Nostra Aetate

1) In our time, when day by day, humanity is being drawn closer together, and the ties between different peoples are becoming stronger, the Church examines more closely her relationship to non-Christian religions. In the task of promoting unity and love among people, indeed among nations, the Church considers above all in this declaration what people have in common and what draws them to fellowship.

 

The community of peoples is one, their origin is one, for God made the whole human race to live over the face of the earth.[1] People’s final goal is also one, namely God. His providence, His manifestations of goodness and His saving design extend to all people[2], until that time when the elect will be united in the Holy City, the city ablaze with the glory of God, where the nations will walk in His light[3]. People’s final goal is also one, namely God. His providence, His manifestations of goodness and His saving design extend to all people, until that time when the elect will be united in the Holy City, the city ablaze with the glory of God, where the nations will walk in His light.

 

People expect from the various religions answers to the unsolved riddles of the human condition, which today, even as in former times, deeply stir the hearts of men: What is humanity? What is the meaning, the aim of our life? What is moral good? What is sin? Where does suffering come from? and what purpose does it serve? Which is the road to true happiness? What are death, judgment and retribution after death? What, finally, is that ultimate inexpressible mystery which encompasses our existence: where do we come from, and where are we going to?

 

2) From ancient times down to the present, there is found among various people a certain perception of that hidden power which hovers over the course of thing and over the events of human history; at times some people have indeed come to the recognition of a Supreme Being, or even of a Father. This perception and recognition penetrates their lives with a profound religious sense.

 

Religions, however, that are bound up with an advanced culture have struggled to answer the same questions by means of more refined concepts and a more developed language. Thus in Hinduism, people contemplate the divine mystery and express it through an inexhaustible abundance of myths and through searching philosophical inquiry. They seek freedom from the anguish of our human condition either through ascetical practices or profound meditation or a flight to God with love and trust.

 

Again, Buddhism, in its various forms, realizes the radical insufficiency of this changeable world; it teaches a way by which people, in a devout and confident spirit, may be able either to acquire the state of perfect liberation, or attain, by their own efforts or through higher help, supreme illumination.

 

Likewise, other religions found everywhere try to counter the restlessness of the human heart, each in its own manner, by proposing “ways” comprising teachings, rules of life and sacred rites.

 

The Catholic Church rejects nothing that is true and holy in these religions. She regards with sincere reverence those ways of conduct and of life, those precepts and teachings which, though differing in many aspects from the ones she holds and sets forth, nonetheless often reflect a ray of that Truth which enlightens all people. Indeed, she proclaims, and ever must proclaim Christ, “the way, the truth and the life” (John 14:6), in whom people may find the fullness of religious life, in whom God has reconciled all things to Himself[4]. .

 

The Church, therefore, exhorts her children, that through dialogue and collaboration with the followers of other religions, carried out with prudence and love and in witness to the Christian faith and life, they should recognize, preserve and promote the good things, spiritual and moral, as well as the socio-cultural values found among these people.

 

3) The Church regards with esteem also the Moslems. They adore the one God, living and subsisting in himself; merciful and all-powerful, the Creator of heaven and earth[5], who has spoken to men; they take pains to submit wholeheartedly to even His inscrutable decrees, just as Abraham with whom the faith of Islam takes pleasure in linking itself, submitted to God. Though they do not acknowledge Jesus as God, they revere Him as a prophet. They also honour Mary, His virgin Mother; at times they even call on her with devotion. In addition, they await the day of judgment when God will render their deserts to all those who have been raised up from the dead. Finally, they value the moral life and worship God especially through prayer, almsgiving and fasting., who has spoken to men; they take pains to submit wholeheartedly to even His inscrutable decrees, just as Abraham with whom the faith of Islam takes pleasure in linking itself, submitted to God. Though they do not acknowledge Jesus as God, they revere Him as a prophet. They also honour Mary, His virgin Mother; at times they even call on her with devotion. In addition, they await the day of judgment when God will render their deserts to all those who have been raised up from the dead. Finally, they value the moral life and worship God especially through prayer, almsgiving and fasting.

 

Although in the course of centuries many quarrels and hostilities have arisen between Christians and Moslems, this sacred synod urges all to forget the past and to work sincerely for mutual understanding. For the benefit of all humanity let them together preserve and promote social justice and moral welfare, as well as peace and freedom.

 

4) As the sacred synod searches into the mystery of the Church, it remembers the bond that spiritually ties the people of the New Covenant to Abraham’s stock.

 

Thus the Church of Christ acknowledges that, according to God’s saving design, the beginnings of her faith and her election are found already among the Patriarchs, Moses and the Prophets. The Church professes that all who believe in Christ – Abraham’s children according to faith[1] - are included in the same Patriarch’s call, and likewise that the salvation of the Church is mysteriously foreshadowed by the chosen people’s exodus from the land of bondage. The church, therefore, cannot forget that she received the revelation of the Old Testament through the people with whom God in His inexpressible mercy concluded the Ancient Covenant. Nor can she forget that she draws sustenance from the root of that well-cultivated olive tree onto which have been grafted the wild shoots, the Gentiles[2]. Indeed the Church believes that by His cross Christ, Our Peace, reconciled Jews and Gentiles, making both one in Himself[3]. - are included in the same Patriarch’s call, and likewise that the salvation of the Church is mysteriously foreshadowed by the chosen people’s exodus from the land of bondage. The church, therefore, cannot forget that she received the revelation of the Old Testament through the people with whom God in His inexpressible mercy concluded the Ancient Covenant. Nor can she forget that she draws sustenance from the root of that well-cultivated olive tree onto which have been grafted the wild shoots, the Gentiles. Indeed the Church believes that by His cross Christ, Our Peace, reconciled Jews and Gentiles, making both one in Himself.

 

The Church keeps ever in mind the words of the Apostle about his fellow people “theirs is the adoption as children and the glory and the covenants and the law and the worship and the promises; theirs are the Patriarchs and from them is the Christ according to the flesh” (Rom. 9:4-5), the Son of the Virgin Mary. The Church also recalls that the Apostles, the pillars and main-stay of the Church, as well as most of the early disciples who proclaimed Christ’s Gospel to the world, sprang from the Jewish people.

 

As Holy Scripture testifies, Jerusalem did not recognize the time of her visitation,[4] nor did the Jews in large numbers, accept the Gospel; indeed not a few opposed its spreading.[5] Nevertheless, God holds the Jews most dear for the sake of their Fathers; He does not repent of the gifts He makes or of the calls He issues – such is the witness of the Apostle[6]. In company with the Prophets and the same Apostle, the Church awaits that day, known to God alone, on which all peoples will address the Lord in a single voice and “serve Him shoulder to shoulder” (Soph. 3:9) [7] nor did the Jews in large numbers, accept the Gospel; indeed not a few opposed its spreading. Nevertheless, God holds the Jews most dear for the sake of their Fathers; He does not repent of the gifts He makes or of the calls He issues – such is the witness of the Apostle. In company with the Prophets and the same Apostle, the Church awaits that day, known to God alone, on which all peoples will address the Lord in a single voice and “serve Him shoulder to shoulder” (Soph. 3:9)

Since the spiritual patrimony common to Christians and Jews is thus so great, this sacred synod wants to foster and recommend that mutual understanding and respect which is the fruit, above all, of biblical and theological studies as well as of fraternal dialogues.

 

 

Furthermore, in rejecting every persecution against any man, the Church, mindful of the inheritance shared with the Jews and moved not by political reasons but by the Gospel’s spiritual love, decries hatred, persecutions, displays of anti-Semitism, directed against Jews at any time and by anyone.

 

Besides, as the Church has always held, and holds now, Christ underwent His passion and death freely, because of people’s sins and out of infinite love, in order that everyone may reach salvation. It is, therefore, the burden of the Church’s preaching to proclaim the cross of Christ as the sign of God’s all-embracing love and as the fountain from which every grace flows.

 

5) We cannot truly call on God, the Father of all, if we refuse to treat as a member of our family every person, created as they are in the image of God. A person’s relation to God the Father and their relation to other people, brothers and sisters, are so linked together that Scripture says: “He who does not love does not know God” (John 4:8)

 

No foundation therefore remains for any theory or practice that leads to discrimination between person and person, or between 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, colour, condition of life or religion. On the contrary, following in the footsteps of the holy Apostles Peter and Paul this sacred synod ardently implores the Christian faithful to “maintain good fellowship among the nations” (1Peter 2:12) and, if possible to live for their part in peace with all people[9] so that they may truly be children of the Father who is in heaven.[10] so that they may truly be children of the Father who is in heaven.

 

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