Unity Among Lutherans

by Thomas A. Droleskey

Pressing the Mute Button, which was published originally on January 18, 2010, discussed the silence that greeted the blasphemous sacrilege represented by Joseph Ratzinger/Benedict XVI's visit to the Talmudic synagogue in Rome, Italy, on Sunday, January 17, 2010. There has yet to be a word of criticism from Bishop Bernard Fellay of the Society of Saint Pius X concerning that visit, wherein the false "pontiff" treated the false religion of Talmudic Judaism as though it is a valid means of salvation for its adherents, going so far as to assert blasphemously that "Christians and Jews pray to the same Lord" (see Saint Peter and Anti-Peter). Silence greeted that meeting from any, although not all, in the "resist and recognize" camp, noting that my former colleague, Mr. John Vennari, I am told, wrote a scathing article about that travesty in Catholic Family News.

Silence will likely greet Ratzinger/Benedict's latest foray into the field of false ecumenism represented by his visit on Laetare Sunday, March 14, 2010, to the Lutheran church in Rome, Italy. It is blasphemous events of this nature, each of which is founded in the apostate precepts of conciliarism, that make it unnecessary to focus on the minutiae of the pastoral praxis of conciliarism, and I must offer my readers an apology for containing material in the original posting of Pressing the Mute Button that discussed a purported de jure (by law) approval of the wearing of rainbow vestments by presbyters in the counterfeit church of conciliarism. The report (The Rainbow Is Becoming a Liturgical Color) upon which my own commentary was based was written by Atila Sinke Guimaraes, who had found the information on the website of the Diocese of Brieuc in France, which turned out to have posted the material as an "April Fool's" joke last April 1, 2009. Mr. Guimaraes's explanation of this can be found at The Hypocrites.

As Mr. Guimaraes notes in his own apology, which was posted on the Diocese of Brieuc website until late last month, things of this nature are given the weight of credibility by the fact that many conciliar "bishops" presbyters do indeed wear rainbow vestments. Karol Wojtyla/John Paul II wore such vestments at World Youth Day in August of 1997 near Paris, France. One must keep in mind, of course that Wojtyla/John Paul II's longtime "papal" master of ceremonies, Monsignor Piero Marini, said quite specifically that the novelties and innovations he introduced in "papal" liturgies were meant to serve as precedents to be followed in the rest of the world.

That having been noted, of course, factual accuracy is essential. The report from which I derived my own commentary was itself based on the Diocese of Brieuc website that was but a joke, one that last the better part of eleven months. I should have refrained from writing anything when I could not find the specific authorization for use of rainbow vestments worldwide on the Vatican website. This is my mistake, and I apologize to my readers for making it as we don't have the luxury of making such mistakes, especially when the conciliarists are so bold in their ordinary, run-of-the-mill apostasies and blasphemies and sacrileges (see Spotlight On The Ordinary).

True to his apostate self, Joseph Ratzinger/Benedict XVI's visit to the Lutheran church in Rome was replete with his usual exhortations to work to achieve "unity" when the truth of the matter that a man who considers himself to be (and who is so considered by almost everyone alive on the face of the earth right now) a true Successor of Saint Peter and Vicar of Our Blessed Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ would (a) not enter into a place of false worship to engage in prayer with those who defect from the true Faith; and (b) would use any address given to non-Catholics to seek with urgency their unconditional conversion to the true Church, the Catholic Church.

This is a report of Ratzinger/Benedict's Laetare Sunday visit to the Lutheran church in Rome

ROME (Reuters) – Pope Benedict told Rome's Lutheran congregation on Sunday that Protestants and Roman Catholics should be thankful for all the unity achieved among Christians rather than complain about the slow pace of dialogue.

Addressing about 350 Lutherans in their small church, Benedict said both sides had accused each other of slowing down the ecumenical movement, but that only God, not humans, could create true unity.

The movement has brought Christian churches closer together in recent decades but has lost momentum lately.

Some Protestants, especially in Germany, say Benedict has contributed to that by stressing more strongly the Catholic claim to be the only true church.

They say he also seems more interested in improving ties with the theologically conservative Orthodox churches than with more liberal Protestant groups.

In the Vatican's view, several Protestant churches have drifted away from common ground by ordaining women as priests and bishops or blessing same-sex marriages.

"We have divided the one path into many, so the witness we should give has been obscured," Benedict told the German-speaking congregation, which his predecessor John Paul II visited in 1983, in their common native tongue.

"I think we should first be thankful that there is so much unity. It's nice that we can pray together today, sing the same hymns together, hear the same word of God together, that we can interpret and try to understand it together."

Benedict said only God could create more unity among Christians because "a unity we negotiate ourselves would be human-made and as fragile as everything that humans make."

The leader of the Lutheran community, Doris Esch, recalled that Benedict had helped to work out a Catholic-Lutheran statement in 1999 resolving some theological disagreements dating back to the Reformation, the split between Catholicism and Protestantism, in the 16th century.

"Holy Father, may you feel welcome here," she said.

Germany's churches are planning an ecumenical festival in Munich in May. Some Protestants asked for a joint communion service but the Catholics declined because the two sides do not agree on the nature of this central Christian rite. (Benedict stresses Christian unity at Lutheran church.)

 

So much unity? So much unity? To Pope Leo XIII for help!

Agreement and union of minds is the necessary foundation of this perfect concord amongst men, from which concurrence of wills and similarity of action are the natural results. Wherefore, in His divine wisdom, He ordained in His Church Unity of Faith; a virtue which is the first of those bonds which unite man to God, and whence we receive the name of the faithful - "one Lord, one faith, one baptism" (Eph. iv., 5). That is, as there is one Lord and one baptism, so should all Christians, without exception, have but one faith. And so the Apostle St. Paul not merely begs, but entreats and implores Christians to be all of the same mind, and to avoid difference of opinions: "I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no schisms amongst you, and that you be perfect in the same mind and in the same judgment" (I Cor. i., 10). Such passages certainly need no interpreter; they speak clearly enough for themselves. Besides, all who profess Christianity allow that there can be but one faith. It is of the greatest importance and indeed of absolute necessity, as to which many are deceived, that the nature and character of this unity should be recognized. And, as We have already stated, this is not to be ascertained by conjecture, but by the certain knowledge of what was done; that is by seeking for and ascertaining what kind of unity in faith has been commanded by Jesus Christ. (Pope Leo XIII, Satis Cognitum, June 29, 1896.)

 

"Pray together today, sing the same hymns together"? No Catholic can do this. Who says so? The Catholic Church, that's who:

 

Lastly, the beloved disciple St. John renews the same command in the strongest terms, and adds another reason, which regards all without exception, and especially those who are best instructed in their duty: "Look to yourselves", says he, "that ye lose not the things that ye have wrought, but that you may receive a full reward. Whosoever revolteth, and continueth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that continueth in the doctrine the same hath both the Father and the Son. If any man come to you and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, nor say to him, God speed you: for he that saith to him, God speed you, communicateth with his wicked works". (2 John, ver. 8)

Here, then, it is manifest, that all fellowship with those who have not the doctrine of Jesus Christ, which is "a communication in their evil works" — that is, in their false tenets, or worship, or in any act of religion — is strictly forbidden, under pain of losing the "things we have wrought, the reward of our labors, the salvation of our souls". And if this holy apostle declares that the very saying God speed to such people is a communication with their wicked works, what would he have said of going to their places of worship, of hearing their sermons, joining in their prayers, or the like?

From this passage the learned translators of the Rheims New Testament, in their note, justly observe, "That, in matters of religion, in praying, hearing their sermons, presence at their service, partaking of their sacraments, and all other communicating with them in spiritual things, it is a great and damnable sin to deal with them." And if this be the case with all in general, how much more with those who are well instructed and better versed in their religion than others? For their doing any of these things must be a much greater crime than in ignorant people, because they know their duty better. (Bishop George Hay, The Laws of God Forbidding All Communication in Religion With Those of a False Religion.)

The spirit of Christ, which dictated the Holy Scriptures, and the spirit which animates and guides the Church of Christ, and teaches her all truth, is the same; and therefore in all ages her conduct on this point has been uniformly the same as what the Holy Scripture teaches. She has constantly forbidden her children to hold any communication, in religious matters, with those who are separated from her communion; and this she has sometimes done under the most severe penalties. In the apostolical canons, which are of very ancient standing, and for the most part handed down from the apostolical age, it is thus decreed: "If any bishop, or priest, or deacon, shall join in prayers with heretics, let him be suspended from Communion". (Can. 44)

Also, "If any clergyman or laic shall go into the synagogue of the Jews, or the meetings of heretics, to join in prayer with them, let him be deposed, and deprived of communion". (Can. 63) (Bishop George Hay, (The Laws of God Forbidding All Communication in Religion With Those of a False Religion.)

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, January 6, 1928.)

 

Interpret the Word of God together? There is no need to ask for the help of those who believe in heresies to understand the Word of God. Holy Mother Church alone has been given the infallible guidance of God the Holy Ghost to understand and explicate the entirety of the Deposit of Faith, which includes Sacred Scripture and Apostolic (or Sacred) Tradition, which Martin Luther and those who have followed him in the past nearly five hundred years reject categorically. Interpret the Word of God together? Yes, please tell me that Pope Gregory XVI or Pope Pius IX or Pope Leo XIII or Pope Saint Pius X would walk into a Lutheran church and say that he wanted to "interpret the Word of God together" with Lutherans.

Who did not exhort the Lutherans to return unconditionally to the true Church? You got it. Joseph Ratzinger/Benedict XVI, the man who rejects what he calls disparagingly "the ecumenism of the return:"

We all know there are numerous models of unity and you know that the Catholic Church also has as her goal the full visible unity of the disciples of Christ, as defined by the Second Vatican Ecumenical Council in its various Documents (cf. Lumen Gentium, nn. 8, 13; Unitatis Redintegratio, nn. 2, 4, etc.). This unity, we are convinced, indeed subsists in the Catholic Church, without the possibility of ever being lost (cf. Unitatis Redintegratio, n. 4); the Church in fact has not totally disappeared from the world.

"On the other hand, this unity does not mean what could be called ecumenism of the return:  that is, to deny and to reject one's own faith history. Absolutely not!

"It does not mean uniformity in all expressions of theology and spirituality, in liturgical forms and in discipline. Unity in multiplicity, and multiplicity in unity:  in my Homily for the Solemnity of Sts Peter and Paul on 29 June last, I insisted that full unity and true catholicity in the original sense of the word go together. As a necessary condition for the achievement of this coexistence, the commitment to unity must be constantly purified and renewed; it must constantly grow and mature." (Ecumenical meeting at the Archbishopric of Cologne English)

 

No, we don't need bogus stories about the official approval of the actual, de facto practice of the use of rainbow vestments to have evidence of the apostasies and blasphemies and sacrileges of conciliarism. The proof is given to us on a daily basis by the conciliarists themselves, starting with the way that offend God by means of the liturgical abuse par excellence that is the Protestant and Masonic Novus Ordo worship service, to say nothing of those times with Joseph Ratzinger/Benedict XVI waxes on and on about "unity" in front of men whose souls are in desperate need of being invited to join the Catholic Church unconditionally. This signifies that Ratzinger/Benedict does not believe that the souls of those Lutherans before whom God's Holy Providence placed him yesterday were in any mortal jeopardy of losing their immortal souls for all eternity by persisting in a false religion until the point of their dying breaths.

This is quite a contrast from the solemn discharge of papal duty exercised by Pope Pius IX in Iam Vos Omnes, September 13, 1868:

"It is therefore by force of the right of Our supreme Apostolic ministry, entrusted to us by the same Christ the Lord, which, having to carry out with [supreme] participation all the duties of the good Shepherd and to follow and embrace with paternal love all the men of the world, we send this Letter of Ours to all the Christians from whom We are separated, with which we exhort them warmly and beseech them with insistence to hasten to return to the one fold of Christ; we desire in fact from the depths of the heart their salvation in Christ Jesus, and we fear having to render an account one day to Him, Our Judge, if, through some possibility, we have not pointed out and prepared the way for them to attain eternal salvation. In all Our prayers and supplications, with thankfulness, day and night we never omit to ask for them, with humble insistence, from the eternal Shepherd of souls the abundance of goods and heavenly graces. And since, if also, we fulfill in the earth the office of vicar, with all our heart we await with open arms the return of the wayward sons to the Catholic Church, in order to receive them with infinite fondness into the house of the Heavenly Father and to enrich them with its inexhaustible treasures. By our greatest wish for the return to the truth and the communion with the Catholic Church, upon which depends not only the salvation of all of them, but above all also of the whole Christian society: the entire world in fact cannot enjoy true peace if it is not of one fold and one shepherd." (Pope Pius IX, Iam Vos Omnes, September 13, 1868.)

Anyone who thinks that the "popes" of the counterfeit church of concilairism have maintained the teaching of the Catholic Church "exactly the same" as Our Blessed Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ"instituted it" is not thinking very clearly. "Pope" Benedict XVI doe snot have any fear of having to render an account to Christ the King for not having pointing out and prepared the way for Protestants to attain eternal salvation as he believes that they, although barred from the "common celebration of the Eucharist," are bearing witness to Our Lord in the world and thus stand together with Catholics in fighting the rising tide of secularism that is the direct and inevitable result of Martin Luther's own diabolical revolution against the Divine Plan that Our Blessed Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ instituted to effect man's return to Him through the Catholic Church.

Joseph Ratzinger/Benedict XVI is without any regard at all for the honor and glory and majesty of God as he dares to lend credibility to false places of worship and dares to state publicly that those who reject the following errors can give any kind of "witness" other than that which is false:

1. Lutherans do not believe that Our Lord instituted a visible, hierarchical church.
2. Lutherans thus reject Papal Primacy and Papal Infallibility.
3. Lutherans believe that one is saved by making a "profession of faith" in Our Lord, "confessing" their sins to Him privately without the mediation of an alter Christus acting in persona Christi in the Sacred Tribunal of Penance, meaning that there is very little that one can do to "lose" his "salvation" thereafter.
4. Lutherans believe that the minister is the president of the gathered assembly, not one who offers the unbloody re-presentation of Our Lord's Sacrifice of the Cross to His Co-Equal Father in Spirit and in Truth.
5. The Lutheran teaching on the Eucharist is heretical, specifically rejecting the Catholic teaching on the meaning of Transubstantiation (see in, with and under").
6. As noted above, Lutherans reject Apostolic (Sacred) Tradition as a source of Divine Revelation.
7. Lutherans teach that each individual is his own interpreter of what is contained in Sacred Scripture.
8. Lutherans reject the Marian dogmas defined by the authority of the Catholic Church.
9. Lutherans reject Purgatory as taught and defined by the authority of the Catholic Church.
10. Regardless of the conciliar Vatican's Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification, the Lutheran concept of Justification was condemned by the Council of Trent, which happened to have met under the infallible guidance and protection of God the Holy Ghost.

 

So much Unity? Joint witness? How about so much apostasy and betrayal? And it is beneath contempt for the false "pontiff" to have spoken of any kind of "mutual fault" for Martin Luther's revolution that shed so much blood and has devastated so many countless numbers of souls (Unity will only come from God, Benedict says). Mutual fault? The fault is entirely on the side of the lecherous, drunken heretic named Martin Luther, a corrupt monk who wanted to find a "theology" to justify himself in his own refusal to reform his life and to keep his vow of celibacy inviolate.

 

We must, of course, continue to remember that this is the time that God has appointed from all eternity for us to be alive. He has work for us to do. Let us do this work with courage and valor as we never count the cost of being humiliated for the sake of defending the integrity of Faith, as we never cease our prayers for the conversion of all people, including those who adhere to the falsehoods of Lutheranism and all other Protestant sects and of Joseph Ratzinger/Benedict XVI and his fellow conciliarists themselves, to the true Church, outside of which there is no salvation and without which there can be no true social order.

To this end, as always, we must make reparation for our sins, especially during this season of Lent, living more and more penitentially each day, spending time in prayer (when it is possible to do so) before Our Blessed Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ's Real Presence in the Most Blessed Sacrament, our weekly use of the the Sacred Tribunal of Penance, and our daily consecrating our hearts and our very selves to Christ the King through the Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary, praying as many Rosaries each day as our state-in-life permits.

The glories of the Easter season await us in just nineteen days following the completion of the Easter Vigil Mass. The glories of an unending Easter Sunday of glory in Paradise await us if we persevere until the end. There is work to do. Let us be earnest about of the work of converting our own souls by making reparation for our own sins so that the seeds we plant for the conversion of others and for the triumph of the Immaculate Heart of Mary in the fulfillment of her Fatima Message might fall on more fertile ground.

Viva Cristo Rey! Vivat Christus Rex!

Immaculate Heart of Mary, triumph soon!

 

Isn't it time to pray a Rosary now?

Our Lady of the Rosary, pray for us.

Vivat Christus Rex! Viva Cristo Rey!

Saint Joseph, pray for us.

Saints Peter and Paul, pray for us.

Saint John the Baptist, pray for us.

Saint John the Evangelist, pray for us.

Saint Michael the Archangel, pray for us.

Saint Gabriel the Archangel, pray for us.

Saint Raphael the Archangel, pray for us.

Saints Joachim and Anne, pray for us.

Saints Caspar, Melchior, and Balthasar, pray for us.

See also: A Litany of Saints