Research Paper: Second Vatican Council
The Second Vatican Council began in 1962, and convened in 1965. In those brief three years, some of the Catholic Church’s long held traditions either changed or went away. For some it was the ushering in of the new era of a modern Catholicism. For others, it signaled the destruction of centuries of traditions, and the devaluation of some of the most sacred rituals. It is true that the heart of Catholic teachings were untouched, and that the beliefs that are foundational to the religion remain intact. There is, however, a definite line between pro-Vatican II and anti-Vatican II.
Modernization of Catholicism. The 1960’s were a very tumultuous time. There was so much change going on all around us. Women were fighting for their equality, many Americans were protesting against war, and young people were turning in droves to a more peaceful, loving alternative to the strict, authoritative world of their parent’s generation. It was a time of protest, mistrust of government, and all of it …show more content…
As a result of the Second Vatican Council, the Catholic Church broke with tradition regarding ecumenism. For the first time, rather than regarding the Jewish people as the “killers of Christ”, they acknowledged them as their “older Christian brothers”. Vatican II recognized God’s covenant with the Jews, and the Catholic Church’s roots in Judaism. In addition to addressing the Jewish faith in a more amicable way, the attitude towards other Christian faiths was decidedly more friendly. Rather than taking the stance that the Catholic Church was the only true church, and that all other religions were false and bound for hell, Vatican II concedes that there is indeed some Christian truth in other religions. This is a major change, but not an absolute about-face. Essentially, it is seen as a first step in the unification of Christ’s faithful under one church. Presumably, the second step is conversion of all Christians to
The Second Vatican Council began in 1962, and convened in 1965. In those brief three years, some of the Catholic Church’s long held traditions either changed or went away. For some it was the ushering in of the new era of a modern Catholicism. For others, it signaled the destruction of centuries of traditions, and the devaluation of some of the most sacred rituals. It is true that the heart of Catholic teachings were untouched, and that the beliefs that are foundational to the religion remain intact. There is, however, a definite line between pro-Vatican II and anti-Vatican II.
Modernization of Catholicism. The 1960’s were a very tumultuous time. There was so much change going on all around us. Women were fighting for their equality, many Americans were protesting against war, and young people were turning in droves to a more peaceful, loving alternative to the strict, authoritative world of their parent’s generation. It was a time of protest, mistrust of government, and all of it …show more content…
As a result of the Second Vatican Council, the Catholic Church broke with tradition regarding ecumenism. For the first time, rather than regarding the Jewish people as the “killers of Christ”, they acknowledged them as their “older Christian brothers”. Vatican II recognized God’s covenant with the Jews, and the Catholic Church’s roots in Judaism. In addition to addressing the Jewish faith in a more amicable way, the attitude towards other Christian faiths was decidedly more friendly. Rather than taking the stance that the Catholic Church was the only true church, and that all other religions were false and bound for hell, Vatican II concedes that there is indeed some Christian truth in other religions. This is a major change, but not an absolute about-face. Essentially, it is seen as a first step in the unification of Christ’s faithful under one church. Presumably, the second step is conversion of all Christians to