THE REALITY OF THE CATHOLIC EASTERN CHURCHES IN THE CONTEXT OF VATICAN II AND ECUMENISM
MODEL AND BRIDGE FOR UNITY?
Keywords:
CATHOLIC, EASTERN CHURCHES, ECUMENISM, VATICAN II, UNITY, ORIENTALIUM ECCLESIARUM, UNITATIS REDINTEGRATIOAbstract
According to Second Vatican Council the recovery of the sources and the greatest fidelity to the ancient traditions are the hallmark of Catholic Eastern Churches, in view of their special task of fostering the unity of all Christians, especially of Eastern Christians (Cf. OE, 6, 24). The very existence of Catholic Eastern Churches has an ecumenical dimension. But to find themselves in this realm of responding to these issues, they need a stronger sense of their own identity; they need to
establish their contact with their own deepest resources. Hence in the background of the vision of the Council and the task it entrusted to the Catholic Eastern Churches, as proposed in the Documents Unitatis Redintegratio and Orientalium Ecclesiarum, the following is a search into the reality of the Catholic Eastern Churches. Furthermore in this study I prefer to emphasise the ecumenical dimension of the question over the identity, existence and vocation of the Catholic Eastern Churches. And the question is discussed also in the context of Syro Malabar Church in view of her ecumenical vocation as a Catholic Eastern Church. The
Vision of the Council for these Churches is clear: They are called to be Model and Bridge. But whence have we come – where are we going? Unity is still our destination.
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