I continue to be impressed with how deftly His Holiness slides the legacy of Pope John Paul under the rug. Indeed, Ut unum sint had an entirely different aim when it was issued than it clearly does in Pope Benedict's hands.
It's as if he said: "You guys want unity in the Church? I say she includes these people too, and you have to live with it."
I agree, Chris. Ut unum sint was an exercise in religious indifferentism and Pope Benedict is now saying that Holy Tradition is again a player.
"Ut unum sint was an exercise in religious indifferentism"
No, it wasn't.
Jordanes,
If you wish to contradict me, then put forth some evidence. Just saying: "No, it wasn't," isn't a response.
Hello Cynthia.
[Foot dry at long last in Santa Clara, I have about 5 minutes to write this response.]
Jordanes:
"Ut unum sint" in the hands of Pope John Paul (of sad, confused memory) was directed at Protestants: how can we get along)
In the hands of Pope Benedict (gloriously reigning)the expression really means unity with Catholic tradition. Hence he uses it to reincorporate the SSPX within a juridical and doctrinal framework. He has been tirelessly working for the internal pacification of which he spoke early on in his pontificate. If it is directed at Protestants at all, it now means: see, these Traditional Catholics, there must be room for them on this Barque. THEY belong here because, in a great many important ways, they never left doctrinally or in heart.
He has done this many times before, taking a liberally-hackneyed expression from the other side and turning it to its proper use. Here's just a partial catalog.
"Extraordinary Form" from "Extraordinary Ministers": if you think the Ministers should be an everyday occurance, so should this form of Mass.
"For many"? NO! For all!
And now this one: Christ prayed "ut unum sint". He meant all who accept the truth, not those who want the truth to be other than it is.
Chris
Commenting by HaloScan
