Criminal
10-10-2003, 02:06 AM
http://www.mostholyfamilymonastery.com/The_Principal_Heresies_of_Vatican_II.html
The Principal Heresies of Vatican II
by Bro. Peter Dimond, O.S.B.
This document exposes the heresies found in following documents of Vatican II:
Unitatis Reintegratio – the Decree on Ecumenism
Orientalium ecclesiarum – the Decree on Eastern Catholic Churches
Lumen Gentium – Constitution on the Church
Dignitatis Humanae – Declaration on Religious Liberty
Ad Gentes – Decree on Missionary Activity
Nostra Aetate – Decree on Non-Christian Religions
Sacrosanctum Concilum – Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy
Gaudium et Spes – Constitution on the Church in the Modern World
This document exposes the principal heresies of Vatican II in their complete contexts, which leaves those who would presume to defend Vatican II with no excuse. Many of the heresies exposed in this document have not, to our knowledge, been exposed in any other piece written on Vatican II. Most of this document corresponds to what is contained in our new video Vatican II: Council of Apostasy which we recommend everyone to get. However, a few of the heresies contained in this script are not contained in the video and vice versa.
Heresies by Document
1. Unitatis Redintegratio – the Decree on Ecumenism.
Unitatis Redintegratio # 1:
“Yet almost all, though in different ways, long for the one visible Church of God, that truly universal Church whose mission is to convert the whole world to the gospel, so that the world may be saved, to the glory of God.”[1]
At the very beginning of its decree on ecumenism, Vatican II teaches that almost everyone longs for a truly universal Church whose mission is to convert the world to the Gospel. What is the truly universal Church whose mission is to convert the world to the Gospel? It is the Roman Catholic Church, of course, which alone is the one true Church of Christ. So what is Vatican II talking about then? Why is Vatican II teaching that almost everyone longs for one the truly universal Church of Christ when we already have it? What Vatican II is teaching at the very beginning of its decree on ecumenism is that people must long for the true Catholic Church because it does not yet exist! It is teaching that the true Church of Christ – the universal Catholic Church – does not yet exist! For those who doubt that Vatican II was here denying that the Catholic Church exists we will quote Antipope John Paul II’s own interpretation of this passage.
Antipope John Paul II, Homily, Dec. 5, 1996, speaking of prayer with non-Catholics:“When we pray together, we do so with the longing ‘that there may be one visible Church of God, a Church truly universal and sent forth to the whole world that the world may be converted to the Gospel and so be saved, to the glory of God’ (Unitatis Redintegratio, 1.).”[2]
Here we see that John Paul II himself confirms that the longing for the one, visible Church of Christ is a longing on both sides – Catholic and non-Catholic, which means that Vatican II in its decree on ecumenism (which John Paul II is quoting from) was indeed longing for the one universal Church of Christ. Vatican II was therefore denying that the Catholic Church is the one universal Church of Christ.
Unitatis redintegratio (# 4):
“Nevertheless, the divisions among Christians prevent the Church from realizing in practice the fullness of Catholicity proper to her, in those of her sons and daughters who, though attached to her by baptism, are yet separated from full communion with her. Furthermore, the Church herself finds it more difficult to express in actual life her full Catholicity in all its bearings.”[3]
Here, in #4 of the same decree on ecumenism, Vatican II denies that the Church of Christ is fully Catholic! This is so heretical that if you believe this you cannot even say the Apostles’ Creed: “I believe in… the holy Catholic Church.” You would have to say, “I believe in the not fully Catholic Church.” But why would Vatican II assert such a ridiculous heresy? The reason for this ridiculous statement in Vatican II is that Vatican II rejects that the Roman Catholic Church is the universal Church of Christ.
“Cardinal” Joseph Ratzinger, On Vatican II’s teaching on the Church: “Thus the Council Fathers meant to say that the being of the Church as such is a broader entity than the Roman Catholic Church…”[4]
Therefore, if Vatican II’s decree on ecumenism denies that the Roman Catholic Church is the universal Church of Christ (which it does) by longing for such a Church to exist, it follows logically that Vatican II would also teach that”the Church” (i.e., the universal Catholic Church) is not able to fully realize its “Catholicity/Universality”, due to “divisions among Christians.” In other words, according to the clear teaching of Vatican II, divisions among the countless Protestant sects, Eastern Schismatic sects and the Roman Catholic Church prevent the universal Church (of which we are all members according to Vatican II) from realizing fully its Catholicity (universality).
All of this is definite confirmation that Vatican II taught that heretical and schismatic sects make up the Church of Christ! Vatican II’s words about the universality of the Church of Christ being impaired by divisions among these sects would not make sense unless it held that these sects make up part of the Church of Christ. With that explained, we will quote Pope Clement VI and Pope Leo XIII to condemn this awful heresy of Vatican II.
Pope Clement VI, Super quibusdam, Sept. 20, 1351:
“We ask: In the first place, whether you and the Church of the Armenians which is obedient to you, believe that all those who in baptism have received the same Catholic faith, and afterwards have withdrawn and will withdraw in the future from the communion of THIS SAME ROMAN CHURCH, WHICH ONE ALONE IS CATHOLIC, are schismatic and heretical, if they remain obstinately separated from the faith of this Roman Church.”[5]
Pope Leo XIII, Satis Cognitum (# 9), June 29, 1896:
“The practice of the Church has always been the same, as is shown by the unanimous teaching of the Fathers, who were wont to hold as outside Catholic communion, AND ALIEN TO THE CHURCH, WHOEVER WOULD RECEDE IN THE LEAST DEGREE FROM ANY POINT OF DOCTRINE PROPOSED BY HER AUTHORITATIVE MAGISTERIUM.”[6]
Moving along, we come to # 3 of Vatican II’s decree on ecumenism.
Unitatis redintegratio # 3:
“Moreover some, and even most, of the significant elements and endowments which together go to build up and give life to the Church itself, can exist outside the visible boundaries of the Catholic Church: the written word of God; the life of grace; faith, hope and charity, with the other interior gifts of the Holy Spirit, and visible elements too.”[7]
Here we discover more blatant heresy in # 3 of the Decree of ecumenism. It bluntly asserts that the life of grace exists outside the visible boundaries of the Catholic Church. This is directly contrary to the solemn teaching of Pope Boniface VIII in the ex cathedra Bull Unam Sanctam.
Pope Boniface VIII, Unam Sanctam, Nov. 18, 1302:
“With Faith urging us we are forced to believe and to hold the one, holy, Catholic Church and that, apostolic, and we firmly believe and simply confess this Church outside of which there is no salvation nor remission of sin, the Spouse in the Canticle proclaiming: ‘One is my dove, my perfect one.”[8]
Vatican II has rejected the dogma that there is no remission of sin outside the Catholic Church, by asserting that one can possess the life of grace (which includes the remission of sins) outside the Catholic Church. And there is even more in the same section of the decree on ecumenism.
Unitatis redintegratio (# 3):
“It follows that these separated churches and communities as such, though we believe them to be deficient in some respects, have by no means been deprived of significance and importance in the mystery of salvation. For the Spirit of Christ has not refrained from using them as means of salvation whose efficacy comes from that fullness of grace and truth which has been entrusted to the Catholic Church.”[9]
This is one of Vatican II’s worst heresies. It is a total rejection of the dogma outside the Catholic Church there is no salvation.
Pope Leo XIII, Satis Cognitum (# 9), June 29, 1896: “The Church alone offers to the human race that religion – that state of absolute perfection – which He wished, as it were, to be incorporated in it. And it alone supplies those means of salvation which accord with the ordinary counsels of Providence.”[10]
Pope Pius X, Editae saepe (# 29), May 26, 1910: “The Church alone possesses together with her magisterium the power of governing and sanctifying human society. Through her ministers and servants (each in his own station and office), she confers on mankind suitable and necessary means of salvation.”[11]
Pope Eugene IV, Council of Florence, “Cantate Domino,” 1441, ex cathedra:
“The Holy Roman Church firmly believes, professes and preaches that all those who are outside the Catholic Church, not only pagans but also Jews or heretics and schismatics, cannot share in eternal life and will go into the everlasting fire which was prepared for the devil and his angels, unless they are joined to the Church before the end of their lives …”[12]
Vatican II also teaches in its decree on ecumenism that non-Catholics bear witness to Christ by shedding their blood.
Unitatis redintegratio # 4:
“On the other hand, Catholics must gladly acknowledge and esteem the truly Christian endowments which derive from our common heritage and which are to be found among our separated brothers and sisters. It is right and salutary to recognize the riches of Christ and the virtuous deeds in the lives of others who bear witness to Christ, even at times to the shedding of their blood.”[13]
This paragraph clearly means that there are saints and martyrs for Christ in non-Catholic Churches, a heresy of Vatican II that Antipope John Paul II has repeated and expanded upon countless times.
Antipope John Paul II, Ut Unum Sint (# 1), May 25, 1995:
“The courageous witness of so many martyrs of our century, including members of Churches and Ecclesial Communities not in full communion with the Catholic Church, gives new vigor to the Council’s call and reminds us of our duty to listen to and put into practice its exhortation.”[14]
Antipope John Paul II, Ut Unum Sint (# 84), May 25, 1995:
“Albeit in an invisible way, the communion between our Communities, even if still incomplete, is truly and solidly grounded in the full communion of the saints - those who, at end of a life faithful to grace, are in communion with Christ in glory. These saints come from all the Churches and Ecclesial Communities which gave them entrance into the communion of salvation.”[15]
The Catholic Church teaches dogmatically that outside the Church there are no Christian martyrs.
Pope Pelagius II, epistle (2) Dilectionis vestrae, 585:
“Those who were not willing to be at agreement in the Church of God, cannot remain with God; although given over to flames and fires, they burn, or thrown to wild beasts, they lay down their lives, there will not be for them that crown of faith, but the punishment of faithlessness, not a glorious result (of religious virtue), but the ruin of despair. Such a one can be slain, he cannot be crowned.”[16]
Pope Eugene IV, Council of Florence, Cantate Domino, Session 11, Feb. 4, 1442:
“… no one, whatever almsgiving he has practiced, even if he has shed blood for the name of Christ, can be saved, unless he has remained within the bosom and unity of the Catholic Church.”[17]
Vatican II also teaches in its decree on ecumenism that Eastern heretics and schismatics help the Church to grow.
Unitatis redintegratio (#’s 13-15):
“We now turn our attention to the two chief types of division as they affect the seamless robe of Christ. The first division occurred in the east, when the dogmatic formulas of the councils of Ephesus and Chalcedon were challenged, and later when ecclesiastical communion between the eastern patriarchates and the Roman See was dissolved… Everyone knows with what great love the Christians of the east celebrate the sacred liturgy… Hence, through the celebration of the Holy Eucharist in each of these Churches, the Church of God is built up and grows, and through concelebration their communion with one another is made manifest.”[18]
The Catholic Church teaches that heretics are the gates of Hell.
Pope Vigilius, Second Council of Constantinople, 553:
“These matters having been treated with thorough-going exactness, we bear in mind what was promised about the holy Church and Him who said the gates of hell will not prevail against it (by these we understand the death-dealing tongues of heretics)… and so we count along with the devil, the father of lies, the uncontrolled tongues of heretics and their heretical writings, together with the heretics themselves who have persisted in their heresy even to death.”[19]
Pope St. Leo IX, In terra pax hominibus, Sept. 2, 1053, to the “Father” of the Eastern Orthodox, Michael Cerularius, Chap. 7:“The holy Church built upon a rock, that is Christ, and upon Peter or Cephas, the son of John who first was called Simon, because by the gates of Hell, that is, by the disputations of heretics which lead the vain to destruction, it would never be overcome.”[20]
Another heresy which holds a prominent place in Vatican II’s decree on ecumenism is the constant expression of respect for non-Catholic religions.
Unitatis redintegratio # 3:
“But is subsequent centuries much more extensive dissensions made their appearance and large communities came to be separated from the full communion of the Catholic Church – for which, often enough, both sides were to blame. Those who are now born into these communities and who are brought up in the faith of Christ cannot be accused of the sin involved in the separation, and the Catholic Church looks upon them as sisters and brothers, with respect and love.”[21]
The Catholic Church does not look upon members of non-Catholic religions with respect. The Church does not respect the workings of the devil. Rather, the Catholic Church anathematizes all heresies and calls all non-Catholics in charity to convert to the true faith.
First Council of Constantinople, 381, Can. 1:
“Every heresy is to be anathematized and in particular that of the Eunomians or Anomoeans, that of the Arians or Eudoxians, that of the Semi-Arians or Pneumatomachi, that of the Sabellians that of the Marcellians, that of the Photinians and that of the Apollinarians.”[22]
Pope Innocent III, Fourth Lateran Council, 1215, Constitution 3, On Heretics:
“We excommunicate and anathematize every heresy raising itself up against this holy, orthodox and Catholic faith which we have expounded above. We condemn all heretics, whatever names they may go under. They have different faces indeed but their tails are tied together in as much as they are alike in their pride.”[23]
Pope Pelagius II, epistle (1) Quod ad dilectionem, 585:
“If anyone, however, either suggests or believes or presumes to teach contrary to this faith, let him know that he is condemned and also anathematized according to the opinion of the same Fathers.”[24]
Vatican II’s decree on ecumenism also implicitly denies the dogma that Popes possess supreme power in the universal Church by divine right. It teaches that in the past the Popes have acted by common consent as moderators.
The Principal Heresies of Vatican II
by Bro. Peter Dimond, O.S.B.
This document exposes the heresies found in following documents of Vatican II:
Unitatis Reintegratio – the Decree on Ecumenism
Orientalium ecclesiarum – the Decree on Eastern Catholic Churches
Lumen Gentium – Constitution on the Church
Dignitatis Humanae – Declaration on Religious Liberty
Ad Gentes – Decree on Missionary Activity
Nostra Aetate – Decree on Non-Christian Religions
Sacrosanctum Concilum – Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy
Gaudium et Spes – Constitution on the Church in the Modern World
This document exposes the principal heresies of Vatican II in their complete contexts, which leaves those who would presume to defend Vatican II with no excuse. Many of the heresies exposed in this document have not, to our knowledge, been exposed in any other piece written on Vatican II. Most of this document corresponds to what is contained in our new video Vatican II: Council of Apostasy which we recommend everyone to get. However, a few of the heresies contained in this script are not contained in the video and vice versa.
Heresies by Document
1. Unitatis Redintegratio – the Decree on Ecumenism.
Unitatis Redintegratio # 1:
“Yet almost all, though in different ways, long for the one visible Church of God, that truly universal Church whose mission is to convert the whole world to the gospel, so that the world may be saved, to the glory of God.”[1]
At the very beginning of its decree on ecumenism, Vatican II teaches that almost everyone longs for a truly universal Church whose mission is to convert the world to the Gospel. What is the truly universal Church whose mission is to convert the world to the Gospel? It is the Roman Catholic Church, of course, which alone is the one true Church of Christ. So what is Vatican II talking about then? Why is Vatican II teaching that almost everyone longs for one the truly universal Church of Christ when we already have it? What Vatican II is teaching at the very beginning of its decree on ecumenism is that people must long for the true Catholic Church because it does not yet exist! It is teaching that the true Church of Christ – the universal Catholic Church – does not yet exist! For those who doubt that Vatican II was here denying that the Catholic Church exists we will quote Antipope John Paul II’s own interpretation of this passage.
Antipope John Paul II, Homily, Dec. 5, 1996, speaking of prayer with non-Catholics:“When we pray together, we do so with the longing ‘that there may be one visible Church of God, a Church truly universal and sent forth to the whole world that the world may be converted to the Gospel and so be saved, to the glory of God’ (Unitatis Redintegratio, 1.).”[2]
Here we see that John Paul II himself confirms that the longing for the one, visible Church of Christ is a longing on both sides – Catholic and non-Catholic, which means that Vatican II in its decree on ecumenism (which John Paul II is quoting from) was indeed longing for the one universal Church of Christ. Vatican II was therefore denying that the Catholic Church is the one universal Church of Christ.
Unitatis redintegratio (# 4):
“Nevertheless, the divisions among Christians prevent the Church from realizing in practice the fullness of Catholicity proper to her, in those of her sons and daughters who, though attached to her by baptism, are yet separated from full communion with her. Furthermore, the Church herself finds it more difficult to express in actual life her full Catholicity in all its bearings.”[3]
Here, in #4 of the same decree on ecumenism, Vatican II denies that the Church of Christ is fully Catholic! This is so heretical that if you believe this you cannot even say the Apostles’ Creed: “I believe in… the holy Catholic Church.” You would have to say, “I believe in the not fully Catholic Church.” But why would Vatican II assert such a ridiculous heresy? The reason for this ridiculous statement in Vatican II is that Vatican II rejects that the Roman Catholic Church is the universal Church of Christ.
“Cardinal” Joseph Ratzinger, On Vatican II’s teaching on the Church: “Thus the Council Fathers meant to say that the being of the Church as such is a broader entity than the Roman Catholic Church…”[4]
Therefore, if Vatican II’s decree on ecumenism denies that the Roman Catholic Church is the universal Church of Christ (which it does) by longing for such a Church to exist, it follows logically that Vatican II would also teach that”the Church” (i.e., the universal Catholic Church) is not able to fully realize its “Catholicity/Universality”, due to “divisions among Christians.” In other words, according to the clear teaching of Vatican II, divisions among the countless Protestant sects, Eastern Schismatic sects and the Roman Catholic Church prevent the universal Church (of which we are all members according to Vatican II) from realizing fully its Catholicity (universality).
All of this is definite confirmation that Vatican II taught that heretical and schismatic sects make up the Church of Christ! Vatican II’s words about the universality of the Church of Christ being impaired by divisions among these sects would not make sense unless it held that these sects make up part of the Church of Christ. With that explained, we will quote Pope Clement VI and Pope Leo XIII to condemn this awful heresy of Vatican II.
Pope Clement VI, Super quibusdam, Sept. 20, 1351:
“We ask: In the first place, whether you and the Church of the Armenians which is obedient to you, believe that all those who in baptism have received the same Catholic faith, and afterwards have withdrawn and will withdraw in the future from the communion of THIS SAME ROMAN CHURCH, WHICH ONE ALONE IS CATHOLIC, are schismatic and heretical, if they remain obstinately separated from the faith of this Roman Church.”[5]
Pope Leo XIII, Satis Cognitum (# 9), June 29, 1896:
“The practice of the Church has always been the same, as is shown by the unanimous teaching of the Fathers, who were wont to hold as outside Catholic communion, AND ALIEN TO THE CHURCH, WHOEVER WOULD RECEDE IN THE LEAST DEGREE FROM ANY POINT OF DOCTRINE PROPOSED BY HER AUTHORITATIVE MAGISTERIUM.”[6]
Moving along, we come to # 3 of Vatican II’s decree on ecumenism.
Unitatis redintegratio # 3:
“Moreover some, and even most, of the significant elements and endowments which together go to build up and give life to the Church itself, can exist outside the visible boundaries of the Catholic Church: the written word of God; the life of grace; faith, hope and charity, with the other interior gifts of the Holy Spirit, and visible elements too.”[7]
Here we discover more blatant heresy in # 3 of the Decree of ecumenism. It bluntly asserts that the life of grace exists outside the visible boundaries of the Catholic Church. This is directly contrary to the solemn teaching of Pope Boniface VIII in the ex cathedra Bull Unam Sanctam.
Pope Boniface VIII, Unam Sanctam, Nov. 18, 1302:
“With Faith urging us we are forced to believe and to hold the one, holy, Catholic Church and that, apostolic, and we firmly believe and simply confess this Church outside of which there is no salvation nor remission of sin, the Spouse in the Canticle proclaiming: ‘One is my dove, my perfect one.”[8]
Vatican II has rejected the dogma that there is no remission of sin outside the Catholic Church, by asserting that one can possess the life of grace (which includes the remission of sins) outside the Catholic Church. And there is even more in the same section of the decree on ecumenism.
Unitatis redintegratio (# 3):
“It follows that these separated churches and communities as such, though we believe them to be deficient in some respects, have by no means been deprived of significance and importance in the mystery of salvation. For the Spirit of Christ has not refrained from using them as means of salvation whose efficacy comes from that fullness of grace and truth which has been entrusted to the Catholic Church.”[9]
This is one of Vatican II’s worst heresies. It is a total rejection of the dogma outside the Catholic Church there is no salvation.
Pope Leo XIII, Satis Cognitum (# 9), June 29, 1896: “The Church alone offers to the human race that religion – that state of absolute perfection – which He wished, as it were, to be incorporated in it. And it alone supplies those means of salvation which accord with the ordinary counsels of Providence.”[10]
Pope Pius X, Editae saepe (# 29), May 26, 1910: “The Church alone possesses together with her magisterium the power of governing and sanctifying human society. Through her ministers and servants (each in his own station and office), she confers on mankind suitable and necessary means of salvation.”[11]
Pope Eugene IV, Council of Florence, “Cantate Domino,” 1441, ex cathedra:
“The Holy Roman Church firmly believes, professes and preaches that all those who are outside the Catholic Church, not only pagans but also Jews or heretics and schismatics, cannot share in eternal life and will go into the everlasting fire which was prepared for the devil and his angels, unless they are joined to the Church before the end of their lives …”[12]
Vatican II also teaches in its decree on ecumenism that non-Catholics bear witness to Christ by shedding their blood.
Unitatis redintegratio # 4:
“On the other hand, Catholics must gladly acknowledge and esteem the truly Christian endowments which derive from our common heritage and which are to be found among our separated brothers and sisters. It is right and salutary to recognize the riches of Christ and the virtuous deeds in the lives of others who bear witness to Christ, even at times to the shedding of their blood.”[13]
This paragraph clearly means that there are saints and martyrs for Christ in non-Catholic Churches, a heresy of Vatican II that Antipope John Paul II has repeated and expanded upon countless times.
Antipope John Paul II, Ut Unum Sint (# 1), May 25, 1995:
“The courageous witness of so many martyrs of our century, including members of Churches and Ecclesial Communities not in full communion with the Catholic Church, gives new vigor to the Council’s call and reminds us of our duty to listen to and put into practice its exhortation.”[14]
Antipope John Paul II, Ut Unum Sint (# 84), May 25, 1995:
“Albeit in an invisible way, the communion between our Communities, even if still incomplete, is truly and solidly grounded in the full communion of the saints - those who, at end of a life faithful to grace, are in communion with Christ in glory. These saints come from all the Churches and Ecclesial Communities which gave them entrance into the communion of salvation.”[15]
The Catholic Church teaches dogmatically that outside the Church there are no Christian martyrs.
Pope Pelagius II, epistle (2) Dilectionis vestrae, 585:
“Those who were not willing to be at agreement in the Church of God, cannot remain with God; although given over to flames and fires, they burn, or thrown to wild beasts, they lay down their lives, there will not be for them that crown of faith, but the punishment of faithlessness, not a glorious result (of religious virtue), but the ruin of despair. Such a one can be slain, he cannot be crowned.”[16]
Pope Eugene IV, Council of Florence, Cantate Domino, Session 11, Feb. 4, 1442:
“… no one, whatever almsgiving he has practiced, even if he has shed blood for the name of Christ, can be saved, unless he has remained within the bosom and unity of the Catholic Church.”[17]
Vatican II also teaches in its decree on ecumenism that Eastern heretics and schismatics help the Church to grow.
Unitatis redintegratio (#’s 13-15):
“We now turn our attention to the two chief types of division as they affect the seamless robe of Christ. The first division occurred in the east, when the dogmatic formulas of the councils of Ephesus and Chalcedon were challenged, and later when ecclesiastical communion between the eastern patriarchates and the Roman See was dissolved… Everyone knows with what great love the Christians of the east celebrate the sacred liturgy… Hence, through the celebration of the Holy Eucharist in each of these Churches, the Church of God is built up and grows, and through concelebration their communion with one another is made manifest.”[18]
The Catholic Church teaches that heretics are the gates of Hell.
Pope Vigilius, Second Council of Constantinople, 553:
“These matters having been treated with thorough-going exactness, we bear in mind what was promised about the holy Church and Him who said the gates of hell will not prevail against it (by these we understand the death-dealing tongues of heretics)… and so we count along with the devil, the father of lies, the uncontrolled tongues of heretics and their heretical writings, together with the heretics themselves who have persisted in their heresy even to death.”[19]
Pope St. Leo IX, In terra pax hominibus, Sept. 2, 1053, to the “Father” of the Eastern Orthodox, Michael Cerularius, Chap. 7:“The holy Church built upon a rock, that is Christ, and upon Peter or Cephas, the son of John who first was called Simon, because by the gates of Hell, that is, by the disputations of heretics which lead the vain to destruction, it would never be overcome.”[20]
Another heresy which holds a prominent place in Vatican II’s decree on ecumenism is the constant expression of respect for non-Catholic religions.
Unitatis redintegratio # 3:
“But is subsequent centuries much more extensive dissensions made their appearance and large communities came to be separated from the full communion of the Catholic Church – for which, often enough, both sides were to blame. Those who are now born into these communities and who are brought up in the faith of Christ cannot be accused of the sin involved in the separation, and the Catholic Church looks upon them as sisters and brothers, with respect and love.”[21]
The Catholic Church does not look upon members of non-Catholic religions with respect. The Church does not respect the workings of the devil. Rather, the Catholic Church anathematizes all heresies and calls all non-Catholics in charity to convert to the true faith.
First Council of Constantinople, 381, Can. 1:
“Every heresy is to be anathematized and in particular that of the Eunomians or Anomoeans, that of the Arians or Eudoxians, that of the Semi-Arians or Pneumatomachi, that of the Sabellians that of the Marcellians, that of the Photinians and that of the Apollinarians.”[22]
Pope Innocent III, Fourth Lateran Council, 1215, Constitution 3, On Heretics:
“We excommunicate and anathematize every heresy raising itself up against this holy, orthodox and Catholic faith which we have expounded above. We condemn all heretics, whatever names they may go under. They have different faces indeed but their tails are tied together in as much as they are alike in their pride.”[23]
Pope Pelagius II, epistle (1) Quod ad dilectionem, 585:
“If anyone, however, either suggests or believes or presumes to teach contrary to this faith, let him know that he is condemned and also anathematized according to the opinion of the same Fathers.”[24]
Vatican II’s decree on ecumenism also implicitly denies the dogma that Popes possess supreme power in the universal Church by divine right. It teaches that in the past the Popes have acted by common consent as moderators.