Catholic Diocese Of Joliet

Bishop Conlon talks about Vatican II Council's Decree on the Ecumenism, called "The Restoration of Unity" -- in Latin it is called "Unitatis Redintegratio." In this podcast, he said the Council Fathers talked about the one church of Christ, built by 12 apostles with Peter as the unifying force, and then they also address the division that happened within the Church. Large communities became separated from full communion with the Catholic Church later on in history. The Council Fathers also say that those who belong to churches that divided away from the Catholic Church back in the day are not responsible for what happened earlier. Grace doesn’t come from the Church but through the Church. The bishops say we respect all as brothers and sisters in Christ, but there are difficulties in the lack of unity, and, although people who belong to other denominations don’t share in the fullness of faith, we are all together on this pilgrimage. We will be one in heaven, though.