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Chapter 3
The Council of Trent
The Council of Trent anathematized every Christian who disagrees with any detail of Catholic doctrine. These anathemas have never been cancelled. An anathema means that the Pope has ritually placed someone under a solemn ecclesiastical curse. (See the chapter, "Anathemas".)
The Council of Trent (1545-1564) was the Roman Catholic Church's response to the Protestant Reformation. It took every single doctrine that Protestants believe, one at a time, and declared that anybody who believes even one of them is "anathema" (officially and ritually cursed by the Catholic Church). [The documents produced by the Council of Trent were published as a book which is available on-line. Note 1 gives information.]
It also defined Catholic doctrines, detail by detail, and declared that anybody who denies even one of these details is anathema. These doctrines include the authority of the Pope, the practice of indulgences, veneration of Mary and the saints, and the use of statues. So the Council of Trent anathematized all Christians who are not Roman Catholics.
Following is an example of one of these declarations: "If anyone says that Christ received in the Eucharist is received spiritually only and not also sacra mentally and really, let him be anathema." ("Canons on the Most Holy Sacrament of the Eucharist," Canon 8). What does "really" mean? Canon 1 declares that the communion bread is "truly, really and substantially" the body, blood, soul and divinity of Jesus Christ. (And if you don't believe this, then you are anathema.) [You can see these canons for yourself. Note 1 gives on-line addresses.]
[edit]OFFICIAL MODERN ENDORSEMENT OF THE COUNCIL OF TRENT The declarations and anathemas of the Council of Trent have never been cancelled. On the contrary, the decrees of the Council of Trent are confirmed by both the Second Vatican Council (1962-1965) and the official "Catechism of the Catholic Church" (1992).
The documents of the Second Vatican Council cite the Council of Trent as an authority for doctrinal statements, both in the text and in the notes. The "Dogmatic Constitution on the Church" states that the Second Vatican Council "proposes again the decrees of" three previous councils, one of which is the Council of Trent. [Note 2] The "Decree on the Training of Priests" says that the Second Vatican Council was "continuing the work begun by the Council of Trent". [Note 3]
"The Catechism of the Catholic Church" was written for the purpose of summarizing the essential and basic teachings of the Roman Catholic Church. It was approved by Pope John Paul II in 1992 and the English translation was released in 1994. Another English edition was printed in 2000. It has numbered paragraphs, and has been published in many languages. The Council of Trent is mentioned in seventy-five paragraphs of the "Catechism". It is always mentioned in a positive, authoritative way. Some paragraphs mention it two or three times. Paragraph 9 of the "Catechism" says that the Council of Trent was the origin of Catholic Catechisms. The other 74 paragraphs in the "Catechism" which mention it either cite the Council of Trent as an authoritative source which supports their doctrinal statements, or else use phrases such as, "We therefore, hold, with the Council of Trent, that...". [Note 4]
THE ANATHEMAS OF THE COUNCIL OF TRENT CANNOT BE REVOKED
According to "The Catechism of the Catholic Church," the Catholic doctrine of infallibility applies not only to the Pope, but also to Church Councils (including the Council of Trent). [Note 5] As a result, the official statements of the Council of Trent are considered to be infallible. This means that they cannot be changed. Therefore, the anathemas of the Council of Trent cannot be revoked.
The Catholic Church may find it expedient not to call people's attention to these anathemas. But it cannot revoke them.
CONCLUSION
It is no longer "religiously correct" to talk about anathemas. The word "anathema" does not even occur in the official "Catechism of the Catholic Church". (Neither does the word "inquisition".)
However, both the Second Vatican Council and the "Catechism of the Catholic Church" confirm the decrees of the Council of Trent. And these decrees contain the anathemas. So anathemas are part of the doctrinal package -- whether or not the Catholic Church chooses to talk about them.
Chapter 4
Ecumenism
There is a hidden agenda behind ecumenism. As we shall see, official Roman Catholic documents from the Second Vatican Council show that the purpose behind ecumenism is to bring Protestants and Orthodox into the Catholic Church.
VATICAN II AND ECUMENISM
The Second Vatican Council (1962-1965) wrote 16 official documents. It also gave some groups of experts the task of working out the details of how to apply the principles and directives of the Council. These groups of men wrote official "post conciliar" documents to more fully elaborate what had been written by the Council. The conciliar and post conciliar documents are published together in the same two-volume work.
The Council's "Decree on Ecumenism" states that ecumenical activity cannot result in changing any aspect of the Catholic faith. [Note 1] This foundational principle is reflected in the post conciliar documents dealing with ecumenism. For example, Post Conciliar Document No. 42 says that the purpose of ecumenism is to transform the thinking and behaviour of non-Catholics so that eventually all Christians will be united in one Church. It states, "This unity, we believe, dwells in the Catholic Church." [Note 2]
In other words, "unity" means that all Christians will become Roman Catholics.
INCONSISTENCY
The Council of Trent anathematized every Christian who disagrees with any detail of Catholic doctrine. These anathemas have never been cancelled. An anathema means that the Pope has ritually placed someone under a solemn ecclesiastical curse. (See the chapters, "Anathemas" and "The Council of Trent".)
The modern ecumenical approach of reaching out in a friendly, respectful way to "separated brethren" seems inconsistent with the anathemas of the Council of Trent.
In 1302, Pope Boniface VIII declared, "[I]t is altogether necessary to salvation for every human creature to be subject to the Roman pontiff [Pope]." [This encyclical is available on-line. Note 3 gives addresses.]
In 1849 and again in 1863, Pope Pius IX declared that no person can be saved outside of the Roman Catholic Church. [These encyclicals are available on-line. Note 4 gives addresses.] According to the Catholic doctrine of infallibility, these are infallible statements. Therefore, they cannot be reversed. [Note 5]
Freedom of religion is opposed by modern Canon Law (1988). Canon 1366 says that parents are to be punished with "a just penalty" if they allow their children to "be baptized or educated in a non-Catholic religion". The reference to baptism shows that this refers to Christian religions which are not Roman Catholic. [Note 6] (During the Inquisition, "a just penalty" included things like torture and being burned at the stake. The Inquisition was based on Canon Law.) (See the chapter, "Hunting 'Heretics'".)
Ecumenism seems inconsistent with the doctrine that there is no salvation outside of the Roman Catholic Church. It also seems inconsistent with modern Canon Law.
THE POPE SPEAKS
In his opening speech to the Second Vatican Council (1962), Pope John XXIII said that the Catholic Church has always opposed "errors" (disagreement with Roman Catholic doctrine). He said that the Catholic Church has often "condemned them with the greatest severity," but these days it "prefers to make use of the medicine of mercy rather than that of severity." The Pope said that the Catholic Church is presently dealing with "errors" by demonstrating the validity of Catholic teaching, rather than by "condemnations". [This speech is available on-line. Note 7 gives addresses.]
CONCLUSION
The present preference for a gentler approach to people who disagree with Catholic doctrine may explain the apparent discrepancy between the Council of Trent and ecumenism.
The Catholic Church is engaging in ecumenical dialog with Protestants and Orthodox, calling them "separated brethren," and speaking as if it respects their beliefs. But at the same time, behind the scenes, it still officially declares that they are damned to hell because of their beliefs.