The Church Against Indifferentism

 

(Source: Weekly Bulletin of Our Lady of Victories Chuch)

Dear Faithful,

Pope Francis recently commented that "All religions are a path to reach God,"..."They are - I make a comparison - like different languages, different idioms, to get there,"..."But God is God for everyone. And since God is God for everyone, we are all children of God. 'But my God is more important than yours!' Is this true?"..."There is only one God, and we, our religions are languages, paths to reach God. Some are Sikh, some are Muslim, some are Hindu, some are Christian, but they are different paths..."

These words of Pope Francis directly contradict the clear teachings of the Popes and of the Church in the past. To illustrate this, please find below some excerpts from previous Popes on this subject. There are many quotations, but we give here only a few of them:

Leo XII (1823 - 1829), Ubi Primum (1824), the pope's inaugural address:

"A certain sect has unjustly arrogated to itself the name of philosophy, and has aroused from ashes the disorderly ranks of practically every error. Under the gentle appearance of piety and liberality this sect professes what they call tolerance or indifferentism. It preaches that...God has given every individual a wide freedom to embrace and adopt, without danger to his salvation, whatever sect or opinion appeals to him on the basis of his private judgment. The apostle Paul warns us against the impiety of these madmen...this error is not new...this indifferentism seemed absurd to St. Augustine."

Gregory XVI (1831 - 1846), Mirari Vos (1832), on Liberalism and Religious Indifferentism:

Now we consider another abundant source of the evils with which the Church is afflicted at present: indifferentism. This perverse opinion is spread on all sides by the fraud of the wicked who claim that it is possible to obtain the eternal salvation of the soul by the profession of any kind of religion, as long as morality is maintained. Surely, in so clear a matter, you will drive this deadly error far from the people committed to your care. With the monition of the apostle that "there is one God, one faith, one baptism" may those fear who contrive the notion that the safe harbor of salvation is open to persons of any religion whatever. They should consider the testimony of Christ Himself that "those who are not with Christ are against Him," and that they disperse unhappily who do not gather with Him. Therefore "without a doubt, they will perish forever, unless they hold the Catholic faith whole and inviolate."

Pius IX (1846 - 1878), Quanto Conficiamur (1863), on the promotion of false doctrines:

It is again necessary to mention and censure a very grave error entrapping some Catholics who believe that it is possible to arrive at eternal salvation although living in error and alienated from the true faith and Catholic unity. Such belief is certainly opposed to Catholic teaching...Also well known is the Catholic teaching that no one can be saved outside the Catholic Church. Eternal salvation cannot be obtained by those who oppose the authority and statements of the same Church and are stubbornly separated from the unity of the Church and also from the successor of Peter, the Roman Pontiff...

Pius IX, Quanta Cura (1864), the "cover letter" for the Syllabus of Errors:

Amidst, therefore, such great perversity of depraved opinions, we, well remembering our Apostolic Office, and very greatly solicitous for our most holy Religion, for sound doctrine and the salvation of souls which is entrusted to us by God, and (solicitous also) for the welfare of human society itself, have thought it right again to raise up our Apostolic voice. Therefore, by our Apostolic authority, we reprobate, proscribe, and condemn all the singular and evil opinions and doctrines severally mentioned in this letter, and will and command that they be thoroughly held by all children of the Catholic Church as reprobated, proscribed and condemned. [emphasis added highlighting papal infallible authority is being invoked]. [Among these condemned false propositions are that...]:

(1) Every man is free to embrace and profess that religion which, guided by the light of reason, he shall consider true.

(2) Man may, in the observance of any religion whatever, find the way of eternal salvation, and arrive at eternal salvation.

***

Prayer of Reparation:  "O sweet Jesus, Whose overflowing charity for men is repaid by so much forgetfulness, negligence and contempt, behold us prostrate before Thy altar eager to repair by a special act of homage the cruel indifference and injuries, to which Thy loving Heart is everywhere subject."

Mary, Vanquisher of all heresies, pray for us.