Post by Pacelli on Oct 16, 2023 11:59:26 GMT -5
An interesting subject came up recently in which the question was discussed as to whether the actions of John Paul II, (Assisi, 1986, 1993, 2002), publicly kissing Koran (Rome, 1999) along with active participation in a Pagan rite, (Mexico, 2002), Benedict XVI (Assisi 2011), and Francis (Assisi 2016), along with public idol worship, (Rome, 2019), and active public participation in a Pagan rite (Canada, 2022), constitute proof of heresy against these men, or is it a scandalous act, but falls short of evidence of heresy.
In order to answer this question, one first must understand the reasons why these prayer meetings were gathered. The rationale was based on Vatican II's Nostra Aetate, which was interpreted by these "popes" as a justification for such prayer meetings.
First, in some of these acts, the "popes" actively participated in Pagan worship rites, and in other prayer events, they organized and approved these forms of worship, but did not actively participate. In both cases, however, whether active participation was engaged in or not, the underlying belief is that such prayers and rituals are pleasing and acceptable to God. If they did not believe this, then why organize and encourage them to use these rites as part of a separate but unified prayer to God to be held at the same place, at the same time, and for the same intention?
In this post, I am only going to focus on Pagan prayer and worship, leaving the others aside for now. Sacred Scripture and Sacred Tradition are very clear that such worship is not pleasing to God, and not only that, God directly forbade such forms of worship. The use of idols or Pagan rituals was always understood to be evil, not good, and when Catholics encountered it, they would do what they could to bring those who believed in these false religions out of the darkness of error and bring them to the truth. A Catholic would never encourage the prayer to false gods, or the use of idols!
Assisi, 1986, was the beginning of a new practice that treated these Pagan religions and their rites as something good, and the practice of their rites was not only encouraged by John Paul II, but he facilitated and organized their prayers and rituals by providing for them space in Catholic Churches as part of one large organized prayer for peace. The defense of this action of John Paul II was that the prayer would be separate, not together, even though the prayer was all organized by John Paul II, and all of the prayer was said simultaneously at the same prayer meeting all with the stated intention, which was peace.
The problem, however in all of this, in addition to the obvious scandal, is that there is a hidden heretical belief that forms the basis of these actions. If one calls forth a prayer meeting with idol worshippers, asks them to come, facilitates the space for them to engage in their Pagan practices, which included idol worship, then one must not agree that such practices are expressly against what God directly taught, and that He does not accept such prayers, and this despite the fact that these prayers are not being said to God in the first place, but to false gods.
The fact that the prayer at these meetings was separate and not together is only a defense against direct communicatio in sacris, not against the other charge, which is that idol worship and Pagan prayers were treated as one form of prayer that along with the others formed one large group of prayers to God for the intention of peace. In order for one to organize, facilitate and encourage this type of prayer, one must deny what God revealed to Moses as recorded in the book of Exodus, what is also explicitly taught in numerous other passages in the Old Testament, along with the direct and clearly teaching of St. Paul that such worship of idols is evil, not pleasing to God and directly forbidden by Him. Therefore the Catholic teaching is clear on one side, but the actions of these men demonstrate that they do not believe this, and this action demonstrates heresy.
The second matter is that even though the Assisi events did not have direct communicatio in sacris, other actions and events did. John Paul II publicly and actively participated in a Pagan Limpia rite in 2002. Francis actively participated in a Pagan rite of worship of the idol of a false god, (2019), and again actively participated in an Indigenous Pagan Ritual (2022).
In both types, either direct communicatio in sacris, or organizing, facilitating and encouraging pagan worship including rituals involving praying to false gods through idols, these "popes" are demonstrating the following:
1. That such worship is acceptable to God, and therefore it's good to encourage, facilitate, organize and in some cases participate in it.
2. That God's express teaching through Him revealing this truth that He does not accept such worship, and even strictly forbids it, and has even punished those who know this truth but worship false gods anyway, is no longer applicable.
3. That Catholic teaching on this matter as taught in countless catechisms, and explained by dogmatic and moral theologians in regards to what is taught by the First Commandment and how it is transgressed is no longer applicable.
4. The heresy underlying this novel practice of both active participation in pagan worship, including idol worship, or facilitating, encouraging and coordinating such worship as part of a prayer meeting, is a denial of the First Commandment.
5. There is no doubt that this is a revealed truth, and is de fide. The practice of worshipping false gods through their rituals or idol worship (idolatry) is not acceptable to God, and He has revealed that to us, and it has always been consistently and constantly taught by the Church. Sacred Scripture, both Old and New Testament make this truth explicitly clear in the strongest language.
I will post some of the Scriptures along with Catholic commentary, along with the teaching of the Church on this matter in a post soon.
In order to answer this question, one first must understand the reasons why these prayer meetings were gathered. The rationale was based on Vatican II's Nostra Aetate, which was interpreted by these "popes" as a justification for such prayer meetings.
First, in some of these acts, the "popes" actively participated in Pagan worship rites, and in other prayer events, they organized and approved these forms of worship, but did not actively participate. In both cases, however, whether active participation was engaged in or not, the underlying belief is that such prayers and rituals are pleasing and acceptable to God. If they did not believe this, then why organize and encourage them to use these rites as part of a separate but unified prayer to God to be held at the same place, at the same time, and for the same intention?
In this post, I am only going to focus on Pagan prayer and worship, leaving the others aside for now. Sacred Scripture and Sacred Tradition are very clear that such worship is not pleasing to God, and not only that, God directly forbade such forms of worship. The use of idols or Pagan rituals was always understood to be evil, not good, and when Catholics encountered it, they would do what they could to bring those who believed in these false religions out of the darkness of error and bring them to the truth. A Catholic would never encourage the prayer to false gods, or the use of idols!
Assisi, 1986, was the beginning of a new practice that treated these Pagan religions and their rites as something good, and the practice of their rites was not only encouraged by John Paul II, but he facilitated and organized their prayers and rituals by providing for them space in Catholic Churches as part of one large organized prayer for peace. The defense of this action of John Paul II was that the prayer would be separate, not together, even though the prayer was all organized by John Paul II, and all of the prayer was said simultaneously at the same prayer meeting all with the stated intention, which was peace.
The problem, however in all of this, in addition to the obvious scandal, is that there is a hidden heretical belief that forms the basis of these actions. If one calls forth a prayer meeting with idol worshippers, asks them to come, facilitates the space for them to engage in their Pagan practices, which included idol worship, then one must not agree that such practices are expressly against what God directly taught, and that He does not accept such prayers, and this despite the fact that these prayers are not being said to God in the first place, but to false gods.
The fact that the prayer at these meetings was separate and not together is only a defense against direct communicatio in sacris, not against the other charge, which is that idol worship and Pagan prayers were treated as one form of prayer that along with the others formed one large group of prayers to God for the intention of peace. In order for one to organize, facilitate and encourage this type of prayer, one must deny what God revealed to Moses as recorded in the book of Exodus, what is also explicitly taught in numerous other passages in the Old Testament, along with the direct and clearly teaching of St. Paul that such worship of idols is evil, not pleasing to God and directly forbidden by Him. Therefore the Catholic teaching is clear on one side, but the actions of these men demonstrate that they do not believe this, and this action demonstrates heresy.
The second matter is that even though the Assisi events did not have direct communicatio in sacris, other actions and events did. John Paul II publicly and actively participated in a Pagan Limpia rite in 2002. Francis actively participated in a Pagan rite of worship of the idol of a false god, (2019), and again actively participated in an Indigenous Pagan Ritual (2022).
In both types, either direct communicatio in sacris, or organizing, facilitating and encouraging pagan worship including rituals involving praying to false gods through idols, these "popes" are demonstrating the following:
1. That such worship is acceptable to God, and therefore it's good to encourage, facilitate, organize and in some cases participate in it.
2. That God's express teaching through Him revealing this truth that He does not accept such worship, and even strictly forbids it, and has even punished those who know this truth but worship false gods anyway, is no longer applicable.
3. That Catholic teaching on this matter as taught in countless catechisms, and explained by dogmatic and moral theologians in regards to what is taught by the First Commandment and how it is transgressed is no longer applicable.
4. The heresy underlying this novel practice of both active participation in pagan worship, including idol worship, or facilitating, encouraging and coordinating such worship as part of a prayer meeting, is a denial of the First Commandment.
5. There is no doubt that this is a revealed truth, and is de fide. The practice of worshipping false gods through their rituals or idol worship (idolatry) is not acceptable to God, and He has revealed that to us, and it has always been consistently and constantly taught by the Church. Sacred Scripture, both Old and New Testament make this truth explicitly clear in the strongest language.
I will post some of the Scriptures along with Catholic commentary, along with the teaching of the Church on this matter in a post soon.