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Journal: Ecumeny and Law

Ut unum sint: New Areas of Spiritual and Pastoral Ecumenism

Przemysław Sawa

Language: PL | Published: 02-03-2022 | Abstract | pp. 59-86

Care for Christian unity is part of the nature of the Church. Many years after the ecumenical movement began, signs of disappointment are appearing. The doctrinal dialogues and official meetings are still taking place, but spiritual and pastoral ecumenism is increasingly needed. It manifests itself not only in joint prayers but also in an actual exchange of spiritual gifts, pastoral inspirations and cooperation in many areas of the church and social life. New aspects of such ecumenism have appeared. They take the form of various spiritual trends going beyond the boundaries of churches and communities (prayers, music, spiritual gifts) as well as a search for sources and guidelines for spiritual life that other traditions can offer. In particular, the new shape of ecumenism may be seen in Evangelical and Pentecostal communities. Therefore, the broadly understood Catholic charismatic renewal has a special place in the work for Christian unity. People must walk together, accompany one another, be hospitable and work for the benefit of others. Only then can the Holy Spirit lead the followers of Christ to unity.

2022-03-02



Journal: Ecumeny and Law

Yves Congar as a Precursor to Catholic Principles of Ecumenism

Paweł Pielka

Language: PL | Published: 02-03-2022 | Abstract | pp. 33-44

The author analyzes the work Chrétiens désunis. Principes d’un «œcumenisme» catholique by Yves Congar (1937) and shows why the French Dominican can be considered a precursor of ecumenism in the Roman Catholic Church. The argument is based on defining the nature of the reunification process, its starting point, the goal of the reunification, and the way in which the relationship between Catholicism and ecumenism is framed. In lieu of the then valid concept of conversion on the basis of the Catholic Church, or the simple absorption of individuals by the fully formed Church, the French theologian proposes a complement or integration into the unity of the Church. As a result of this process, the united Church would be no other body than the present Catholic Church but it would be richer and more complete.

2022-03-02



Journal: Ecumeny and Law

Perception of the Encyclical Ut unum sint amongst Slovak Youth

Ondrej Štefaňak

Language: PL | Published: 02-03-2022 | Abstract | pp. 87-98

The presented sociological study emerges from the area of sociology of religion that would like to describe and explain religious reality. Its main goal is to present John Paul II’s encyclical Ut unum sint and its reception among Slovak youth. The study is divided into two parts. The introduction includes a short outline of the main reflections that appear in the encyclical Ut unum sint and some experiences connected with ecumenism in Slovakia — strongly dependent on specific people, priests or parishes. The first part presents the main tasks of Christian churches from the point of view of studied young people (e.g. charity, humanity, education or ecumenism). The second part sheds light on the possible differences between the chosen categories of the analyzed representatives of youth, particularly with regard to ecumenism. To that end independent variables were chosen: sex, place of residence, number of siblings, performance at school, attitude to religious faith, religious practices, and religious affiliation. The study is based in particular on the author’s own sociological research conducted at the beginning of the second decade of the 21st century.

2022-03-02



Journal: Ecumeny and Law

Quanta est nobis via? Re-reading Ut Unum Sint 25 years later

Andrzej Choromański

Language: PL | Published: 02-03-2022 | Abstract | pp. 7-31

Published on 25 May 1995, Ut unum sint was the first ever and remains to the date the only papal encyclical entirely dedicated to ecumenism. Written thirty years after the Second Vatican Council, it was an important step on the way in the reception in the life of the Church of the principles and norms on ecumenism outlined in the conciliar decree Unitatis redintegratio. The article proposes a re-reading of the encyclical twenty-five years after its publication. It begins with an overview of the ecumenical engagement of John Paul II, for whom the search for Christian unity was one of the pastoral priorities of his pontificate. The article continues with a presentation of the ecumenical situation at the time of the publication of Ut unum sint marked by a growing skepticism towards ecumenism within denominations and a certain stagnation within the ecumenical movement. It then presents the vision of the Church and its unity which animates
the encyclical, namely the concept of communion (communio/koinonia). The article then presents some characteristics of the ecumenical situation today and delineates the important challenges such as lack of a common vision of the goal of the ecumenical movement and a shift in the ecumenical paradigm from full visible unity to mutual recognition. It concludes with arguing that explored anew in the ecumenical dialogue against the background of the current condition of world Christianity, Ut unum sint may be a source of inspiration for the search for a fresh vision for the ecumenical movement in the 21st century.

2022-03-02



Journal: Ecumeny and Law

Sources of the Encyclical „Ut unum sint"

Stanislav Přibyl

Language: EN | Published: 09-08-2022 | Abstract | pp. 7-28

John Paul II’s encyclical Ut unum sint on commitment to ecumenism was published 30 years after the ground-breaking ecumenism decree of Vatican II Unitatis redintegratio. It was meant to present a summary of everything the Catholic Church and its partners achieved in the field of ecumenical efforts. However, the article does not list these achievements but discusses the very fundamentals of Catholic identity, namely,
how the Catholic Church is to remain faithful to itself in developing ecumenical dialogue with other churches and ecclesial communities. The article thus provides a detailed analysis of the way the encyclical uses the basic sources of faith, that is, the logia of the Sacred Scripture, Church Fathers and the Magisterium. As one might expect, the documents of the Magisterium that are quoted are the documents of Vatican II because this council represents a real turning point in the relations of the Catholic Church towards ecumenism. The article also considers the role of the canon law for ecumenism because both codices of canon law as well as the ecumenical directory represent major tools for the realisation of ecumenical efforts.

2022-08-09



Journal: Ecumeny and Law

Reception of John Paul II’s Encyclical Ut unum sint in Cieszyn Silesia

Józef Budniak

Language: PL | Published: 02-03-2022 | Abstract | pp. 99-112

There are places where the ecumenical movement is born and grows out of the very essence of social and cultural reality. Cieszyn Silesia belongs to one of such places. Situated on the meeting point of various nationalities, cultures, and Churches, it constitutes a border region in a literal and symbolic sense. This region has become the home for the largest population of the Lutherans in Poland. The ecumenical movement which has been born and developed here is a necessary and inevitable consequence of such coexistence of Churches — the Roman Catholic Church and the Lutheran. Both Churches have become symbols of ecumenical life based on faith, tolerance, experience and respect. Nowadays all of these factors create a modern ecumenism. Ecumenism in Cieszyn Silesia has a very long and rich history. The phenomenon of Churches’ coexistence appeared almost five centuries ago. It means that the ecumenical
movement had existed here long before the Catholic Church promulgated the encyclical Ut unum sint. On the basis of the examples of the ecumenical relationships mentioned in the article, it can be said that the look of the “wise” today at its “yesterday” helps to build a better “tomorrow”. Therefore it can be said that on the basis of a well-lived present, firmly rooted in history, rises a favourable hope for the future of the Church.
Presenting the reception of John Paul’s II Ut unum sint among the multi-denominational population of Cieszyn Silesia one could quote Reverend Professor Wacław Hryniewicz, one of the most remarkable Polish ecumenists: “An authentic reception can be achieved only when the partners differ from each other because diversity enables the true relation of giving and taking.”

2022-03-02



Journal: Ecumeny and Law

Migration — Ecumenism — Integration

Zdzisław J. Kijas

Language: PL | Published: 29-06-2021 | Abstract | pp. 7-23

The three concepts of migration — ecumenism — integration are rich in meaning. What is important is their order, the hierarchy of their occurrence. Migration is more or less any movement of people, individuals or whole groups. Ecumenism is in turn an appeal and an action. Its mission/task is to recognize in a certain group of people a religious difference and to make an effort to place it in an integral whole with other people who believe a little differently, but in the same God. Integration has the task of restoring or building an integral whole from people living in a particular territory.

Full integration is called individual or collective identity. Since migration violates — to a greater or lesser extent — the individual or collective identity of both the country that receives immigrants and the immigrants themselves, integration aims to rebuild it, but no longer within the same mental structures, but rather ones enriched with new impulses that are the contribution of immigrants. The foundation — in our context, it is about faith in the God of Jesus Christ — remains unchanged, yet the superstructure undergoes some changes.

2021-06-29



Journal: Ecumeny and Law

“The Night of the Churches” — a Pastoral Response to the Challenges of the Exhortation Ecclesia in Europa

Damián Němec

Language: PL | Published: 30-06-2024 | Abstract | pp. 103-124

This article presents the Night of the Churches as one of the possible and effective responses to the challenges discussed in Pope John Paul II’s 2003 post-synodal apostolic exhortation Ecclesia in Europa, and introduces the history, spread and purpose of this activity. It focuses in detail on its implementation in the Czech Republic since 2009, with special emphasis on the years 2000—2002, marked by the pandemic of COVID-19. It also tries to show its positives (chances) and negatives (pitfalls). In this way, it can serve not only as a recapitulation of past actions, but also as an inspiration, especially for countries where this activity is not widespread and often not even known.

2024-06-30



Journal: Ecumeny and Law

Conscience — Synodality — Ecumenism

Tomasz Gałkowski

Language: EN | Published: 10-08-2022 | Abstract | pp. 157-172

The reference point for deliberations is constituted by two documents: the Apostolic Constitution of Francis Episcopalis communio and the final document of XV General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops dedicated to the problems of young people Young People, the Faith, and Vocational Discernment. The synodal document presented the issues which were not discussed during the synodal sessions and concern the synodal path of the Church. The author reflects on common elements of both documents and interprets each of them in the light of the other one. He highlights the element of discernment of gifts, charisms, and conscience, which determine the position of the faithful in the ecclesial community and influence the bonds between them and the pastors of the Church. Extending the area of implementation of the synodal character of the Church allows the author to ask the question about the model of the presence of the Church in the world. The
author points out similarities between the synodal way and the methodology of ecumenical dialogue, which may affect summoning of the Synod dedicated to ecumenical issues.

2022-08-10



Journal: Ecumeny and Law

The Requirements for an Ecumenical Dialogue according to Pope John Paul II’s Encyclical Letter „Ut unum sint"

Nicolae V. Dură

Language: PL | Published: 28-08-2022 | Abstract | pp. 91-118

In the Christian theological language, the term “ecumenism” was put in circulation by the Ecumenical Movement initiated by the Christians after the First World War. But, in the language of the Catholic Church, the term “ecumenism,” used with the meaning of the “ecumenical movement,” was introduced by the renowned theologian Yves Congar in 1937. And, then, it was taken over by the Second Vatican Council for the
text of the decree on ecumenism Unitatis redintegratio. The Roman Catholic Church joined the Ecumenical Movement in 1961, when its delegates were presents at the Session — held in New Delhi — of the Ecumenical Council. Among other things, from the text of the Encyclical Ut unum sint published by Pope John Paul II in the year 1995, we could notice that His Holiness asserted that an ecumenical dialogue — that remains in fact one of the main instruments for the reestablishment of the ecumenical unity — has to fulfill the requirements stipulated by the Second Vatican Council, adopted however to the ecumenical realities of the present times.

2022-08-28



Journal: Ecumeny and Law

Pope John Paul II’s Encyclical Letter "Ut unum sint" and Its Praiseworthy Contribution to the Cause of Christian Unity

Cătălina Mititelu

Language: PL | Published: 28-08-2022 | Abstract | pp. 135-156

A careful examination of the text of Pope John Paul II’s encyclical Ut unum sint allows us to see, first of all, the fact that His Holiness was closely acquainted with the ecclesiological doctrine of the Second Vatican Council, in which he, in fact, played an active part, including by drafting some synodal documents, such as the decree on ecumenism Unitatis redintegratio. Moreover, in his ecumenical approach, Pope John Paul II aptly advocated for the participation of the Catholic Church in the work of the Ecumenical Council of Churches and for the restoration of the unity of Christians, hence his full ecumenical commitment to engage in ecumenical dialogue with all the Churches, and particularly with the Eastern Church, which he suggestively called “sister Church”. In fact, both his pastoral-practical activity of ecumenical commitment, as well as his encyclicals, abundantly confirm that the Supreme Pontiff has indeed made a praiseworthy contribution to the cause of Christian unity, which the Founder of the Church himself wanted (cf. John 17:21), and which must remain an example for us Christians of today and tomorrow.

2022-08-28



Journal: Ecumeny and Law

Canon Law in the Service of Ecumenism

Andrzej Pastwa

Language: EN | Published: 31-12-2024 | Abstract | pp. 7-25

An event from 25 years ago is written in thick letters in the history of ecu- menism. On 7—9 May 1999, the head of the Catholic Church, Pope John Paul II, made an apostolic journey to Romania, a first visit by any pontiff to a country of Orthodoxy. A specific climax of the event was the papal words delivered at the departure ceremony: “Here, on Romanian soil it is especially clear that the Church breathes with both lungs.” That is how the idea of the two lungs of the Church (already present in the Pope’s teach- ing before) became permanently inscribed as a keystone and the first element of the magisterial “triad,” delineating the hermeneutic horizon of the contemporary interpreta- tion of the words: Ut unum sint. The two remaining, equally essential elements — identified in the great encyclical bearing the same title, are: the idea/postulate of Eucharistic ecclesiology and the idea/postulate of a new form of exercising the primacy (synodal- ity). This article constitutes an attempt to show the inseparable role of ius ecclesiasticum (both in the area of legislation and execution of law) within the context of the need of a multi-level activity — consistent but also pressing, the proof of which is Pope Francis’ synodal engagement — of implementing the paradigms of John Paul II’s ecumenical thought.

2024-12-31



Journal: Ecumeny and Law

Mixed Marriages with the Orthodox in the Metropolitan Church sui iuris in Slovakia – History and Present

Jurij Popovič

Language: EN | Published: 29-12-2023 | Abstract | pp. 103-119

The issue of intermarriage among believers is very topical nowadays because we have seen a lot of migration recently. The reasons are various, but the main ones are the opening of borders and migration for work. A frequent outcome of these processes is the celebration of mixed marriages. In the past, the Catholic Church has been negative about mixed marriages because it feared that in the future the Catholic side might lose its faith and the Catholic upbringing of children might be threatened. Even today, the Catholic Church is not very supportive of such marriages, but is tolerant of them in view of the progress of ecumenism. This welcoming does not mean, however, that the Church is indifferent to the fate of those who celebrate mixed marriages, since the celebration of such marriages is governed by the prescriptions of canon law, which have the task, from the very beginning, when such marriages are instituted, of being of help to those who celebrate them, so that they may live in them in peace and without offending the Creator, and so form a happy marriage despite their differences. The attitude of the Orthodox Church towards mixed marriages has been negative in the past and remains unchanged at the present time, and if a marriage is not celebrated in the Orthodox Church, it is not recognized as valid.

2023-12-29



Journal: Ecumeny and Law

Notes on Contributors

Redakcja E&L

Language: PL | Published: 28-06-2021 | Abstract | pp. 155-157

Ecumeny and Law. Migration – Ecumenism – Integration (I)
Tom 9 (2021)

2021-06-28



Journal: Ecumeny and Law

Table of contents

Redakcja E&L

Language: PL | Published: 28-06-2021 | Abstract | pp. 3-4

Ecumeny and Law. Migration – Ecumenism – Integration (I)
Tom 9 (2021)

2021-06-28



Journal: Ecumeny and Law

Cover Pages

Redakcja E&L

Language: PL | Published: 28-06-2021 | Abstract | pp. 1-2

Ecumeny and Law. Migration – Ecumenism – Integration (I) 

Tom 9 (2021)

2021-06-28



Journal: Ecumeny and Law

Ecclesia in Europa: Biblical-Theological and Organizational-Structural Aspects of the Exhortation

Stanislav Přibyl

Language: EN | Published: 31-12-2024 | Abstract | pp. 47-66

The present article discusses John Paul II’s exhortation Ecclesia in Europa (2002), focusing first on the biblical sources of its systematics. In fact, the framework of the exhortation is defined by several passages taken from the Revelation of St. John; however, the text is also filled with other biblical references. The origins of the Trinitar- ian theological inspiration in the exhortation relate to the preparations for the Great Jubilee of the year 2000, since each of the three years preceding the Jubilee was dedi- cated to one of the three persons of the Holy Trinity. On the one hand, the exhortation expresses hope for the European continent, whose unique source is the person of Jesus Christ; on the other hand, it does not obfuscate the problems the Church in Europe faces, for instance, abandoning the sacrament of reconciliation and the moral princi- ples of premarital purity, favouring new ecclesial movements at the expense of a parish pastoral model; excessive activism accompanied by a lack of contemplation. The exhor- tation welcomes the process of European integration and its organizational and insti- tutional guarantees. Thanks to the Council of European Bishops’ Conferences (CCEE), this dynamic also finds a reflection in the Catholic Church itself. However, the exhor- tation takes a critical view of abortion and euthanasia, as forms of attack on innocent human life.

2024-12-31



Journal: Ecumeny and Law

Challenges Facing the Church in Europe. Insights from the Teaching of John Paul II, Benedict XVI and Francis

Przemysław Sawa

Language: PL | Published: 31-12-2024 | Abstract | pp. 67-93

The aim of this article is to provide the main indications for a renewal of the Catholic Church in Europe in the face of contemporary challenges, both internal (e.g. community crisis, neglect of evangelisation, insufficient catechisation, secularisation, insufficient involvement of the laity) and external (e.g. general crisis of religiousness, indi- vidualisation of life). The source material is the teaching of John Paul II, Benedict XVI and Francis, who can be described as the “popes of the new evangelisation.” Basically, this article analyses certain official documents of the Bishops of Rome and selected, due to their number, official homilies and speeches. The analysis of the texts leads to the following conclusions: there is a need for evan- gelisation leading to a personal decision on faith, catechisation and multidimensional formation, a renewal of spirituality, a deepening of the ecclesial self-awareness of the faithful, and the Church’s involvement in world affairs (ecumenism, interreligious dia- logue, human brotherhood, addressing social issues, articulating the truth about mar- riage and the family, help in solving migration problems and care for the environment).

2024-12-31



Journal: Ecumeny and Law

Table of Contents

Redakcja E&L

Language: PL | Published: 31-12-2021 | Abstract | pp. 3-4

Ecumeny and Law. Migration – Ecumenism – Integration (II)
Tom 9 nr 2 (2021)

2021-12-31



Journal: Ecumeny and Law

Cover Pages

Redakcja E&L

Language: PL | Published: 31-12-2021 | Abstract | pp. 1-2

Ecumeny and Law. Migration – Ecumenism – Integration (II) 

Tom 9 nr 2 (2021)

2021-12-31