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To: xzins
You're referring to Dominus Iesus and yes, I remember it. It was published when he was still cardinal Ratzinger. I think the term was "ecclesial communities".
42 posted on 07/12/2014 12:22:36 PM PDT by Legatus (Either way, we're screwed.)
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To: Legatus
This part agrees with Francis. See the parts I've placed in bold and underlined:

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.62 Baptism in fact tends per se toward the full development of life in Christ, through the integral profession of faith, the Eucharist, and full communion in the Church.63

“The Christian faithful are therefore not permitted to imagine that the Church of Christ is nothing more than a collection — divided, yet in some way one — of Churches and ecclesial communities; nor are they free to hold that today the Church of Christ nowhere really exists, and must be considered only as a goal which all Churches and ecclesial communities must strive to reach”.64 In fact, “the elements of this already-given Church exist, joined together in their fullness in the Catholic Church and, without this fullness, in the other communities”.65 “Therefore, these separated Churches and communities as such, though we believe they suffer from defects, have by no means been deprived of significance and importance in the mystery of salvation. For the spirit of Christ has not refrained from using them as means of salvation which derive their efficacy from the very fullness of grace and truth entrusted to the Catholic Church”.66

The lack of unity among Christians is certainly a wound for the Church; not in the sense that she is deprived of her unity, but “in that it hinders the complete fulfilment of her universality in history”.67

I think Francis is saying nothing more than that you don't need to convert already converted people, that the focus is on the unconverted. Proselytism is OK, apparently, but it isn't evangelism.

I think he's right.

49 posted on 07/12/2014 12:35:28 PM PDT by xzins ( Retired Army Chaplain and Proud of It! Those who truly support our troops pray for victory!)
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