Appendix Special Statement by Professor Dr Christian D. Washburn While our document makes a number of important ecumenical advances, I cannot agree with some of its conclusions. First, I think that it is impossible for the Catholic Church to recognize Lutheran ecclesial communities as “members of the Body of Christ” in the sense that they are simply within or a part of the one Church of Christ. While recognizing the Orthodox churches as churches, the Catholic Church has always taught that it alone is the one true Church of Christ, and that it alone is fully identified with her. This doctrine was repeatedly taught by the Fathers of the Church, popes, and councils, including the Second Vatican Council (Lumen Gentium, §8). In Orientalium Ecclesiarum, the Second Vatican Council clearly affirms the identity of the Mystical Body of Christ and the Catholic Church: “The holy and Catholic Church, which is the Mystical Body of Christ …” (Orientalium Ecclesiarum, §2). When this full identity was denied by some dissenting theologians after the council, it was repeatedly confirmed by the CDF in various decrees and notifications. If our document is correct in its interpretation of Lumen Gentium §8, then the council contradicts not only the pre- and post-conciliar magisterium but also itself. Second, while the Second Vatican Council recognizes that many elements of sanctification and truth are present in non-Catholic churches and ecclesial communities and that the one Church of Christ is present and operative in these churches and ecclesial communities, nevertheless the council also acknowledges that these communities suffer from a series of defects even with respect to those things instituted by Christ (Unitatis Redintegratio, §3, §22). Our document is unclear how such communities which lack both apostolic succession and a valid Eucharistic celebration can be considered churches.
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