Wow, this is amazing. Don't know how I missed this earlier today. Compared to the mostly hostile response to Baptism, Eucharist, and Ministry two decades ago, this gives me a lot of hope about the reception of #TCTCV. Very quick scan, but some first thoughts/observations: 1
It almost reverses the response to BEM both in tone and content, with an overwhelming positive response that focuses on the points of convergence and questions for further dialogue rather than the differences from additional aspects of Catholic teaching on the church. 2
"The accent placed on the co-responsibility of all the baptized and on the common priesthood, together with... the specific role of ministry...may be considered as in harmony with recent initiatives of P. Francis in his promotion of needed reforms within the Catholic Church." 3
"The explicit treatment of authority, including the exercise of authority at the universal level by ecumenical synods and by a ministry of primacy, are helpful passages which hopefully will open a path for more substantial agreement about these themes in the future." 4
It describes chapter one of TCTCV on "God's Mission and the Unity of the Church" as going beyond convergence to "reaching almost a 'consensus'," which is a deeper level of mutual recognition of teaching. 5
An interesting section of some critique regards the relation of the church to the Jewish people, stating "the full unity of the Church will not come about without healing the original wound, without reconciliation with the people of the old covenant." 6
On the marks of the church, it re-affirms Vatican II's teaching on the church as "at once holy and in need of being purified" (LG 8) by noting that the church's "being without spot or wrinkle is to be seen as a goal rather than an already received reality." 7
Steps towards a theology of doctrinal development: After noting that "Catholics know what can change and what cannot," it writes, boldly, "Catholics are not afraid of change, as this is part of the life of the Church." First time I've seen that expressed so clearly, officially. 8
In stating "The Church is a communion of wholes. In this sense, the whole Church of Jesus Christ is in the local Church that celebrates the Eucharist, proclaims the Word, confesses the apostolic faith, exercises the Episcopal ministry, etc.", we can see...9
a final judgment on the Kasper/Ratzinger debate on the local and universal church, and a reception Jean-Marie Tillard's theology of the "church of churches." 10
Serious but dialogically open questions regarding how other churches treat sacraments, ecclesial ministries, and authority. Great statement that reflects Pope Francis's emphasis on synodality: 11
"The C. Chrch's growing experience of synodality in practice at the local, regional and universal level of chrch life and pastoral action may be seen as an instance when the Chrch must teach together, celebrate together, and decide together to maintain the unity of the faith." 12
There's so much more. But I started reading this text waiting to see where the shoe of Catholic objection or a clinging to tribal identity would drop. And it didn't, Deo gratias. 13
Since Pope Francis has not written a direct encyclical on the church as such, this document comes closest to being a magisterial statement of a Franciscan ecclesiology. 14
The final paragraph is a statement of gratitude and _reception_, which means that we need to make this document, where possible, part of our teaching as Catholics in classrooms and parishes, by stating very, very clearly: 15
"We receive this document as an instrument for renewal within the Catholic communion. It offers a way for each of us to work with our ecumenical partners as we listen to the voice of each other and together to the voice of the Spirit guiding the Church in our time." 16
This is likely to get overlooked in the next few days when the Amazonian synod finishes up and that document is released, but I can't express just how joyful and hopeful this text makes me for the future, fuller unity of the Church of Christ. 17
Go read the whole thing! 18/18 christianunity.va/content/unitac…
