New Vatican statement to address central doctrinal dispute

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New Vatican statement to address central doctrinal dispute

Dec. 7, 2007 (CWNews.com) - The Vatican will release a new document on evangelization next week, with officials in Rome indicating that it will be an important statement on the duty to spread the Catholic faith.
The subject of the new document, which is being released under the auspices of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, is evangelization. The document will be released on December 14.
The importance that the Vatican attaches to the subject is reflected by the list of ranking officials who will participate in a news conference introducing the document. Three cardinals will join in presenting the subject to the press. And because the three cardinals head three separate Vatican congregations, it is clear that the document is the product of careful preparation involving several dicasterie…

***The new Vatican document is expected to carry the argument of Dominus Iesus a step further, explaining that because of the unique role played by the Church in the plan of redemption, Catholics have an obligation to spread the faith, thus offering others the best means of attaining
salvation.

***LET THE PURGINGS BEGIN! 😃 sniff, sniff, I LOVE THIS POPE! BENNY BABY, YOU THE MAN!
 
What? Does this mean we are going to hell if we are not actively spreading our faith? I would rather lead by example of living it than preaching it with nothing to back it up.
 
goofyjim said:
What? Does this mean we are going to hell if we are not actively spreading our faith? I would rather lead by example of living it than preaching it with nothing to back it up.
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You have an obligation to spread the faith. By example *and *words when necessary. Wait for the document. Then read it.
 
yugnok said:
You have an obligation to spread the faith. By example *and *words when necessary. Wait for the document. Then read it.
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I have an obligation to be charitable. If spreading the faith means preaching I am not qualified so I back out.
 
goofyjim said:
I have an obligation to be charitable. If spreading the faith means preaching I am not qualified so I back out.
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I’m no preacher, either. In fact, preaching is reserved for clergy not laity. But, we laymen are to “be able to give a reason for the hope that lies within” as St. Paul put it. IOW, we should be able to share the basics of our faith. That doesn’t mean we have to be apologists. If we don’t know the answer to a non-Catholic’s question we can direct him to the Catechism, but we should be able to say why we believe what we believe, don’t you think? 🙂
 
Della said:
I’m no preacher, either. In fact, preaching is reserved for clergy not laity. But, we laymen are to “be able to give a reason for the hope that lies within” as St. Paul put it. IOW, we should be able to share the basics of our faith. That doesn’t mean we have to be apologists. If we don’t know the answer to a non-Catholic’s question we can direct him to the Catechism, but we should be able to say why we believe what we believe, don’t you think? 🙂
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Well I evangelize by spreading the gospel message to each person that Jesus loves them. I do not attach the requirement of becoming a Catholic.
 
Jim, I think that this is not meant to say “You all need to preach”. Evangelizing through your living the faith is wonderful and that is what we all should be doing. Anything more depends on your own gifts.

The reason for this is to clarify the Church’s teachings because there have been some who try to twist doctrine (and especially the Second Vatican Council) to support religious relativism and syncretism. That is what the Vatican wants to put an end to. Essentially, they want it to be clear that we should consider it of the utmost importance to bring as many souls as possible to the Church. Outside of the Church, they are in danger. And non-Christians are particularly at risk.
 
Steeltemplar said:
Jim, I think that this is not meant to say “You all need to preach”. Evangelizing through your living the faith is wonderful and that is what we all should be doing. Anything more depends on your own gifts.

The reason for this is to clarify the Church’s teachings because there have been some who try to twist doctrine (and especially the Second Vatican Council) to support religious relativism and syncretism. That is what the Vatican wants to put an end to. Essentially, they want it to be clear that we should consider it of the utmost importance to bring as many souls as possible to the Church. Outside of the Church, they are in danger. And non-Christians are particularly at risk.
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Well then I respectfully disagree. I do not subscribe to the belief that salvation is only found within the Catholic Church.
 
goofyjim said:
Well then I respectfully disagree. I do not subscribe to the belief that salvation is only found within the Catholic Church.
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The Vatican is saying that salvation is only found through Christ. The Church has the fullness of Christ’s truth and it also has the sacraments.

A non-Catholic Christian who is a genuine believer is certainly in a far better situation than a complete non-Christian. However, they are at risk because they do not have the guidance of the Church and they do not have the sacraments. It becomes much easier for them to fall away.

A non-Christian is at grave risk indeed. Since they do not accept Christ, who is the means of salvation, their situation is perilous. A few may be saved if they strive for righteousness but are ignorant of the true faith. However, we should never assume they are saved.
 
If I speak with the tongues of men, and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.
1 Cor 13:1

So I tend to lead by quiet example and let everyone decide from there. My words will mean nothing.
 
For those who try to twist the meaning of Vatican II, read these so often forgotten quotes:

Unitatis Redintegratio (Decree on Ecumenism # 11):

“It is altogether necessary that the
complete doctrine be clearly presented. Nothing is so foreign to true Ecumenism as that false peace-making in which the purity of Catholic Doctrine suffers loss, and its true and certain sense is obscured.”

Unitatis Redintegratio (Decree on Ecumenism # 3):

“For it is only through Christ’s Catholic Church, which is ‘the all-embracing means of salvation,’ that they can benefit fully from the means of salvation. We believe that our Lord entrusted all the blessings of the New Covenant to the apostolic college alone, of which Peter is the head, in order to establish the one Body of Christ on earth to which all should be fully incorporated who belong in any way to the people of God”

Dignitatis Humanae (Declaration on Religious Liberty # 1):

“The Council professes its belief that God himself has made known to mankind the way in which men are to serve him, and thus be saved in Christ and come to blessedness. We believe that this one true religion subsists in the Catholic and apostolic Church, to which the Lord Jesus committed the duty of spreading it abroad among all men. Thus he spoke to the apostles: ‘Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have enjoined upon you’ (Matt. 28:19–20). For their part, all men are bound to seek the truth, especially in what concerns God and his Church, and to embrace the truth they come to know, and to hold fast to it”
 
goofyjim said:
If I speak with the tongues of men, and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.
1 Cor 13:1

So I tend to lead by quiet example and let everyone decide from there. My words will mean nothing.
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In my first post there, I said that evangelizing through example - through a Christian life - is indeed what we are called to. Not everyone is going to have the gift or opportunity to bring others towards the Church with words.

My whole point is that the Church is NOT telling you that you need to go out and preach 🙂

There are people who are pushing ideas of religious relativism (that all religions are equal and salvific). The Church wants to make it clear that Christ is the only means of salvation and that we should be working so that as many as possible may have the guidance of the Church and the support of the sacraments.

Some people want to say that there is no need to bring non-Catholics to the Church. The Vatican is saying that is definitely not true.

If your way is to live a Christian life and with charity be an example to others of Christ’s truth, then that is wonderful. This is what we all should be striving for. Some people may be called to evangelize in other ways as well - such as Priests and missionaries. That is according to the vocation God has given them.
 
I should also mention that St. Paul, who wrote Corinthians, certainly did not shrink back from proclaiming to the world the truth of Christ. He preached the gospel publicly.
 
goofyjim said:
Well then I respectfully disagree. I do not subscribe to the belief that salvation is only found within the Catholic Church.
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You are not in any position to tell me or any one else that we are wrong. I really do feel sorry for you. :signofcross:
 
SemperFidelis said:
A difference of belief that argues over a Dogma that requires assention to according to the Church.
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Look, you go your way, I’ll go mine. I don’t wish to offend anyone here but I have been seriously offended on certain other threads so where is the Catholic faith being put into action there?
 
goofyjim said:
Look, you go your way, I’ll go mine. I don’t wish to offend anyone here but I have been seriously offended on certain other threads so where is the Catholic faith being put into action there?
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Truth is sometimes hard to hear. Charity does not mean to allow everyone to go their own way.
 
goofyjim said:
What? Does this mean we are going to hell if we are not actively spreading our faith? I would rather lead by example of living it than preaching it with nothing to back it up.
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Why does it have to be either/or? Why not both/and?
 
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