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Notification relative to the book of Jacques
Dupuis, Toward a Christian Theology of Religious Pluralism
Preface
After a preliminary study of the book Toward a Christian
Theology of Religious Pluralism (Orbis Book: Maryknoll, New York, 1997) by
Father Jacques Dupuis, S.J., the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith
decided to proceed to a comprehensive examination of the text by means of its
ordinary procedure, in accordance with Chapter 3 of the Regulations for
Doctrinal Examination.
It must be emphasized that this text is an introductory reflection
on a Christian theology of religious pluralism. It is not simply a theology of
religions, but a theology of religious pluralism, which seeks to investigate,
in the light of Christian faith, the significance of the plurality of religious
traditions in Gods plan for humanity. Aware of the potential problems in
this approach, the author does not conceal the possibility that his hypothesis
may raise as many questions as it seeks to answer.
Following the doctrinal examination of the book and the outcome of
the dialogue with the author, the Bishop and Cardinal Members of the
Congregation, in the Ordinary Session of June 30, 1999, evaluated the analysis
and the opinions of the Congregations Consultors regarding the
authors Responses. The Members of the Congregation recognized the
authors attempt to remain within the limits of orthodoxy in his study of
questions hitherto largely unexplored. At the same time, while noting the
authors willingness to provide the necessary clarifications, as evident
in his Responses, as well as his desire to remain faithful to the doctrine of
the Church and the teaching of the Magisterium, they found that his book
contained notable ambiguities and difficulties on important doctrinal points,
which could lead a reader to erroneous or harmful opinions. These points
concerned the interpretation of the sole and universal salvific mediation of
Christ, the unicity and completeness of Christs revelation, the universal
salvific action of the Holy Spirit, the orientation of all people to the
Church, and the value and significance of the salvific function of other
religions.
At the conclusion of the ordinary procedure of examination, the
Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith decided to draft a Notification,
intended to safeguard the doctrine of the Catholic faith from errors,
ambiguities or harmful interpretations. This Notification, approved by the Holy
Father in the Audience of November 24, 2000, was presented to Father Jacques
Dupuis and was accepted by him. By signing the text, the author committed
himself to assent to the stated theses and, in his future theological activity
and publications, to hold the doctrinal contents indicated in the Notification,
the text of which must be included in any reprinting or further editions of his
book, as well as in all translations.
The present Notification is not meant as a judgment on the
authors subjective thought, but rather as a statement of the
Churchs teaching on certain aspects of the above-mentioned doctrinal
truths, and as a refutation of erroneous or harmful opinions, which,
prescinding from the authors intentions, could be derived from reading
the ambiguous statements and insufficient explanations found in certain
sections of the text. In this way, Catholic readers will be given solid
criteria for judgment, consistent with the doctrine of the Church, in order to
avoid the serious confusion and misunderstanding which could result from
reading this book.
I. On the sole and universal salvific mediation of Jesus
Christ
1. It must be firmly believed that Jesus Christ, the Son of God
made man, crucified and risen, is the sole and universal mediator of salvation
for all humanity.
2. It must also be firmly believed that Jesus of Nazareth, Son of
Mary and only Saviour of the world, is the Son and Word of the Father. For the
unity of the divine plan of salvation centred in Jesus Christ, it must also be
held that the salvific action of the Word is accomplished in and through Jesus
Christ, the Incarnate Son of the Father, as mediator of salvation for all
humanity. It is therefore contrary to the Catholic faith not only to posit a
separation between the Word and Jesus, or between the Words salvific
activity and that of Jesus, but also to maintain that there is a salvific
activity of the Word as such in his divinity, independent of the humanity of
the Incarnate Word.
II. On the unicity and completeness of revelation of Jesus
Christ
3. It must be firmly believed that Jesus Christ is the mediator,
the fulfilment and the completeness of revelation. It is therefore contrary to
the Catholic faith to maintain that revelation in Jesus Christ (or the
revelation of Jesus Christ) is limited, incomplete or imperfect. Moreover,
although full knowledge of divine revelation will be had only on the day of the
Lords coming in glory, the historical revelation of Jesus Christ offers
everything necessary for mans salvation and has no need of completion by
other religions.
4. It is consistent with Catholic doctrine to hold that the seeds
of truth and goodness that exist in other religions are a certain participation
in truths contained in the revelation of or in Jesus Christ. However, it is
erroneous to hold that such elements of truth and goodness, or some of them, do
not derive ultimately from the source-mediation of Jesus Christ.
III. On the universal salvific action of the Holy
Spirit
5. The Churchs faith teaches that the Holy Spirit, working
after the resurrection of Jesus Christ, is always the Spirit of Christ sent by
the Father, who works in a salvific way in Christians as well as
non-Christians. It is therefore contrary to the Catholic faith to hold that the
salvific action of the Holy Spirit extends beyond the one universal salvific
economy of the Incarnate Word.
IV. On the orientation of all human beings to the
Church
6. It must be firmly believed that the Church is sign and
instrument of salvation for all people. It is contrary to the Catholic faith to
consider the different religions of the world as ways of salvation
complementary to the Church.
7. According to Catholic doctrine, the followers of other
religions are oriented to the Church and are all called to become part of
her.
V. On the value and salvific function of the religious
traditions
8. In accordance with Catholic doctrine, it must be held that
«whatever the Spirit brings about in human hearts and in the history of
peoples, in cultures and religions, serves as a preparation for the Gospel (cf.
Dogmatic Constitution Lumen gentium, 16)». It is therefore legitimate to
maintain that the Holy Spirit accomplishes salvation in non-Christians also
through those elements of truth and goodness present in the various religions;
however, to hold that these religions, considered as such, are ways of
salvation, has no foundation in Catholic theology, also because they contain
omissions, insufficiencies and errors regarding fundamental truths about God,
man and the world.
Furthermore, the fact that the elements of truth and goodness
present in the various world religions may prepare peoples and cultures to
receive the salvific event of Jesus Christ does not imply that the sacred texts
of these religions can be considered as complementary to the Old Testament,
which is the immediate preparation for the Christ event.
The Sovereign Pontiff John Paul II, at the Audience of January 19,
2001, in the light of the further developments, confirmed the present
Notification, which had been adopted in Ordinary Session of the Congregation,
and ordered its publication.
Rome, from the Offices of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the
Faith, January 24, 2001, the Memorial of Saint Francis de Sales.
Joseph Card. RATZINGER Prefect Tarcisio BERTONE,
S.D.B. Archbishop Emeritus of Vercelli Secretary
National Catholic Reporter, Posted March 5,
2001
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