According to EWTN News a dispute over an Islamic mosque turned violent on July 22. A priest voiced his support of plans for a new mosque and a local resident took exception.
The story is here, if you want more information, but I don’t think it should even have become a news story. If the priest had just kept his mouth shut the incident would never have taken place. And it would never have become a news story.
Why the priest felt he needed to vocally support the opening of a mosque is the big question. According to the news story, the priest “spoke at a county meeting on July 1 in support of the construction of the mosque. In remarks he provided to EWTN News, the priest said at the meeting that he would “love” if the mosque were built next to the Catholic parish.
“He referred to the Islamic religion as “noble Islam” and as “a religion of Abraham as are Christianity and Judaism.”
So by voicing his approval of the mosque he put the Islamic religion on par with Catholicism. Scandalous or no?
This is a bridge too far when it comes to ecumenism.
A priest saying he would love for a mosque to be built next to Catholic church does not make sense. It makes as much sense as Detroit Archbishop Edward Weisenburger praising the new Imam Al-Hasanain Mosque in Dearborn Heights, MI. The archbishop is quoted saying he “felt a profound divine presence” when he attended the grand opening of the mosque on June 6.
One Religion is as Good as Another
In both cases it’s as if these Catholic clerics are saying “one religion is as good as another.” How is this in keeping with the Great Commission – “Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you” (Matthew 28:19-20).
These actions and words are some of the not so good fruits that came out of Vatican II. Dignitatis Humanae (Declaration On Religious Freedom) has many now thinking all religions are good. And now we have clerics praising the Islamic religion.
Pope Francis reignited the “all religions are good” claptrap when he signed the 2019 Abu Dhabi Document.
The second bullet point of the document states, “The pluralism and the diversity of religions, colour, sex, race and language are willed by God in His wisdom, through which He created human beings.” Pope Francis had to eventually clarify that it was God’s “permissive will” that allowed diversity of religions as opposed to his “active will” (what He wants).
But the damage was done. The “one religion is as good as another” thinking gained steam again. And Catholicism continues to take a hit with this kind of thinking.
Why Not Be a Protestant or a Muslim?
The many denominations of Protestantism, for instance, are certainly easier religions to practice that Catholicism. So if all religions are good, why not be a Protestant?
Most Protestant denominations say direct confession of a sin to God takes away the sin. There’s no need for a priest. And they don’t have to worry about any penance. Saying’ I’m sorry’ is good enough – sorry God, I sinned; are we good now!?
And let’s not forget the Calvinistic denominations that preach “Once saved always saved.” Once you accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, according to these denominations, you are heaven bound! This is certainly more consoling than thinking you can put the kibosh on your salvation.
There was no need for the priest in New Mexico to go the county meeting and voice support for the mosque. There was also no need for Archbishop Weisenburger to attend the grand opening of the Dearborn Heights MI mosque and talk about the “divine presence” he felt there.
Some have even said the archbishop’s statement was scandalous. Scandalous or no, it was, at the very least, somewhat foolish. One wonders how many not too intelligent people heard about a Catholic bishop saying he felt a divine presence in a mosque. Might at least a couple of these folks decided to give the Islamic religion a try?
A One-Way Street?
It seems to me that the ecumenism thing is a one way street. And those Catholic priests and bishops who are so vocal in their support of the teaching in Dignitatis Humanae are going the wrong way on the one-way street. Maybe it would be better if they just shut up.
I hear many Catholic clerics praising other religions but I hear of very few ministers of other religions praising Catholicism. Maybe this is because the other ministers know it is not a good idea.
I voiced a concern about ecumenism in a 2017 CS article. I wrote, “. . . my elderly, widowed, devout Catholic mother-in-law has an equally elderly and widowed, devout Lutheran male friend. In October they agreed to attend each other’s Sunday services. After attending his first Catholic Mass ever, my mother-in-law’s friend was fairly critical of the Mass. But my mother-in-law didn’t even make it to the end of his church’s service. She got up and walked out just before the end of the minister’s sermon – a 15-minute diatribe against the Catholic Church. “
Granted this may be an atypical example, but the point is still valid. Other religions do not practice ecumenism to the extent that many of our Catholic clerics and prelates practice ecumenism.
When our Catholic priests and prelates praise other religions, the average not- that-well Catechized Catholic may start just wondering, ‘what am I doing here?’ I wonder how many lapsed Catholics start thinking, “ If all religions are good, I should pick one that doesn’t make me go to Mass on Sunday and on Holy Days of Obligation, go to Confession, or not allow me to use artificial birth control! Boy am I stupid!”
I don’t think praising other religions is a good way to evangelize.
Moral of the Story
Supporting religious freedom is one thing. But praising all religions and implying that all religions are every bit as good as Catholicism is not very wise. And I wish some Catholic clerics would show a little more wisdom. Sometimes silence is indeed golden.
So Gene, what do you think the ‘end point’ of ecumenism, should-will look like in about 100 years.