This document outlines the Catholic Church's principles on ecumenism as established by the Second Vatican Council. It expresses the Church's commitment to restoring unity among all Christians and calls for ongoing renewal and spiritual ecumenism through prayer, study, and changing hearts. It acknowledges divisions with Eastern and Western churches but recognizes diversity can add splendor. The decree establishes policies for ecumenical dialogue and cooperation through joint prayer and sharing resources while respecting different traditions.

1. UNITATIS REDINTEGRATIO
DECREE ON ECUMENISM
SEM. PATRICK GARBO

2. OUTLINE
• INTRODUCTION
• CATHOLIC PRINCIPLES ON ECUMENISM
• THE PRACTICE OF ECUMENISM
• CHURCHES AND ECCLESIAL COMMUNITIES SEPARATED FROM THE ROMAN
APOSTOLIC SEE
The Special Consideration of the Eastern Churches
Separated Churches and Ecclesial Communities in the West

3. INTRODUCTION
The restoration of unity among all
Christians is one of the principal
concerns of the Second Vatican Council.

4. CATHOLIC PRINCIPLES ON ECUMENISM
Before offering Himself up as a spotless victim upon the altar, Christ
prayed to His Father for all who believe in Him:
"that they all may be one; even as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee,
that they also may be one in us, so that the world may believe that
thou has sent me."

5. CATHOLIC PRINCIPLES ON ECUMENISM
The Church, then, is God's only flock

6. THE PRACTICE OF ECUMENISM
Christ summons the Church to continual reformation as she sojourns
here on earth.
This renewal is taking place. The Biblical and liturgical movements, the
preaching of the word of God and catechetics, etc. There can be no
ecumenism worthy of the name without a change of heart.

7. THE PRACTICE OF ECUMENISM
This 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.

8. THE PRACTICE OF ECUMENISM
During ecumenical gatherings, it is allowable, indeed desirable that
Catholics should join in prayer with their separated brethren.
We must get to know the outlook of our separated brethren. To
achieve this purpose, study is of necessity required. Sacred theology
and other branches of knowledge, especially of a historical nature,
must be taught with due regard for the ecumenical point of view.

9. CHURCHES AND ECCLESIAL COMMUNITIES SEPARATED
FROM THE ROMAN APOSTOLIC SEE
The first divisions occurred in the East, when the dogmatic formulae of
the Councils of Ephesus and Chalcedon were challenged, and later
when ecclesiastical communion between the Eastern Patriarchates and
the Roman See was dissolved.

10. The Special Consideration of the Eastern Churches
• However, the heritage handed down by the apostles was received
with differences of form and manner, so that from the earliest times
of the Church it was explained variously in different places, owing to
diversities of genius and conditions of life.
• Already from the earliest times the Eastern Churches followed their
own forms of ecclesiastical law and custom, which were sanctioned
by the approval of the Fathers of the Church, of synods, and even of
ecumenical councils. Far from being an obstacle to the Church's unity,
a certain diversity of customs and observances only adds to her
splendor, and is of great help in carrying out her mission, as has
already been stated.

11. Separated Churches and Ecclesial Communities in the West
In the great upheaval which began in the West toward the end of the
Middle Ages, and in later times too, Churches and ecclesial
Communities came to be separated from the Apostolic See of Rome.
Christians who are separated from us hold the divine authority of the
Sacred Books, they differ from ours - some in one way, some in another
- regarding the relationship between Scripture and the Church. For,
according to Catholic belief, the authentic teaching authority of the
Church has a special place in the interpretation and preaching of the
written word of God.

12. THE COMMON DECLARATION OF POPE PAUL VI &
PATRIARCH ATHENAGORAS I
They carried with them a common declaration of Paul VI and
Athenagoras, which declared, “We wish to cancel out from the memory
of the Church and remove from its midst the [mutual] sentence of
excommunication then pronounced [in 1054], and to have it buried in
oblivion.”

13. DIRECTORY CONCERNING ECUMENICAL MATTERS
The decree on ecumenism insists in a number of places that it
is the business of the Apostolic See & the bishops, with due
regard for the rights of patriarchs and their synods, to decide
ecumenical policy after taking all circumstances into account.

14. DIRECTORY CONCERNING ECUMENICAL MATTERS
I. The setting up of ecumenical commissions (A. The
Diocesan Commission B. The Territorial Commission)
II. The validity of Baptism conferred by ministers of churches
& ecclesial communities separated from us
III. Fostering spiritual ecumenism in the catholic church
IV.Sharing of spiritual activity & resources with our separated
brethren (A. Prayer in common B. Sharing in liturgical
worship)

15. REFLECTIONS AND SUGGESTIONS CONCERNING ECUMENICAL
DIALOGUE
I. NATURE & AIM OF ECUMENICAL DIALOGUE
II. BASES OF DIALOGUE
III. CONDITIONS FOR DIALOGUE
IV. METHOD OF DIALOGUE
V. SUBJECTS FOR DIALOGUE
VI. FORMS OF DIALOGUE

16. THANK YOU