Unitatis Redintegratio

Unitatis Redintegratio is the decree of the Concile Vatican II on the oecumenism. He was voted with 2.137 votes against 11 when all the bishops were gathered. This decree was promulgated by Paul VI the November 21st 1964. Its Latin title means Restauration of the unit .

Introduction (section 1)
The purpose of the council the Vatican II is in particular to promote the unit of the Christians. The division of the Christians are the object of scandal for the world and this division is opposed to the will of Christ and the preaching of the Gospel. The oecumenical movement is an legitimate aspiration for a plain Church of all the Christians.

1- catholic Principles of oecumenism (sections 2-4)
“In Unum Sint”: New Testament requires the unit to spread the Good news. As there are one Body and one Spirit, all become one in Christ by the baptism in only one Church.

The schisms and the scissions are condemned by holy Paul in the epistles to the Corinthians. The doctrinal and hierarchical differences do not prevent baptismal and eucharistic fraternity catholics, orthodoxe and Protestants in the East and Occident.

All the catholics are invited to take share with the oecumenism, which is helped by the Holy Spirit. Charity and solicitude are also encouraged. The dialog allows comprehension and estimates between communities. It is also necessary to recognize the catholicity of the common inheritance between catholics, orthodoxe and Anglicans.

2- practice of oecumenism (5-12)
The need to arrive at the unit implies a restoration of the Church, which has a great oecumenical value. Oecumenism brings necessarily a conversion of the heart and requires the joint prayer. Not to achieve the unit wants to also say not to recognize its sins (cf 1 Jn L, 16).

Another requirement of oecumenism is the recognition of the history, the culture and the state of the separate brothers. The theology and the formation of the clergy must go in this direction. The explanation of the catholic faith must be deep and ordered, and especially accessible to the language from the separate brothers.

By oecumenical collaboration, the union of the Christians is already expressed and can be useful like remedy for the contemporary evils like poverty, the misery and the absence of residences.

3- Churches and separate church communities of the Roman apostolic seat (13-24)
There were divisions in the East following the Concile of Chalcédoine and the Concile of Éphèse, then came the Great schism in 1054.

In Occident, the Protestant Réforme created national and denominational communions on more serious doctrinal questions. The Communion Anglican is most catholic of the reformed Churches.

3 a' Churches and church communities separated in the East (14-18)
The East has particular Churches which preserve their honourable liturgical rites. The Eastern message deserves the universal consideration.

The East has a great spiritual richness which is expressed in particular by the anthems, the holy tradition and the monachism. A long apostolic succession is respected and the Eastern ones communient in the concelebration of Eucharistie in a true priesthood.

The particular rules of the Churches of the East are not in conflict with the Church of Rome. Their cultural diversity is heiress of the Pères of the Church. The Council recommends to the roman catholics to establish relations with the Eastern benches in Occident.

3 B Churches and church communities separated in Occident (19-24)
The many currents of the Reform all are not defined by the Council. The Antitrinitarisme of mobilities calvinists is an important obstacle with the common interpretation of the Gospel. However, there are many joint points which support the dialog.

The Reform recognizes Jesus-Christ like Lord and single mediator between God, just like the Catholic church. Paul VI recognizes the divergences on the ministerial questions and mariales. The interest of the Protestants for the Bible is shared by the catholics, even if there is a dissension on the relationship between the Scriptures and ecclesiastical magistère.

The pope is delighted owing to the fact that the Protestant communities celebrate the baptism and Cène, by forgetting the sacraments however by Eucharistie and the Order. Nevertheless, the faith in the resurrection of Christ makes it possible to establish a dialog on the sacraments and the ministries.

In spite of divergent interpretations on the morals questions and the solutions with the problems of the company, catholics and Protestants stick to the word of Christ like source of apostolic force, which can mark an oecumenical beginning of dialog.

Conclusion'
The imprudent zeal can harm the unit. Oecumenism must be of a sincere apostolicity. The progression of the unit can reconcile all in the same Church. However, this great project is beyond the human possibilities and must be given towards the hopes of providence.

External bonds

Unitatis Redintegratio in French
Unitatis Redintegratio in Latin

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Unitatis Redintegratio

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External bonds