Is anyone interested in ecumenism?

[WarriorAngel]

As I recall, the RCC no longer says that the Church of Christ is the Catholic Church, at least not in such clear and specific language. Rather, it now teaches that "the Church of Christ subsists in the Catholic Church". Don't ask me to explain the difference, but it probably has a lot to do with the Vatican II Church teaching that the Holy Spirit can work through non-Catholic Christians and that they have a chance at salvation via the doctrine of "invincible ignorance". It seems that the Catholic Church still teaches that it is the Church founded by Christ for the salvation of mankind. However, for whatever reason, the RCC no longer wishes to explicitly teach that the Catholic Church and the Church of Christ are one in the same entity.

Joab already answered the dynamics... but here is my spiritual opinion on the matter...

Christ does what He will - as in He will have mercy on whom He will have mercy.

He judges those outside the Church based on their heart, and their true knowledge [which only He knows] - since being no heretic themselves - formally - ie leaving the Church in full knowledge.

As He has given Mercy - due to the fact the sheep have need of a shepherd and evidently 500 years have past - His Mercy is still as great as His Justice.

He already knew the reform would occur - for He knows all things. And as the Word of God, the mouth of the prophets and Apostles, He allowed this event of the future to still give His sheep a chance... scriptures say He shall have mercy on whom He shall have mercy.

So He the Great Judge will show mercy to the ignorant.
For He says no one can read hearts, except Him to judge.

NOW - since He leads the Church - we know it is through His Holy Spirit that God inspired the Church to be more lenient because He does everything He can to save His creatures.

Though their reward is different than those of the Saints, than those who struggled through the Church in periods of constant persecution and giving into obedience rather than obstinance.
For Catholics themselves will be judged differently accordingly, for they were given more, and should give more.

But on a good note, their reward too will be much greater.

For those who discover the truth of the CC and still retain their obstinance - we do not know.
So it remains logical that if God has mercy on whom He will, so too may He have mercy on the souls of the ignorant.

For it is by their desire to love Him they are working for their salvation, even if imperfectly. And will, by that measure, they shall be judged.

Thats not to say the Church is not the right one
As one atheist professor returned from hell to become a full fledged God fearing Catholic priest.


In hell - however; we are not given the graces - except to know what we were judged for.


So, the Church, being the eternal earthly vessel of Christ's Body and Mind - His Doctrines, has to include - so far as so much time now has passed - His vessel of mercy and accept that the Lord accepts those outside of His Church because the sheep 'know not what they do.'


IE - the mind of God is seen only through the Church. Not that God changes, but His Mercy is great and He grants mercy to the ignorant.

 

[Foundthelight]

I am for ecumenism only as it can be a tool for leading the strays, and those who grew up in the false teachings of the various protestant denominations, back to the true church.

 

[WarriorAngel]

I am for ecumenism only as it can be a tool for leading the strays, and those who grew up in the false teachings of the various protestant denominations, back to the true church.

Just as Christ led His creatures back to Him through the Apostles - and ever so slowly at first - He can too lead them back to the Church He established...just as He once led the Jews to His Church
[exception to the rule are always the obstinant]

 

[mark avery]

Ecumenicism is as i`m sure you know, a form of liturgical eugenics, which as the post above has stated, that in the end all those that call on the name of the lord, that can that is, will be saved...

The obvious awkwardness for the catholic church is the decision of whether to have righteous mercy i.e, no association, but always welcoming, or intellectual mind games, which generally declares sola scripture, and that in terms is more or less self-righteous mercy...

The world today, as predicted, has turned away from the church even to the degree of denominations, and especially the catholic church, not unlike the people of our Lord`s time, denying his authority let alone seeing him as lord or hearing or understanding his words.

Freewill has no basis if you are a follower, which yes isn`t always so easy, but we could not claim to be an adherent if his way was not ever, at some stage going to be part of our reason to continue to follow.

Paul at one stage in his letters spoke of having no mercy when he returned, whether that took place or not, is obvious, but the fact is he announced what would happen if they did not change...God does not change, so lets hope he has mercy..