Christian Unity

By Father John A. Hardon, S.J. One of the most heartening features of the ecumenical movement among Christians separated from Rome is their re-examination of the status of the priesthood in the full concept of the Church, and their sincere desire to restore something of that priestly heritage which they lost at the time of […]

by John A. Hardon, S.J. The need for ecumenism goes back to the first century of Christianity. Within a generation of Christ’s establishment of the Church by His death on the cross, there were divisions among His followers. One letter of St. Paul after another is eloquent witness to the growing dissension among those who […]

by John A. Hardon, S.J. We may define the ecumenical movement with the Vatican Council as “the initiatives and activities planned and undertaken, according to the various needs of the Church and as opportunities offer, to promote Christian unity.” The essence of ecumenism, then, is the promotion of Christian unity. And no one with a […]

By Father John A. Hardon, S.J. The Evanston Assembly of the World Council of Churches might have been expected to take a stand regarding the Catholic Church. From the earliest years, the shadow of Rome hovered over the first beginnings of the Council. In 1919 when the founders of the future Council were canvassing for […]

By Father John A. Hardon, S.J. The World Council of Churches is a visible expression of the dilemma which faces Christian denominations severed from the unity of Rome. “We cannot unite,” they say to one another, “because there are deep and serious divergences between us in matters of faith, but neither can we continue to […]

By Father John A. Hardon, S.J. Cardinal Newman once remarked that nothing is more common than for men to think that because they are familiar with words, they understand the ideas they stand for. The word “ecumenical” is not an exception. In fact on the very meaning of this term rests the basic cleavage among […]

By Father John A. Hardon, S.J. John A. Hardon, S.J., professor of systematic theology at Bellarmine School of Theology, North Aurora, Ill., presented this article as one of the introductory papers at the first conversation between Roman Catholics and American Baptists in DeWitt, Mich. Any approach to a dialogue between the American Baptist Convention and […]