The document was hotly debated, and it went through several drafts. It began life as a rather straightforward statement on the church's relationship with the Jewish people. It was later broadened to include ALL non-Christian religions, specifically remarking on Hinduism and Buddhism, with special attention paid to Islam and most especially, Judaism.
Given the fact that World War II, and the Holocaust, had ended less than 20 years before, and the fact that most of Europe was still recovering from the effects of that devastation, the document grew of the bishops' desire that such things must not happen again, and the text ends:
"The Church reproves, as foreign to the mind of Christ, any discrimination against men and women, or harassment of them because of their race, color, condition of life, or religion. On the contrary, following in the footsteps of the holy Apostles Peter and Paul, this sacred synod ardently implores the Christian faithful to 'maintain good fellowship among the nations' (1 Peter 2:12), and, if possible, to live for their part in peace with all, so that they may truly be children of the Father who is in heaven."
Hard to believe it's been 45 years since this document made headlines. We still have a long way to go!
Open Question:
ReplyDeleteWhat in 2010 is different to 1965? What challenges does relativism pose to this dialogue with non-christians ?
How can this dialogue bear fruit at a time when many spiritual not religious see this very dialogue as a green light for their faith jumping and DIY spirituality?
Hmmmmm:
ReplyDeleteSome things to consider:
--For many years now, there has been an ongoing Roman Catholic-Moslem dialogue taking place here in the United States. In fact, there are three such "conversations" going currently in the US (East/ Midwest/ West). The Midwest variant met last week in Milwaukee. According to one participant I know (a local RC Priest/pastor) it was a genuine success.
--For over seven years now, the RC Diocese of Toledo has had a "Covenant" relationship with the Northwest Ohio Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. This covenant calls for congregations of both sides within that dialogue to work together in any way they can. In 2007, almost 60 people from BOTH groups took part in an ecumenical pilgrimage to European sites important to both Lutheran and Catholic traditions: Berlin, Erfurt, Wittenberg, Assisi and the Vatican.
--For years, Jesuit-run John Carroll University in suburban Cleveland has had an open and very friendly relationship with the Jewish community which surrounds it. (At one time, someone told me that this neighborhood around JCU is 45% Roman Catholic; 45% Jewish; and 10% everything else.) I suspect, but do not know, that Jesuit run Xavier University in Cincinnati shares students and faculty with Hebrew Union College/ Jewish Institute of Religion because they are so close geographically.
Collaboration and respect and articulation among major religious groups is far more common than you might suspect -- at least in the Midwest.
Deacon Norb in Ohio
May 7, 2014
ReplyDeleteNostra Aetate does not contradict extra ecclesiam nulla salus : doctrinal opening for the SSPX
http://eucharistandmission.blogspot.it/2014/05/nostra-aetate-does-not-contradict-extra.html
May 7, 2014
ReplyDeleteNostra Aetate does not say that Non Catholics do not need to convert into the Catholoic Church - Fr.John Hunwicke http://liturgicalnotes.blogspot.it/2014/01/nostra-aetate-1.html
May 6, 2014
Rorate Caeili,Cardinal Brandmuller,SSPX same error on Nostra Aetate : traditionalists cannot correct University of Bristol
http://eucharistandmission.blogspot.it/2014/05/rorate-caeilicardinal-brandmullersspx.html#links
Southwark Emeritus Bishop cites Archbishop Lefebvre on Nostra Aetate : like the University of Bristol they use an irrationality
http://eucharistandmission.blogspot.it/2014/05/southwark-emeritus-bishop-cites.html#links
BOSTON ARCHDIOCESE WEBSITE SAYS NOSTRA AETATE DISMISSES CHURCH INTEREST IN BAPTIZING JEWS AND AFFIRMS GOD’S COVENANT WITH THEM : NOWHERE DOES VATICAN COUNCIL II MAKE THIS CLAIM
http://eucharistandmission.blogspot.it/2011/12/boston-archdiocese-website-says-nostra.html#links
May 5, 2014
University of Bristol is making the same factual error on Nostra Aetate as Cardinal Richard Cushing and the Jesuits in Boston
http://eucharistandmission.blogspot.it/2014/05/university-of-bristol-is-making-same.html#links
March 27, 2014
Fr.Paul Nicholson : At that time it was Archbishop Lefebvre , like Cardinal Burke who was correcting the pope
http://eucharistandmission.blogspot.it/2014/03/frpaul-nicholson-at-that-time-it-was.html#links
ARCHBISHOP LEFEBVRE, MICHAEL DAVIS MADE AN OBJECTIVE MISTAKE: TRADITIONALISTS ARE STILL REELING
http://eucharistandmission.blogspot.it/2014/02/archbishop-lefebvre-michael-davis-made.html#links
February 17, 2014
NO ONE TO DEFEND ARCHBISHOP LEFEBVRE
http://eucharistandmission.blogspot.it/2014/02/no-one-to-defend-archbishop-lefebvre.html#links