Ecumenical Stance: My Comment on the Fact that the Catholic Church has not yet joined the National Council of Churches in Some Countries

Reality:
It was confirmed that in some countries, the local Catholic Church has not yet joined the National Council of Churches. This council is the association of different faith denominations which are aiming at unity and integrity in the area of fraternity, if not in belief. It is rooted in the belief that even though different religions have varied ways of praising, worshipping, they still adore the same Deity though in different names.


Reflection:
It might be possible that the reason why the local Catholic Church in some countries does not join the National Council of Churches is rooted in pride. The leaders of those local Churches think that they are self-sufficient and no longer in need of integrating with other faith. Even history, one can notice such inward attitude of the Catholic Church upon reflecting on the ecclesiological formula of St. Cyprian - outside the Church there is no salvation. According to David Bosch, a missiologist: “The classical Catholic adage, extra ecclesiam nulla salus (“outside the church no salvation”) seemed to have been turned into its opposite –inside the church there is no salvation.”

This assumption is being criticized by the ecumenical conferences in Uppsala (1968) and Bangkok (1973). They say that the Church is arrogant in this expression because the Church itself is also needs to be saved. These conferences proposed that there should be no assumption that salvation is offered to those who are baptized in the Catholic Church alone. Otherwise, the Church might come to be introvert, self-centered and inward-looking.

Another possible reason is the cost of membership in the National Council of Churches. In the favorable note for the Catholic Church, it might also be possible that the membership in NCC is expensive and unaffordable for the local Church.


Response:
The Catholic Church must go back to Jesus Christ. Thus, there is a need to be humble, as Jesus is its model. Hence, the Catholic Church must also recognize that other faith could also lead the world to salvation for as long as it promotes the values demanded by heaven. This is also proposed by the Declaration on Ecumenism of Pope Paul VI: NOSTRA AETATE. Herein, the Catholic Church is being demanded to be united with all people, even with those in different religions. Unity is necessary because of the fact that they will all return to one and the same God.

Therefore, there is nothing wrong if all the local Catholic Churches around the world will join the National Council of Churches.