Catholic teaching on evangelisation Flashcards
(4 cards)
how does the church evangelise?
catholics are called to continue the work of the apostles by announcing the gospel to all. catholics are expected to spread the gospel message locally, nationally and globally. locally through the work of parishes and people, nationally all bishops and church leaders and globally through the work of the Pope and Catholic men and women throughout the world
Evangelii Gaudium
2013, Pope Francis wrote a letter to all catholics on the theme of the Church’s mission of evangelisation in the modern world. it is called ‘evangelii gaudium’ which in latin means ‘the joy of the gospel’. pope francis says the way to share the gospel is to show love and care for the weak, vulnerable and poor. he wants a “church which is poor and for the poor” and for the church to have a special love and care “above all the poor and the sick, those who are usually despised and overlooked”
evangelising in britain: benefits and challenges
UK is a multi-faith society in which people of different religion, and no religion live alongside each other. According to the 2011 census, there is an increase in diverse religious and non religious beliefs and practices (including Christianity, Judaism, Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam, Sikhism, Humanism and Atheism) whilst also showing over half of those who responded considered themselves a christian. britain is now a place which has an increasingly diverse pattern of religious and non religious beliefs and practices. this diversity brings benefits and challenges. catholics church teaches that people of our faiths and not faith should be respected, but catholics have a mission to pass on the message and teachings of jesus.
is salvation only available to catholics?
some traditional catholic and fundamentalist christian’s may hold an exclusivist approach. this means salvation is only possible for christian’s. Jesus achieved salvation. if you reject belief in Jesus and do not live a life consistent with his teachings then you cannot receive salvation. Jesus taught in the Gospel that his disciples had to go out and make disciples of all nations. suggest being part of the church is necessary. jesus taught: “i am the way and truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me”. this is a strong argument in favour.
however, pope francis has said that God will “forgive” atheists as long as they behave morally and live according to their conscience. people who are unfamiliar to the faith can achieve eternal life as long as they live moral lives and follow the natural law as set out by god. people maybe ‘anonymous christians’. they might have never heard the message of jesus but they can still have salvation. all religions are just different paths towards god meaning all faiths can find salvation.
