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"Each church is the Church catholic and not simply a part of it. Each church is the Church catholic, but not the whole of it. Each church fulfils its catholicity when it is in communion with the other churches."
This affirmation, made by the 9th Assembly of the World Council of Churches (WCC), which met in Porto Alegre Brazil in February 2006, reflects the common struggle of the 347 WCC member churches in fellowship as they seek to make visible their unity in Christ.
To recall this statement, contained in the document "Called to be the One Church: An invitation to the churches to renew their commitment to the search for unity and to deepen their dialogue", seems appropriate in view of the "Responses to some questions regarding certain aspects of the doctrine of the church" issued by the Roman Catholic Church's Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith today.
The WCC's 9th Assembly affirmed "the progress made in the ecumenical movement," and encouraged the fellowship of member churches "to continue on this arduous yet joyous path, trusting in God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, whose grace transforms our struggles for unity into the fruits of communion".
According to the Assembly, "the honest sharing of commonalities, divergences, and differences will help all churches to pursue the things that make for peace and build up the common life".
As was stated in 2000, when the declaration Dominus Iesus was issued by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, the WCC affirms the importance of genuine ecumenical dialogue, and of common Christian witness on the problems facing the world today.
Georges Lemopoulos
WCC deputy general secretary
See the full text of the WCC 9th Assembly document "Called to be the One Church"