Panama Diocese Participates in Interreligious ‘Afternoon of Open Temples’

On Feast of the Assumption, no less…

Panama Diocese Participates in Interreligious ‘Afternoon of Open Temples’

The ‘Interreligious Committee of Panama’ recently organized a so-called ‘Afternoon of Open Temples’ (Tarde de Templos Abiertos) in the nation’s capital of Panama City. It was the second of its kind, the first one having been celebrated last year.

From 2:00 pm to 7:00 pm on Aug. 15, 2024, as many as 12 different religions “communities of faith” opened the doors of their houses of worship to people from other religions or no religion at all, to offer them the opportunity to learn more about what they believe and do.

Front and center in this project was, of course, the Novus Ordo Archdiocese of Panamá and its head honcho, ‘Archbishop’ José Domingo Ulloa Mendieta, He apparently had some kind of lead role in the matter, as we will see later. On its official web site and on Facebook the ‘Catholic Church’ of Panama happily advertised the great event (see promo flyer above).

Here is a listing of the twelve participating religions and their respective ‘sacred’ edifices, with a short description for each, taken from an article on the event by the International Multi-Faith Coalition (IMFC):

1. Baha’i House of Prayer: The Baha’i faith, one of the world’s youngest religions, emphasizes the unity of all religions and humanity. Their house of prayer in Panama is a testimony of this belief in spiritual unity.

2. Metropolitan Cathedral Basilica Santa Maria la Antigua: As the heart of the Catholic community in Panama, this cathedral is not only a place of worship, but also a historical monument that has witnessed centuries of Panamanian history.

3. Saint Luke’s Episcopal Cathedral: Representing the Anglican community in Panama, this cathedral offers a unique blend of Protestant tradition with Latin American influences.

4. Soka Gakkai International Cultural Center of Panama: This Buddhist center promotes peace, culture and education, offering an Eastern perspective in the heart of Panama.

5. Calvary Baptist Church: As part of the Protestant tradition, this church has been a pillar of the Baptist community in Panama for decades.

6. Wesleyan Methodist Church | Panama: Another representative of the Protestant tradition, the Methodist Church has had a significant presence in the religious life of Panama.

7. Balboa Union Church: This interdenominational church has served the expatriate and local community alike, being a bridge between different cultures and Christian traditions.

8. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints: Commonly known as Mormons, this community offers a unique perspective on Christianity.

9. Jama Mosque: As the center of the Muslim community in Panama, this mosque is a testament to the country’s growing religious diversity.

10. Kol Shearith Israel Synagogue: Representing the Jewish community, this synagogue has been a beacon of Jewish faith and culture in Panama for generations.

11. ISKCON Panama (International Society for Krishna Consciousness): Offering the teachings and practices of Vaishnava Hinduism, ISKCON has found a welcoming home in Panama’s diverse society.

12. Hindu Temple: As the center of the Hindu faith in Panama, this temple offers a window into the rich traditions and philosophies of India.

(Source; translation via DeepL; underlining given.)

The same article of the IMFC also makes clear that the interreligious open-temple event “is not simply a series of guided tours. It is a total immersion into the spiritual and cultural life of these diverse communities.” It points out that the things visitors will be able to do include (1) exploring architecture; (2) immersing oneself in history; (3) viewing religious art; (4) listening to religious music; (5) witnessing rituals and ceremonies; (6) tasting food; (7) participating in talks and dialogues.

What an utter scandal for a ‘Catholic archbishop’ to invite people to take part in something like that!

As for the ‘Catholic’ program during the Afternoon of Open Temples, a diocesan press release announced the schedule as follows:

The Catholic Church in the Cathedral Basilica Santa Maria la Antigua has organized the following program:

1:45 pm Children’s folkloric presentation
2:00 pm Choir of the Girl Singers of San Miguelito
Songs: Ave Maria and Salve Regina
2:15 pm Ecumenical and Interreligious Prayer
2:20 pm Guided tour of the temple
4:00 pm Presentation of the short documentary “The Origin of the Ecumenical and Interreligious Dialogue in Panama
7:00 pm Concert by the Choir of the Niñas Cantoras de San Miguelito

(Source; translation via DeepL.)

We notice, by the way, the complete absence of anything resembling proselytism, evangelization, mission, or catechesis. Instead of showing a documentary explaining what Catholics believe and why, making a compelling case for why all men should be Catholic, the Panama diocese shows interest only in explaining how the country got involved with ecumenism and interreligious dialogue to begin with. Lovely!

None of this is really surprising, of course, but it’s good to point out because there are naturally those who will instinctively claim that this whole event was meant to evangelize and ultimately convert people. No, it most certainly was not, at least not to Catholicism.

As reported by InfoVaticana, many conservative Novus Ordo adherents of the Panama diocese were not amused about the announced interreligious event. In a post published the day before it took place, we read:

Catholics in Panama have expressed their deep indignation and sadness at the recent initiative of Archbishop José Domingo Ulloa, who has launched an invitation to participate in the “Afternoon of the Temples,” an interfaith event that will take place on August 15, the day of the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary.

This event has been organized in collaboration with leaders of various religious denominations, including the reformist Rabbi Gustavo Kraselnick, known for his public positions in favour of the LGBT community.

The “Afternoon of the Temples,” which seeks to promote respect and understanding between different religions, has been harshly criticized by members of the Catholic community, who see in this activity a lack of respect towards one of the most important feasts of the Church, dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary. The activity invites participants to visit temples of various denominations, some of which are known for their contempt towards the figure of the Virgin Mary, which has generated even more controversy.

For many faithful, the fact that this event is celebrated on the same date as the Solemnity of the Assumption, as well as the anniversary of the founding of Panama City, originally named in honor of Our Lady of the Assumption, is a direct affront to Catholic traditions. Critics accuse Archbishop Ulloa of promoting religious syncretism and distorting the Catholic faith by encouraging the faithful to participate in activities in temples that advocate beliefs contrary to the teachings of the Church.

The full text of this article can be found at the following links:

• Archbishop Promotes Controversial Interfaith Event on Assumption Day (English translation by Catholic Conclave)
• El Arzobispo de Panamá Promueve el Día de la Asunción un Polémico Evento Interreligioso (Spanish original by InfoVaticana)

The semi-trad blog Rorate Caeli published an open letter signed by six laymen addressed to the archdiocese and its head honcho there, ‘Archbishop’ José Domingo Ulloa Mendieta:

Nothing good is gained for Holy Mother Church by this event – and others of the same nature – and what it does is to stir up and foster religious indifferentism that degrades the divine nature of Our Lord to being simply “one more” on a par with any other person who ever existed. In two thousand years of the Church, no one can cite a single instance in which the Church has invited other places of worship to come and “learn” erroneous doctrines that are in direct contradiction to the Gospel revealed and entrusted to the Mystical Body of Jesus Christ. This event was not intended to tell the truth, nor was it intended to encourage conversion, instead, it had in view an approach that renders obsolete the Divinity of Our Lord Jesus Christ leading the faithful into error and even greater confusion. It could not be more evident the deliberate deviation to which the Panamanian faithful have been forced to endure for many years without being able to extract even a drop of sound doctrine that is in conformity with what the Church has taught for two thousand years.

This whole event, in its second year, is inconceivable for a Catholic who cares about his salvation, but what makes it undoubtedly a mockery and a ridicule to Our Lady, is that it was done deliberately on August 15, one might ask; what motivated Monsignor Ulloa to choose this date for this nefarious event? Since it is a day to give full homage to the Mother of God and Queen of Heaven. The repeated occasions in which an attack on Our Mother of Heaven has been demonstrated, in different forms and modalities, constitutes a horrible abomination in the eyes of God and sufficient motive for Him to unleash His holy wrath against us as demonstrated throughout Biblical history.

The letter is worth reading in full, at the following link:

• Public Protest Against Panama City’s Interreligious Syncretistic Meeting on Feast of the Assumption (Rorate Caeli)

The Panamanian Afternoon of Open Temples is simply the latest in a never-ending string of ‘interfaith’ events that ultimately only help to advance the Great Apostasy. It is clearly the product of people who themselves do not have the Catholic Faith.

True Catholics want people to enter only one temple and no other: “…the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth” (1 Tim 3:15).

Image source: Facebook
License: fair use