BSP #9 Q&A

Question 1 (Group C): The story of Esau and Jacob is one great episode of reconciliation. Though the brothers reconcile, they go separate ways, recognizing within their hearts that they are better off dwelling at a distance from one another. While we see the healing power of reconciliation in the story, at the same time we see the LIMIT of reconciliation. Question: The Catholic Church accepts the Protestants with respect as separated brethren. Can you quote recent examples of reconciliation attempts led by the Pope between the many divisions within the Catholic faiths? It is understood that the path to reconciliation is a 2-way street. As an observer, can you shed some light to the Vatican position & vision? Is simply co-existence without unity the goal as in the case of Esau and Jacob?

I’m currently visiting my parents in New York City. I will have to answer your question without the benefit of the access to my reference books, which is difficult to do since your question is on ecumenism. As a result, be prepared that I won’t be able to give you specific quotes and examples.

By “many divisions within the Catholic faiths”, I presume you meant the various Christian denominations, since that’s the only way your question would make sense. The Catholic Church became very active in leading and initiating ecumenical discussions and activities after Vatican II, which encouraged Christian unity. The key document on ecumenism is Unitatis Redintegratio. JPII earned great respect from the leaders of the various Christian denominations for his strong support of ecumenical efforts, never getting tired of reaching out to the non-Catholic Christians. His position on ecumenism is clearly explained in his encyclical Ut Unum Sint (That They May Be One).

Yes, it takes two to dance. The effort made by the various parties is actually paying dividends. There is now an international organization named World Council of Churches that continues to spearhead the ideals of Christian unity. It’s a non-denominational body, which is both positive and negative. The downside of being non-denominational is that it receives full endorsement from no Christian denominations! But over the years, significant headways have been made on many important doctrinal issues by the WCC.

The Catholic Church is sincere and earnest in seeking complete unity in the Church of Christ. In many magisterial pronouncements, she has expressed regrets for failing to follow Jesus’ exhortation, who prayed before his suffering “that they may be one, as we are one” (John 17:22), and asked for Jesus’ forgiveness.

As Christians, do we simply accept the ironic state of co-existence without true unity? It’s important to understand that the Church has three dimensions: the Church suffering, the Church militant, and the Church triumphant. The Church militant, which is the Church here on earth, may be divided due to human frailty, but the Church in itself, i.e. the ontological reality of the Church entity, the Body of Christ, the Church triumphant, is never divided. As part of the Church militant here on earth, we will continue to work hard to fulfill Christ’s exhortation, knowing in our hearts at the same time that in spite of human weaknesses the heavenly Church is already one and will always be one.