Jacques Maritain:

"During the 1950's, Maritain came close to being condemned by the Holy Office for his philosophical thought, suspected of "extreme naturalism." One reason why the condemnation was not issued was that he was defended by Giovanni Battista Montini, the future Paul VI, who at the time was substitute secretary of state and had a longstanding friendship with the French thinker." ---Sandro Magister

Paul VI's Credo of the People of God:

I used to think it saved the Council. But why when the Church had all the Creeds it ever needed was Paul's Credo made to substitute for action against those who subverted it? Words (already well known sacred words and creeds) do not persuade wolves. Only action does. And Paul VI failed to drive out the wolves, showing he must likely go down with them one day, at the very least for reckless disregard of duty, to say nothing of the destructive Council over which he presided. Thus neither Paul nor Jacques could save the other. Both howled at the works of their own minds and hands too late, one fears.

Pope: interreligious dialogue requires "discernment"

Benedict XVI speaks to participants at the plenary assembly of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue. Attention to practical aspects, and not only spiritual ones: conversions, proselytism, reciprocity, and the formation of dialogue promoters.

Vatican City (AsiaNews) - The great proliferation of interreligious meetings in the world requires "discernment" and attention to the "formation of those who promote dialogue" among religions. This is the call issued by the pope this morning to participants at the plenary assembly the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue.

Benedict XVI expressed his appreciation for the assembly's reflection on "pastoral guidelines", and not only spiritual ones, in relations with other religions. Included in the discussions were "some of the issues of practical concern in interreligious relations: the identity of the partners in dialogue, religious education in schools, conversion, proselytism, reciprocity, religious freedom, and the role of religious leaders in society. These are important issues to which religious leaders living and working in pluralistic societies must pay close attention".

"If it is to be authentic, this dialogue must be a journey of faith", Benedict XVI suggests. In this regard, it is necessary "for its promoters to be well formed in their own beliefs and well informed about those of others".

Note: The Gospel naturally leads to the necessity of Catholic states

Whatever Benedict and the Conciliar Church has been meaning by "conversion, proselytism, reciprocity, religious freedom," for a long time now is far from clear. In traditional Catholicism, the Catholic state---as opposed to the newly encouraged and very tense "multicultural society"---has never allowed all religions to be placed on an equal public and legal footing at the expense of the truth of Jesus Christ and His Church; though a reasonable tolerance of private religious worship of minorities has always been respected. Our Lord mandated the Church to "make disciples of all nations," by offering the free Gift of God in Jesus Christ to all. It was Christianity which demythologized the ancient world and civilized our pagan ancestors, whether in Ireland or Latin America and far beyond, elevating us above our pagan barbarism to which the Western world, under the influence of Masonic syncretistic foolishness, is reverting at breakneck speed.

The Church can never turn away from this Christic mandate, for it is the very salvation of souls which is at stake; and the First Commandment makes clear it is manifestly false that all paths lead to God, or worse, that there are many gods. Between man-made religion and revealed religion is a chasm, though the seeds of the Logos (Christ) can often be found in most of human religion, albeit mixed with terribly wrong and dangerous ideas. But Christ is the fulfillment of those good promises.

The Church always taught that the salvation of souls naturally leads to the necessity of Catholic states.

To invite a utopian "multi-cultural" vision of the world is extremely naive at best and very dangerous, since not all principles and "values" are the same; they are often grievously contradictory and pave the way for relativism, indifferentism, syncretism, despair manifest as decadence, endless clashes, and even wars. None of these are options for catholics.

The fact must be faced: people do not think alike and no attempts at secular homogenization can succeed, especially the atheist versions being spread everywhere by the powers. To speak of "reciprocity, religious freedom," as the Conciliar Church does is extremely naive at best and invites disaster, not utopia (which means "nowhere"). Only the resurrection of Catholic states and the urging of peoples back to their tribal homes if they will not respect Catholic teaching is realism. Look at Israel, the Arabs and Palestine for a multi-faceted and fearful lesson in multi-culturalism. Cooperation is certainly possible between sovereign nations and peoples, and is to be encouraged; but homogenization within a global superstate is impossible. Imperial "democracy" forced against peoples in the interests of values-homogenization and "globalism" would be as disastrous as the old international Communism, whose image it appears to be reflecting in certain ominous respects.

Oil and water: To mix Islam and Christianity especially in states is to do serious wrong to each and, as history (history means to re-member)shows, invites disaster for our children. The only way a forced secular (masonic-like) homogenization can succeed is at the point of a gun, ala Stalin and Tito's Yugoslavia; that is totalitarianism where only the State is ultimate. The United States is an anomaly and cannot be transplanted elsewhere (except by imperial force for a time). The US had no history, no sense of family, no religion, it perpetrated slavery and suffered a most terrible civil war over state's rights. The tensions continue to simmer here just beneath the surface. Only vast military might keeps the lid on this "melting pot"---so far. Stephen Hand, MORE...