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Why Do Traditionalists Disapprove of
Ecumenism? Doesn't This Go Against the Vatican Council?
Primary Sources May Include:
Amerio, Davies
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Traditionalists may disapprove of a false
ecumenism because the Church has always disapproved of false
ecumenism. For example, consider the following condemnations
applicable to false ecumenism...
"No
one shall pray in common with heretics and schismatics."
(Council of Laodicea, 365 A.D.)
"None
must either pray or sing psalms with heretics; and whomsoever
shall communicate with those who are cut off from the Communion of
the Church, whether clergymen or laic, let him be
excommunicated." (Council of Carthage, 398 A.D.)
"Can.
2316 Whoever in any manner willingly and knowingly helps in the
promulgation of heresy, or who communicates in things divine with
heretics against the prescriptions of Canon 1258, is suspected of
heresy." (1917 Code of Canon Law)
"Know
them by their fruits and avoid them. Every familiarity should be
avoided, not only with those impious libertines who openly promote
the character of the [Masonic] sect, but also with those who hide
under the mask of universal tolerance, respect for all religions,
and the craving to reconcile the maxims of the Gospel with those
of the revolution. These men seek to reconcile Christ and Belial,
the Church of God and the state without God." (Pope Leo XIII,
"Custodi Di Quella Fede", 1892 A.D.)
"But,
all the same, although many non-Catholics may be found who loudly
preach fraternal communion in Christ Jesus, yet you will find none
at all to whom it ever occurs to submit to and obey the Vicar of
Jesus Christ either in His capacity as a teacher or as a governor.
Meanwhile they affirm that they would willingly treat with the
Church of Rome, but on equal terms, that is as equals with an
equal: but even if they could so act, it does not seem open to
doubt that any pact into which they might enter would not compel
them to turn from those opinions which are still the reason why
they err and stray from the one fold of Christ. This being so, it
is clear that the Apostolic See cannot on any terms take part in
their assemblies, nor is it anyway lawful for Catholics either to
support or to work for such enterprises; for if they do so they
will be giving countenance to a false Christianity, quite alien to
the one Church of Christ." (Pope Pius XI, "Mortalium
Animos", 1928 A.D.)
"This
being said, what must be thought of the indiscriminate mingling in
which young Catholics will be caught up with heterodox and
unbelieving folk in a work of this nature? Is it not a
thousand-fold more dangerous for them than a neutral association?
What are we to think of this appeal to all the heterodox, and to
all the unbelievers, to prove the excellence of their convictions
in the social sphere in a sort of apologetic contest? Has not this
contest lasted for nineteen centuries in conditions less dangerous
for the faith of Catholics? And was it not all to the credit of
the Catholic Church? What are we to think of this respect for all
errors, and of this strange invitation made by a Catholic to all
the dissidents to strengthen their convictions through study so
that they may have more and more abundant sources of fresh forces?
What are we to think of an association in which all religions and
even Free-Thought may express themselves openly and in complete
freedom? For the Sillonists who, in public lectures and elsewhere,
proudly proclaim their personal faith, certainly do not intend to
silence others nor do they intend to prevent a Protestant from
asserting his Protestantism, and the skeptic from affirming his
skepticism. Finally, what are we to think of a Catholic who, on
entering his study group, leaves his Catholicism outside the door
so as not to alarm his comrades who, 'dreaming of disinterested
social action, are not inclined to make it serve the triumph of
interests, coteries and even convictions whatever they may
be'?" (Pope St. Pius X, "Our Apostolic Mandate",
1910 A.D.)
"So,
Venerable Brethren, it is clear why this Apostolic See has never
allowed its subjects to take part in the assemblies of
non-Catholics: for the union of Christians can only be promoted by
promoting the return to the one true Church of Christ of those who
are separated from it, for in the past they have unhappily left
it. To the one true Church of Christ, we say, which is visible to
all, and which is to remain, according to the will of its Author,
exactly the same as He instituted it. During the lapse of
centuries, the mystical Spouse of Christ has never been
contaminated, nor can she ever in the future be contaminated, as
Cyprian bears witness: 'The Bride of Christ cannot be made false
to her Spouse: she is incorrupt and modest. She knows but one
dwelling, she guards the sanctity of the nuptial chamber chastely
and modestly.' The same holy Martyr with good reason marveled
exceedingly that anyone could believe that 'this unity in the
Church which arises from a divine foundation, and which is knit
together by heavenly sacraments, could be rent and torn asunder by
the force of contrary wills.' For since the mystical body of
Christ, in the same manner as His physical body, is one, compacted
and fitly joined together, it were foolish and out of place to say
that the mystical body is made up of members which are disunited
and scattered abroad: whosoever therefore is not united with the
body is no member of it, neither is he in communion with Christ
its head." (Pope Pius XI, "Mortalium Animos", 1928
A.D.)
"But
some are more easily deceived by the outward appearance of good
when there is question of fostering unity among all Christians. Is
it not right, it is often repeated, indeed, even consonant with
duty, that all who invoke the name of Christ should abstain from
mutual reproaches and at long last be united in mutual charity?
Who would dare to say that he loved Christ, unless he worked with
all his might to carry out the desires of Him, Who asked His
Father that His disciples might be 'one.' And did not the same
Christ will that His disciples should be marked out and
distinguished from others by this characteristic, namely that they
loved one another: 'By this shall all men know that you are my
disciples, if you have love one for another'? All Christians, they
add, should be as 'one': for then they would be much more powerful
in driving out the pest of irreligion, which like a serpent daily
creeps further and becomes more widely spread, and prepares to rob
the Gospel of its strength. These things and others that class of
men who are known as pan-Christians continually repeat and
amplify; and these men, so far from being quite few and scattered,
have increased to the dimensions of an entire class, and have
grouped themselves into widely spread societies, most of which are
directed by non-Catholics, although they are imbued with varying
doctrines concerning the things of faith. This undertaking is so
actively promoted as in many places to win for itself the adhesion
of a number of citizens, and it even takes possession of the minds
of very many Catholics and allures them with the hope of bringing
about such a union as would be agreeable to the desires of Holy
Mother Church, who has indeed nothing more at heart than to recall
her erring sons and to lead them back to her bosom. But in reality
beneath these enticing words and blandishments lies hid a most
grave error, by which the foundations of the Catholic faith are
completely destroyed. Admonished, therefore, by the consciousness
of Our Apostolic office that We should not permit the flock of the
Lord to be cheated by dangerous fallacies, We invoke, Venerable
Brethren, your zeal in avoiding this evil" (Pope Pius XI,
"Mortalium Animos", 1928 A.D.)
"For
since they hold it for certain that men destitute of all religious
sense are very rarely to be found, they seem to have founded on
that belief a hope that the nations, although they differ among
themselves in certain religious matters, will without much
difficulty come to agree as brethren in professing certain
doctrines, which form as it were a common basis of the spiritual
life. For which reason conventions, meetings and addresses are
frequently arranged by these persons, at which a large number of
listeners are present, and at which all without distinction are
invited to join in the discussion, both infidels of every kind,
and Christians, even those who have unhappily fallen away from
Christ or who with obstinacy and pertinacity deny His divine
nature and mission. Certainly such attempts can nowise be approved
by Catholics, founded as they are on that false opinion which
considers all religions to be more or less good and praiseworthy,
since they all in different ways manifest and signify that sense
which is inborn in us all, and by which we are led to God and to
the obedient acknowledgment of His rule. Not only are those who
hold this opinion in error and deceived, but also in distorting
the idea of true religion they reject it, and little by little, turn aside to naturalism and atheism, as it is called; from which
it clearly follows that one who supports those who hold these
theories and attempt to realize them, is altogether abandoning the
divinely revealed religion." (Pope Pius XI, "Mortalium
Animos", 1928 A.D.)
Furthermore, false ecumenism is not biblical.
For example, consider the following:
[Jesus
commissioned the apostles:] "He said to them, 'Wherever you enter a house, stay there until you leave from there. Whatever place does not welcome you or listen to you, leave there and shake the dust off your feet in testimony
against them.'" (Mk. 6:10-11) Note: Jesus did not instruct them to
stay and dialog with those who would not accept His message or to
"package" the message in terms they might find more
preferable or to simply ignore their differences and work together
in the name of "peace", understanding, or
"tolerance". Rather, he tells them to shake the dust off
their feet in testimony against them.
[Jesus
instructed the apostles,] "And as for those who do not welcome you, when you leave that town, shake the dust from your feet
in testimony against them." (Lk. 9:5) Note: Jesus has made it clear that those who fail to
receive the persons He has sent will incur reproach or
condemnation. In contrast to the ecumenical movement, Jesus does
not discuss "dialoging", "coming to the truth
together" (as if it was not already possessed), or
"seeking to find the good" in the belief systems of
those who reject the truth.
[Jesus
told those whom he sent ahead,] "Whoever listens to you listens to me. Whoever rejects you rejects me. And whoever rejects me rejects the one who sent me."
(Lk. 10:16) Note: Once again, Jesus did not instruct
his disciples to stay and dialog with those who would not accept
His message or to "package" the message in terms they
might find more preferable or to simply ignore their differences
and work together in the name of "peace", understanding,
or "tolerance". He clearly shows that those who fail to
receive the persons He has sent will incur condemnation.
"I
urge you, brothers, to watch out for those who create dissensions
and obstacles, in opposition to the teaching that you learned;
avoid them. For such people do not serve our Lord Christ but their
own appetites, and by fair and flattering speech they deceive the
hearts of the innocent." (St. Paul, Rom. 16:17-18) (emphasis
added) Note: In contrast to the "spirit of ecumenism"
which attempts to mingle all faiths under one umbrella, Scripture
tells us plainly that we should avoid those who create dissentions
in opposition to the true teachings of the Catholic Church.
"Do
not be yoked with those who are different, with unbelievers. For
what partnership do righteousness and lawlessness have? Or what
fellowship does light have with darkness? What accord has Christ
with Beliar? Or what has a believer in common with an unbeliever?
What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the
temple of the living God; as God said: 'I will live with them and
move among them, and I will be their God and they shall be my
people. Therefore, come forth from them and be separate,' says the
Lord, 'and touch nothing unclean; then I will receive you and I
will be a father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to
me, says the Lord Almighty.'" (St. Paul, 2 Cor. 6:14-18)
"But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach (to you) a gospel other than the one that we preached to you, let that one be
accursed! As we have said before, and now I say again, if anyone preaches to you a gospel other than the one that you received, let that one be accursed!
Am I now currying favor with human beings or God? Or am I seeking to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a slave of
Christ." (Gal. 1:8-10) Note: While the Bible teaches us
that those who pervert the gospel of Christ are accursed - even if
the one doing so was an angel from heaven - the ecumenical
movement wants us to gather together with them as if nothing was
wrong with their accursed doctrines in the name of
"peace", "tolerance" and understanding. But, as Scripture says,
"Am I now currying favor with human beings or God? Or am I
seeking to please people? If I were still trying to please people,
I would not be a slave of Christ." We must please God, not
human beings and reject perverted gospels. The modern ecumenical
movement, however, generally spurns accusatory statements such as
those contained in Scripture and seeks to allow others to preach
their different gospels to us in the name of
"dialoging".
"After a first and second warning, break off contact with a heretic,
realizing that such a person is perverted and sinful and stands self-condemned."
(Ti. 3:10-11) Note: In this rather "unecumenical"
statement, we are told to "break off contact
with a heretic, realizing that such a person is perverted and
sinful and stands self-condemned" after a first and second
warning. The modern ecumenical movement prefers rather to
"dialog" with heretics rather than admonish them as we
are instructed to do in Scripture.
"There were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will introduce destructive heresies and even deny the Master who ransomed them, bringing swift destruction on themselves. Many will follow their licentious ways, and because of them the way of truth will be reviled. In their greed they will exploit you with fabrications, but from of old their condemnation has not been idle and their destruction does not sleep."
(2 Pt. 2:1-3)
"Anyone who is so
'progressive' as not to remain in the teaching of the Christ does not have God; whoever remains in the teaching has the Father and the Son.
If anyone comes to you and does not bring this doctrine, do not receive him in your house or even greet him; for whoever greets him shares in his evil works."
(2 Jn. 1:9-11) (emphasis added) Note: In this
highly "unecumenical" Scripture passage, we are warned
about those who are "progressive" and do not remain in
the teaching of Christ and instructed that "If anyone comes
to you and does not bring this doctrine, do not receive him in
your house or even greet him; for whoever greets him shares in his
evil works". Scripture does not tell us to "dialog"
or to "seek out the good" or to gather for religious
activities with anyone who brings another doctrine, despite the
encouragement by the ecumenical movement to do just these things.
In fact, to do so is contrary to this passage of Scripture.
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