MEETING RENDEZVOUS; VARIOUS DELEGATES.




Initials TS/V/JH/MM



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Background: IN NOORDWIJKERHOUT, HOLLAND, 73 ROMAN CATHOLIC CARDINALS AND BISHOPS ARE HOLDING A FOUR-DAY MEETING BEHIND CLOSED DOORS TO DISCUSS POSSIBLE FAR-REACHING DEMOCRATIC CHANGES IN THE CHURCH'S STRUCTURE IN EUROPE. THE MEETING OPENED ON MONDAY (JULY 10).

THE DELEGATES ARE MEETING TO EXCHANGE IDEAS ON HOW TO DEVELOP DEMOCRATIC CONSULTATION BETWEEN THE THREE MAIN LAYERS OF THE CHURCH -- BISHOPS, PRIESTS, AND LAYMEN.

THE CONFERENCE IS THE FIRST OF ITS KIND, BUT IT IS HOPED THAT IT WILL BECOME THE FIRST OF A SERIES. THE CHURCH DIGNATORIES ARE MEETING UNDER THE CHAIRMANSHIP OF CARDINAL BERNARD JAN ALFRINK, THE 67-YEAR-OLD ARCHBISHOP OF UTRECHT.

THE MEETING IS SIGNIFICANT BECAUSE IT IS THE FIRST TIME THAT EUROPEAN BISHOPS HAVE VOLUNTARILY MET TO CONSIDER THEIR PROBLEMS AS A REGION. IT IS ALSO SIGNIFICANT BECAUSE THE EUROPEAN BISHOPS ARE CONSIDERED TO BE THE MOST EMANCIPATED IN THE CHURCH.

POPE PAUL IS NOT BEING REPRESENTED AT THE CONFERENCE, BUT HE HAS WELCOMED IT AS USEFUL AND NECESSARY.