A new statement from the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, due for release on December 14, will state that evangelization is the duty of all Christians, according to a report in the Italian daily Il Giornale. The Italian newspaper reports that the document covers 19 pages, and draws a careful distinction between evangelization and proselytism. Evangelization is the work of spreading the Gospel message. Proselytism, as it is understood in this context, is the effort to persuade someone to change religious affiliations.
The forthcoming Vatican document is, according to Il Giornale, an attempt to clarify an issue that has caused keen debate among Catholic theologians, as well as between Catholic and Orthodox leaders.
The Orthodox patriarchate of Moscow has frequently complained that Catholic missionaries in Russia are engaged in proselytism-- attempts to entice believers away from their Orthodox churches.
Russian Catholic leaders counter that their activities are confined to evangelization, primarily among people who do not currently attend any church. The careful distinction between the two terms, evangelization and proselytism, could help to advance discussions between Rome and Moscow.
Questions about evangelization and proselytism have also been crucial to theological disputes within the Catholic Church. In recent years the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith has made several efforts to explain the unique and necessary role of Christ and his Church in salvation-- most notably with the release of Dominus Iesus (doc) in 2000 and in July of this year "Responses to Some Questions Regarding Certain Aspects of the Doctrine on the Church."
The Congregation has also issued warnings about several theologians whose works have called into question whether the Church is necessary to salvation.
Vatican officials have indicated that the document to be released on Friday, December 14, will be an important new statement of the Church's teaching.Anticipation of the document has been whetted by the announcement that three influential Vatican prelates will take part in a news conference introducing the document. Cardinal William Levada, the prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, will chair the presentation, assisted by Archbishop Angelo Amato, the secretary of the Congregation.
They will be joined by Cardinals Ivan Dias and Francis Arinze: the prefects of the Congregation for Evangelization and Congregation for Divine Worship, respectively. atican officials have indicated that the document to be released on Friday, December 14, will be an important new statement of the Church's teaching. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Disclaimer
No responsibility or liability shall attach itself to either myself or to the blogspot ‘Clerical Whispers’ for any or all of the articles placed here.
The placing of an article hereupon does not necessarily imply that I agree or accept the contents of the article as being necessarily factual in theology, dogma or otherwise.
Sotto Voce