Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) - The title might sound strange and inadequate in the light of Vatican II which speaks of “various elements of sanctification and truth” present “outside her [Catholic Church] visible organism ” (LG 8; cfr. UR 3), so that the Church knows “she is for various reasons united” (LG 15) with various non Catholic Churches and ecclesial communities. "For the spirit of Christ has not refrained from using them as means of salvation which derive their efficacy from the very fullness of grace and truth entrusted to the Catholic Church" (Dominus Iesus, n. 17).
These Churches are however wounded in their being particular Churches (cf. Communionis notio, n. 17) and are therefore not in full communion with the Catholic Church. Hence the unchanged duty and right of the Catholic Church to announce the Gospel of salvation to all men and women, according to the proper condition of each, without being accused of proselytising.
What is then the missionary role of the Catholic Church towards them? Today we note a certain aversion to speak of “conversion” and “returning” to the Catholic Church. This is said to be something left over from the Middle Ages and outdated by Vatican II. Rejecting any Catholic ecclesiological exclusivism, in the sense that recognition of elements of sanctification and truth present in them does not allow us to speak sic et simpliciter of “return”; it is still necessary for them to reach the fullness of the profession of faith and communion. John Paul II, while underlining the exchange of gifts in his “Ut unum sint” document, was no less explicit when he underlined “doctrinal differences to resolve”, “divergences which touch the faith ” and “hinder full communion among Christians ” (Introduction and nn. 39 e 36). So "the unity willed by God can be attained only by the adherence of all to the content of revealed faith in its entirety. In matters of faith, compromise is in contradiction with God who is Truth” (n. 18).
To reach this, undoubtedly there is need of dialogue, but not dialogue as an end in itself, but rather dialogue which, with respect for the partner and acknowledgement of his salvific values, promotes the fullness of those elements of sanctification and truth, which although “many” are still partial, while by nature they “drive towards Catholic unity” (LG 8).
As in relations with other non Christian religions (cfr. Dominus Iesus, n. 22), also in the ecumenical field dialogue is a path of evangelisation or missionary activity, whose purpose is to reach a common profession of integral faith, indispensable condition for restoring full communion. (10 - to be continued) (Agenzia Fides 22/1/2008; righe 32, parole 455)
