Vatican council 2 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Vatican council 2 - Essay Example O’Malley himself supports the third interpretation and holds that Vatican II marks a great change in the history of the Church. In O’Malley’s opinion, the Council has ushered in decrees â€Å"that marked a real departure from previous Catholic practice.† These include the license to engage in joint prayer with Protestants and attend services in Protestant churches. The Decree on Religious Liberty also put an end to the earlier  Ã¢â‚¬Å"ideal that Catholicism should be established as the official religion of every nation, even the United States.† O’Malley contends that the radical aspect of Vatican Council II is its changing emphasis on the style of the Church. This emphasis is seen in the â€Å"striking shift in language† in the documents of the Council. Departing from the abrupt, authoritarian tone of earlier Councils, Vatican Council II adopts an â€Å"invitational style† which attempts to foster dialogue, respect for conscience, freedom of speech and a spirit of participation. The new â€Å"invitational† style of Vatican II is seen in: the emphasis on partnership and collaboration in relations among church hierarchy and with the laity; the emphasis on the main pastoral ministry being service; openness to change and development; a conciliatory attitude towards all faiths; and the active participation of the entire congregation in the liturgy. O’Malley’s article attempts to support the author’s contention that the Vatican Council II ushers in transformation in the style of the Church. The five points O’Malley cites in order to support his stand are very credible as they mark a change of direction in the Church. However, O’Malley argues that even this change is grounded in the past tradition of the Church. The â€Å"partnership and collaboration† (O’Malley, 2003) which the Council recommends in the relationship of the Church hierarchy is in line with the traditional understanding of the ‘Mystery of the