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II.
Directives on the use of the expression
9. The historical
references presented in the preceding paragraphs illustrate the significance
which the expression sister Churches has assumed in
the ecumenical dialogue. This makes the correct theological use of the term
even more important.
10. In fact, in the
proper sense, sister Churches are exclusively particular Churches (or groupings
of particular Churches; for example, the Patriarchates or Metropolitan
provinces) among themselves. 7 It must always
be clear, when the expression sister Churches is used in this proper sense,
that the one, holy, catholic and apostolic Universal Church
is not sister but mother of all the particular Churches. 8
11. One may also speak
of sister Churches, in a proper sense, in reference to particular Catholic and
non-catholic Churches; thus the particular Church of Rome can also be called
the sister of all other particular Churches. However, as recalled above, one
cannot properly say that the Catholic Church is the sister of a particular
Church or group of Churches. This is not merely a question of terminology, but
above all of respecting a basic truth of the Catholic faith: that of the unicity of the Church of Jesus Christ. In fact, there is
but a single Church, 9 and therefore the
plural term Churches can refer only to particular Churches.
Consequently,
one should avoid, as a source of misunderstanding and theological confusion,
the use of formulations such as «our two Churches,»
which, if applied to the Catholic Church and the totality of Orthodox Churches
(or a single Orthodox Church), imply a plurality not merely on the level of
particular Churches, but also on the level of the one, holy, catholic and
apostolic Church confessed in the Creed, whose real existence is thus obscured.
12. Finally, it must
also be borne in mind that the expression sister Churches in the proper sense,
as attested by the common Tradition of East and West, may only be used for
those ecclesial communities that have preserved a valid Episcopate and
Eucharist.
Rome, from the Offices
of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, June 30, 2000, the Solemnity
of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
+
Joseph Card. Ratzinger
Prefect
+ Tarcisio Bertone, S.D.B.
Archbishop Emeritus
of Vercelli
Secretary
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