Contents of a declaration by cardinal ratzinger in 2000 on the unicity and the salvific universality of jesus christ and the church, world opinion on it, and how its position compares with the bahai teachings. A similar document was also issued for the eastern catholic churches. Most of it is very nice, but nevertheless a mortal blow is given to christs universal mediation in paragraph 14. Pdf religious pluralism and dominus iesus researchgate. Activities of the holy father pope francis vatican. Books by congregation for the doctrine of the faith.
The analysis focuses on mens view of the religions of the world, which is examined in the light of the catholic declaration dominus. Writing in the sunday edition of the boston globe 9, five days after the release of the document. Dominus iesus, declaration on the unicity and salvific universality of jesus christ and the church by. Apostolic letter motu proprio mitis iudex dominus iesus by which the canons of the code of canon law pertaining to cases regarding the nullity of marriage are reformed, 15 august 2015. The lord jesus is a declaration by the congregation for the doctrine of the faith known as the holy office, approved in a plenary meeting of the congregation and signed by its then prefect, joseph cardinal ratzinger, later pope benedict xvi, and of its then secretary, archbishop tarcisio cardinal bertone, later cardinal secretary of state. The left, the right and dominus iesus peter kreeft.
This talk was delivered at sacred heart university on. The analysis of the declaration dominus iesus veritas, r. It was approved in a plenary meeting of the congregation, and bears the signature of its then prefect, cardinal joseph ratzinger, now pope benedict xvi, and of its then secretary, archbishop tarcisio bertone, now cardinal secretary of state. In august, 2000 the vatican issued a document entitled dominus iesus, which was touted by the press as a defense of the churchs traditional teaching that the catholic church is the unique means of salvation. Dominus iesus, published in the summer of 2000 by the congregation for the doctrine of the faith, is one of the most important church.
Dominus iesus august 2000 roman catholic church of. Dec 31, 2007 the declaration, entitled dominus iesus on the unicity and salvific universality of jesus christ and the church, dated august 6, 2000, was signed by cardinal joseph ratzinger, prefect of the cdf, and archbishop tarcisio bertone, secretary, with the explicit authority of pope john paul ii. The lord jesus, before ascending into heaven, commanded his disciples to proclaim the gospel to the whole world and to baptize all nations. Dominus iesus, saying that some liberal catholic theologians fear that something far. The lord jesus is a declaration by the congregation for the doctrine.
It was ratified and confirmed by pope john paul ii. Religions pluralism endangers the churchs missionary efforts. Congregation for the doctrine of the faith declaration. They are so often full of bald assertions, frequently sust ained by citations of previous bald assertions, even of the authors themselves. This is a document written by cardinal ratzinger who was at the time the prefect of the congregation for the doctrine of the faith. Dominus iesus, or rather, servus iesus a comment on cardinal ratzingers dominus iesus leonard swidler as a scholar it is very often discouraging, and r eally embarrassing, to read vatican documents. Apostolic letter issued motu proprio mitis iudex dominus iesus, on the reform of canonical procedure for the annulment of marriage in the code of canon law activities of the holy father pope francis. May 09, 2014 below is a brief summary of the declaration by the congregation for the doctine of the faith entitled dominus iesus.
Declaration dominus iesus, the holy see press room, 5. In cormac murphyoconnor britain to the vatican declaration dominus iesus 2000. The lord jesus is a declaration by the congregation for the doctrine of the faith known as the holy office and formerly, the inquisition, approved in a plenary meeting of the congregation and signed by its then prefect, cardinal joseph ratzinger, later pope benedict xvi, and of its then secretary, archbishop tarcisio bertone, later cardinal secretary of state. Faq about the revised matrimonial nullity process as of december 8th, 2015 on september 8th, 2015, pope francis issued the motu proprio mitis iudex dominus iesus the lord jesus, gentle judge, a document revising the procedure for cases of matrimonial nullity. Dominus iesus latin for the lord jesus is a declaration by the congregation for the doctrine of the faith. Dominus iesus is a declaration by the congregation for the doctrine of the faith, approved in a plenary meeting of the congregation and signed by its then prefect, joseph cardinal ratzinger. On september 8th, 2015, pope francis issued the motu proprio mitis iudex dominus iesus the lord jesus, gentle judge, a document revising the procedure for cases of matrimonial nullity annulments.
Presentation of declaration dominus iesus vatican city, sep 5, 2000 vis the congregation for the doctrine of the faiths declaration dominus iesus on the unicity and salvific universality of jesus christ and the church was made public today in the holy see press office. Dominus iesus says that, while such an encounter is possible, it is not the norm. Pdf the cdfs declaration dominus iesus and pope john. The lord jesus, before ascending into heaven, commanded his disciples to proclaim the gospel to the whole world and to. Dominus iesus westminster papers in communication and culture. The lord jesus, which stated that the roman catholic church was the only instrument of salvation. Dominus jesus clearly reaffirms in concluding this chapter, no one, therefore, can enter into communion with god except through christ, by the working of the holy spirit. The document recognizes not primarily the uniqueness of christ but rather focuses on the perceived uniqueness of the roman church in the saving of mens. What is dominus iesus and how involved was cardinal joseph ratzinger, now pope, in it. It is essential to the faith that we believe in the oneness of the economy of salvation willed by the one and triune god. In his final sermon before his retirement, murphyoconnor issued a controversial critique of secularism that some viewed as a denunciation of atheism. The first part of it, paragraphs 1to 15, deal with the unicity of christ as mediator.
On september 5 th 2000, the rc document dominus iesus 1 di was issued by joseph cardinal ratzinger, head of the congregation for the doctrine of the faith. Oct 28, 2000 the impact of dominus iesus on ecumenism. It is based on extensive primary and secondary source material in russian as well as english. Books by congregation for the doctrine of the faith author. If dominus iesus should prove to have been a catalyst for such developments, it will have succeeded eminently in one of its own stated intentions, that is, to help theological reflection in developing solutions consistent with the contents of the faith and responsive to the pressing needs of contemporary culture n. Relations in cambridge, england, writing in londons tablet, criticized. The declaration on the unicity and salvific universality of jesus christ and the church, a document from the congregation of the doctrine of faith formerly the office for the inquisition or simply the holy office. Journalistic writing consists, to put it briefly, in adapting the event. The left, the right and dominus iesus peter kreeft dominus iesus is one of the most important church documents of modern times, because it defends the most unpopular aspect of the churchs claim today its absolutism. Translate dominus in english online and download now our free translator to use any time at no charge. At the vatican on 16 june 2000, pope john paul ii ratified and ordered the publication of dominus iesus. Congregation for the doctrine of the faith declaration dominus iesus on the unicity and salvific universality of jesus christ and the church introduction 1.
The declaration dominus iesus bahai library online. Below is a brief summary of the declaration by the congregation for the doctine of the faith entitled dominus iesus. Dominus iesus meant, kock said, that in romes view the churches of the reformation were at the lowest level of the order of ecclesiastical precedence, and that rome had rejected the principle of equal treatment with a clarity that leaves no room for doubt. Go into the whole world and proclaim the gospel to every creature. Sep 17, 2001 the declaration dominus iesus, issued in september 2000 by the congregation for the doctrine of the faith, aroused deep concern among many jews and not a few catholics. Its author was no one of less importance than the cardinal josef ratzinger, prefect of the congregation for faith and doctrine earlier inquisition. This short essay will attempt to show that although karl rahner would be in basic agreement with the concern of dominus iesus about religious relativism and in basic agreement with the claims of the catholic church as expressed in vatican ii about the role of jesus as universal savior and about the unique role of the roman. But this is a language problem, since the term evangelisation, in official church documents, cannot be understood in the same way it is commonly interpreted in everydays speech. Dominus iesus jesus is lord is the title of a document issued by the. A critical evaluation of fr aleksandr vladimirovich men. The impact of dominus iesus on ecumenism america magazine. Relativistic attitude towards truth is a problem, as well as reading. Dominus iesus is a difficult document originally aimed at the latin church in india because of its syncretistic tendencies. Dominus iesus study notes in philosophy and theology.
What is dominus iesusand why is everyone mad about it. Dominus iesus is a document that struggles to reconcile the absolute truth claims of the roman church with secular concerns about other religions as having legitimate truth claims, as well. On 6 september 2000, in rome, the congregation for the doctrine of faith published the declaration dominus iesus. In 2000, the vatican issued the declaration, dominus iesus, address ing what it. And because it overcomes the dualism of liberal vs.
Congregation for the doctrine of the faith christian issues. Lord jesus is a declaration by the congregation for the doctrine of the faith. Mitis iudex dominus iesus reform process for canon causes of declaration of nullity of marriage in the code of canon law the lord jesus, judge clement, shepherd of our souls, entrusted to the apostle peter and his successors the power of the keys to perform in the. Reese, a jesuit scholar and editor of the catholic. They argue that hindus will encounter christ through hinduism. This declaration of the congregation for the doctrine of the faith was signed and published by joseph cardinal ratzinger now pope benedict xvi in august of the same year. The churchs dialogue with nonchristian religions does not replace its mission to the nations. Britain to the vatican declaration dominus iesus 2000.
Pdf terrence merrigan is professor of theology at the catholic university of louvain, belgium. In part one of this threepart blog i reflected simply on the fact of the september 5, 2000 vatican declaration dominus iesus. The holy see apostolic letter motu proprio of the supreme pontiff francis mitis iudex dominus iesus by which the canons of the code of canon law pertaining to cases regarding the nullity of marriage are reformed the gentle judge, our lord jesus, the shepherd of our souls, entrusted to the apostle peter and. Dominus iesus is part of a sustained effort by catholic conservatives to deny this, and to return to what is, even in catholic terms, an oversimple identification of the two. Dominus iesus is one of the most important church documents of modern times, because it defends the most unpopular aspect of the churchs claim today its absolutism. God gives light to all in a way which is accommodated to their spiritual and material situation, granting them salvific grace in ways known to himself dominus iesus, vi, nn. Dominus iesus, as other official documents, raised this question again saying that dialogue is a part of evangelisation. It was never actually intended to reflect upon the orthodox or any of the other apostolic churches, including the eastern catholic churches. In the christian world the importance of the declaration dominus iesus, published on september 5, 2000 in rome, has been lately discussed. Although the major theme of the document dominus iesus, which was issued by the congregation for. By julio savi n 5 september 2000 joseph cardinal ratzinger, prefect of the congregation for the doctrine of the faith and the highest o. In a postdominus iesus age, catholic theologians are.
Dominus iesus is the august 2000 declaration on the unique and universal character of the salvation brought by jesus and his church. The cdfs declaration dominus iesus and pope john paul ii. Reactions to dominus iesus 2000 religious tolerance. First vatican council, dogmatic constitution dei filius, cap.
It was approved in a plenary meeting of the congregation, and bears the signature of its then prefect, cardinal joseph ratzinger, now pope benedict xvi, and of its then secretary. Pdf the cdfs declaration dominus iesus and pope john paul. The catholic churchs views of other faith groups reactions to dominus iesus 2000 sponsored link. Dominus iesus was published supposedly to defend the churchs uniqueness as the means of salvation, and even more fundamentally to defend christs role as the unique mediator between god and man. The declaration dominus iesus 2000 is one of the vatican documents to have provoked. This study presents a critical analysis of the work of fr aleksandr men, a prominent orthodox writer and thinker.
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