Photo credit: Mr G's travels
Yesterday, Rorate Caeli has an important article with Pope Benedict's own resolution concerning the forthcoming meeting at Assisi. Many Catholic have expressed concerns about the meeting and especially the danger that it might promote or condone syncretism. To a Lutheran pastor who expressed such concerns, the Holy Father wrote:
"I understand quite well - Benedict XVI wrote on March 4, 2011 - your concern regarding the participation at the Assisi meeting. However, this commemoration would have to have been celebrated in some way and, all things considered, it seemed to me that the best thing would be for me to personally go there being thus able to determine the direction of it all. I will nevertheless do everything in order that a syncretistic or relativistic interpretation of the event will be impossible and so that what will remain is that I will always believe and confess that which I had called to the attention of the Church with [the Declaration] 'Dominus Iesus'."This quotation was read by Cardinal Burke at a conference promoted by traditional Catholics last week in Rome. I hope that it can offer some reassurance to those who are worried about the Assisi event, since it would obviously be the Holy Father's own desire that his thoughts on the matter be made known.
The Declaration Dominus Iesus is one of the highlights of Cardinal Ratzinger's time as Prefect of the Sacred Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. The Declaration states:
Theological faith (the acceptance of the truth revealed by the One and Triune God) is often identified with belief in other religions, which is religious experience still in search of the absolute truth and still lacking assent to God who reveals himself. This is one of the reasons why the differences between Christianity and the other religions tend to be reduced at times to the point of disappearance. (Dominus Iesus n.7)Pope Benedict will surely have this in mind when he visits Assisi.
8 comments:
When I was young and in the Army... Yeah... I had to go out to the clubs and bars with my buddies because... well... somebody had to go with them, so it might as well have been me. Yeah... riiiiight.
I think you are being a little optimistic here, if I may say so Father.
Father Blake was, in my opinion, more realistic in his piece here.
As I commented in that posting, how can it be but relativistic when in the Pope's own words the aim of the meeting is to "commemorate the historical action desired by my Predecessor and to solemnly renew the commitment of believers of every religion to live their own religious faith as a service to the cause of peace."
This is a lot of the problem with these things and certain mentalities. They want to judge something without having seen it for themselves, which is understandable in a doubting Thomas, but we've already had all kinds of assurances from Benedict already.
He's given the Society almost everything they've asked for AND he's put it in writing that he's actually addressing their concerns with respect to Assisi.
It will be the photogenic moment of the event that will be broadcast and reported throughout the world by the largely God-less or ignorant media and not the Pope's careful distinctions and nuances about syncretism and relativism.
Misunderstanding by "the world" would not be a first for Pope Benedict. I share your confidence Father. I wonder if the Holy Father's comments at his May 4th Wednesday audience are pertinent?
I take your point Father Boyle; however, I was thinking more of St. Paul's admonition against scandalizing the weak (I Corinthians 8:12).
The world is weak (perhaps weaker now than it ever has been)and what will it take away from the symbolism of Assisi?
Liam: does this put your mind at rest?
The logic is simple: If Benedict wants to keep his hard work with the SSPX from going down the toilet, he's going to have to really put the breaks on Assisi 3.
It seems outrageous that he's done all these steps to make the SSPX feel welcome and then throws that all away by some charade.
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