RESPONSES TO SOME QUESTIONS REGARDING CERTAIN ASPECTS OF THE DOCTRINE ON THE CHURCH (highlight mine though it impacts little with what Protestants believe anyway)
Introduction
The Second Vatican Council, with its Dogmatic Constitution Lumen
gentium, and its Decrees on Ecumenism (Unitatis redintegratio) and the
Oriental Churches (Orientalium Ecclesiarum), has contributed in a
decisive way to the renewal of Catholic ecclesiolgy. The Supreme
Pontiffs have also contributed to this renewal by offering their own
insights and orientations for praxis: Paul VI in his Encyclical Letter
Ecclesiam suam (1964) and John Paul II in his Encyclical Letter Ut unum
sint (1995).
The consequent duty of theologians to expound with greater clarity
the diverse aspects of ecclesiology has resulted in a flowering of
writing in this field. In fact it has become evident that this theme is
a most fruitful one which, however, has also at times required
clarification by way of precise definition and correction, for instance
in the declaration Mysterium Ecclesiae (1973), the Letter addressed to
the Bishops of the Catholic Church Communionis notio (1992), and the
declaration Dominus Iesus (2000), all published by the Congregation for
the Doctrine of the Faith.
The vastness of the subject matter and the novelty of many of the
themes involved continue to provoke theological reflection. Among the
many new contributions to the field, some are not immune from erroneous
interpretation which in turn give rise to confusion and doubt. A number
of these interpretations have been referred to the attention of the
Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. Given the universality of
Catholic doctrine on the Church, the Congregation wishes to respond to
these questions by clarifying the authentic meaning of some
ecclesiological expressions used by the magisterium which are open to
misunderstanding in the theological debate.
RESPONSES TO THE QUESTIONS
- First Question: Did the Second Vatican Council change the Catholic doctrine on the Church?
Response: The Second Vatican Council neither changed nor intended to
change this doctrine, rather it developed, deepened and more fully
explained it.
This was exactly what John XXIII said at the beginning of the
Council[1]. Paul VI affirmed it[2] and commented in the act of
promulgating the Constitution Lumen gentium: “There is no better
comment to make than to say that this promulgation really changes
nothing of the traditional doctrine. What Christ willed, we also will.
What was, still is. What the Church has taught down through the
centuries, we also teach. In simple terms that which was assumed, is
now explicit; that which was uncertain, is now clarified; that which
was meditated upon, discussed and sometimes argued over, is now put
together in one clear formulation”[3]. The Bishops repeatedly expressed
and fulfilled this intention[4].
- Second Question: What is the meaning of the affirmation that the Church of Christ subsists in the Catholic Church?
Response: Christ “established here on earth” only one Church and
instituted it as a “visible and spiritual community”[5], that from its
beginning and throughout the centuries has always existed and will
always exist, and in which alone are found all the elements that Christ
himself instituted.[6] “This one Church of Christ, which we confess in
the Creed as one, holy, catholic and apostolic […]. This Church,
constituted and organised in this world as a society, subsists in the
Catholic Church, governed by the successor of Peter and the Bishops in
communion with him”[7].
In number 8 of the Dogmatic Constitution Lumen gentium ‘subsistence’
means this perduring, historical continuity and the permanence of all
the elements instituted by Christ in the Catholic Church[8], in which
the Church of Christ is concretely found on this earth.
It is possible, according to Catholic doctrine, to affirm correctly
that the Church of Christ is present and operative in the churches and
ecclesial Communities not yet fully in communion with the Catholic
Church, on account of the elements of sanctification and truth that are
present in them.[9] Nevertheless, the word “subsists” can only be
attributed to the Catholic Church alone precisely because it refers to
the mark of unity that we profess in the symbols of the faith (I
believe… in the “one” Church); and this “one” Church subsists in the
Catholic Church.[10]
- Third Question: Why was the expression “subsists in” adopted instead of the simple word “is”?
Response: The use of this expression, which indicates the full
identity of the Church of Christ with the Catholic Church, does not
change the doctrine on the Church. Rather, it comes from and brings out
more clearly the fact that there are “numerous elements of
sanctification and of truth” which are found outside her structure, but
which “as gifts properly belonging to the Church of Christ, impel
towards Catholic Unity”[11].
“It follows that these separated churches and Communities, though we
believe they suffer from defects, are deprived neither of significance
nor importance in the mystery of salvation. In fact the Spirit of
Christ has not refrained from using them as instruments of salvation,
whose value derives from that fullness of grace and of truth which has
been entrusted to the Catholic Church”[12].
- Fourth Question: Why does the Second Vatican Council use the term
“Church” in reference to the oriental Churches separated from full
communion with the Catholic Church?
Response: The Council wanted to adopt the traditional use of the
term. “Because these Churches, although separated, have true sacraments
and above all – because of the apostolic succession – the priesthood
and the Eucharist, by means of which they remain linked to us by very
close bonds”[13], they merit the title of “particular or local
Churches”[14], and are called sister Churches of the particular
Catholic Churches[15].
“It is through the celebration of the Eucharist of the Lord in each
of these Churches that the Church of God is built up and grows in
stature”[16]. However, since communion with the Catholic Church, the
visible head of which is the Bishop of Rome and the Successor of Peter,
is not some external complement to a particular Church but rather one
of its internal constitutive principles, these venerable Christian
communities lack something in their condition as particular
churches[17].
On the other hand, because of the division between Christians, the
fullness of universality, which is proper to the Church governed by the
Successor of Peter and the Bishops in communion with him, is not fully
realised in history[18].
- Fifth Question: Why do the texts of the Council and those of the
Magisterium since the Council not use the title of “Church” with regard
to those Christian Communities born out of the Reformation of the
sixteenth century?
Response: According to Catholic doctrine, these Communities do not
enjoy apostolic succession in the sacrament of Orders, and are,
therefore, deprived of a constitutive element of the Church. These
ecclesial Communities which, specifically because of the absence of the
sacramental priesthood, have not preserved the genuine and integral
substance of the Eucharistic Mystery[19] cannot, according to Catholic
doctrine, be called “Churches” in the proper sense[20].
The Supreme Pontiff Benedict XVI, at the Audience granted to the
undersigned Cardinal Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of
the Faith, ratified and confirmed these Responses, adopted in the
Plenary Session of the Congregation, and ordered their publication.
Rome, from the Offices of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the
Faith, June 29, 2007, the Solemnity of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul.
William Cardinal Levada
Prefect
Angelo Amato, S.D.B.
Titular Archbishop of Sila
Secretary
[1] JOHN XXIII, Address of 11 October 1962: “…The Council…wishes to
transmit Catholic doctrine, whole and entire, without alteration or
deviation…But in the circumstances of our times it is necessary that
Christian doctrine in its entirety, and with nothing taken away from
it, is accepted with renewed enthusiasm, and serene and tranquil
adherence… it is necessary that the very same doctrine be understood
more widely and more profoundly as all those who sincerely adhere to
the Christian, Catholic and Apostolic faith strongly desire …it is
necessary that this certain and immutable doctrine, to which is owed
the obedience of faith, be explored and expounded in the manner
required by our times. The deposit of faith itself and the truths
contained in our venerable doctrine are one thing, but the manner in
which they are annunciated is another, provided that the same
fundamental sense and meaning is maintained” : AAS 54 [1962] 791-792.
[2] Cf. PAUL VI, Address of 29 September 1963: AAS 55 [1963] 847-852.
[3] PAUL VI, Address of 21 November 1964: AAS 56 [1964] 1009-1010.
[4] The Council wished to express the identity of the Church of
Christ with the Catholic Church. This is clear from the discussions on
the decree Unitatis redintegratio. The Schema of the Decree was
proposed on the floor of the Council on 23.9.1964 with a Relatio (Act
Syn III/II 296-344). The Secretariat for the Unity of Christians
responded on 10.11.1964 to the suggestions sent by Bishops in the
months that followed (Act Syn III/VII 11-49). Herewith are quoted four
texts from this Expensio modorum concerning this first response.
A) [In Nr. 1 (Prooemium) Schema Decreti: Act Syn III/II 296, 3-6]
“Pag. 5, lin. 3-6: Videtur etiam Ecclesiam catholicam inter illas Communiones comprehendi, quod falsum esset.
R(espondetur): Hic tantum factum, prout ab omnibus conspicitur,
describendum est. Postea clare affirmatur solam Ecclesiam catholicam
esse veram Ecclesiam Christi” (Act Syn III/VII 12).
B) [In Caput I in genere: Act Syn III/II 297-301]
“4 - Expressius dicatur unam solam esse veram Ecclesiam Christi;
hanc esse Catholicam Apostolicam Romanam; omnes debere inquirere, ut
eam cognoscant et ingrediantur ad salutem obtinendam…
R(espondetur): In toto textu sufficienter effertur, quod postulatur.
Ex altera parte non est tacendum etiam in aliis communitatibus
christianis inveniri veritates revelatas et elementa ecclesialia”(Act
Syn III/VII 15). Cf. also ibid pt. 5.
C) [In Caput I in genere: Act Syn III/II 296s]
“5 - Clarius dicendum esset veram Ecclesiam esse solam Ecclesiam catholicam romanam…
R(espondetur): Textus supponit doctrinam in constitutione ‘De
Ecclesia’ expositam, ut pag. 5, lin. 24-25 affirmatur” (Act Syn III/VII
15). Thus the commission whose task it was to evaluate the responses to
the Decree Unitatis redintegratio clearly expressed the identity of the
Church of Christ with the Catholic Church and its unicity, and
understood this doctrine to be founded in the Dogmatic Constitution
Lumen gentium.
D) [In Nr. 2 Schema Decreti: Act Syn III/II 297s]
“Pag. 6, lin. 1- 24: Clarius exprimatur unicitas Ecclesiae. Non sufficit inculcare, ut in textu fit, unitatem Ecclesiae.
R(espondetur): a) Ex toto textu clare apparet identificatio
Ecclesiae Christi cum Ecclesia catholica, quamvis, ut oportet,
efferantur elementa ecclesialia aliarum communitatum”.
“Pag. 7, lin. 5: Ecclesia a successoribus Apostolorum cum Petri
successore capite gubernata (cf. novum textum ad pag. 6, lin.33-34)
explicite dicitur ‘unicus Dei grex’ et lin. 13 ‘una et unica Dei
Ecclesia’ ” (Act Syn III/VII).
The two expressions quoted are those of Unitatis redintegratio 2.5 e 3.1.
[5] Cf. SECOND VATICAN COUNCIL, Dogmatic Constitution Lumen gentium, 8.1.
[6] Cf. SECOND VATICAN COUNCIL, Decree Unitatis redintegratio, 3.2; 3.4; 3.5; 4.6.
[7] SECOND VATICAN COUNCIL, Dogmatic Constitution, Lumen gentium, 8.2.
[8] Cf. CONGREGATION FOR THE DOCTRINE OF THE FAITH, Declaration
Mysterium Ecclesiae, 1.1: AAS 65 [1973] 397; Declaration Dominus Iesus,
16.3: AAS 92 [2000-II] 757-758; Notification on the Book of Leonardo
Boff, OFM, “Church: Charism and Power”: AAS 77 [1985] 758-759.
[9] Cf. JOHN PAUL II, Encyclical Letter Ut unum sint, 11.3: AAS 87 [1995-II] 928.
[10] Cf. SECOND VATICAN COUNCIL, Dogmatic Constitution Lumen gentium, 8.2.
[11] SECOND VATICAN COUNCIL, Dogmatic Constitution Lumen gentium, 8.2.
[12] SECOND VATICAN COUNCIL, Decree Unitatis redintegratio, 3.4.
[13] SECOND VATICAN COUNCIL, Decree Unitatis redintegratio, 15.3;
cf. CONGREGATION FOR THE DOCTRINE OF THE FAITH, Letter Communionis
notio, 17.2: AAS, 85 [1993-II] 848.
[14] SECOND VATICAN COUNCIL, Decree Unitatis redintegratio, 14.1.
[15] Cf. SECOND VATICAN COUNCIL, Decree Unitatis redintegratio,
14.1; JOHN PAUL II, Encyclical Letter Ut unum sint, 56 f: AAS 87
[1995-II] 954 ff.
[16] SECOND VATICAN COUNCIL, Decree Unitatis redintegratio, 15.1.
[17] Cf. CONGREGATION FOR THE DOCTRINE OF THE FAITH, Letter Communionis notio, 17.3: AAS 85 [1993-II] 849.
[18] Ibid.
[19] Cf. SECOND VATICAN COUNCIL, Decree Unitatis redintegratio, 22.3.
[20] Cf. CONGREGATION FOR THE DOCTRINE OF THE FAITH, Declaration Dominus Iesus, 17.2: AAS 92 [2000-II] 758.
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