ECUMENISM

Unity in the Church

1. What did Jesus say about unity?

Christ bestowed unity of the Church from the beginning, but the Church must always pray and work to maintain, reinforce, and perfect the unity that Christ wills for her. This is why Jesus himself prayed at the hour of his passion for the unity of his disciples: "That they may all be one. As you Father, are in me and I am in you, may they also be one in us, ...so that the world may know that you have sent me." (Jn 17:21; cf. Heb 7:25). [820].

2. What bonds of unity bind together the Church in harmony?

The Pilgrim Church is assured of visible bonds of communion: profession of one faith received from the apostles, common celebration of divine worship, especially of the sacraments, and apostolic succession through the sacrament of Holy Orders. It is through the Catholic Church that the fullness of the means of salvation can be obtained. [816].

3. How is the Church one and yet diverse?

The Church is one in faith, in acknowledging one Lord, in being born of one Baptism, in having life by the one spirit, for the sake of one hope (Eph 4:3-5). The Church is diverse in the variety of God's gifts and the multiplicity of peoples and cultures gathered together. There are many different gifts, offices, conditions and ways of life. [814, 866].

4. How did wounds to unity develop?

In this Church of God there were rifts from the very beginning, but in subsequent centuries much more serious dissensions appeared. Large communities became separated from full communion with the Catholic Church - for which, often enough, individuals of both sides were to blame. Some separated groups deny truths which must be believed (heresy) or refuse submission to the authority of the Supreme Pontiff (schism). [glossary, 817].

Healing Wounds to Unity

5. What is ecumenism?

Ecumenism is the promotion of the restoration of unity among all Christians, the unity which is a gift of Christ, and to which the Church is called by the Holy Spirit. [glossary, 820-822].

6. What is the basis for contemporary ecumenical efforts in the Church?

The Decree on Ecumenism (Unitatis Redintegratio) of the Second Vatican Council provides a charter for ecumenical efforts. [glossary, 816].

7. What conditions are required for an adequate response to this call for the promotion of unity?

Some conditions to be satisfied for a successful movement toward unity are: 1. a permanent renewal of the Church in greater fidelity to her vocation, 2. public and private prayer in common and for the cause of unity, 3. fraternal knowledge of each other, 4. ecumenical formation of the faithful and especially of priests, 5. dialogue among theologians and meetings among different Christian communities, and 6. collaboration among Christians in various areas of service to mankind. [821].

Relationship of the Church with other Religious Groups

8. What is our approach toward members of presently separated Christian Communities?

We cannot blame the initial rift on present members of long separated communities who were brought up in the faith of Christ, and the Catholic Church accepts them with respect. All who have been justified by faith in Baptism are incorporated into Christ; they therefore have a right to be called Christian, and with good reason to be accepted a brothers and sisters in the Lord by the members of the Catholic Church. Furthermore, many elements of sanctification and of truth are found outside the Catholic Church: the written word of God; the life of grace; faith, hope and charity, with other gifts of the Holy Spirit. Christ's spirit uses these Churches and ecclesial communities as a means of salvation. All these blessings come from Christ and lead to Him, and are in themselves calls to Christian unity. [818, 819].

9. What consensus was arrived at in the Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification issued by the Lutheran World Federation and the Catholic Church in 1998?

The Joint Declaration asserts (#18): "Together we confess: By grace alone, in faith in Christ's saving work and not because of any merit on our part, we are accepted by God and receive the Holy Spirit, who renews our hearts while equipping and calling us to good works". The Declaration further states that "A consensus exists in the basic truths of the doctrine of justification", and so the condemnations issued in the sixteenth century by both sides with respect to this doctrine no longer apply.

10. What is the relationship of the Church with the Jewish people?

The Jewish people were "the first to hear the word of God." The Jewish faith is already a response to God's revelation in the Old Covenant. To the Jews "belong the sonship, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the worship, and the promises; to them belong the patriarchs, and of their race, according to the flesh, is the Christ. (Rom 9:4-5). Considering the future, God's people of the old covenant and the new people of God tend toward similar goals: expectation of the coming or the return of the Messiah. But one awaits the return of the Messiah who died and rose from the dead, who is the Son of God,; the other awaits the coming of a Messiah whose features remain hidden until the end of time, with no realization of Christ Jesus. [839-40].

11. What is the relationship of the Church with the Muslims?

God's plan of salvation also includes those who acknowledge the Creator, in the first place among whom are the Muslims. They profess to hold the faith of Abraham, and together with us they adore the one, merciful God, mankind's judge on the last day. [841].

12. What is the relationship of the Church with non-Christian religions?

The Church's bond with non-Christian religions is in the first place the common origin and end of the human race. All nations form but one community, which God created to people the earth. They all share a common destiny, namely God. His providence and saving designs extend to all. The Church considers all goodness and truth found in other religions as a preparation for the Gospel. [842-3].