Thesis director’s report of Euloge Katsuva’s
TITLE:
THE RENEWAL OF THE CHURCH AS A MEANS TO RECONCILIATION AND UNITY
OF “THE PEOPLE OF GOD”: AN ECUMENICAL THEOLOGY IN THE PERSPECTIVE
OF HANS KÜNG
Euloge Katsuva’s thesis touches the theme of ecumenism and interreligious dialogue and looks at
how Hans Kung envisages possibilities for reconciliation and reunion of the Churches. In his thesis
Euloge shows how in any honest ecumenical reconciliation, Christian Churches need a new
language, a new collegial tone. Churches within Christianity need to carry out the long-overdue,
radical structural reforms. There is an urgently needed revision of the unfounded theology behind
the many problematical dogmatic and ethical positions. Hans Küng was convinced that his
philosophy and theology were to build up and not destroy the Church.
The ideas of the thesis work are articulated on three chapters
I. The Church and Faith in One Father through One Jesus Christ in One Holy Spirit.
II. Common Fight against Dechristianization.
III. The Liturgical-Biblical-Pastoral-Missionary Renewal.
Euloge notes that Professor Küng believes that the renewal of the Church refers to the “proclamation
of the Gospel in terms and structures appropriate for our times.” This renewal proposed by
Professor Küng is inserted in the logic of Pope John XXIII, who wanted to ‘throw open the windows
of the Church’. Renewal calls not only for an understanding among Christian Churches – an
opening up of Churches to one another –, but also for a seeking of better relations among nations.
In order for there to be a true renewal, importance should be given to the original figure of
Christianity based on the concrete, historical Jesus of Nazareth, who for Christians is the Messiah.
From Jesus any Christian Church derives its existence. Professor Küng also notes that without
reference to the word of God, that is, Jesus Christ a Christian Church would have neither identity
nor relevance.
The author asserts that Institutions, dogmas, legal rulings and ceremonies of a Christian Church
are subjected to the Gospel. In other words, these elements should accord with the Gospel. Besides,
the faith that Christians have is not in the Church as a human institution, but in Jesus Christ. Faith
in Jesus Christ – his person and cause – remains the prime motif in the Church’s tradition, liturgy
and theology.
Following the line of thought of Professor Küng, the author notes that the differences in theology or
liturgy or spirituality should not be the source of divisions. Christians should feel the wounds and
sorrows that divisions bring in the Church of Christ and in the world.
All in all, Christians have to take their responsibilities and be committed to reconciliation. The
Church is primarily a koinonia, communio: a fellowship. In this fellowship, there are different gifts.
And these gifts are to help the Church shine in the world and be the light that leads the world to God.
Therefore, all the Children of the Church: theologians, clerics, religious and lay people have to use
their gifts to build up a united Christendom and a united world for the great glory of God and the
well-being of his people.