How does the Catholic Church practice ecumenism?

Answer 1

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Catholic AnswerBelow are two paragraphs from the Catechism on ecumenism. Since the Second Vatican Council the Church has been very concerned with Ecumenism as the unity of the Christ's Church is something that He, Himself, decreed, and we must live up to. You should also read the entire document Unitatis redintegratio which is the Decree on Ecumenism issued by the Second Vatican Council on 21 November 1964. There are also numerous follow-up documents issued by the Vatican that are contained in Vatican Council II The Conciliar and Post Conciliar Documents, documents 32 through 44. You may read Unitatis redintegratio at the link below (in English)

from The Catechism of the Catholic Church, second edition, English translation 1994

820 "Christ bestowed unity on his Church from the beginning. This unity, we believe, subsists in the Catholic Church as something she can never lose, and we hope that it will continue to increase until the end of time." (Unitatis redintegratio4 section 3) Christ always gives his Church the gift of unity, but the Church must always pray and work to maintain, reinforce, and perfect the unity that Christ wills for her. This is why Jesus himself prayed at the hour of his Passion, and does not cease praying to his Father, for the unity of his disciples: "That they may all be one. As you, Father, are in me and I am in you, may they also be one in us, . . . so that the world may know that you have sent me." (Jn 17:21; cf. Heb 7:25) the desire to recover the unity of all Christians is a gift of Christ and a call of the Holy Spirit. Cf. Unitatis redintegratio 1

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821 Certain things are required in order to respond adequately to this call:

- a permanent renewal of the Church I greater fidelity to her vocation; such renewal is the driving-force of the movement toward unity; (Cf. Unitatis redintegratio 6)

- conversion of heart as the faithful "try to live holier lives according to the Gospel"; (Unitatis redintegratio 7, section 3) for it is the unfaithfulness of the members to Christ's gift which causes divisions;

- prayer in common, because "change of heart and holiness of life, along with public and private prayer for the unity of Christians, should be regarded as the soul of the whole ecumenical movement, and merits the name 'spiritual ecumenism;'" (Cf. Unitatis redintegratio 8, section 1)

- fraternal knowledge of each other; (Cf. Unitatis redintegratio 9)

- ecumenical formation of the faithful and especially of priests; (Cf. Unitatis redintegratio 10)

- dialogue among theologians and meetings among Christians of the different churches and communities; (Cf. Unitatis redintegratio 4; 9; 11)

- collaboration among Christians in Various areas of service to mankind. (Cf. Unitatis redintegratio 12) "Human service" is the idiomatic phrase.