Continuity Officially Agreed On By Synod

Under the leadership of Pope Benedict the final document produced from the synod does include a section advocating a return to continuity with tradition and our past which came before Vatican II, which has been lost in so many places.

I don't think the Holy Father will allow these important sections to be lost among the others. They are not listed in order of importance.

Below I quote the official document which is available in its entirety here.

Proposition 12 : DOCUMENTS OF VATICAN II

The Synod Fathers recognize the teaching of Vatican II as a vital instrument for transmitting the faith in the context of the New Evangelization. At the same time, they consider that the documents of the Council should be properly read and interpreted. Therefore, they wish to manifest their adherence to the thought of our Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI, who has indicated the hermeneutical principle of reform within continuity so as to be able to discover in those texts the authentic spirit of the Council. “There is the "hermeneutic of reform", of renewal in the continuity of the one subject-Church which the Lord has given to us. She is a subject which increases in time and develops, yet always remaining the same, the one subject of the journeying People of God. [...] However, wherever this interpretation guided the implementation of the Council, new life developed and new fruit ripened” (Benedict XVI, Address to the Roman Curia, 22 December 2005). In this way it will be possible to respond to the need for renewal required by the modern world and, at the same time, faithfully preserve the identity of the Church’s nature and mission.

Proposition 16 : RELIGIOUS LIBERTY

The Synod Fathers reaffirm that religious freedom is a basic human right. This includes the freedom of conscience and also the liberty to freely choose one’s religion. We are in solidarity with our brothers and sisters, in different parts of the world, who are suffering from lack of religious freedom and even persecution.

In light of the recognition of the Second Vatican Council as an instrument for the New Evangelization and the growing need to protect the religious liberty of Christians throughout the world, the Synod Fathers propose a renewed commitment to and wider diffusion of the teachings of Dignitatis Humanae. This renewal seeks to affirm and promote freedom in religious matters for individuals, families and institutions to protect the common good of all. Such a freedom includes the right to teach the Christian faith without compromise of its tenets to children in the family and/or school.

The Synod Fathers propose that the Holy Father consider the opportuneness of establishing a commission of Church leaders representing various parts of the Church throughout the world or entrusting this task to the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, to address attacks on religious liberty, and to obtain accurate information for public witness to the fundamental right to religious freedom and freedom of conscience.

Proposition 35 : LITURGY

The worthy celebration of the Sacred Liturgy, God’s most treasured gift to us, is the source of the highest expression of our life in Christ (cf. Sacrosanctum concilium, 10). It is, therefore, the primary and most powerful expression of the new evangelization. God desires to manifest the incomparable beauty of his immeasurable and unceasing love for us through the Sacred Liturgy, and we, for our part, desire to employ what is most beautiful in our worship of God in response to his gift. In the marvelous exchange of the Sacred Liturgy, by which heaven descends to earth, salvation is at hand, calling forth repentance and conversion of heart (cf. Mt 4:17; Mk 1:15).

Evangelization in the Church calls for a liturgy that lifts the hearts of men and women [i.e. stop the clown masses] to God. The liturgy is not just a human action but an encounter with God which leads to contemplation and deepening friendship with God. In this sense, the liturgy of the Church is the best school of the faith.

Good. Maybe we can start correcting some of this.

This being recorded in the actual program of the synod is important because it takes away the secularist (and modernist) claim that "this is all just Pope Benedict's wish to return to 'before the council'".

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404 - Page Not Found

The page you’re looking for does not exist, or does it?

According to Immanuel Kant, there are fundamental features of reality that escape our direct knowledge because of the natural limits of the human faculties.

There are also fundamental features of the internet that escape our direct knowledge because of the semantic limits of internet technology.

We can't find the page you are looking for because of probably:

• A mis-typed address, or,
• An out-of-date link.

You can try again by checking your URL address, performing a Google search, or by going to our homepage.

Court: Indiana Must Fund Planned Parenthood

The federal government is forcing a state to fund...Planned Parenthood. This isn't just any old federal government intrusion because this is after the vote of the people of that state was what removed the funding. How much more bizarre can things get? What happened to states' rights? Now the federal government is officially saying "We don't care what the vote of your state asked for, (implied) its unconstitutional for you not to fund this "charity" (far be it from a charity-in fact its quite the opposite to organize the killing of children).

Source

There isn't much commentary required on this folks. The people of the state of Indiana's desire to fund Planned Parenthood, which was expressed legitimately in the governmental forum set up for the people (voting at various levels) is being denied because the judicial branch considers abortion to be a constitutional right.

I'm sorry I didn't know abortion was included in the right to happiness.

This is messed up on two levels. First the constitution plainly does not require the government to provide abortions. Second, the government (the judges) are selecting a private company to be invincible, even by the people. The government serves the people not feeds (in this case feeds poison) to the people. If its unconstitutional to deny abortion to someone, wouldn't it also be unconstitutional to deny food? Maybe "Gordon Foods" should be publicly funded and impossible to defund because they provide a "constitutional"right to happiness.

Fr. Barron on New Atheism

Well Done.

Argentina: Leftists Storm Cathedral

The battle continues, and everyday it becomes less of a metaphorical battle or battle of ideas and more like a real one... When was the last time you heard of a violent Catholic mob? Just yesterday we heard about a similar situation in Spain. Once in a while Epon Flower has something interesting and today is one of those days. This follows the attack yesterday in Spain made by youth  of the "Enlightenment". These feminists aren't too dissimilar, saying "The only enlightening Church is a burning Church." The Argentinean press article is found here.

Argentina: Radical Feminists Attempt to Storm the Cathedral -- "The only enlightening Church is a burning Church"

From the 6th to the 8th of October, a national women's meeting (Encuentro Nacional de Mujeres), a finalist, lay and left organization, took place.  A group of 500 radical feminists poured through the streets with the demand of the decriminalization for the murder of unborn children, and damaged then schools, private homes, autos and memorials.  Finally the violent mob attempted to force their way into the Catholic Cathedral and let loose its destructive fury.  Young Catholics stood protecting the church and formed a peaceful human chain to prevent the profanation of the Cathedral.

The young Catholics prayed the rosary there and earned with that even more anger from the self-proclaimed "Battlers for Tolerance".  The feminist attackers smeared the faces and clothes of the Catholics with p which they humbly but undeservedly endured. (film report)

The left-extremist Church-haters could not get through the unit of young Catholics into the church,  still smeared the outer walls of the cathedral with slogans: "The only enlightening church is a burning church", "No God, no model, no husband", "Shit-church, you are a dictator".

The Bishop of Posada, Msgr Juan Ruben Martinze criticized the absence of the police, who did not comply to whose duty it is to keep order and offer protection.  The Bishop demanded prosecution for the aggression, which the young Catholics and the Church suffered.  Additionally he explained that the anti-Church hate slogans won't be removed for two days, so that the people could see them and think about them, about the methods and the level of their hatred for the Church.

"Back to Square One" with SSPX

I think a lot of fruit will come (and has come) from the doctrinal talks with SSPX, despite them not coming to fruition at this point. Those who claim it's a failure might want to think about how big of a step it is to have this group's superior state "There isn't as much wrong with the Second Vatican Council as we would have believed before these talks". I'm guessing Rome had a few "point taken" moments on the comments from SSPX as well. But when it comes down to it, the SSPX must recognize legitimate authority---the definition of the extent of that magisterial authority has to be clarified--but this is what Pope Benedict in the end asked from them in a hurry---in my opinion because his magnum opus, the Year of Faith and his teachings on the correct interpretation of Vatican II was beginning. He can't afford to have two sticky items going on at once that could contradict each other.

Msgr. Fellay had the opportunity to take a signature role in this year of faith and the interpretation of the council but he is unwilling to take a step before he has the specifics of what "accepting Vatican II as magisterial" actually means. Which parts are magisterial and which parts can we criticize is the question.

For your interest, I leave you with the account of one of the SSPX bishops as I think that, despite it being a man in disagreement with Rome, it is the best summary of the situation out there. Take it with a grain of salt:

....A short historical account of our relations with Rome

I want to tell you what I think, since in this crisis we hear a lot of different opinions, conflicting voices, and maybe there is still some fall-out, and so I said to myself that you should know my thoughts at least.  I will therefore rapidly review a few facts in order to explain myself:  a short historical account, starting with the end of the Rosary Crusade, our prayer campaign with the goal of offering twelve million rosaries, a campaign that ended of Pentecost of this year.  After the end of this crusade we received three responses from Rome, one right after the other.  At that moment the Society’s proposal (for a doctrinal declaration), which had been submitted in April, was there in Rome, and it was after Pentecost that we received a first response from the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.

In this response, the Roman authorities clearly told us that they rejected, that they did not accept our proposal, and they made several corrections that amounted to telling us:  it is necessary to accept the Second Vatican Council, it is necessary to accept the liceity of the New Mass, it is necessary to accept the living Magisterium, in other

Spain: Young Secularists Attack Catholic School

The young products of humanist extremism are reaching their highest levels tolerance and peace yet:

Madrid, Spain, Oct 19, 2012 / 10:40 am (CNA/EWTN News).- A group of young people shouting, “Where are the priests? We’re going to burn them at the stake,” attacked the Mary Help of Christians Salesian School in Merida, Spain, leaving one teacher wounded. According to the 

Salesian Press Office in Spain, the incident occurred at 1:20 p.m. local time on Oct. 18, when “some 100 young people entered the premises of the Mary Help of Christians Salesian School in Merida.”  Nearly 1,000 K-12 students attend the school. 

Custodial workers and some teachers at the school tried to stop the group, but 10 of them were able to gain entrance to the school building, shouting insults against the institution, pushing staff members who were in their way and attempting to disrupt the normal school day,” the Salesians said. Principal Marco Antonio Romero told the newspaper El Mundo that the young people’s intention was to pull down the crucifixes. “More public education and less crucifixes,” they shouted. [Can that slogan be anymore "Enlightenment"-esque? I'm sure they've been taught in the school system that the Church held back humanity's advancement because of pre-occupation with the afterlife and silly things...like...founding Europe's first universities, hospitals and justice system (dare I bring up the inquisition) and advancing knowledge in the whole sense, which, if the afterlife exists, must take it into account in this same work.]  

The attackers carried flags from the Spanish Civil War, shouted insults at the teachers and professors and tried to steal several laptop computers from classrooms, the newspaper reported. The red, yellow and dark purple flags were the same ones used by the Republican faction, left-wing radicals and anarchists during Spain’s bloody, anti-clerical conflict that led to the deaths of thousands of priest, seminarians, religious and laypeople between 1936 and 1939. During the attack on the school, one teacher suffered minor wounds while trying to keep the young people from entering her classroom.

The Salesians said steps will be taken to prevent any kind of such attacks in the future and that they will be filing a lawsuit against the assailants. “This kind of conduct cannot be allowed in a constitutional state.” 

As Aristotelian as I am, the saying "perception becomes reality" is very true and dangerous when it comes to human beings. In the same way that the perception that the radical Muslim world has of the West is an incorrect perception for whatever reason (ignorance, misinformation/education, religion etc) so to the growing secular 'religion' in the West is training in its school system a new generation: one that takes liberalism to the fullest extent all too seriously, one that fears religion and sees nothing good in it, one that is generally incapable of seeing the inconsistency in not only moral relativism but all types--because modern science is the only way to know.

Modern science cannot prove the basis of its own existence. If these youth had half a real public education they would at least understand the reasonability of the crucifix. 

Constant Magisterium VS. Living Magisterium

The following is a purely doctrinal inquiry (and the consensus of the respondents will not determine the truth of the matter), not related to the philosophical theme of this blog.

Could someone please explain how is it that the 'living magisterium' allows for perennial doctrine if the doctrine's "perenniality" is secured by the "living" or "present" magisterium whose interpretors change by the generation or each papacy? Does that not leave the magisterium of St. Pius XII for example as magisterium only insofar as the current "living magisterium" sees it as magisterium? What one generation or "living magisterium" may see as doctrine and perennial  another "living magisterium" later on down the road may choose to interpret as not being part of the perennial magisterium. This seems to me to be problematic.

It seems to me to be the the difference between having a constant steel "i" beam throughout time where one magisterium/pontiff states something as eternally true in 1910 is still true today VS. welding "i" beam pieces 're- interpreted' by those who are currently living and teaching in the Church. We trust the Holy Spirit to line them up perfectly in the second case.

What is the historical origins of each school of thought's existence? Is the claim that the "living magisterium" is a product of 20th century and subjectivism a fair claim?

I would love to talk to Pope Benedict on this one but if any of you would like to leave your opinion, please feel free to do so!

What sparked the thought? http://www.dici.org/en/documents/exclusive-magisterium-or-living-tradition-fr-gleize-denounces-a-false-dilemma/

France: A Few Statistics.

Take a look at the age chart. The reason that this is particularly disturbing is that France was once called the Church's daughter as it held onto the faith the most strongly. Now we continue to see its decline... Via Rorate:

France: A Church on the road to extinction

Recent decades have seen the advance of a spiritual “desertification”. In the Council’s time it was already possible from a few tragic pages of history to know what a life or a world without God looked like, but now we see it every day around us. This void has spread.

- Pope Benedict XVI, Homily on the Opening Mass of the "Year of Faith", October 11, 2012

 Le Corbusier, Dominican Monastery of Sainte Marie de La Tourette, 1960. Created to house a boom in vocations, it now houses less than a dozen Dominican friars. Source.

On the eve of the 50th anniversary of the opening of Vatican II, Ifop / La Croix published a survey (Les Français et le catholicisme 50 ans après Vatican II - h/t to Le Salon Beige) on the state of Catholicism in France as of this year vis-a-vis the results of a similar survey in 1961. It contains important, updated information on the percentage of baptized Catholics in France and of church attendance in the same country as based on the survey results. The study itself was carried out only in late September of this year. In brief, the results of the survey are:

Baptized Catholics:

92% in 1961
80% in 2012

Mass attendance:

(Note: what is translated here as 'sometimes' is to be understood as 'sometimes in the course of the year' - quelquefois dans l'année.)

Among all French, whether baptized Catholic or not:

1961: 35% every Sunday or more, 33% sometimes, 24% never, 8% non-baptized.
2012: 6% every Sunday or more, 28% sometimes, 46% never, 20% non-baptized.

Among all baptized Catholics:

1961: 25% every Sunday, 13% "as often as possible", 36% sometimes, 26% never
2012: 5% every Sunday, 2% "as often as possible", 35% sometimes, 58% never

Regarding Mass attendance among baptized Catholics in 2012, by age group:

Age group 65 and above:

15% every Sunday, 4% "as often as possible", 35% sometimes, 46% never

Age group 50 to 64:

3% every Sunday, 3% "as often as possible", 38% sometimes, 56% never

Age group 35 to 49:

2% every Sunday, 1% "as often as possible", 37% sometimes, 60% never

Age group 25 to 34:

1% every Sunday, 1% "as often as possible", 33% sometimes, 65% never

Age group 18 to 24:

No figures (0%) for every Sunday, 2% "as often as possible", 19% sometimes, 79% never

Secularists Pressing in Upon Christians in Germany

Christians rights under attack by secularists in Germany. Deacon Nick:

A European Human rights organisation has submitted a complaint listing the violation of the freedoms of Christians against Germany to the Universal Periodic Review of the Human Rights Council of the United Nations.

Here’s the list of attacks on the human rights of Christians in Germany: 

PRO-LIFE ACTIVISTS: Freedom of Assembly and Freedom of Expression at Stake

Christian-inspired non-governmental organisations express their faith and their convictions by protesting in front of abortion clinics, or by simply standing in front of clinics ore counselling centers in order to offer alternatives and conversation. In Freiburg and Munich, this activity has been severaly limited. Local courts have given in to the pressure of the targeted locations, which could have been mainly financial ones. Courts have restricted the form of manifestation as well as established a geographical ban. Appeals are ongoing. 

ANTI-RELIGIOUS HOSTILITY: Violations of Freedom of Religion and Freedom of Assembly

Anti-religion groups have created a climate hostile to frank discourse. Besides defamation campaigns and negative stereotyping, hate incidents such as the blocking of university facilities for professors or speakers with deviating views, as well as manifestations against peaceful events are recorded by the Observatory. Anti-religion slogans and images are often used in hurtful manners, such as the public destruction of crosses, the image of Jesus as a crucified pig, or slogans such as “We are here to hurt your feelings” or “If Mary had had an abortion, we would have been spared people like you”. Such physically or verbally violent attacks are only employed by anti-religious groups and violate freedom of religion as well as social cohesion. 

VANDALISM and HATE INCIDENTS against Christian Places of Worship
In Germany, there is a particularly strong prevalence of vandalism against Churches, Church affiliated buildings and Christian cemeteries. 

PROHIBITION OF HOMESCHOOLING: Violating Parents’ Rights
Parents rights are commonly understood to include the right to choose the form of education of one’s children, including the possibility of non-institutional education, such as the so-called homeschooling.

Germany, however, allows homeschooling only in the most exceptional circumstances. In general, parents do not have the option to homeschool their children. Offenders have to pay fines, and occasionally, prison sentences are pronounced. The law dates back to the Nazi-Reichsschulgesetz in 1938 and is now specified in different state laws, with varying fines. 

COMPULSORY SEX EDUCATION: Violating Parents’ Rights

Germany’s states hold the competency for education laws. They all have a law on compulsory school attendance. There are no exemptions for sexual education lessons. These lessons are in practice mostly based on morally liberal ideas, advocating hardly any boundaries. Issues such as chastity, abstinence, natural fertility and the meaning of sexuality within the pursuit of happiness are normally not discussed. Such contents of sexual education creates difficulties for Christians parents. If they opt their children out of these classes – or only a particular lesson – they face fines. In countless proceedings, Christian parents were required to pay.

Protect the Pope comment: Secularists on this website have accused Protect the Pope of fostering a persecution complex that has no basis in reality. But weekly the evidence grows here in the UK and around Europe that militant secularists are inciting hate against religious believers  resulting in attacks on Christians.

Richard Dawkins is one of the leading proponents of hate against Christianity, who has a large following. He, and his disciples, rejoice in causing offense to believers. Seeking to cause offense so easily becomes actual attacks on Christians, ‘such as the public destruction of crosses, the image of Jesus as a crucified pig, or slogans such as “We are here to hurt your feelings” or “If Mary had had an abortion, we would have been spared people like you”.

These types of attack would not be tolerated against any other group in society, so why are they tolerated, even excused, against Christians?

http://www.intoleranceagainstchristians.eu/

Germany is light years ahead of the United States in being secularized (the gap is closing rapidly however).  

Its That Simple.

The Road To Hell Is Paved With Bishops: Origin of the quote

St. Peter's list always has great stuff. Today...they listed the quotes I was looking for. Consider the following demonstrating the possible consequences of great responsibility: 

“The road to Hell is paved with the bones of priests and monks, and the skulls of bishops are the lamp posts that light the path.”

- or -

“The road to hell is paved with the skulls of erring priests, with bishops as their signposts.”
St. John Chrysostom attributed.¹

“I do not think there are many among Bishops that will be saved, but many more that perish.”
St. John Chrysostom, Extract from St. John Chrysostom, Homily III on Acts 1:12.²

“The floor of hell is paved with the skulls of bishops.”
St. Athanasius, Council of Nicaea, AD 325 attributed.³

“The road to hell is paved with the skulls of bishops.”
Saint John Eudes, attributed.⁴

“It must be observed, however, that if the faith were endangered, a subject ought to rebuke his prelate even publicly.”
St. Thomas Aquinas, Summa Theologica II, II, q. 33, a. 4⁵

“Augustine says in his Rule: ‘Show mercy not only to yourselves, but also to him who, being in the higher position among you, is therefore in greater danger.’ But fraternal correction is a work of mercy. Therefore even prelates ought to be corrected.”
St. Thomas Aquinas, Summa Theologica II, II, q. 33, a. 4, Sed Contra.

“It is better that scandals arise than the truth be suppressed.”
Pope St. Gregory the Great ⁶

“But, when necessity compels, not those only who are invested with power of rule are bound to safeguard the integrity of faith, but, as St. Thomas maintains: ‘Each one is under obligation to show forth his faith, either to instruct and encourage others of the faithful, or to repel the attacks of unbelievers.’”
Pope Leo XIII⁷

1. Chrysostom Quote: Ole “Golden-mouth” is the primary recipient of the attributed quote. The origin of the actual quote is obscure, but several theories abound. The most interesting are that the flourishing rhetoric of St. Chrysostom and Dantean imagery came together in the Middle Ages or that the quote was actually a misrepresentation of Chrysostom’s words from the protestant leader John Wesley. SOURCE
2. Chrysostom 2nd Quote: Homily III on Acts 1:12
3. Athanasius Quote: Attributing the quote to Athanasius is a natural connection given the fact the man fought against the heresy of Arianism – a heresy that is estimated to have swallowed almost 80% of the Catholic bishops.
4. Eudes Quote: It is believed that St. Eudes is referencing the quote in the belief it was said by St. Athanasius
5. Aquinas Quote: The quote is also often cited as,”When there is an imminent danger for the Faith, Prelates must be questioned, even publicly, by their subjects.” The entire fourth article of the cited question addresses the issue of “Whether a man is bound to correct his prelate?”
6. Gregory Quote: While prolifically quoted amongst blogs and Catholic debates, a source for this quote is elusive. If any listers can furnish a source and a citation, SPL would appreciate it.
7. Pope Leo Quote: The quote is taken from SAPIENTIAE CHRISTIANAE and is often quoted on Catholic blogs as: “when circumstances make it necessary, it is not prelates alone who have to watch over the integrity of the faith.”

Nuns on a Bus have a Surprise

The campaigning "Nuns on a Bus" who are trying to defend their cause before the Vatican's CDF because of so much dissent (example 1, 2, 3, 4), were met with some opposition in Marietta, Ohio, USA where 150-200 demonstrators expressed their frustration with the sisters (instead of what they were hoping for which was support). The rally for the sisters turned into an religious liberty, anti-abortion, anti-fake nun rally (if there ever was such a thing before).

The nuns have drawn support and criticism on their 'tour' around the United States trying to rally support for their defense against the men, as they often sneeringly refer to them, in the Vatican. Sister Mary Mcgloin in the photo said qualifying being 100% pro-life:

“And that we do not see focusing on one issue, one point of life, as a way that we should proceed. And that pro-life for us means that we do concern ourselves with living wage, just wage, access to healthcare, education, food, housing, care for our seniors, Medicare and other kinds of healthcare programs that are supportive. Providing daycare for children so their parents can work…”

This comes straight out of the seamless garment morality proposed by Bernardin. All immoralities are of equal disvalue.

All I can ask is, which would you save first? An infant being thrown off a bridge or a man from being homeless? Its pretty clear which is more immoral and more immediate.

For more info, with an uninformed reporter: http://www.religionnews.com/politics/election/nuns-on-the-bus-meet-tea-party-protests-in-ohio

Why A Year of Faith? A Few Statistics

Take a look at the church in the United States with her 'windows open to the world':

	1965	2003
Priests	58,000 (doubled from 1930-1965)	45,000 (31,000 projected for 2020; more than half will be over 70)
New ordinations	1,575	450
Parishes without priests	1%	15%
Seminarians	49,000	4,700 (down by 90%)
Seminaries	600	200
Sisters	180,000	75,000 (aver. age: 68)
Teaching Sisters	104,000	8,200 (down by 94%)
Jesuit seminarians	3,559	389
Christians Brothers candidates	912	7
Franciscan and Redemptorist seminarians	3,379	84
Catholic high school population	700,000	386,000
Catholic elementary school population	4.5 million	below 2 million
Annulments*	338	50,000
Attendance at Mass (in 1958)	3 out of 4	1 out of 4

The Notre Dame study also showed that 53% of Catholics believe a woman can have an abortion and remain a Catholic in good standing. (Remember that 54% of Catholics voted for President Obama in 2008, despite his views on abortion.)

65% believe Catholics should be able to divorce and remarry. 

Only 10% of lay teachers in Catholic educational institutions accept the Church’s teaching on contraception. 

 A New York Timespoll revealed that 70% of Catholics between the ages of 18 and 44 no longer believe in the Real Presence of the Eucharist – transubstantiation. They believe the Eucharist is simply a ‘symbolic reminder’ of Jesus. These are very Protestant points of view.

For more statistics, take a look at The Index of Leading Indicators. The Church Since Vatican II. 


Pope Benedict, keep it coming!

B16 Still On The Move: Documents of Vatican II Are Not Perfect/All-Inclusive

Only a day after the Pope's grounding reflection on the 50th anniversary of the Council we find him also saying that just because a document from Rome is authoritative and a product of the ecumenical council does not mean it could not have been written better. This was a message last night when the Holy Father spoke about Nostra Aetate (The document which has been the main stumbling block for SSPX), which speaks of the Church's relation with Non-Christian Religions. 

Many have championed this document as revising the Church's position toward non-Christian religions which are now to be viewed only favorably and Catholics are to only focus on building good will with other religions, not condemning their errors and trying to convert their adherents. (as summarized by USC)

The pope stated in his address, which can be viewed here at the Vatican's radio website, that: 

"Thus, in a precise and extraordinarily dense document, a theme is opened up whose importance could not be foreseen at the time. The task that it involves and the efforts that are still necessary in order to distinguish, clarify and understand, are appearing ever more clearly. In the process of active reception, a weakness of this otherwise extraordinary text has gradually emerged: it speaks of religion solely in a positive way and it disregards the sick and distorted forms of religion which, from the historical and theological viewpoints, are of far-reaching importance; [because] for this reason the Christian faith, from the outset, adopted a critical stance towards religion, both internally and externally."

What is a critical stance? Well, its the admission that there is an objective reality. Both 2+2=4 and 2+2=3 cannot be both true statements. Why has the Christian Church taken this stance towards [other] religion(s) from the beginning? Its the same reason that Democrats take the stance they do towards Republicans, or environmentalists towards oil companies or Israelis towards Palestinians. One believes they are right and the other wrong. One is right and the other is wrong and to try to make both right by seeking only what you have in common and ignoring the differences is a fantastical version of reality. Basically this document he says speaks too positively about other religions and fails to include the critical perspective which the Church has taken from its beginning days. Why would they do such a thing? Well I think Pope Benedict addressed that yesterday in his homily--many bishops at the council took for granted that the faith in its entirety would be passed on (including the statements that came before Vatican II). See the quote at the bottom of the page. 

In the radio address, the Holy Father continued:

"The Council Fathers neither could nor wished to create a new or different Church. They had neither the authority nor the mandate to do so. [This is huge. Even if they wanted to change the deposit of the faith, if they wanted to contradict doctrine of previous councils, they would not have the authority to do so.] It was only in their capacity as bishops that they were now Council Fathers with a vote and decision-making powers, that is to say, on the basis of the Sacrament and in the Church of the Sacrament. For this reason they neither could nor wished to create a different faith or a new Church, but rather to understand these more deeply [and present a different side, unfortunately excluding the previous side] and hence truly to “renew them”. This is why a hermeneutic of rupture is absurd and is contrary to the spirit and the will of the Council Fathers."

The hearts of the SSPXers I'm sure are warmed. But this is proof that, unlike what the media has been saying, Pope Benedict is not bringing back the continuity just to get SSPX back which is dominating in France...he is doing it because he knows it is right. Don't trust the mainstream media to know what is going on ion the Church....thought they try their best. 

These statements come hot on the heels of his further sobering remarks about Vatican II at its 50th anniversary, where he stated in the anniversary Mass:

If we place ourselves in harmony with the authentic approach which Blessed John XXIII wished to give to Vatican II, we will be able to realize it during this Year of Faith, following the same path of the Church as she continuously endeavours to deepen the deposit of faith entrusted to her by Christ.  The Council Fathers wished to present the faith in a meaningful way; and if they opened themselves trustingly to dialogue with the modern world it is because they were certain of their faith, of the solid rock on which they stood. In the years following, however, many embraced uncritically the dominant mentality, placing in doubt the very foundations of the deposit of faith, which they sadly no longer felt able to accept as truths.

We now turn to the one who convoked the Second Vatican Council and inaugurated it: Blessed John XXIII. In his opening speech, he presented the principal purpose of the Council in this way: “What above all concerns the Ecumenical Council is this: that the sacred deposit of Christian doctrine be safeguarded and taught more effectively […] Therefore, the principal purpose of this Council is not the discussion of this or that doctrinal theme… a Council is not required for that… [but] this certain and immutable doctrine, which is to be faithfully respected, needs to be explored and presented in a way which responds to the needs of our time” (AAS 54 [1962], 790,791-792). 

And then later at the candlelight vigil:

"Fifty years ago tonight, I, too, was in this square, with my eyes turned toward this window, as the Good Pope, Pope John, spoke to us those unforgettable words – full of poetry, of goodness, words from his heart. We were all happy that night and full of enthusiasm – the great ecumenical council had begun, and we were sure of a new springtime for the church, a new Pentecost with a new presence of the liberating grace of the Gospel.

We're happy today, too – we should carry joy in our hearts. I would say, however, that our joy is a more sober one, something more humble. Over these fifty years, we have learned and experienced that original sin exists, and that it translates itself into personal sins which can become structures of sin. We have seen that even in the Lord's field there is discord, that even in the netof Peter we find bad fish, that human weakness is present even in the church, that the ship of the church journeys in the face of an opposing wind, amid storms that threaten the ship. And sometimes we have thought that 'the Lord is asleep and has forgotten us.' But this is only one partof the experience of these fifty years. We've also been made to experience the presence of the Lord, the gifts of his goodness and strength."

Our joy is more sober indeed. Mass attendance has gone from 90% to 25% in the United States and 90% to 3% in France. We should look into that...

I believe this is the deeper reason Pope Benedict has called the year of faith. Here is the official reason: http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/motu_proprio/documents/hf_ben-xvi_motu-proprio_20111011_porta-fidei_en.html