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Home , Ecumenism

What is Ecumenism*?

From the Greek meaning “inhabited house.” A worldwide movement among who accept as Lord and savior and, inspired by the , seek through prayer, dialogue, and other initiatives to eliminate barriers and move toward the unity willed for his (Jn 17:21; see also Eph 4:4-5, UR 1-4). Christian communities separated over the (431), over the (451), through the East-West conventionally dated 1054, at the in the sixteenth century, and later.

Vatican II taught that the true church “subsists in” but is not simply identified with the Church (LG 8). in Christ and establish a real, if imperfect, union among all Christians (LG 15). In particular, the Orthodox share with Catholics very many elements of faith and sacramental life, including the and apostolic succession (see OE 27-30).

The Church Unity , eight days of prayer for religious unity of all Christians, which is celebrated each year from January 17 to 25, was stared in 1908 by the founder of the Society of Atonement, Fr. Paul Wattson (1863-1940) when still a member of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the . The following year, with other friars, sisters, and laymen of his Graymoor community, he was received into the

* From A Concise Dictionary of . Eds. Gerald O’Collins, S.J. and Edward Farrugia, S.J. Mahwah, NJ: Paulist Press, 2000.

What is Interreligious Dialogue?

First, interreligious dialogue can be described as a kind of “formal conversation” with persons of non- Christian faiths.

The Vatican II document on this subject, (Declaration on the Relation of the Church to Non-Christian Religions), states that through this dialogue “the Church examines more closely her relationship to non-Christian religions.” The Declaration makes other important points which describe the aims of interreligious dialogue.

 . . . “In her task of promoting unity and love among men, indeed among nations, [the Catholic Church] considers above all in this declaration what men have in common and what draws them to fellowship.” (No. 1)

 “The Catholic Church rejects nothing that is true and holy in these religions. She regards with sincere reverence those ways of conduct and of life, those precepts and teachings which, though differing in many ways from the ones she holds and sets forth, nonetheless often reflect a ray of Truth which enlightens all men. Indeed, she proclaims, and ever must proclaim Christ ‘the way, the truth, and the life’ (John 14:6), in whom men may find fullness or religious life, in whom God has reconciled all things to Himself.” (No. 2).

 “The Church, therefore, exhorts her sons, that through dialogue and collaboration with the followers of other religions, carried out with prudence and love and in witness to the Christian faith and life, they recognize, preserve, and promote the good things, spiritual and moral, as well as the socio-cultural values found among these men.” (No. 2)