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Document Details : Title: Eucharistie feieren in konfessionsverbindenden Familien Subtitle: Stimmen aus dem deutschsprachigen Raum zu einem weltkirchlich relevanten Thema Author(s): SATTLER, Dorothea Journal: Marriage, Families & Spirituality Volume: 30 Issue: 1 Date: 2024 Pages: 67-80 DOI: 10.2143/INT.30.1.3293280 Abstract : Interdenominational marriages, and families, are ongoing opportunities for ecumenical encounters. Recent decades have seen reflection on how the challenges for these already given interchurch communities can be seen as positive contributions to the broader church. Historically, Christian traditions have been very skeptical regarding any positive features of these 'mixed marriages', with the Roman Catholic church adjusting its perspective only in the latter decades of the twentieth century. Today, instead, all Christian denominations are glad if their members at least strive to live a Christian life in some form. When looking at the challenges that arise in these families, it is worthwhile reflecting on the ecumenical discussions regarding the joint celebration of the Eucharist and the sharing of Communion across denominations. To this end, the article looks at two German ecclesial documents: Mit Christus Gehen - Der Einheit auf der Spur 2018 (Walking with Christ: On the Path of Unity 2018), a pastoral handbook by the German bishops, and Gemeinsam am Tisch des Herrn (Together at the Lord’s Table), a theological statement by the Ecumenical Working Group of Protestant and Catholic Theologians. In both documents, we can see a paradigm shift from a focus on full church communion at every level of the church’s structure to a differentiated appreciation of the realities of people’s lives. Pastoral care for interchurch marriages in the Catholic church and many other churches today focuses precisely on facilitating this de facto ecumenical experience with the aim of assisting relationships to be as happy and successful as possible. |
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