Roman Catholics: Less Ecumenism, Please

One striking reform of the Vatican Council's third session last fall was the decree on ecumenism that authorized Roman Catholics, under certain circumstances, to participate in prayer services with Protestants and Jews. Many U.S. bishops assumed that the decree gave them considerable latitude to encourage interfaith contacts, and have done so. Now Rome has told them to slow down.

The orders came in a confidential letter to the bishops from Archbishop Egidio Vagnozzi, who as Apostolic Delegate in Washington serves as liaison between the American hierarchy and Rome. His letter warned that...