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Christianity Today, February, 2008 |

Good Works Not Enough

Latest papal document urges Roman Catholics to win souls.

Francis X. Rocca, RNS | posted 1/08/2008 08:20AM

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Roman Catholic missionaries should aim to convert people and not restrict themselves to humanitarian good works, the Vatican said on December 14.

A 19-page document, which was personally approved by Pope Benedict XVI, draws on the controversial Vatican declaration he issued in 2000 that asserted Catholics alone have "the fullness of the means of salvation." The document aims to correct a "growing confusion" among theologians who argue that "it is enough to build communities which strive for justice, freedom, peace, and solidarity."

The document comes as the Catholic Church faces increased competition from Pentecostals and evangelicals, particularly in third-world countries, and charges of improper "sheep stealing" from Orthodox churches, especially in Russia.

"[T]here has a been a cooling of missionary spirit in recent years," said Archbishop Angelo Amato, undersecretary of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, the Vatican's top doctrinal office.

Amato specifically cited the work of three Jesuit theologians—Jacques Dupuis, Roger Haight, and Jon Sobrino—suggesting that their work had undermined missionary spirit by casting doubt on the uniqueness of Christ as the universal Savior of humankind.

"The fundamental problem is a pluralistic theology of religion, which essentially states that all religions are equally valid in leading a person to salvation," the Rev. Agostino di Noia, an American who serves as another undersecretary of the Congregation, told Vatican Radio.

The statement rejects conversion by force or by means "which do not safeguard the freedom and dignity of the human person." It also stresses that evangelization among non-Catholic Christians should be undertaken with "true respect" for their traditions.

Related Elsewhere:

William Joseph Levada introduced the Vatican's Doctrinal Note on some Aspects of Evangelization on December 14.

Previous articles on Catholicism are available on our website.

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February 2008, Vol. 52, No. 2

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cali	Posted: January 11, 2008 11:54 AM

I am sad to see that Pope Benedict has chosen to focus on the doctrines of his church that excludes other Christians from the Body of Christ. This causes divisiveness as in the example of the comment above. We have come a long way since the 1950's and since those of us who are not papists don't subscribe to what he says anyway...why offend our *catholic brothers and sisters. Remember we're eventually gonna be together....FOREVER!

Marianne

Posted: January 08, 2008 12:35 PM

For all its flaws, the Catholic Church does have, does teach, and has carefully preserved for 2,000 years, the Word of God in the Holy Bible. Too often, Protestants and Evangelicals condescend and term all Catholics as pathetic "unsaved" heathens, and by doing so, they forget one of the most critical points of all Christianity: The Word of God is effectual WHEREVER it goes and is read or proclaimed!! Too many non-Catholics refuse to inform themselves that three Scripture readings are proclaimed and reflected upon in every single Mass, every single day of the year: a reading/singing from Psalms, Epistles, and the Gospels. Let's not forget, "So shall my word be that goes forth from my mouth; It shall not return to me void, but shall do my will, achieving the end for which I sent it." Non-Catholics would do well to spend considerable time at http://www.usccb.org/nab/bible/isaiah/isaiah55.htm

Jim	Posted: January 12, 2008 1:03 AM

If Catholics are the only ones eligible for salvation, what becomes of the billions of people born before and after the establishment of the church who through no fault of their own, either because of geography or whatever have never, ever even heard of Christ? It wasn't until 500 years ago that 80 % of the world even knew of Christ, let alone practiced his teachings. And if there is some dispensation for them, why not the rest of us who don't practice Catholicism because of its abuses over the centuries even continuing to this day.