Exploring the Religions of Our World Church Documents on Ecumenism and Interreligious Dialogue

Nostra Aetate “Declaration on the Relation of the Church to Non-Christian Religions,” First words of the text, Nostra Aetate = In Our Age or In Our Time Shortest of the Vat II documents 41 sentences in 5 paragraphs October 28, 1965 under Paul VI Call to forgiveness, understanding & unity

Nostra Aetate continued One human family Stronger & closer ties in our age Promote unity & love by celebrating what we have in common Origin, final goal, & religious expectations Universal questions

Nostra Aetate continued Shared religious truths Hidden power, supreme being, or even Father Advanced culture Hinduism—myths, philosophy, asceticism, & meditation to seek freedom from world Buddhism—illumination & liberation from contingency of insufficient world Teachings, rules, & rites Embrace true & holy as a ray of truth Prudent and loving dialogue & collaboration

Nostra Aetate continued Muslims or Moslems Similarities—Monotheist, creation & revelation, Abraham & patriarchs, Mary, judgment, moral life & worship, prayer, almsgiving, & fasting Differences—submission, Jesus the prophet History of tension—forget past Promote understanding, work for social justice, moral welfare, peace, & freedom

Nostra Aetate continued Jewish Beginning of Christian faith with Abraham & patriarchs, Moses, & prophets Church foreshadowed by, scriptures revealed to, & gentiles joined Jews Christ died for both gentiles & Jews Sonship, glory, covenants, law, worship, promises, fathers, Jesus, Mary & Apostles are theirs first Scripture testifies that we will be one again Respect & understanding through study & dialogue All/today’s Jews not responsible for Christ’s death Church is New People but Chosen People not accursed Hatred, persecution, & anti-Semitism contra the Gospel Christ died freely for the sins of all men

Nostra Aetate continued Conclusion Hypocritical to call God Father if any person is not our brother or sister Any discrimination is foreign to the mind of Christ in human dignity & human rights Race, color, condition of life, or religion Fellowship & peace

Unitatis Redintegratio “Decree on Ecumenism,” First words of the text, Unitatis Redintegratio = The restoration of unity 24 paragraphs (much longer than Nostra Aetate) November 21, 1964 under Paul VI Call to forgiveness, understanding & unity Introduction(1) Chpt. 1: Catholic Principles on Ecumenism(2-4) Chpt. 2: The Practice of Ecumenism(5-12) Chpt. 3: Churches & Ecclesial Communities(13-24) Eastern Churches (14-18) Western Church and Ecclesial Communities (19-24)

Unitatis Redintegratio Introduction 1. The restoration of unity among all Christians is one of the principle concerns that the Second Vatican Council. All wish for unity & long for the one visible Church of God. This council wishes to set before all Catholics the ways in which they can respond & take action.

Unitatis Redintegratio cont. Chapter 1 – Catholic Principals on Ecumenism 2. Christ, the Eucharist, & the Holy Spirit each bring a wonderful communion to the faithful. Christ selected Peter, that on him he would build his Church. The Church, then, is God’s only flock.

Unitatis Redintegratio cont. Chapter 1 – Catholic Principals on Ecumenism cont. 3. There have been certain rights & dissensions in the history of the church, but the church remains a perfect body in Christ, though its believers are imperfect themselves. We can see elements of the endowments of Christ himself visible outside of the Catholic Church, for those churches were separated have not been deprived of the mystery of salvation.

Unitatis Redintegratio cont. Chapter 1 – Catholic Principals on Ecumenism cont. 4. This Council exhorts all Catholic faithful to recognize the signs of the times and to take an active an intelligent part in the work of ecumenism. Catholics must pray for & stay informed about their separated brothers & sisters, & also must gladly knowledge & esteem the true Christianity common to our separated family.

Unitatis Redintegratio cont. Chapter 1 – Catholic Principals on Ecumenism cont. 4. The Four steps of Ecumenism Non-judgmental = Open Minded Dialogue Cooperation Self-reflection for Renewal & Reform = Personal Conversion

Unitatis Redintegratio cont. Chapter 2 – The Practice of Ecumenism 5. The attainment of unity is the concern of the whole Church. 6. It is in fidelity that this concern is grounded. Deficiencies, moral conduct, & continual reformation must be corrected & formulated.

Unitatis Redintegratio cont. Chapter 2 – The Practice of Ecumenism cont. 7. There can be no ecumenism worthy of the name without a change of heart. Therefore we should pray to the Holy Spirit for the grace to be genuinely self-denying in service to others.

Unitatis Redintegratio cont. Chapter 2 – The Practice of Ecumenism cont. 8. Holiness of life should be regarded as the soul of the whole ecumenical movement, & Catholics should also joined in prayer with their separated brethren.

Unitatis Redintegratio cont. Chapter 2 – The Practice of Ecumenism cont. 8. Spiritual Ecumenism Change of heart and holiness of life Coupled with public & private prayer For Christian unity Soul of ecumenism

Unitatis Redintegratio cont. Chapter 2 – The Practice of Ecumenism cont. 9. We must now get to know the outlook of our separated brethren, from such dialogue the situation of the Catholic Church is truly understood.

Unitatis Redintegratio cont. Chapter 2 – The Practice of Ecumenism cont. 10. Sacred theology & other branches of knowledge must be taught with due regard for the ecumenical point of view, not one of polemic nature.

Unitatis Redintegratio cont. Chapter 2 – The Practice of Ecumenism cont. 11. The way we express our faith should never be an obstacle to dialogue with our brethren, & also, doctrine should be clearly presented it in its entirety. Therefore the catholic faith must be explained profoundly and precisely.

Unitatis Redintegratio cont. Chapter 2 – The Practice of Ecumenism cont. 12. All Christians should confess their faith in the Triune God for all men without exception are called to work together, but most of all Christians that bear the name of Christ.

Unitatis Redintegratio cont. Chapter 3 – Churches & Ecclesial Communities Separated from the Roman Apostolic See 13. There are two chief types of division: First, that of the East who separated in the dogmatic formulae of the councils of Ephesus & Chalcedon, & later when communion between Eastern Patriarchates & the Roman See was dissolved. Second, the West, stemming from the events of the Reformation.

Unitatis Redintegratio cont. Chapter 3 – Churches & Ecclesial Communities Separated from the Roman Apostolic See cont. The Special Consideration of the Eastern Churches 14. The Churches in the East hold a special closeness to the Catholic Church in liturgy, ecclesiology, & history. Eastern Christianity stems from proper apostolic teaching, communicated with differing form & matter. Anyone wishing to restore unity is well off when relying on these facts.

Unitatis Redintegratio cont. Chapter 3 – Churches & Ecclesial Communities Separated from the Roman Apostolic See cont. The Special Consideration of the Eastern Churches cont. 15. Everybody knows of the great love which the Eastern Christians celebrate the sacred liturgy, especially the Eucharist. Their communion with the other is made manifest through this, & some form of common worship is not only possible but encouraged.

Unitatis Redintegratio cont. Chapter 3 – Churches & Ecclesial Communities Separated from the Roman Apostolic See cont. The Special Consideration of the Eastern Churches cont. 16. This holy Council solemnly declares that the churches of the East have the power to govern themselves according to the disciplines proper to them, which is one of the essential prerequisites for any restoration of unity.

Unitatis Redintegratio cont. Chapter 3 – Churches & Ecclesial Communities Separated from the Roman Apostolic See cont. The Special Consideration of the Eastern Churches cont. a 17. The East & West have followed different methods & have developed differently to our understanding & confession of God’s truth. The heritage of their spirituality, liturgy, & their discipline of theology, are declared to belong to the full Catholic & apostolic character of the Church.

Unitatis Redintegratio cont. Chapter 3 – Churches & Ecclesial Communities Separated from the Roman Apostolic See cont. The Special Consideration of the Eastern Churches cont. 18. For unity, it is necessary to impose no burden beyond what is essential, & this Council commends those who develop a closer relationship with those who are no longer living in the East are far from home.

Unitatis Redintegratio cont. Chapter 3 – Churches & Ecclesial Communities Separated from the Roman Apostolic See cont. II. Separated Churches & Ecclesial Communities in the West 19. Churches in the West have retained a close affinity with the Catholic Church, though they differ in teachings in matters of doctrine, which is where describing them adequately is extremely difficult.

Unitatis Redintegratio cont. Chapter 3 – Churches & Ecclesial Communities Separated from the Roman Apostolic See cont. II. Separated Churches & Ecclesial Communities in the West cont. 20. We rejoice to see that our separated brethren look to Christ as the source in center of Church unity.

Unitatis Redintegratio cont. Chapter 3 – Churches & Ecclesial Communities Separated from the Roman Apostolic See cont. II. Separated Churches & Ecclesial Communities in the West cont. 21. A love & reverence of the scriptures lead our brothers & sisters to a constant meditative state of the sacred text, though these books do often differ from ours.

Unitatis Redintegratio cont. Chapter 3 – Churches & Ecclesial Communities Separated from the Roman Apostolic See cont. II. Separated Churches & Ecclesial Communities in the West cont. 22. Whenever the sacrament of baptism is duly administered a person is truly incorporated into the crucified & glorified Christ, & though they do not recognize the Eucharistic mystery in its true reality, day due regard that it signifies a communion with Christ.

Unitatis Redintegratio cont. Chapter 3 – Churches & Ecclesial Communities Separated from the Roman Apostolic See cont. II. Separated Churches & Ecclesial Communities in the West cont. 23. A the daily Christian life of these brethren is one of private prayer, meditation on the bible, solid family life, in a community gathered to worship.

Unitatis Redintegratio cont. Chapter 3 – Churches & Ecclesial Communities Separated from the Roman Apostolic See cont. II. Separated Churches & Ecclesial Communities in the West cont. 24. Now that we have briefly set the conditions for ecumenical action we look forward to the future with confidence, toward that fullness to which Our Lord wills His Body to grow in the course of time.

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