Ecumenism

[Flavius_Aetius]

Why has the Catholic Church fallen into such a state of full support of Ecumenism? Isn’t it counter productive to say you are the One True Church and then go and say “But these man-made churches are good too.” It feels like its simply liberals in the Church didn’t want the new secular world to consider Catholics bigots so now every religion in the world is allowed to have some truth to it.

I mean before wasn’t the point of Ecumenism to eventually have the heretical belief return to Catholicism without the need for bloodshed? Now it just seems to be used so the Vatican can have diplomatic ties with other world religions and not have animosity between them; as a result feeding heretical beliefs and letting them believe they are the true belief.

 

[Pfaffenhoffen]

Why has the Catholic Church fallen into such a state of full support of Ecumenism? Isn’t it counter productive to say you are the One True Church and then go and say “But these man-made churches are good too.” It feels like its simply liberals in the Church didn’t want the new secular world to consider Catholics bigots so now every religion in the world is allowed to have some truth to it.

I mean before wasn’t the point of Ecumenism to eventually have the heretical belief return to Catholicism without the need for bloodshed? Now it just seems to be used so the Vatican can have diplomatic ties with other world religions and not have animosity between them; as a result feeding heretical beliefs and letting them believe they are the true belief.

1. 
   *]No one is saved but through Jesus Christ.
   *]The Catholic Church has got the full Truth, wisdom, Grace by God given through Jesus Christ.
   *]There is Religious Freedom.
   *]One may be saved in any religion of the World, but always through the Church Which Church is Jesus Christ and His branches, like the branches of a tree.
   *]Before, we had 100% conversion success: baptize many, kill the rest. Of course, joking. But there was some forced baptisms.
   *]Now, instead of guns, you use words and dialogue.
   *]Talking and discussions dont harm anybody.
   *]No other church may join the Catholic Church without acceptin the Pope’s authority.
   *]You do not catch flies with vinegar but with honey.
   *]The other churches are NOT equal to the Catholic church for the reason told above.
   
   If the Pope trails ecumenical paths, lets go behind Him.

 

[francisca]

1. 
   9. You do not catch flies with vinegar but with honey.

1. 
   

 

[Theophorus]

While the Catholic Church contains the fullness of Truth, Non-Catholic and Non-Christian denominations and ecclesial communities contain degrees and aspects of the Truth.

It is based on this point, that other groups have some but not all the Truth, that true ecumenical dialogue is based.

 

[Joe_5859]

Unitatis Redintegratio



Note that --properly speaking – ecumenism has only to do with the relationship of the Church with other forms of Christianity. If we are talking about the other world religions (Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, etc.), then we are talking about interreligious dialogue.

If being hard-nosed and proclaiming anathemas was proving to be an effective means of conversion for non-Catholic Christians, then the Church probably would have stuck with it. Since Vatican II, the focus has been more on proposing doctrine positively rather than reacting against heresy.

Personally, I think it’s a more effective technique for our present day. We propose the Truth and the Truth has the power to convert. Berating or belittling people and their religious beliefs will only further alienate them and close them off to the beauty and truth of Catholicism.

 

[paul_c]

You need dialog to convert a soul. You need to explore both shared truths and misunderstand doctrines to have dialog. This is the heart of ecumenism - to have dialog.

 

[thistle]

Why has the Catholic Church fallen into such a state of full support of Ecumenism? Isn’t it counter productive to say you are the One True Church and then go and say “But these man-made churches are good too.” It feels like its simply liberals in the Church didn’t want the new secular world to consider Catholics bigots so now every religion in the world is allowed to have some truth to it.

I mean before wasn’t the point of Ecumenism to eventually have the heretical belief return to Catholicism without the need for bloodshed? **Now it just seems to be used so the Vatican can have diplomatic ties with other world religions and not have animosity **between them; as a result feeding heretical beliefs and letting them believe they are the true belief.

Are you suggesting the Vatican and we should hate anyone who believes other than us??

 

[akasseb]

Why has the Catholic Church fallen into such a state of full support of Ecumenism? Isn’t it counter productive to say you are the One True Church and then go and say “But these man-made churches are good too.” It feels like its simply liberals in the Church didn’t want the new secular world to consider Catholics bigots so now every religion in the world is allowed to have some truth to it.

I mean before wasn’t the point of Ecumenism to eventually have the heretical belief return to Catholicism without the need for bloodshed? Now it just seems to be used so the Vatican can have diplomatic ties with other world religions and not have animosity between them; as a result feeding heretical beliefs and letting them believe they are the true belief.

In a world where the autonomy of the individual is held sacred, discussing shared beliefs can be the most effective strategy for achieving unity. Ecumenism is simply a new form of evangelization with a long-term vision. Ecumenism is not about making compromises on essentials or splitting the difference between faith traditions. Rather it is standing together on beliefs already shared. For example, some currents of Lutheranism are very similar to Catholicism in many ways. It is very effective for the Church to reach out to this shared tradition. Then the differences are put into proper perspective. Ecumenism is most effective when a certain faith tradition is close to Catholicism.

We have to remember that all non-Catholic Christian denominations share in the Fullness of the Catholic faith with varying degrees of imperfection, and always with an admixture of error.

 

[fhansen]

Why has the Catholic Church fallen into such a state of full support of Ecumenism? Isn’t it counter productive to say you are the One True Church and then go and say “But these man-made churches are good too.” It feels like its simply liberals in the Church didn’t want the new secular world to consider Catholics bigots so now every religion in the world is allowed to have some truth to it.

I mean before wasn’t the point of Ecumenism to eventually have the heretical belief return to Catholicism without the need for bloodshed? Now it just seems to be used so the Vatican can have diplomatic ties with other world religions and not have animosity between them; as a result feeding heretical beliefs and letting them believe they are the true belief.

The CC accepts whatever is good and true regardless of where it comes from. Like Augustine said, “All truth is God’s truth”-or was it Aquinas? Anyway, ecumenism from the Church’s standpoint, means, for one thing, that she (and we) need not approach or regard others with fear and suspicion-when you know the truth and can stand fast in that confidence you can act out of love; there really is nothing to fear-others pose no challenge-they’re simply fellow sojourners with varying degrees of understanding. I believe that’s an apt description of the Church’s position today.

 

[Dan_Daly]

One may be saved in any religion of the World, but always through the Church Which Church is Jesus Christ and His branches, like the branches of a tree.

Not quite sure on that one.

Yes, a member of any religion may be saved…by becoming Catholic.
Perhaps they become Catholic at the very moment before their death, and their conversion is not known to anyone else here on earth. But as you say, there is no salvation outside of Christ, and the Catholic Church is Christ’s Church.

Pax.

 

[Dan_Daly]

I do think the OP has a very good point. For many in the Church, practically speaking, if not in the letter of what the Church says, many have adopted a view that evangilization to non-Catholics is rather beside the point as other faiths all have some truth anyway and all those other people can still go to heaven.

Yes, other faiths can see some element of the truth. God reveals Himself to all men, through Creation. Only the Catholic Church has the fullness of the Faith though.

We should be proud to say that we are working and praying for a world in which everyone is Catholic.

Pax.

 

[paul_c]

I do think the OP has a very good point. For many in the Church, practically speaking, if not in the letter of what the Church says, many have adopted a view that evangilization to non-Catholics is rather beside the point as other faiths all have some truth anyway and all those other people can still go to heaven.

Yes, other faiths can see some element of the truth. God reveals Himself to all men, through Creation. Only the Catholic Church has the fullness of the Faith though.

We should be proud to say that we are working and praying for a world in which everyone is Catholic.

Pax.

So why isn’t you religion listed as Catholic on this website?

 

[Dan_Daly]

I’m relatively new to the forums, and have simply spent my time here posting instead of setting up more info in my profile. That’s all.

When I started talking on here, I assumed people were Catholic unless they said otherwise- it’s called “Catholic Answers” after all.

Pax and God Bless.