Papal letter: Nostra Aetate Declaration

Essay by spwclarkUniversity, Bachelor'sA+, April 2006

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The Nostra Aetate declaration means "In our Time" in Latin and is from the first line of the declaration as is customary with Roman Catholic documents. It discusses the relationship of the Church with Non-Christians, which was proclaimed by Pope Paul VI on October 28th of 1965. "What happened in Christ's passion cannot be charged against all the Jews, without distinction, then alive, nor against the Jews of today.... We cannot truly call on God, the Father of all, if we refuse to treat in a brotherly way any man, created as he is in the image of God. ... No foundation therefore remains for any theory or practice that leads to discrimination between man and man or people and people, so far as their human dignity and the rights flowing from it are concerned. The Church reproves, as foreign to the mind of Christ, any discrimination against men or harassment of them because of their race, color, condition of life, or religion."

This is a quote from the Nostra Aetate declaration. What I believe it means is, he people of the world are getting closer as time progresses and strengthening their bonds. The Church is now looking closer to the relations between Catholics and Non-Catholics and commonalities, in order to help continue this transition of peace. The Nostra Aetate declaration condemned discrimination and persecution, and specifically denounced anti-semitism. The Nostra Aetate declaration of the Second Vatican Council set in motion a dynamic that continues to shape the modern Church. It is intended to be a teaching about the relation of the Church to people who belong to other religious traditions, with particular attention paid to Jews (the longest section of the Decree), Moslems, Hindus and Buddhists. People look to religions to find answers to unanswerable questions. They ask questions...