498:
one, holy, Catholic, and apostolic
Universal Church is not 'sister' but 'mother' of all the particular Churches. However, as recalled above, one cannot properly say that the Catholic Church is 'sister' of a particular Church or group of Churches. This is not merely a question of terminology, but above all of respecting a basic truth of the Catholic faith: that of the unicity of the Church of Jesus Christ. In fact, there is but a single Church, and therefore the plural term "Churches" can refer only to particular Churches.
843:
831:
31:
288:
501:
Consequently, one should avoid, as a source of misunderstanding and theological confusion, the use of formulations such as 'our two
Churches,' which, if applied to the Catholic Church and the totality of Orthodox Churches (or to a single Orthodox Church), imply a plurality not merely on the level of
545:
noted that "a final solution can be found only in the larger context of full communion in faith, sacramental life and shared apostolic vision." He specifically mentioned obstacles like "lay presidency, the ordination of women, and ethical problems such as abortion and homosexual partnerships." See
497:
In fact, in the proper sense, 'sister
Churches' are exclusively particular Churches (or groupings of particular Churches; for example, the patriarchates or metropolitan provinces) among themselves. It must always be clear, when the expression 'sister Churches' is used in this proper sense, that the
473:
More recently, the joint international commission took a significant step forward with regard to the very sensitive question of the method to be followed in re-establishing full communion between the
Catholic Church and the Orthodox Church, an issue which has frequently embittered relations between
413:
In modern times, the expression "sister
Churches" first appeared in John XXIII's letters to the Orthodox Patriarch of Constantinople, Athenagoras I. In his letters, the pope expressed the hope of seeing the unity between the sister churches re-established in the near future. Later the term appeared
358:
communion. The
Catholic Church has since called on theologians to avoid the term, clarifying that "one cannot properly say that the Catholic Church is 'sister' of a particular Church or group of Churches. This is not merely a question of terminology, but above all of respecting a basic truth of the
421:
The first papal document in which the term "sister churches" is applied to the
Churches is the apostolic brief, "Anno ineunte," of Paul VI to the Patriarch Athenagoras I. After having indicated his willingness to do everything possible to "re-establish full communion between the Church of the West
417:
The Second
Vatican Council adopted the expression "sister Churches" to describe the relationship between particular Churches: "in the East there flourish many particular local Churches; among them the patriarchal Churches hold first place, and of these, many glory in taking their origins from the
466:
Following the Second
Vatican Council and in the light of earlier tradition, it has again become usual to refer to the particular or local Churches gathered around their bishop as 'sister Churches'. In addition, the lifting of mutual excommunications, by eliminating a painful canonical and
558:
The
Catholic Church seems to be of the same mind concerning broader and "more substantive" criteria (not merely "the fulfillment of technical conditions") necessary for recognition of Anglican orders. Even Pope Paul VI, given his openness to Anglicans, did not revoke
130:
505:
Finally, it must also be borne in mind that the expression 'sister Churches' in the proper sense, as attested by the common Tradition of East and West, may only be used for those ecclesial communities that have preserved a valid episcopate and Eucharist
147:
519:
was a good friend of the Anglican Church, which he described as "our beloved sister Church" in ecumenical meetings with Anglican leaders. However, the use of this term to describe the Anglican Church, even unofficially, was later rejected by Pope
493:
The historical references presented in the preceding paragraphs illustrate the significance which the expression 'sister Churches' has assumed in the ecumenical dialogue. This makes the correct theological use of the term even more important.
418:
apostles themselves. Therefore, there prevailed and still prevails among Eastern Christians an eager desire to perpetuate in a communion of faith and charity those family ties which ought to exist between local Churches, as between sisters."
422:
and that of the East", the Pope asked: "Since this mystery of divine love is at work in every local Church, is not this the reason for the traditional expression 'sister Churches', which the Churches of various places used for one another?"
624:
members of one of the congregations of LCMS or of a congregation of one of her sister churches with whom she has formally declared altar and pulpit fellowship (i.e., agreement in all articles of doctrine). Most members of the
721:
These "other things" were spelled out in an address Cardinal Walter Kasper, President of the Pontifical Council for the Promotion of Christian Unity, delivered to a conference of Anglican bishops at St.Albans, UK, in
554:
notes: "For Orthodoxy, the validity of ordinations does not depend simply on the fulfillment of certain technical conditions (external possession of the apostolic succession; correct form, matter and intention).
326:
443:
For us they are the champions and also the patrons of the ecumenical endeavour of the sister Churches of East and West, for the rediscovery through prayer and dialogue of visible unity in perfect and total
268:
569:, it unhappily suggests that the "only ecumenism" that "counts" is "between Rome and Constantinople", though Anglicans, a second millennium church, "yearn to get into the 'old boys' club' of patriarchs."
581:
of the same religious tradition are often said to have "sister church" relationships, especially if they are in different countries. For example, a sister church relationship exists between the
452:
Hence, with these Churches the relations are to be fostered as between sister Churches, to use the expression of Pope Paul VI in his brief to the Patriarch of Constantinople, Athenagoras I, and
319:
262:
377:
The expression, allegedly in use among the Orthodox since the fifth century among the "patriarchal sister Churches", appeared in written form in two letters of the Metropolitan
312:
878:
586:
141:
238:
698:
550:, "Churches' goal is unity, not uniformity spokesman for Vatican declares,". This position seems to be in line with the posture of Orthodoxy towards Anglicanism.
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Catholics and Orthodox. The commission has laid the doctrinal foundations for a positive solution to this problem on the basis of the doctrine of sister Churches.
124:
710:
414:
in a "Joint Declaration" between Pope Paul VI and Patriarch Athenagoras in 1965, representing their respective sees, Rome and Constantinople, respectively.
405:, however, no Roman pontiff ever recognised this Orthodox equalization of the sees or accepted that only a primacy of honor be accorded to the See of Rome.
502:
particular Churches, but also on the level of the one, holy, Catholic, and apostolic Church confessed in the Creed, whose real existence is thus obscured.
486:
402:
39:
676:
47:
590:
594:
401:
at the head of the Church, with the Church of Rome having the first place of honor among these patriarchal sister churches. According to the
774:
582:
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372:
873:
868:
626:
214:
273:
359:
Catholic faith: that of the unicity of the ." The term is also currently used among Protestants to refer to different
821:
389:, would annul their authority. In their view, Rome was only the first among sister churches of equal dignity, see
278:
566:
382:
283:
598:
351:
67:
289:
Joint International Commission for Theological Dialogue Between the Catholic Church and the Orthodox Church
578:
360:
202:
171:
165:
863:
347:
796:
113:
98:
801:
535:
378:
244:
835:
208:
847:
390:
561:
436:
609:
525:
256:
177:
534:, because of lingering doubts regarding the validity of Anglican orders and the consequent
385:(in office from 1198 to 1206), in which they protested that Rome, by presenting herself as
430:
More recently, John Paul II often used the term, especially in three principal documents:
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120:
62:
565:, which declares Anglican orders to be "absolutely null and utterly void". According to
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92:
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psychological obstacle, was a very significant step on the way toward full communion.
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20:
711:
Responses to Some Questions Regarding Certain Aspects of the Doctrine on the Church
621:
547:
521:
459:
343:
770:
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699:
Letter to European Bishops on the Recent Changes in Central and Eastern Europe
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gave the following directives on the use of the expression "sister churches":
398:
354:, and more rarely and unofficially, between the Roman Catholic Church and the
30:
830:
613:
394:
230:
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136:
617:
516:
79:
597:. This relationship includes mutual recognition of the eligibility of
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Rosemary Radford Ruether, "Uppity women and authentic ecumenism",
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Pope John Paul II's relations with the Eastern Orthodox Church
771:"Church Order of the Free Reformed Churches of Australia"
538:
of Anglican bishops and ministers, among other things.
449:
In a letter dated 31 May 1991 to the bishops of Europe:
819:
675:
Ratzinger, Joseph; Bertone, Tarcisio (30 June 2000).
587:Reformed Churches in the Netherlands (Liberated)
491:
471:
470:In paragraph 60 of this encyclical, he states:
464:
450:
441:
346:to describe ecumenical relations between the
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8:
679:. Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith
511:Usage with regards to the Anglican communion
677:"Note on the Expression "Sister Churches""
616:ordinarily shared only with those who are
541:In a speech to Anglican bishops, Cardinal
487:Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith
403:Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith
327:
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25:
826:
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591:Canadian and American Reformed Churches
53:
46:
595:Free Reformed Churches of South Africa
381:of Nicomedia (1136) and the Patriarch
16:Term used in 20th-century ecclesiology
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668:
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7:
879:Catholic–Eastern Orthodox ecumenism
795:Kieschnick, Jerry (November 2007).
775:Free Reformed Churches of Australia
583:Free Reformed Churches of Australia
239:Catholic–Orthodox Joint Declaration
48:Catholic–Eastern Orthodox relations
797:"Worldwide Partners in the Gospel"
701:, section 4, accessed 4 March 2022
14:
363:of the same religious tradition.
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829:
747:London: Penguin Books, 1993) 320
373:Christianity in the 12th century
342:was a term used in 20th-century
29:
191:Medieval reunification attempts
627:International Lutheran Council
606:Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod
1:
215:Bull of Union with the Greeks
393:. According to this idea of
274:Church of the Holy Sepulchre
895:
629:are LCMS sister churches.
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131:Ecclesiastical differences
18:
481:Ecclesiastical directives
440:, in which he states that
352:Eastern Orthodox Churches
279:Eastern Catholic Churches
567:Rosemary Radford Ruether
284:Eastern Catholic liturgy
160:Further division motives
38:This article is part of
19:Not to be confused with
485:A 2000 document of the
367:Use in the 12th century
148:Theological differences
68:Eastern Orthodox Church
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469:
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409:Second Vatican Council
203:Second Council of Lyon
172:Sack of Constantinople
166:Massacre of the Latins
874:Christian terminology
869:Catholic ecclesiology
348:Roman Catholic Church
802:The Lutheran Witness
536:apostolic succession
245:Balamand declaration
745:The Orthodox Church
697:Pope John Paul II,
209:Council of Florence
743:See Timothy Ware,
612:, which means the
463:, in which he says
457:In the encyclical
391:first among equals
387:mother and teacher
263:Havana Declaration
562:Apostolicae curae
437:Slavorum Apostoli
397:, there are five
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608:has a policy of
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526:Joseph Ratzinger
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257:Ravenna Document
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112:Reasons for the
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197:Council of Bari
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543:Walter Kasper
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211:(1438–1445)
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114:Great Schism
99:Great Schism
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758:The Witness
858:Categories
808:29 January
780:29 January
683:30 January
645:References
577:Different
399:Patriarchs
371:See also:
622:confirmed
614:Eucharist
599:ministers
444:communion
395:Pentarchy
233:relations
95:(863–867)
89:(484–519)
633:See also
618:baptized
593:and the
356:Anglican
350:and the
231:ecumenic
137:Filioque
54:Overview
40:a series
822:Portals
517:Paul VI
379:Nicetas
229:Modern
101:(1054–)
80:Schisms
589:, the
585:, the
265:(2016)
259:(2007)
253:(2000)
247:(1993)
241:(1965)
205:(1274)
199:(1098)
180:(1874)
174:(1204)
168:(1182)
515:Pope
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722:2003
685:2015
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604:The
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