The Ulster Unionist Party has asked for a meeting with the Catholic Church as part of its process of consultation on ways of achieving political progress in Northern Ireland. It is believed the proposed meeting would be the first of its kind.
A similar request has been made to the Church of Ireland, Presbyterian and Methodist churches.
In its letter, the UUP said it wanted "to hear what people have to say, and for them to understand our position, that there are certain difficulties but also certain opportunities at the present time".
Similar invitations have also been sent to political parties - including the SDLP, Democratic Unionist Party, Alliance Party and the UK Unionist Party - and to a range of business and community groups as well as the Orange Order, the Black Preceptory and the Apprentice Boys, bringing the number of invitations to more than 100.
The consultation exercise is being co-ordinated by Mr Dermot Nesbitt, a member of the UUP talks team at Stormont elected to the Northern Ireland Forum from the South Down area. He said the UUP would try to distill the perspective of the community at large so this could be considered in internal party discussions.
A spokesman for the Catholic diocese of Down and Connor said: "All honest and earnest attempts at dialogue and reconciliation must be welcomed at the present time. Now is the time for discernment and the church will prayerfully support all genuine efforts at building trust, reconciliation and peace."
Meanwhile, the Sinn Fein president, Mr Gerry Adams, has announced "a process of dialogue with the broad nationalist and republican base so that there can be the widest consultation" during the talks process". He told the Andersonstown News that nationalists should "take the widest possible ownership of the peace process, and not leave it to a high-wire act between political parties and the two governments".