God Desires all men to be saved (1 Tim 2:4) Christ also bestowed on his Church the unity for which he prayed (John 17:21). It is his will to embrace all people in that unity. The Catholic Church is the One True Church, established by Christ, to which all men are called. It is the Sacrament of Salvation (CCC 776)
Ecumenism comes from the word ecumenical which means universal. The purpose of Ecumenism is that we might work to bring all men to the fullness of faith in the Church (Pius XI’s Mortalium Animos)
There seems to be sense of ‘false ecumenism’ saturating the minds of many Catholics these days. Now it seems like we say "Well . . . this is one way to salvation but all religions are pretty much the same and their all have their way to God” This is simply NOT what the Church teaches.
If all the protestant churches, quasi Christian Churches, Eastern religions, etc. would be ALL added up and became one huge mega church, they still wouldnt compare to the Catholic Church
The Catholic Church is the ONE CHURCH founded by Christ. Period. Thats the Truth.
The goal of REAL Catholic ecumenism then is to restore unity to the separated traditions by bringing them within the unity of the Catholic Church (UR 24). Its is true that non catholic churches have retained some elements of Salvation, however we must never forget that “It is through Christ’s Catholic Church alone, which is the universal help towards salvation, that the fullness of the means of salvation can be obtained” (UR 3). It is our duty as Catholics to strive for and pray that non Christians and non Catholic Christians alike come to fullness of Truth.
John 17:21; 1 Tim 2:4;
