My comment: This decree sixty years ago will certainly go a long way in preventing a "false ecumenism" so many promoted after Vatican II. Keep in mind that Vatican II's documents on ecumenism were always in continuity with Pope Pius XII's decree below. Vatican II did not actually employ a hermeneutic of discontinuity is this regard, only those who promote the "spirit of Vatican II" promote discontinuity. Pope Benedict is brilliantly leading the Church into the hermeneutic of continuity with our past and naming Pope Pius XII as venerable and bringing him one step closer to being a saint, is within Pope Benedict's desire to reform the reforms of Vatican II. Why does this scare so many?
"The only true union"
Today is the sixtieth anniversary of the instruction of the Holy Office on the ecumenical movement. As the heroic virtues of Pope Pius XII are finally recognized by the Holy See, perhaps we would do well to also remember the teaching, promulgated in the name of this Pope, on ecumenism.
An excerpt:
As regards , the Bishops themselves will make regulations as to what is to be done and what is to be avoided, and shall see that these are observed by all. They shall also be on guard lest, on the false pretext that more attention should be paid to the points on which we agree than to those on which we differ, a dangerous indifferentism be encouraged, especially among persons whose training in theology is not deep and whose practice of their faith is not very strong. For care must be taken lest, in the so-called "irenic" spirit of today, through comparative study and the vain desire for a progressively closer mutual approach among the various professions of faith, Catholic doctrine-either in its; dogmas or in the truths which are connected with them-be so conformed or in a way adapted to the doctrines of dissident sects, that the purity of Catholic doctrine be impaired, or its genuine and certain meaning be obscured.
Also they must restrain that dangerous manner of speaking which generates false opinions and fallacious hopes incapable of realization; for example, to the effect that the teachings of the Encyclicals of the Roman Pontiffs on the return of dissidents to the Church, on the constitution of the Church, on the Mystical Body of Christ, should not be given too much importance seeing that they are not all matters of faith, or, what is worse, that in matters of dogma even the Catholic Church has not yet attained the fullness of Christ, but can still be perfected from outside. They shall take particular care and shall firmly insist that, in going over the history of the Reformation and the Reformers the defects of Catholics be not so exaggerated and the faults of the Reformers be so dissimulated, or that things which are rather accidental be not so emphasized, that what is most essential, namely the defection from the Catholic faith, be scarcely any longer seen or felt. Finally, they shall take precautions lest, through an excessive and false external activity, or through imprudence and an excited manner of proceeding, the end in view be rather harmed than served.
Therefore the and Catholic doctrine is to be presented and explained: by no means is it permitted to pass over in silence or to veil in ambiguous terms the Catholic truth regarding the nature and way of justification, the constitution of the Church, the primacy of jurisdiction of the Roman Pontiff, and the only true union by the return of the dissidents to the one true Church of Christ. It should be made clear to them that, in returning to the Church, they will lose nothing of that good which by the grace of God has hitherto been implanted in them, but that it will rather be supplemented and completed by their return. However, one should not speak of this in such a way that they will imagine that in returning to the Church they are bringing to it something substantial which it has hitherto lacked. It will be necessary to say these things clearly and openly, first because it is the truth that they themselves are seeking, and moreover because outside the truth no true union can ever be attained.
4 comments:
"...it is the truth that they themselves are seeking...
How to convey this to non-Christians also???
Why does this scare so many?
It scares people because they have no clear understanding of their faith, poorly educated as they have been in it.
"...that what is most essential, namely the defection from the Catholic faith, be scarcely any longer seen or felt."
Reassuring to see that the decree of Pope Pius XII is being brought out again.
I was unaware of it's existence, and had similar thoughts and impressions on ecumenism as he.
On the radio, I rarely listen to the "Christian" stations as there was something that always struck me as 'off'. Then I realized how prtestant they are. For example: "I recently heard an ad for a tour to Oberammergau to see the Passion Play. Sounded well enough until the announcer called it the 'Reformation Tour' the proceeded to boast about how the tour would visit the highlights of the Reformation, as if to imply that the Reformation was some great victory for Christianity against that horrible Catholic Church.
I was deeply bothered by that, and so sad for the mindless masses that follow that line of thinking.
It is important that ecumenism be performed as Pope Pius XII decreed. The protestants need to rise to the higher standard, not the other way around.
Hope to hear and see more on this topic.
Absolutely! The Church can only lose in an ecumenical exchange. She needs to be working to bring protestants back into the true Church. That isn't exactly ecumenism. The Church has nothing to gain from protestantism, but she has much to lose. Be careful!
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