Two Views

Today marks 55 years since #NostraAetate. Always struck me as a profoundly beautiful document, one that made me fall in love with Catholicism. Was able to talk to some bright UD students about it in Rome a few years back. My thoughts on this great text. https://t.co/0MQlGH3X0Q

— Fr. Joshua J. Whitfield (@frjoshTX) October 29, 2020

Pope's Acceptance of Homosexuality Reveals the Dark Core of Roman Catholicism

A. I. Osipov: It turns out that today the Pope is questioning the most fundamental principles of morality, moral Christian teaching. And this is not surprising, because, starting with Pope John XXIII (he died back in 1963), all subsequent popes used the same phrase, which no one had ever used before them (before John XXIII). And, of course, Pope Francis repeats this with special force and emphasis.

N. Bulchuk: And what is this phrase?

A. I. Osipov: The fact is that John XXIII was the first to visit the Roman synagogue, and to the whole world he said: "You are our elder brothers." Moreover, here we are not talking about Jews, but about Judaism, for which Jesus Christ is a false messiah. Because he calls people to the Kingdom of God, which “is within us,” and not to the Kingdom of God, which people dream of building on the earth. So, all these are natural steps. Francis right now declares: he directly declares, this is again an unprecedented statement: "We and the Jews believe in one God." What does this phrase indicate? That Christ is no one for Francis! You and we believe in what God? In Jesus Christ, who is the Image of the Invisible God. Here, He, God, appeared in the form most accessible to human knowledge! .. Now think about what Francis says: "We have one god with the Jews." That is, it is possible to believe in “one god” without recognizing Christ? Calling Christ a false messiah? So, you see, how dogmatic or (which is more understandable for the general public) doctrinal truths to what extent are connected with the moral teaching of Christianity. And now ... Pope Francis has repeatedly, in hints, around and around, based on the context, expressed his point of view on this issue. But now he openly declared his opinion. And this, of course, excited a lot of people. But I would urge you not to be surprised and look at his personal spiritual state: how he demonstrates his humility in front of the whole world, in front of cameras, for example, kissing the feet of refugees or blacks, as well as other ostentatious "forces" that he throws out. So much for the Vatican! It’s time, perhaps, for the Orthodox to pay serious attention to this.

N. Bulchuk: But immediately the figure of Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew comes to mind, who has recently been very close to Pope Francis ...

A. I. Osipov: Lately he has been flying to Rome every now and then, and only communicates with the Roman prelates. And by this he most obviously demonstrates his spirit. You see what a danger stands before us, before Orthodoxy! After all, this, it would seem, is Constantinople, the primordial Church, and what is it doing! It is no accident, by the way, that Constantinople has recently taken not only such a position, but has essentially gone into schism: this is what it means - communion with the spirit of the world, with the spirit of Catholicism!