Author:
Publication: Vatican
Update From Catholic World News
Date: September 5, 2000
VATICAN, Sept.
5 (CWNews.com) -- The Vatican today published a new text from the Congregation
for the Doctrine of the Faith, on the unique role of the Church in the
economy of salvation.
Dominus Jesus is a 36-page
statement, signed by Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger and Archbishop Tarcisio
Bertone, the prefect and secretary respectively of the Congregation.
It is designed to answer a series of questions about the importance of
the Catholic Church, answering questions that have arisen in the context
of ecumenical activities. The document was approved by Pope John
Paul in June.
Addressed to "bishops,
theologians, and all the Catholic faithful," Dominus Jesus is structured
as a response by the Holy See to theories that have been raised by contemporary
theologians, particularly in Asia. The Congregation for the Doctrine
of the Faith warns against "shortcuts" in theology that tend to diminish
the importance of the Catholic Church. Because it is primarily a
response to such "erroneous or ambiguous opinions," the document frequently
uses phrases such as "it must be firmly believed" or "it is contrary to
the faith of the Church."
The text emphasizes the
essential role of the Church, as opposed to "relativistic theories" that
would suggest all religions are equal. The new Vatican statement
also rejects an approach which would claim a "radical opposition" between
"the logical mentality of the West and the symbolic mentality of the East."
That attitude, the text points out, could lead to the conclusion that the
Catholic Church is not the best route to salvation for the peoples of Asia.
Dominus Jesus is divided into six chapters. The first chapter asserts
that the "full revelation of divine truth" comes through Jesus Christ and
his Church. Thus it is wrong to suggest that the Catholic Church
is "complementary" to other religions.
Chapter Two refutes the
views of theologians who say that the Holy Spirit has "a more universal
breadth" than the Church. Citing the teachings of Vatican II, Dominus
Jesus points that that there is only one economy of salvation, and "the
action of the Spirit is not outside or parallel to the action of Christ."
Chapter Three carries
that message further, emphasizing that salvation can come to mankind only
through the redemptive power of Jesus Christ. The document rejects
the notion that the Catholic Church should avoid claiming that Jesus is
the "unique," "universal," or "absolute" means to salvation. The
use of such language, the document says, is simply a matter of faithfulness
to the message which has been entrusted by God to the Church.
In the fourth and fifth
chapters, Dominus Jesus notes that the salvation promised by Jesus Christ
comes through the Catholic Church, his "bride" and Mystical Body.
The document warns against a relativistic approach, which would suggest
that all religions contain some elements of God's saving message, or that
no institutional religion is a perfect representation of God's will for
mankind. The Catholic Church-- defined as the Church that has maintained
apostolic succession-- is the one true Church, the document asserts.
Dominus Jesus acknowledges
that some Orthodox churches, which have maintained apostolic succession
although they do not accept the primacy of Peter, represent the true Church.
But other Christian bodies do not enjoy the same status. Through
Baptism, the members of these Christian ecclesial bodies maintain "a certain
communion, albeit imperfect," with the Church, the document says.
The final chapter of
Dominus Jesus sketches the implications of these Church teachings for ecumenical
dialogue. The Vatican statement upholds the ancient teaching that
"the Church is necessary for salvation." While Jesus opened the path to
salvation for all mankind, the statement teaches, "the fullness of means
to salvation" can be found only in the Catholic Church. For this
reason, the Church has a special mission "ad gentes"-- that is, to non-Catholics;
the Church seeks to bring them into full communion, and offer them the
full opportunity for salvation.
In ecumenical dialogue,
then, it is never accurate to suggest that "one religion is as good as
another," Dominus Jesus cautions. The Church engages in ecumenical
dialogue, treating other partners with equal respect, out of recognition
for "the equal personal dignity of the parties in dialogue, not the doctrinal
contents" of their beliefs.
