ARTICLES ON FAITH ISSUES

COVENANT BETWEEN THE
ROMAN CATHOLIC AND EPISCOPAL DIOCESES
OF SAN DIEGO

Declaration on Relation of the Church with non-Christians
Decree on Ecumenism

Decree on Eastern Churches

JOINT DECLARATION
ON THE DOCTRINE OF JUSTIFICATION
by the Lutheran World Federation
and the Catholic Church

Should Catholics Know More About Other Religions?
What does the Church say about the Jewish Faith?

DECLARATION ON
THE RELATION OF THE CHURCH TO
NON-CHRISTIAN RELIGION

In addition to the landmark Decree on Ecumenism, the Church also issued this declaration on the Inter-religious relations in 1965. It has proved to be a power spring-board for further dialogue with religious leaders over the last forty years.

DECREE ON ECUMENISM

The following is perhaps the greatest decree from the Church on Christian unity since the Reformation. Prior to this period, there was the World Council of Churches, of which the Roman Catholic Church was an observer (still is). However, most will say that until the Church of Rome opened the doors to the Holy Spirit, any ecumenical effort in the wider Christian enterprise was greatly lacking. The Spirit of ecumenism since Vatican II in the 1960’s is still alive. The excitement may have worn off, but the drive is still there.

DECREE ON THE CATHOLIC CHURCHES
OF THE EASTERN RITE

The Eastern Rite Churches include the Armenian Catholic Church; Chaldean Catholic Church (part of the Nestorian tradition); Maronite Church; Melkite Greek Catholic Church; Coptic Catholic Church (a small part of the total Coptic Church); Syrian Catholic Church and others. They differ from other churches in the same region, the so-called Orthodox and the Independent churches, as they are in union with Rome. The Eastern Rite Churches have retained a certain degree of independence. They do accept the Catholic faith; including the seven sacraments, and the pope as the supreme head of the church. You are invited to read this decree on the Eastern Rite Church.

Should Catholics be Interested in Other Religions?
(Visit this link to find out)

What does the Catholic Church say about the Jewish Faith?
(by Fr. John Dolan)

Christians can't avoid reading what appears to be anti-Semitic writings found in the New Testament. Particularly when we read the Gospel according to John (A Gospel written c. 80 AD to 100 AD) on Good Friday, it is evident that at the time of this writing there was already tension between the Jewish authorities and the early Christians (some of whom were Greek and others of whom were Jews).

Clearly, history shows us that anti-Semitism was a part of life not only in the early church but even in our modern era. The Church today accepts the fact that if it were not for the anti-Semitic rhetoric of Catholic leaders and laity, and of pastors and congregations of other Christian denominations, the Holocaust probably would never have happened. In other words, Hitler is not the only one to be accused.

Pope John Paul II, stated: "The Catholic Church is deeply saddened by the hatred and persecution, and display of anti-Semitism directed against the Jews by Christians" in one of his papal visits to a concentration camp in Poland.

How do we read the Scriptures then? We can't delete the texts that are clearly antagonistic toward the Jewish leaders, can we? No more than we can eliminate the texts about Peter's denial or Judas' betrayal.

When we come to the Sacred Scripture, we must read it with a clear mind and a loving heart. Certainly, to blame the Jews for the killing of Christ would be wrong. First of all, who among the jews would we blame? Mary, or Joseph? They were Jewish. If we are to read the Scriptures correctly, there was a battle between Christ and Satan and that Judas, the chief priests, the scribes, Peter and the disciples, Pilot, and many others were only secondary figures to the crucifixion event. In fact, a closer examination of the texts will show us that we (today) participate in the death of the Lord and that his once for all, never to be repeated sacrifice on the cross, forgave and forgives and will forgive our sins.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches:

Article 831: When she delves into her own mystery, the Church, the People of God in the New Covenant, discovers her link with the Jewish People,[326] "the first to hear the Word of God."[327] The Jewish faith, unlike other non-Christian religions, is already a response to God's revelation in the Old Covenant. To the Jews "belong the sonship, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the worship, and the promises; to them belong the patriarchs, and of their race, according to the flesh, is the Christ",[328] "for the gifts and the call of God are irrevocable."[329]

Article 840: And when one considers the future, God's People of the Old Covenant and the new People of God tend towards similar goals: expectation of the coming (or the return) of the Messiah. But one awaits the return of the Messiah who died and rose from the dead and is recognized as Lord and Son of God; the other awaits the coming of a Messiah, whose features remain hidden till the end of time; and the latter waiting is accompanied by the drama of not knowing or of misunderstanding Christ Jesus.

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