Ecumenical and Interfaith IssuesEcumenismMr. SalterFall - 2014

Nostra Aetate

• “Declaration on the Relation of the Church to Non-Christian Religions,” • aka the first words of the text, Nostra Aetate• Shortest of the Vat II documents• Only 41 sentences in five paragraphs

• The encyclical is a call to forgiveness, understanding and unity

Nostra Aetate

1. One human family as children of the Father2. Shared religious truths• Hindus and Buddhists

3. Islam monotheist, submission, Mary, Patriarchs4. Jews – our heritage, common scripture, the Church

is the “new Israel”• Seek forgiveness, decry anti-Semitism• Not all Jews killed Jesus; His death was our

salvation5. Any discrimination is foreign to the mind of Christ;

Human dignity demands love

Redemptoris Missio

• “Mission of the Redeemer”• Authored by St. Pope John Paul II on December 7, 1990• 92 sections

• Speaks of the urgency and necessity for Christians to rededicate themselves to sharing the Gospel• Most traveled Pope in history • “My direst contact with peoples who do not know

Christ has convinced me even more of the urgency of missionary activity.”

Redemptoris Missio• “Ad Gentes” (to the nations) is a theme• Take Christ and the Gospel to the non-Christian

nations/peoples• This is a duty for all Christian / Catholics• Interfaith Dialogue important (section 55)• Discussing common truths should not

compromise actual truth• Missionary activity includes: Witnessing,

preaching, evangelization, conversion, baptism and establishing Christian communities

Redemptoris Missio

• Serving the temporal needs is a most important activity• Feeding, healthcare, education, social justice,

but losing site of the central purpose – the person of Jesus Christ

• AND Missionary work• About sharing the truth and Goods News of

the Kingdom of God through the Holy Spirit• Acknowledges that missionary work can be

perceived as intolerant

Ut Unum Sint• “That They May Be One”• Authored by St. Pope John Paul II on May 25, 1995• 103 sections

• Contrast to previous historical papal letters• Satis Cognitum of Leo XIII (1896) • Church unity through a return to the visible

structures of the Roman Catholic Church• Mortalium Animos of Pius XI (1928).• Church unity requires the acceptance of full

doctrinal alignment; of which resides in the Catholic Church

Ut Unum Sint• Chapter 1: The Catholic Church’s Commitment to

Dialogue • Unity is God's will • Unity takes the form of a visible communion of faith,

sacraments and communal life under the guidance of ordained ministers

• Chapter 2: Diversity and Unity of Faith• JP II recalls history; painful and healing

• Chapter 3: “How far is our journey?”• As the Servant of Servants, it is the primary mission of

the Bishop of Rome to lead the leaders of the Church and world to universal communion in Christ