Ecumemism: Definition and Understanding

[MusherMaggie]

What is the proper Catholic definition and understanding of ecumenism?

 

[Vico]

What is the proper Catholic definition and understanding of ecumenism?

Modern Catholic Dictionary, Ecumenism

The modern movement toward Christian unity whose Protestant origins stem from the Edinburgh World Missionary Conference in 1910, and whose Catholic principles were formulated by the Second Vatican Council in 1964. These principles are mainly three:

1. Christ established his Church on the Apostles and their episcopal successors, whose visible head and principle of unity became Peter and his successor the Bishop of Rome;
2. since the first century there have been divisions in Christianity, but many persons now separated from visible unity with the successors of the Apostles under Peter are nevertheless Christians who possess more or less of the fullness of grace available in the Roman Catholic Church;
3. Catholics are to do everything possible to foster the ecumenical movement, which comprehends all “the initiatives and activities, planned and undertaken to promote Christian unity, according to the Church’s various needs and as opportunities offer”

( Decree on Ecumenism , I, 4).

http://www.therealpresence.org/cgi-bin/getdefinition.pl
http://www.vatican.va/archive/hist_...ecree_19641121_unitatis-redintegratio_en.html

 

[Genesis315]

What is the proper Catholic definition and understanding of ecumenism?

It is simply those means undertaken to foster and bring about the unity of all the Baptized in the one faith and Church of Christ. It is specifically about seeking this unity at the corporate level (ie at the level of whole communities or bodies).

Note, it is distinct from the reconciliation of individuals.

 

[Dovekin]

The ecumenical movement is a grace of God, given by the Father in answer to the prayer of Jesus and the supplication of the Church inspired by the Holy Spirit. While it is carried out within the general mission of the Church to unite humanity in Christ, its own specific field is the restoration of unity among Christians. Those who are baptized in the name of Christ are, by that very fact, called to commit themselves to the search for unity. Baptismal communion tends towards full ecclesial communion. To live our Baptism is to be caught up in Christ’s mission of making all things one. The Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity in their Directory for the Application of the Norms and Principles of Ecumenism