
riage preparation, sex education, demographics, contraception, abortion, ster-
ilization, bioethics issues and legislation regarding marriage, family, and the
protection of human life. Council members include 29 married couples.
The president is Archbishop Vincenzo Paglia. Phone 06-6988-7243.
Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace
This council promotes peace, justice and human rights around the world in
the light of the Gospel and of the social teaching of the Church. It participates
in many international meetings where such issues are discussed and analyzed