Katolska kyrkan och ekumeniken : Unitatis Redintegratio i historiens ljus

Sammanfattning: In this essay I have studied the how the Catholic Church have viewed other churches during history and how this changed during the Second Vatican Council. Through a discourse analysis of the document Unitatis Redintegratio I have studied how the Catholic Church themselves view this change and how to understand it through the catholic doctrine that new doctrines of the church cannot contradict previous doctrines.  Before the Second Vatican Council viewed other Christian congregations as heretics without a chance of salvation. Through the different ecumenical councils of the church they have declared all those who held opposing views as anathemas. This changed in the Second Vatican Council and the document Unitatis Redintegratio. The Catholic Church know became open for a dialogue with the other churches. However, I argue that the basics have not changed, they still view themselves in the document as the only true church. In the document they also hold the belief and goal that other Christians should join them.