A reader has a question about ecumenism

She writes:

I have a question (or more exactly a request for comments)

Time to take commitment to ecumenism seriously

Quotes:
(The author of the article pointed out that) “In the case of the Decree on Ecumenism (Unitatis Redintegratio), there’s little doubt council fathers intended to shake things up. Just 36 years before it was published, Pope Pius XI condemned ecumenism as heresy and forbade Catholic participation in the ecumenical movement in 1928. Under Pope Paul VI at Vatican II, 2,137 Catholic bishops from every part of the world voted for a document which declared ecumenism an essential element of what it means to be Catholic.“

During an ecumenical celebration of the 50th anniversary of the 1964 Decree on Ecumenism, held on Nov. 9, 2014 in Toronto, Ontario, Anglican Bishop L. Nicholls gave an interesting illustration to the idea of ecumenism:
“We have lived together like a separated marital couple for 500 years,” preached Nicholls, with Cardinal Thomas Collins and Anglican Archbishop Colin Johnson in attendance. “We cannot just move in together without dialogue.”

In the light of that earlier condemnation of ecumenism by Pope Pius XI, I can now understand why many very conservative Catholics would have a problem with the Vatican II Decree.

It has not been a problem for me personally, because nearly 40 years ago (and for the following 30+ years of weekly participation), circumstances brought me to prayer groups that normally included people from different Christian churches (actually, it appeared that most Charismatic prayer groups in the Ottawa area happened to be ecumenical, not necessarily by design, but – maybe – (as I see it) it seemed that the Holy Spirit might have had something to do with it…)

This seems to me to be a good illustration of the way Church teaching can evolve during a certain period of time, and how relationships and dialogue with other Christian groups are not a matter of doctrine, but rather a matter of small “t” tradition according to the needs and ways of thinking of particular time periods.

I know you are very busy and that you have already discussed this before. However, if some day you have the time and the inclination (or are looking for an article idea!), I would appreciate a few more comments from you about this.

Thank you

I have no issues with the Decree on Ecumenism and regard the Church’s development of though on the matter as typical. She is cautious for a long time, says “Let’s not rush and embrace indifferentism” and then finally issues her typically judicious verdict in the Decree on Ecumensm that walks the tightrope between indifferentism and triumphalism.

If others have something to say, please conduct yourselves with civility in the comboxes as you discuss this. Thanks!