The Summary text of the Recent Roman Catholic Doctrinal Note

Here is one section:

III. Some Ecclesiological Implications

9. “Since the day of Pentecost ”¦ the Gospel, in the power of the Holy Spirit, is proclaimed to all people so that they might believe and become disciples of Christ and members of his Church.” “Conversion” is a “change in thinking and of acting,” expressing our new life in Christ; it is an ongoing dimension of Christian life.

10. For Christian evangelization, “the incorporation of new members into the Church is not the expansion of a power-group, but rather entrance into the network of friendship with Christ which connects heaven and earth, different continents and ages.” In this sense, then, “the Church is the bearer of the presence of God and thus the instrument of the true humanization of man and the world.” (n. 9)

11. The Doctrinal Note cites the Second Vatican Council’s “Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the Modern World” (Gaudium et Spes) to say that respect for religious freedom and its promotion “must not in any way make us indifferent towards truth and goodness. Indeed, love impels the followers of Christ to proclaim to all the truth which saves.” [n.10] This mission of love must be accomplished by both proclamation of the word and witness of life. “Above all, the witness of holiness is necessary, if the light of truth is to reach all human beings. If the word is contradicted by behavior, its acceptance will be difficult.” On the other hand, citing Pope Paul VI’s Apostolic Exhortation Evangelii nuntiandi, the Note says that “even the finest witness will prove ineffective in the long run, if it is not explained, justified”¦ and made explicit by a clear und unequivocal proclamation of the Lord Jesus.” [n. 11]

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2 comments on “The Summary text of the Recent Roman Catholic Doctrinal Note

  1. FrKimel says:

    The full CDF document is now available online at the Vatican website.

  2. Kendall Harmon says:

    Many thanks, Al.