ARTICLES

Work for Christian unity inspires priest

By Sandy Grecco
of the Catholic Virginian

His was not a resignation that would go quietly unnoticed. In fact, Rev. Msgr. Raymond Barton’s decision to resign his appointment as the Diocese of Richmond’s Vicar for Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs is a move that is being keenly felt throughout the diocese.

His resignation, effective Jan. 31, was timed in his words, “to be in tune with the diocesan budget process” and to allow “time to find someone to occupy the position.”

“I offered to resign,” Msgr. Barton, who since 1999 has also served as pastor for St. Nicholas Catholic Church in Virginia Beach, told The Catholic Virginian.

“My 70th birthday is in May. It was time to transition from that position,” he explained.

For 30 years Msgr. Barton has served as a leader for Christian unity and for open dialogue among Catholics and other world religions. As early as 1977 he was installed as the founding Catholic co-pastor of the Anglican Roman Catholic (ARC) Church of the Holy Apostles in Virginia Beach.

There he worked to bridge the dialogue that builds on the commonalities of the Christian faiths.

“It is God’s will that His church be one,” said Msgr. Barton. “Ecumenism is a pastoral priority, and a position that affirms the life of the Church.”

Originally from Lynchburg and Holy Cross Catholic Church, Msgr. Barton grew up in a family of “Philadelphia Catholics” and “Lynchburg Protestants.”

He graduated from Mount St. Mary’s College and Seminary in Emmitsburg, MD and received his Doctorate of Ministry from St. Mary’s Seminary and University in Baltimore. He was ordained to the priesthood May 14, 1966 by Bishop John J. Russell at the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart in Richmond.

His priestly duties began about the same time the Roman Catholic Church joined an Ecumenical movement that had begun in the early part of the 20th century by the larger Protestant denominations.

“1964 was the time when most of the red lights raised turned green,” said Msgr. Barton.

He began serving as a diocesan representative at ecumenical workshops, lectures, and sessions at the request of Bishop Walter F. Sullivan, and by 1979 was named Chair of the Diocese Ecumenical Commission.

For the next 20 years he was instrumental in the development of ARC and LARC (Lutheran Anglican Roman Catholic) conferences and played a significant role in the diocese’s membership within the Virginia Council of Churches, including taking the role as the first Catholic president of the council in 1990.

In the early 1990s he developed the inauguration of Parish Ecumenical Representatives (PERs), created semi-annual PER formation sessions, coordinated the hosting of a National Workshop on Christian Unity by the Richmond Diocese, and by 1996 was appointed Vicar for Ecumenism by Bishop Sullivan.

One year later then-Father Raymond Barton was appointed a member of the Papal Household with the title of Reverend Monsignor by Pope John Paul II.

“There has been a lot of morphing (toward this position) over the past 30 years,” Msgr. Barton said.

He added that although the Ecumenical Commission is tasked with conducting regional formation, “all ecumenism is local ecumenism.”

Barbara Hughes, Bishop Francis X. DiLorenzo’s Liaison to the Jewish and Muslim Communities, has since established similar parish representation in the area of interreligious affairs, and has formed a new network of people working together for mutual understanding of world religions.

So where does Msgr. Barton see efforts needing to go from here?

He is encouraged that ecumenism has become a mandated course of study in seminaries and that future priests have the chance to place it at the heart of their churches and new parish communities.

He believes the vision for the future of ecumenical and interreligious affairs remains “contained in the official dialogues that have transpired over the past 40 years,” and that the challenge is to “unpack” the information in ways that the laity can understand what is being said and how they too can make it a way of life in the church.”

“Our parishes are keenly aware of this area as a pastoral priority of our Church, the challenge is that some priests could still care less,” said Msgr. Barton. “Fortunately, I can say that I have enjoyed the full support of both bishops I’ve served.”

As for Msgr. Barton himself, he will remain “happily as pastor of the wonderful people at St. Nicholas Church.” With plans to retire in 2011, he expects he will be called upon to teach occasionally and is happy to offer counsel wherever it may be needed.

“I have loved it, loved it,” said Msgr. Barton.

“Yet I leave the position with still much to do, and believing as Pope John XXIII once articulated, ‘the restoration of Christian unity has yet to be fulfilled.’”

back to top