Title: The Second Vatican Council (Vatican II)
A. Background on Vatican II 2
B. First Period of Vatican II 2
C. Second Period of Vatican II 3
D. Third Period of Vatican II 4
E. Fourth Period of Vatican II 4
II. Decisions and Ramifications 5
A. Unitatis Redintegratio: Ecumenism 5
B. Dignitatis Humanae: Natural Rights of Man 6
D. Perfectae Caritatis: The Adaptation and Renewal
E. Impact of Vatican II Reforms on Catholic Vocations 8
F. Dei Verbum: Dogmatic Constitution on
G. Modernization of Scripture Interpretation
H. Liberalization and Empowerment of the Faithful 10
A. An Incomplete Process of Reform 11
B. Infallibility of Church Doctrine 12
The Second Vatican Council (Vatican II)
Ever since the First Vatican Council, many within the Roman Catholic Church fought against what they viewed as modernist heresy. However, beginning in the 1950s, the traditional neo-scholasticism and biblical literalism in theological studies were being challenged by liberal trends. In addition to these pressures for reform, bishops worldwide were being challenged by significant political, social, economic, and technical change. Pope Pius XII proposed a Council to be formed to discuss these challenges, but the threat from Modernists was too great. Pope John Paul XXII was not intimidated by the Modernists and within three months of his election called for a Council to address such issues. When besieged by queries as to the need for such a Council, Pope John Paul threw open a window and declared, ôI want to throw open the windows of the Church so that we can see out and the people can see in.ö The proposed Council would take two years to form and was held in the fall of four consecutive years or periods from 1962-1965.
The first period was to proceed as planned by the curial preparatory commissions, but the bishops vetoed th...