Archbishop Lefebvre's 'Open Letter To Confused Catholics'

The contribution of Pope John XXIII has been profound, as many of his initiatives and actions are still resonating today. His acceptance of Jesus’ words “I came to save all nations.” Represented his motivation to do well and bring peace upon the world. He was an advocate of Christian unity, social justice, human rights and the promotion of world peace. It is through his development of the Second Vatican Council, his contribution to ecumenism and his empathy for humanity that Pope John XXIII made a significant impact upon the development and expression of Christianity.

As time constantly presses forward and the earth continues to revolve, the world will never stop progressing and adapting to better suit the needs of mankind. The evolution of religion has greatly enhanced the quality of life for humanity by providing individuals with a strong belief system that is now the foundation of many peoples’ core values. One universal religion that has undergone extensive amounts of reform is Christianity. In particular, the Catholic church is well-known for the development of their famous ecumenical council meetings that help determine the future of the church. Numerous Councils have been conducted throughout the course of history, but none more significant than the most recent, the Second Vatican Council or Vatican II. The Catholic church was operating as if it was still the medieval period and desperately needed to be modernized. As a result, every Roman Catholic Church official was gathered to meet and devise a plan for how to introduce the church to the modern world. Consequently, the following will reveal the Second Vatican Council and the ramifications of the agenda, history and theology evolution, significant texts, and new developments.

Union of minds, therefore, requires, together with a perfect accord in the one faith, complete submission and obedience of will to the Church and to the Roman Pontiff, as to God Himself”( Leo XII, p 3).

Before the Vatican II the Catholic Church was an aging dinosaur, still crippled by the Reformation and unable to relate to contemporary man. It emerged from it a modern Church, tolerant and accepting of other religions,

The Roman Catholic Church was an extremely powerful organization during the middle ages and for the most part controlled all aspects of people’s lives. However, this organization does not last forever and over time begins to crack and crumble until a series of schisms split the church into multiple opposing sides. The Church’s message and authority was eventually undermined by corruption and the lay people demanding reform.

We called to dismiss the word Pope and look at the broader influence and work this man did for the church. Where protestants would argue with Pope Gregory in regard to the Sacraments and the works being aspect of salvation the focus needs to be on what he did for the larger church. Thus, the conclusion of this paper is the Pope Gregory is truly sitting in the presence of our Lord because of the work and faith he displayed on earth. Therefore, we will move past the argument of the Protestant and Catholic positions and look at the Gregory’s record in helping strengthen and solidify a heterogeneous church during great upheaval, and

Pope John XXIII was one of the most influential Popes the Catholic Church had in the 20th century, and perhaps one of the most important in its history. What he was able to do for the Church in his short amount of time holding the Papacy was incredible. Originally seen as a transitional Pope, John XXIII was certainly much more than that. His work in connecting with those of different denominations of Christianity, as well as those of different faiths, has been instrumental to this day. And, most of all, his call for the Vatican Council II was paramount for the modernization of the church. Because of this, this paper will show that Pope John XXIII was important to the history of the Catholic Church by pushing it toward the 21st century and

The contemporary Catholic Church continues to be faced with the challenges of modernity. Often do members of the laity feel that the Church has become too rigid and dogmatic in its practice of spirituality. People in and out of the Catholic religion see the Church as a

The Great Schism split the previously united Christian Faith along doctrinal, theological, linguistic, political, and geographic lines, each claiming to be "the One Holy Catholic (universal) and Apostolic Church."

O’Malley vindicates that the relationship between language and identity and how attention to the language of the Second Vatican council showcases reason for its significant impact. He claims that the council spoke like no other council prior to it; they offered no “condemnations… [and] defined no new doctrines.” He further asserts that the perceived successful reception of the Second Vatican Council is due to the notion that the council painted an “idealistic portrait in order to excite admiration and appreciation” in its adherents. As a result of this new approach taken by the Second Vatican Council, the council was able to move away from what society expected of Vatican Councils – to define, and instead asserted to modernise the Roman Catholic Church, without making any condemnations or defining new doctrines. On the other hand, critics have condemned the work of the Second Vatican Council, claiming that problems arose following the misinterpretation of the documents that were promulgated by the council, especially around the document of ‘Gaudium et Spes’. Furthermore, critics have claimed this document to be too “optimistically naïve”, while others have felt that the new documents issued by the Vatican council went against prior teachings of the church regarding religious freedom and

The speak little regarding the Great Commission which is likely due to the claim that there are none saved outside of the Church. Frankly, the goal of the Holy Roman Catholic Church is one of numbers and growth, far be it that they actually care about the spiritual formation of the soul. If this were the case at present, then one would see them championing Sola Scriptura, Sola Fide rather than Ecumenism outside of the original intent of ecumenism as

The selection of words do not speak to me in a contextual manner but, rather the tone or concern for the church, for example, compliance, portentous times, war, greed, and avarice, study, monogamy, unity, and differences. These words created a sense of conflict, disruption, and troubling times. From my twenty-first century mindset, I thought there must have been a very divisive attitude among the people and a lack of trust was rising.

Dominus Iesus did not say that Christ’s Church is the Catholic Church because other religions share some truths in accordance to the full truth that the Church proclaims to have. If the document were to say that Christ’s Church is the Catholic Church it would exclude other religions and deny truths that exist with the Church’s inclusivist views.

The ancient ideal of a single church, with the pope as its visible head, was passing away and a new world was being born. Theologians were looking in new ways at all of God’s creation and there was a new understanding of being Christian. “The view of national unity liked with religious uniformity wsa at the root of the many wars of religion that shook both the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. Eventually …the conclusion was reached that religious agreement was not necessary for the security of the state”(Big 163) Ultimately, providing political liberty leading to a more healthy separation of the church and politics. Also see page 57 for more info

For centuries the Vatican has occupied a unique position in history, exercising both sacred and secular power in activities that have generated as much fascination as controversy. Yet, for most people it remains a mysterious institution. One whose motives and maneuvers are not easily understood. From the struggles of the very first Christians to the challenges and scandals of today, the Catholic Church has wrestled with how to organize itself, express its beliefs, and nurture its members. The church has grown from a handful of disciples in the first century to over one billion members in the twenty-first, resulting in profound changes that demand a theological response. A candid but rational inquiry into the progress and establishment of Christianity may be considered a very essential part of the history of the Roman Empire and the rise and fall of the papacy.