The failure of ecumenism as commonly understood

[The_Reginator]

In light of the beatification of John Henry Cardinal Newman by Pope Benedict XVI, I’d like to direct your attention to an article by Scott P. Richert on About.com:Catholicism:
Pope Benedict on the True Fruits of Ecumenism.

I found this to be the opposite of what I believed as an “Anglo-Catholic”:

True ecumenism means conversion to the truth. And for Christians, that means a return to the Church established by Christ and headed by his vicar on earth.

In that sense, the return of Anglican congregations to Rome may represent the failure of ecumenism as commonly understood, but it represents the success of the true ecumenism that takes seriously Christ’s prayer that His disciples may all be one, as He and the Father are one.

Millions of Christians today live in an environment where the Church is only “the church”. Those denominations have histories that go back hundreds of years. I used to believe that ecumenism was a ‘two way street’.

Let us all pray and do penance for them.
"For the sake of your sorrowful passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world."

Dominus vobiscum.

– Reg.

 

[Redbaron998]

It was a good article, the reason for this perceived failure is because may misunderstand proper Ecumenism.

Ecumenism (when pursued properly) is not meeting halfway or compromising the faith, but it is Christians become once more united in the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church founded by Christ.

Now joint declarations of statements on faith between differing ecclesiastical communities may help in this process, but it is the means to an end, not the end itself. It is a visible sign saying, “Here is what we agree on” then we know from there what we need to work on.

If, God willing, the Ecumenical movement is a success (and we should all pray fervently that it is) the end result will be that all Christians will be in full communion with Rome.

 

[The_Reginator]

Ecumenism (when pursued properly) is not meeting halfway or compromising the faith, but it is Christians become once more united in the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church founded by Christ.