Religious Leaders Comment On «Dominus Iesus» Decleration

Criticize Catholic Theology But Are Grateful for Clarity

VATICAN CITY, SEP 6 (ZENIT.org).- Reactions to Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger's presentation yesterday of the «Dominus Iesus» Declaration, written by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, included perplexity, criticisms, and the realization that, in declaring her identity, the Catholic Church is relaunching the ecumenical dialogue and discussions with other religions.

In Great Britain, while Queen Elizabeth prepares to visit the Pope on October 17, Archbishop George Carey of Canterbury said that the idea that the Anglican Church and other Churches are not Churches in the real sense of the term, seems to cast doubt on the considerable ecumenical steps that have been taken. The Anglican Archbishop feels that the document does not reflect the profound understanding that has been reached through ecumenical dialogue and co-operation over the last 30 years.

In number 17, the Declaration states: «the ecclesial communities that have not preserved the valid Episcopate and the genuine and integral substance of the Eucharistic mystery, are not Churches in the proper sense; however, those who are baptized in these communities are, by Baptism, incorporated in Christ and thus are in a certain communion, albeit imperfect, with the Church.»

However, the Catholic Primate, Archbishop Cormac Murphy-O'Connor denied that the document might negatively affect the ecumenical efforts, and affirms that «the principal objective of the Vatican Declaration is to warn in face of the tendency to consider all religions equal.»

Reverend Manfred Kock, president of the Council of the Evangelical Church in Germany, who recently spoke about the need to recognize the Pope as a symbolic unitary figure of Christianity, said that the document «Dominus Iesus» represents «a step backwards for ecumenical relations.»

«We Are Church,» a group supporting changes in Catholic doctrine on Papal infallibility, ordination of women, and homosexuality, stated, «The declaration is a questionable attempt put the reinstate the defeated absolutist image of the Chruch from the First Vatican Council, with its limitless primacy of the Pope. It stands in stark contrast to the hopeful concern for inter-Christian ecumenism and interreligious dialogue initated by the Second Vatican Council.»

However, at the same time Kock acknowledged that «the Declaration has many affirmations that the Reformed Churches could approve without reservations, beginning with the salvific universality of Christ.»

The Orthodox Patriarchate of Moscow made no comments, as it prefers to study the document first. A spokesman of the Patriarchate limited himself to saying that «Catholics and Orthodox have a different conception of the Church's universality, and this continues to be the heart of the question.»

For Islam, the problem is both identical and opposite: to the primacy of Christ they posit the primacy of Allah. Hamza Piccardo, leader of Italian Muslims, said: «We apply the verse of the Koran, according to which those who believe in Allah and the prophetes, one of whom is Jesus, will be saved.»

Amos Luzzatto, president of the Jewish communities in Italy, was concise: «Cardinal Ratzinger can do all the verbal acrobatics he wishes, but in practice for Jews the New Testament doesn't even exist. Moreover, to say that the only possible mediator for salvation is Jesus Christ, removes us from all dialogue.»

Zenit - The World Seen From Rome