Francis: ‘If You Want to Be Happy: Don’t Proselytize’
By: Marian T. Horvat, Ph.D.
My friend Jan was disconcerted to hear that Pope Bergoglio was telling
Catholics not to proselytize, which is, of course, the ecumenical and
secular word replacing evangelizing or converting people to the only
true Faith.
“Isn’t converting people the mission of the Church? Isn’t it the
responsibility of all Catholics?” she asked. “It is really hard to
believe the Pope actually said not to proselytize. I know there have
been times when he was reported to say things like this, for example,
that he was not interested in converting the Evangelicals to
Catholicism. But can you show me a written record of him actually
saying not to proselytize, using those exact words?”
Yes, Jan, I can. To mark the first 500 days of the pontificate of Jorge Bergoglio the Argentinean weekly Viva (July 27, 2014) published excerpts of an interview with him conducted in that month. In it he not only told Catholics not to engage in proselytizing, but called it “the worst thing you can do.”
Always trying to be popular and novel, Francis did not change his policy in this interview. In the long 77-minute conversation where he addressed topics like immigration, youth unemployment and a possible encyclical on ecology, he gave a short “10 tips” on how to be happy.
Yes, Jan, I can. To mark the first 500 days of the pontificate of Jorge Bergoglio the Argentinean weekly Viva (July 27, 2014) published excerpts of an interview with him conducted in that month. In it he not only told Catholics not to engage in proselytizing, but called it “the worst thing you can do.”
Always trying to be popular and novel, Francis did not change his policy in this interview. In the long 77-minute conversation where he addressed topics like immigration, youth unemployment and a possible encyclical on ecology, he gave a short “10 tips” on how to be happy.
‘Do not proselytize’
By far the most controversial bit of advice was Francis’ straightforward command: Don’t proselytize.
These were his words of tip No. 1 - “Do not proselytize” – “We can inspire others through witness so that both grow together in that communication. But the worst thing you can do is religious proselytizing, which paralyzes. ‘I am talking to you in order to persuade you.’ No. Each one must dialogue from his own identity. The Church grows by attraction, not by proselytism (conversion).”
Here we find a strong insinuation that the Church was wrong in the past when she ordered her missionaries to evangelize and expand by converting others to the Catholic Faith. The conversion of the Indians in South and Central America, for example, would have been wrong: These missionaries should have respected the pagan gods and religious customs of the indigenous peoples and dialogued with them, not instructed them in the Catholic Faith.
By far the most controversial bit of advice was Francis’ straightforward command: Don’t proselytize.
These were his words of tip No. 1 - “Do not proselytize” – “We can inspire others through witness so that both grow together in that communication. But the worst thing you can do is religious proselytizing, which paralyzes. ‘I am talking to you in order to persuade you.’ No. Each one must dialogue from his own identity. The Church grows by attraction, not by proselytism (conversion).”
Here we find a strong insinuation that the Church was wrong in the past when she ordered her missionaries to evangelize and expand by converting others to the Catholic Faith. The conversion of the Indians in South and Central America, for example, would have been wrong: These missionaries should have respected the pagan gods and religious customs of the indigenous peoples and dialogued with them, not instructed them in the Catholic Faith.
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| The ecumenist approach ends in empty pews |
Likewise, the Catholic apologists – counting many saints among them –
who entered into polemics with heretics with the aim of converting them
would be wrong. The departure point for discussion would not be the
Catholic Faith, but “respect” for the identity of each false religion,
an implicit admission that salvation can be found outside the Catholic
Church.
Are these just more crackpot ramblings of the spontaneous Francis? I fear not. They reflect what the post-conciliar Popes have been preaching since Vatican II. The nonchalant reaction of the clergy and people – who have come to accept this notion of dialogue replacing conversion – is proof that Francis is saying nothing ‘novel,’ only repeating straightforwardly what the post-conciliar Popes have already said.
Basing themselves on conciliar documents affirming that “elements of sanctification and of truth are found outside the visible confines of the Catholic Church” (GS 8b, NA 2 and many more (1) , both John Paul II and Benedict XVI rejected proselytism and encouraged “brotherly relations” with the false religions.
What Catholics have falsely been led to believe is that “the Church no longer has a monopoly on truth.” These were in fact the very words of Cardinal Rodrigo Maradiaga, head of the “Group of Eight,” when he laid out Francis’ program of new evangelization in Dallas on October 25, 2013. In his pithy counsel, Francis is simply rephrasing Vatican II teachings on ecumenism and conversion, which denies the militant and missionary characters of the Catholic Church and sets out a new role based on dialogue and inter-confessionalism.
Are these just more crackpot ramblings of the spontaneous Francis? I fear not. They reflect what the post-conciliar Popes have been preaching since Vatican II. The nonchalant reaction of the clergy and people – who have come to accept this notion of dialogue replacing conversion – is proof that Francis is saying nothing ‘novel,’ only repeating straightforwardly what the post-conciliar Popes have already said.
Basing themselves on conciliar documents affirming that “elements of sanctification and of truth are found outside the visible confines of the Catholic Church” (GS 8b, NA 2 and many more (1) , both John Paul II and Benedict XVI rejected proselytism and encouraged “brotherly relations” with the false religions.
What Catholics have falsely been led to believe is that “the Church no longer has a monopoly on truth.” These were in fact the very words of Cardinal Rodrigo Maradiaga, head of the “Group of Eight,” when he laid out Francis’ program of new evangelization in Dallas on October 25, 2013. In his pithy counsel, Francis is simply rephrasing Vatican II teachings on ecumenism and conversion, which denies the militant and missionary characters of the Catholic Church and sets out a new role based on dialogue and inter-confessionalism.
Masonic counsels
Several other of the ‘top 10’ keys to happiness support the religious indifferentism advocated by Francis. Let us look at the next three:
No. 2 - “Live and let live” – That is to say, don’t be so concerned about insisting that everyone think and worship like you, which makes people uptight and angry. Just let everyone find their own truth. “That’s the first step to peace and happiness,” Francis adds.
No. 3 - “Stop being negative” – This can certainly be interpreted as an indirect attack on militant Catholics, who on other occasions Francis has accused of being critical and rigid, “uniformists” who believe that everyone in the Church should be like them.
No. 4 - “Work for peace” – This is a Masonic peace that means tolerating any error, never fighting for principles or religion.
Naturally, these counsels are being well-received by other religions.
“It’s a very sensible and healthy advice that the Pope has given to the people!” was the reaction of one Hindu blogger to his counsels. “Calm down and stop converting people. Catholics have been converting Hindus to their religion very vigorously and are doing so even today! Sometimes it causes friction between the Hindus, Catholics & Muslims! If every person follows his own religion there will not be any trouble! Peace will rule society!”
If we do not resist these false teachings and counsels – even when they come from the highest cupola of the Church – we run the risk of falling into the same general apostasy.
Several other of the ‘top 10’ keys to happiness support the religious indifferentism advocated by Francis. Let us look at the next three:
No. 2 - “Live and let live” – That is to say, don’t be so concerned about insisting that everyone think and worship like you, which makes people uptight and angry. Just let everyone find their own truth. “That’s the first step to peace and happiness,” Francis adds.
No. 3 - “Stop being negative” – This can certainly be interpreted as an indirect attack on militant Catholics, who on other occasions Francis has accused of being critical and rigid, “uniformists” who believe that everyone in the Church should be like them.
No. 4 - “Work for peace” – This is a Masonic peace that means tolerating any error, never fighting for principles or religion.
Naturally, these counsels are being well-received by other religions.
“It’s a very sensible and healthy advice that the Pope has given to the people!” was the reaction of one Hindu blogger to his counsels. “Calm down and stop converting people. Catholics have been converting Hindus to their religion very vigorously and are doing so even today! Sometimes it causes friction between the Hindus, Catholics & Muslims! If every person follows his own religion there will not be any trouble! Peace will rule society!”
If we do not resist these false teachings and counsels – even when they come from the highest cupola of the Church – we run the risk of falling into the same general apostasy.
The last six of the ‘Top 10 Tips’ summarized are these:
No. 5 – “Be giving of yourself to others.”
No. 6 – “Respect and take care of nature.”
No. 7 – “Proceed calmly in life.”
No. 8 – “Have a healthy sense of leisure.”
No. 9 – “Keep Sundays for holidays and family.”
Francis emphasized that workers should have Sundays off to be with their families. Not a word about Sunday as the Lord’s day or the obligation to attend Mass under pain of mortal sin.
No. 10 – “Find innovative ways to create dignified jobs for young people.”
Unless we make “creative opportunities” for the youth, he explained, “they will get into drugs and be more vulnerable to suicide.” Here we find the Marxist conception of history, which bases a man’s happiness on work and productivity and ignores religion as the true compass that sets a man’s path to peace and happiness.
As you can see, Jan, what Francis offered was 10 banal “humanist” tips that one might hear from the lips of a Masonic Grand Master or the Dalai Lama or even in a “Dear Abby” column, but not from the Vicar of Christ addressing a revolutionary world and a Catholic Church in crisis.
No. 6 – “Respect and take care of nature.”
No. 7 – “Proceed calmly in life.”
No. 8 – “Have a healthy sense of leisure.”
No. 9 – “Keep Sundays for holidays and family.”
Francis emphasized that workers should have Sundays off to be with their families. Not a word about Sunday as the Lord’s day or the obligation to attend Mass under pain of mortal sin.
No. 10 – “Find innovative ways to create dignified jobs for young people.”
Unless we make “creative opportunities” for the youth, he explained, “they will get into drugs and be more vulnerable to suicide.” Here we find the Marxist conception of history, which bases a man’s happiness on work and productivity and ignores religion as the true compass that sets a man’s path to peace and happiness.
As you can see, Jan, what Francis offered was 10 banal “humanist” tips that one might hear from the lips of a Masonic Grand Master or the Dalai Lama or even in a “Dear Abby” column, but not from the Vicar of Christ addressing a revolutionary world and a Catholic Church in crisis.
Pope St. Pius X: "And
now, overwhelmed with the deepest sadness, We ask Ourselves, Venerable
Brethren, what has become of the Catholicism of the Sillon? Alas! this
organization which formerly afforded such promising expectations, this
limpid and impetuous stream, has been harnessed in its course by the
modern enemies of the Church, and is now no more than a miserable
affluent of the great movement of apostasy being organized in every
country for the establishment of a One-World Church which shall have
neither dogmas, nor hierarchy, neither discipline for the mind, nor curb
for the passions, and which, under the pretext of freedom and human
dignity, would bring back to the world (if such a Church could overcome)
the reign of legalized cunning and force, and the oppression of the
weak, and of all those who toil and suffer. We know only too well the
dark workshops in which are elaborated these mischievous doctrines which
ought not to seduce clear-thinking minds." http://www.papalencyclicals.net/Pius10/p10notre.htm
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