“Pope” Francis’ Commitment to Ecumenism, Interfaith Dialogue

The Golden Calf of Vatican II

“Pope” Francis Meets with Religious Leaders, Affirms Commitment to Vatican II’s Ecumenism, Interreligious Dialogue

As one of his first acts as “Pope”, Francis naturally met with representatives of other religions. Zenit has provided a news report on the matter:

• Pope Francis Meets With Representatives of Different Faiths

Some highlights from the report, with commentary:

• “Pope Francis, who was seated on an armchair rather than the throne that is customarily used in the Clementine Hall, thanked Bartholomew I, referring to him as ‘my brother Andrew’, a reference to the fact that the patriarchs of Constantinople are considered the successors of the Apostle Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter.” Reality Check: “The Greek Church, embracing all the Eastern Churches involved in the schism of Photius and Michael Caerularius, and the Russian Church can lay no claim to Apostolic succession either direct or indirect, i.e. through Rome, because they are, by their own fact and will, separated from the Roman Communion.” (Catholic Encyclopedia, s.v. “Apostolic Succession”)

• “The Holy Father stated that with their presence at yesterday’s Mass, he experienced ‘in an even more urgent way the prayer for unity among believers in Christ and together to see somehow foreshadowed that full realization, which depends on the plan of God and on our loyal collaboration.'”Reality Check: “And here it seems opportune to expound and to refute a certain false opinion, on which this whole question, as well as that complex movement by which non-Catholics seek to bring about the union of the Christian churches depends. For authors who favor this view are accustomed, times almost without number, to bring forward these words of Christ: ‘That they all may be one…. And there shall be one fold and one shepherd,’ with this signification however: that Christ Jesus merely expressed a desire and prayer, which still lacks its fulfillment…. They consider that this unity may indeed be desired and that it may even be one day attained through the instrumentality of wills directed to a common end, but that meanwhile it can only be regarded as mere ideal. They add that the Church in itself, or of its nature, is divided into sections; that is to say, that it is made up of several churches or distinct communities, which still remain separate, and although having certain articles of doctrine in common, nevertheless disagree concerning the remainder; that these all enjoy the same rights; and that the Church was one and unique from, at the most, the apostolic age until the first Ecumenical Councils. Controversies therefore, they say, and longstanding differences of opinion which keep asunder till the present day the members of the Christian family, must be entirely put aside, and from the remaining doctrines a common form of faith drawn up and proposed for belief, and in the profession of which all may not only know but feel that they are brothers. The manifold churches or communities, if united in some kind of universal federation, would then be in a position to oppose strongly and with success the progress of irreligion…. Meanwhile they affirm that they would willingly treat with the Church of Rome, but on equal terms, that is as equals with an equal….” (Pope Pius XI, Encyclical Mortalium Animos [1928], par. 7)

• “Pope Francis stressed that the heart of Vatican II is in the desire to announce the “treasure of faith” to today’s man.” Reality Check: That didn’t work out too well…

• “The Holy Father assured those present of his determination to continue the path of ecumenical dialogue established by his predecessors.”In other words, “more of the same” is the solution to the loss of Faith brought about by Vatican II. One of the primary causes of the loss of Faith is the introduction of the so-called Nouvelle Theologie, “New Theology”, to replace traditional Thomistic scholasticism, which, it was said, could no longer speak to “modern man”. Reality Check: “The method and principles by which the old scholastic doctors cultivated theology are no longer suitable to the demands of our times and to the progress of the sciences” —CONDEMNED by Pope Pius IX, Syllabus of Errors (1864), no. 13

• “Addressing the representatives of the Jewish people, Pope Francis thanked them for their presence while acknowledging that the two faiths are ‘joined in a very special spiritual bond.'”Reality Check: Actually, the religion of today’s Jews is founded on the rejection of Christ in 33 AD – not exactly what one should call “a very special spiritual bond”. See also convert David Goldstein’s explanation, Present-Day Judaism is not Old Testament Judaism (1956). (See also the excellent apologetics books Letters of a Hebrew-Catholic to Mr. Isaacs and What Say You? by David Goldstein.)
  

• “Referring to the Nostra aetate declaration of the Second Vatican Council, the Holy Father reiterated that the Catholic Church recognizes that ‘the beginnings of her faith and her election are already, according to the divine mystery of salvation, in the Patriarchs, Moses, and the prophets.'”Reality Check: This much is true, but it has nothing to do with the religion today known as “Judaism”. The link today’s Jews have to the Old Covenant is merely that of being the fleshly descendants of the Patriarchs – spiritually, there is no link whatsoever, as Christ Himself declared long ago: “They answered, and said to him: Abraham is our father. Jesus saith to them: If you be the children of Abraham, do the works of Abraham…. He that is of God, heareth the words of God. Therefore you hear them not, because you are not of God…. It is the spirit that quickeneth: the flesh profiteth nothing.” (John 8:39,47; John 6:64)

• “The Pope addressed the other religious representatives present, in particular the Muslim delegation, who the Holy Father said ‘worship the one God, living and merciful, and call upon Him in prayer.'”Reality Check: Actually, they don’t. Almighty God is one God in three Divine Persons (we teach that to every First Communicant!): Unity in Substance, Trinity in Persons. The Muslims reject that and explicitly do not adore Jesus Christ or the Holy Ghost. “…the true adorers shall adore the Father in spirit and in truth. For the Father also seeketh such to adore him.” (John 4:23) Someone ought to tell Mr. Bergoglio that the Muslims, like the SSPX, don’t accept Vatican II – perhaps that will get him to reassess their situation…

True Roman Catholic Resources on Religious Unity and Questions of Ecumenism and Interreligious Collaboration

• Pope Pius IX, Apostolic Letter Iam Vos Omnes (1868)
• Holy Office, Instruction to Anglican Puseyites on True Religious Unity (1865)
• Pope Leo XIII, Encyclical Praeclara Gratulationis Publicae on the Reunion of Christendom (1894)
• Pope Leo XIII, Encyclical Satis Cognitum on Religious Unity (1896)
• Pope St. Pius X, Letter Our Apostolic Mandate on Society and Interreligious Cooperation (1910)
• Pope Pius XI, Encyclical Mortalium Animos on Ecumenism (1928)
• Holy Office, Canonical Warning on Attending Ecumenical Gatherings (1948)
• Holy Office, Instruction on the Ecumenical Movement (1949)