My Thoughts on the Decree on Ecumenism Essay - 1368 Words

My Thoughts on the Decree on Ecumenism Many of you might not know that the incredible changes that have taken place in the Catholic world over the past 50 years in the areas of belief, practise and worship are a direct result of the Second Vatican Council, which took place in Rome between 1962 and 1965. But some have argued that the undeniable and revolutionary changes that took place after Vatican II were due to many misrepresentations of the actual teachings of the Council. In this response I will demonstrate from indisputable and well-documented facts that Ecumenism before the Second Vatican Council was always condemned and the Second Vatican Council had no absolute authority to change the Church’s view on Ecumenism and can not be†¦show more content†¦Ã¢â‚¬Å"Whoever he is,† he says, â€Å"and whatever sort he is, he is not a Christian who is not in the Church of Christ.† To say that the union of Christians needs to be restored as Vatican II does is to say that non-Catholics are Christians which is heretical but more heresy is found in #1 of Unitatis Redintegratio. Unitatis Redintegratio 1. Yet almost all, though in the different ways, long for the one visible Church of God, that truly universal Church whose mission is to convert the whole world to the gospel, so that the world may be saved, to the glory of God. This is an amazing assertion, the Council declares that almost everyone longs for visible Church of God, the universal Church which will convert the world to the gospel. That is to say almost everyone longs for the Catholic Church which means that the Catholic Church does not yet truly exist, if anyone doubts that Vatican II is saying that the universal Church of Christ does not yet exist, I will quote Pope John Paul II’s own interpretation of this passage. Pope John Paul II, Homily, December 5th, 1996 Speak of non-Catholics: â€Å"When we pray together we do so with the longing ‘that there may be one visible Church of God, a Church truly universal and sent forth to the whole world that the world may be converted to the Gospel and so be saved, to the glory of God (Unitatis Redintegratio, 1.). In this homily, we see that Pope John Paul II himself confirms that the longing for the one,Show MoreRelatedUt Unum Sint25504 Words   |  103 PagesTHAT THEY MAY BE ONE Ut Unum Sint Encyclical of Pope John Paul II promulgated on May 25, 1995 CONTENTS INTRODUCTION CHAPTER I - THE CATHOLIC CHURCHS COMMITMENT TO ECUMENISM Gods plan and communion The way of ecumenism: the way of the Church Renewal and conversion The fundamental importance of doctrine The primacy of prayer Ecumenical dialogue Local structures of dialogue Dialogue as an examination of conscience Dialogue as a means of resolving disagreements Practical cooperation CHAPTERRead MoreCulture and Religion8004 Words   |  33 Pagesmeeting of faith and culture. In this sense, Christian tradition can be viewed as a complex that is made up of particular and local traditions resulting from the encounters of Christianity with wide variety of peoples, cultures, philosophies, and thought patterns. Although religion is not submerged into a culture, it is closely linked to it and cannot exist without it being expressed within a particular cultural context. Christian Faith is received, lived, expressed and transmitted on the basis