
	Each month Bishop Manning writes a Letter to the Catholic Community of Parramatta Diocese, which is published in 'Catholic Outlook', the official diocesan newspaper. To review previous letters from the Bishop visit the archive.
	March 2008 The Bishop's Letter Proclaiming the faith Bishop Kevin Manning, Catholic Outlook, March 2008 My Dear People, On 14 December last year, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith issued a Doctrinal Note on Some Aspects of Evangelisation. From time to time, this Congregation, within the Holy See, issues Notes, which are corrections or clarifications on some important aspect of the Church's teaching. Clarifications are issued when thinking, writing and practices have been noted, which have stretched the boundaries too far and have caused confusion for ordinary Catholics. This Note is issued under the signature of the Head of the Congregation, Cardinal William Levada, so for convenience sake, we will call him the author. Which confusion does this note clarify? The Note sets out to clarify the confusion between the respect that Catholics must give to the freedom of religion of others and the mission of the Church to evangelise, in the sense of spreading the Good News of Jesus Christ. For many people, there is little or no confusion in these positions, but some people have taken the freedom of religion aspect too far, and interpreted it to mean that we can never seek to present Christianity to others and invite them to consider following Christ in the Catholic Church. The Note sets out to show that such a presentation and invitation does not violate the principle of religious freedom. In the spirit of Christ's commission, "Go out into the whole world and preach the Gospel to every creature" (Mk 16:15), the Note affirms the right and duty of Catholics to share their faith with others who ask to know more, whether those asking belong to other religions or to other Christian communities. In the words of Cardinal Levada, the Note is intended "to clarify certain aspects of the relationship between the missionary command of the Lord and respect for the conscience and religious freedom of all people". He notes that this issue has three dimensions: the human person, the Church and ecumenism. Human person The human person is created with intellect and free will and is thus "programmed" to search for meaning, to search for truth. The Holy Spirit is at work in the world, opening the human heart, and making it receptive to receiving the truth. Because human beings are relational, this search is not carried out in isolation. The search for truth must be carried out by free inquiry with the help of instruction and dialogue. "It is by these means that people share with each other the truth they have discovered, or think they have discovered, in such a way that they help one another in the search for truth." (5) Thus, teaching and entering into dialogue to lead a person to "the encounter with Christ and His Gospel is not an inappropriate encroachment but rather a legitimate endeavour and a service capable of making human relationships more fruitful." (5) Sincere dialogue, which is essential in evangelization, seeks to understand the reasons and feelings, the hopes and sufferings, of others, and holds their freedom to be as precious as one's own. Therefore, any approach to dialogue such as coercion or enticement has no place in Christian evangelisation. The dimension of the Church Since Pentecost, Christians have sought the conversion of others, that is to say, to wish "life in Christ" for them. "The incorporation of new members into the Church is not the expansion of a power group, but rather entrance into the network of friendship with Christ which connects heaven and earth, different continents and ages … the Church is the instrument - the beginning and the seed - of the Kingdom of God." (9) We have reached a very important section in the Note which, sensitively and eloquently, clarifies another confusion that comes from a mistaken understanding of pluralism. The Kingdom of God is not "an indistinct communion" of all who seek God. This Kingdom is "before all else, a person with a name and a face, Jesus of Nazareth, the image of the Unseen God" and one cannot detach the Kingdom from the Church. (9) Cardinal Levada reminds us that membership of the Church is made attractive by the witness to love of its members. Likewise, it is rendered unattractive by lack of charity of its members. Ecumenism The Note maintains that there is no conflict between praying and working for ecumenism and evangelisation among non-Catholic Christians. If a non-Catholic Christian for reasons of conscience and having been convinced of Catholic truth asks to enter into full communion with the Catholic Church, this is to be respected as a work of the Holy Spirit and as an expression of freedom of conscience and of religion (12). But we are reminded that we must sincerely hold true respect for the tradition and spiritual riches of non-Catholic Christians and must avoid senseless rivalry (12). The Doctrinal Note on Some Aspects of Evangelisation is a valuable and timely contribution, which fulfils its purpose of clarifying the confusion between evangelisation and respect for freedom of religion, both of which may be honoured in integrity and fidelity to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Bishop Kevin Manning, Bishop of Parramatta.

Each month Bishop Manning writes a Letter to the Catholic Community of Parramatta Diocese, which is published in 'Catholic Outlook', the official diocesan newspaper.

To review previous letters from the Bishop visit the archive.

March 2008

The Bishop's Letter

Proclaiming the faith

Bishop Kevin Manning, Catholic Outlook, March 2008

My Dear People,

On 14 December last year, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith issued a Doctrinal Note on Some Aspects of Evangelisation. From time to time, this Congregation, within the Holy See, issues Notes, which are corrections or clarifications on some important aspect of the Church's teaching.

Clarifications are issued when thinking, writing and practices have been noted, which have stretched the boundaries too far and have caused confusion for ordinary Catholics.

This Note is issued under the signature of the Head of the Congregation, Cardinal William Levada, so for convenience sake, we will call him the author.

Which confusion does this note clarify?
The Note sets out to clarify the confusion between the respect that Catholics must give to the freedom of religion of others and the mission of the Church to evangelise, in the sense of spreading the Good News of Jesus Christ.

For many people, there is little or no confusion in these positions, but some people have taken the freedom of religion aspect too far, and interpreted it to mean that we can never seek to present Christianity to others and invite them to consider following Christ in the Catholic Church.

The Note sets out to show that such a presentation and invitation does not violate the principle of religious freedom.

In the spirit of Christ's commission, "Go out into the whole world and preach the Gospel to every creature" (Mk 16:15), the Note affirms the right and duty of Catholics to share their faith with others who ask to know more, whether those asking belong to other religions or to other Christian communities.

In the words of Cardinal Levada, the Note is intended "to clarify certain aspects of the relationship between the missionary command of the Lord and respect for the conscience and religious freedom of all people". He notes that this issue has three dimensions: the human person, the Church and ecumenism.

Human person
The human person is created with intellect and free will and is thus "programmed" to search for meaning, to search for truth. The Holy Spirit is at work in the world, opening the human heart, and making it receptive to receiving the truth.

Because human beings are relational, this search is not carried out in isolation. The search for truth must be carried out by free inquiry with the help of instruction and dialogue.

"It is by these means that people share with each other the truth they have discovered, or think they have discovered, in such a way that they help one another in the search for truth." (5)

Thus, teaching and entering into dialogue to lead a person to "the encounter with Christ and His Gospel is not an inappropriate encroachment but rather a legitimate endeavour and a service capable of making human relationships more fruitful." (5)

Sincere dialogue, which is essential in evangelization, seeks to understand the reasons and feelings, the hopes and sufferings, of others, and holds their freedom to be as precious as one's own. Therefore, any approach to dialogue such as coercion or enticement has no place in Christian evangelisation.

The dimension of the Church
Since Pentecost, Christians have sought the conversion of others, that is to say, to wish "life in Christ" for them. "The incorporation of new members into the Church is not the expansion of a power group, but rather entrance into the network of friendship with Christ which connects heaven and earth, different continents and ages … the Church is the instrument - the beginning and the seed - of the Kingdom of God." (9)

We have reached a very important section in the Note which, sensitively and eloquently, clarifies another confusion that comes from a mistaken understanding of pluralism.

The Kingdom of God is not "an indistinct communion" of all who seek God. This Kingdom is "before all else, a person with a name and a face, Jesus of Nazareth, the image of the Unseen God" and one cannot detach the Kingdom from the Church. (9)

Cardinal Levada reminds us that membership of the Church is made attractive by the witness to love of its members. Likewise, it is rendered unattractive by lack of charity of its members.

Ecumenism
The Note maintains that there is no conflict between praying and working for ecumenism and evangelisation among non-Catholic Christians.

If a non-Catholic Christian for reasons of conscience and having been convinced of Catholic truth asks to enter into full communion with the Catholic Church, this is to be respected as a work of the Holy Spirit and as an expression of freedom of conscience and of religion (12).

But we are reminded that we must sincerely hold true respect for the tradition and spiritual riches of non-Catholic Christians and must avoid senseless rivalry (12).

The Doctrinal Note on Some Aspects of Evangelisation is a valuable and timely contribution, which fulfils its purpose of clarifying the confusion between evangelisation and respect for freedom of religion, both of which may be honoured in integrity and fidelity to the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Bishop Kevin Manning,
Bishop of Parramatta.