The growth of
communion
49.
A valuable result of the contacts between Christians and of the theological
dialogue in which they engage is the growth of communion. Both contacts and
dialogue have made Christians aware of the elements of faith which they have in
common. This has served to consolidate further their commitment to full unity.
In all of this, the Second Vatican Council remains a powerful source of
incentive and orientation.
The Dogmatic Constitution Lumen
Gentium links its teaching on the Catholic Church
to an acknowledgment of the saving elements found in other Churches and
Ecclesial Communities.81 It is not a matter of becoming aware of static
elements passively present in those Churches and Communities. Insofar as they
are elements of the Church
of Christ, these are by
their nature a force for the re-establishment of unity. Consequently, the quest
for Christian unity is not a matter of choice or expediency, but a duty which
springs from the very nature of the Christian community.
In a similar way, the
bilateral theological dialogues carried on with the major Christian Communities
start from a recognition of the degree of communion already present, in order
to go on to discuss specific areas of disagreement. The Lord has made it
possible for Christians in our day to reduce the number of matters
traditionally in dispute.
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