Before it was the German "synodal path" that called for "no one to be excluded." Now it is the European base asking for the same. How will the Catholic Church respond?
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While the FdM is definitely an ambitious, well-organized and admirable initiative, it is also true that it is not clear what the Catholic church has in mind when it talks about mission.
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The subject of dialogue in modern-day Roman Catholicism highlights with clarity the unresolved issues of the “Roman” and “Catholic” natures of the Church. On the one hand dialogue desires to be “Roman.” It is an essential tool for evangelization. Through it the Church leaves its places of comfort and it goes forth and proclaims the gospel and makes disciples of Christ. It recognizes the importance of defining the distinctives of the Christian faith. On the other hand, dialogue is very “Catholic.” It highlights the fraternity and brotherhood of all mankind. It celebrates its commonality and affirms that which is good in humanity and its various religious expressions. It avoids discussion of Jesus and sin and refers to god generically.
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There is an analogous case to be made in regard to doctrine within the Roman Catholic Church. Doctrine in Roman Catholicism develops, or evolves, over time. It is organic and develops in order to better respond to the most current culture. In this sense it develops in order to “survive and reproduce itself.” The discussion to be had, however, is if that development in doctrine is micro or macro in nature. That is, is it still identifiable with its previous version, or has it changed entirely and become a different and new doctrine? The Roman Catholic Church will argue that it is the former, but at times we are faced with contrasts in Roman Catholicism that challenge that claim.
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