ECUMENISM:
The communion of bishops, both local and international through an emphasis on collegiality and unity with firstly Christians and then more widely non-Christians, is at the heart of ecumenism. This process began with the reforming of the Roman Curia to increase the multicultural nature of its representation (McBrien, 2008). Ecclesiastically, this state of communion was reflected through the “paradigm shift from pre-Vatican II ‘impose and sanction’ to post conciliar ‘dialogue and reconcile’” (Price, 2013, p. 187), consisting of formal conversations. This coincided with a transition in leadership that saw the reversal of the top down model, which was “narrative led rather than in broadcast mode” (Cresp, 2012, p. 467). The new era of solidarity was confirmed through the inclusion of ecumenical concerns in Lumen gentium, the passing of the Decree on Ecumenism and a later document Nostra aetate, which dealt specifically with improving the Catholic relationship with the Jews.
IMPACT AND SIGNIFICANCE:
Some elements of the Religious community opposed the new collegial direction as they believed that this would function to diminish the authority of the pope. The doctrinal changing of the verb ‘is’ to ‘subsists in’, which signified a devotion to recognising similarities between Christian denominations outraged many Religious people and fundamentalist Catholics (McBrien, 2008). The positive gains that emerged included a stronger sense of community values in devotional life and the secular community, greater acceptance and tolerance of religious practices and increased racial and social tolerance (Hebblethwaite, 1991).
REFLECTION: What symbolic activities could be enacted during the class liturgy to demonstrate the importance of tolerance and understanding?
IMPACT AND SIGNIFICANCE:
Some elements of the Religious community opposed the new collegial direction as they believed that this would function to diminish the authority of the pope. The doctrinal changing of the verb ‘is’ to ‘subsists in’, which signified a devotion to recognising similarities between Christian denominations outraged many Religious people and fundamentalist Catholics (McBrien, 2008). The positive gains that emerged included a stronger sense of community values in devotional life and the secular community, greater acceptance and tolerance of religious practices and increased racial and social tolerance (Hebblethwaite, 1991).
REFLECTION: What symbolic activities could be enacted during the class liturgy to demonstrate the importance of tolerance and understanding?