The Impact of Doctrinal Errors on Christian Unity

The divisions among Christians is an obstacle to the witness of the Gospel and the missionary work of the Church. Historically the separation between Churches, at least in the first millennium, was marred by a lack of charity, power conflict between Christian leaders and, often, a misunderstanding of what the other side meant in their theological work. The movement of Christian Unity, which started in the early 20th century, has the objective of restoring full Christian unity to all Christians in love and truth. Since then, there has been substantial progress towards full unity of Christians. However Christian unity cannot be achieved at the cost of artificially oversimplifying the differences. It requires prayers and patient dialogue where each side expresses their doctrines more clearly and in a spirit of love and respect. The doctrinal errors (heresies) caused substantial divisions among Christians and separated from the unity of the Catholic Church multitudes of peoples. The most obvious communions and Churches that came to exist, and still formally exist, outside the full communion of the Catholic Church are: 1. The Assyrian Church (separated as followers of nestorius in 431 AD). They count today about 1 million. 2. The Old Oriental Churches (separated in 451 AD). Frequently called also Old Oriental Orthodox, they include the Coptic, Syrian, Armenian, Ethiopian and Malabar Orthodox Churches. They count about 50 million. 3. The Orthodox Churches (separated in the Great Schism between the East and the West formalized in 1054 AD). They count about 300-400 million. 4. The Protestant Reformation communions which came to exist after Martin Luther's act of protest in 1517 AD, and following him, other leading Protestants formed other communions (e.g. Calvin, Zwingli..etc). They together count more than 400 million. Here is a chronological list of the errors and issues that caused divisions. Error: Arianism, Date (AD) 321 Major issues: Claimed the Son (Christ) is not equal to the Father. Council refuting it: Nicea I, 325 Today’s situation: Exists in sects only: Jehova’s Witnesses, Mormons... Error: Nestorianism, Date (AD) 429 Council refuting it: Ephesus, 431 Separated: Assyrian Church of the East Agree with the Catholic Church on the vast majority of Apostolic doctrines: Revelation in Scripture and Tradition, Mysteries of Trinity, Incarnation, Redemption in Christ, Creed, Sacraments, Apostolic Tradition, Veneration of saints. Major issues: Claimed that in Christ there are two separate persons: one for human nature and one for divine nature; Mary not to be called Theotokos (Mother of God). Today’s situation: It appears the difference today is only in language. Agreement reached with the Catholic Church (1996). Error: Monophysitism, Date (AD) 449 Council refuting it: Chalcedon, 451 Separated: Old Oriental Churches (Coptic, Syrian, Armenian, Ethiopian, Malabar) Agree with the Catholic Church on the vast majority of Apostolic doctrines: Revelation in Scripture and Tradition, Mysteries of Trinity, Incarnation, Redemption in Christ, Creed, first 3 Councils, Sacraments, Apostolic Tradition, Veneration of saints. Major issues: Claimed that in Christ the human nature was absorbed by the divine nature so one nature remained after the union.Monothelitism: Claimed one will in Christ: human will was absorbed by his Divine will. Today’s situation: It appears difference was only in language. New terms used. Agreement reached with Catholics and Orthodox (1973, 1988, 1989). Event: Great Schism, Date: (AD) 1054 Reason: Resulted mainly from disciplinary and political differences. Reunion between East and West at Councils of Lyons I (1274) and Florence (1447), failed to endure. Separated: Orthodox Churches (15 Byzantine: Constantinople, Antioch, Jerusalem,Russian, Greece, Georgian,Bulgarian, Cyprus, Albania, Romanian, Alexandria, Slovakia..) Agree with the Catholic Church on the vast majority of Apostolic doctrines: Revelation in Scripture and Tradition, Mysteries of Trinity, Incarnation, Redemption in Christ, Creed, first 7 Councils, Sacraments, Apostolic Tradition, Veneration of saints. Major issues: Resulted mainly from disciplinary and political differences. Doctrinal differences: claims the Holy Spirit proceeds from the Father alone. Later doctrinal issues include denial of Purgatory, Immaculate Conception of Mary, Papal Primacy and Papal infallibility. Today’s situation: No formal agreement on differences but there is convergence on most differences. Event/error: Protestant Reformation, Date (AD) started in 1517 Council refuting it: Trent (1545-1563) Separated: Thousands of communions exist today as a result of the Protestant Reformation. Notably are: Anglicans, Lutherans, Calvinists (Presbyterians), Baptists (Congregationalists), Pentecostals, Methodists...etc. Agree with the Catholic Church on essential doctrines: Revelation in Scripture, Mysteries of Trinity, Incarnation, Redemption in Christ, Creed, (first 4 Councils but not binding). Major issues: Claims that: justification is by faith alone. Scripture is sole source of revelation (i.e. exclude Tradition).Denies: Apostolic succession and ecclesial priesthood; most of sacraments; intercession of saints and their veneration; the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist; and the Mass as sacrifice of Christ. Today’s situation: Agreement reached between Lutherans and Catholics on fundamental issues of justification (1999).