22 Then Paul stood in front of the Areopagus and said, “Athenians, I see how extremely spiritual you are in every way. 23 For as I went through the city and looked carefully at the objects of your worship, I found among them an altar with the inscription, ‘To an unknown god.’ What therefore you worship as unknown, this I proclaim to you. 24 The God who made the world and everything in it, he who is Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in shrines made by human hands, 25 nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mortals life and breath and all things. [Acts 17:22-25, NRSV
During his apostolic journey to Asia and Oceania, Pope Francis held a session in Singapore with a group of young people on the subject of interreligious dialogue. The Holy Father was clearly impressed by the young generation who, coming from such a diverse religious backgrounds, displayed a marvelous capacity for friendly interfaith dialogue and, most importantly in today’s war-torn world, for peaceful and even joyful co-existence. In that context, Pope Francis readily opined that any approach to inter-religious dialogue that starts with “my religion is the best”, “we are the only ones who will be saved” and so on, will only lead to what a young participant calls “destruction”. Everyone, including the Pope and the young people at that first-ever Papal event in Singapore, well appreciate that without goodwill and mutual respect, unity and peaceful co-existence would be impossible. The stark alternative is what all sensible human inhabitants in this world wish to avoid – endless, inhuman, suffering in wars and violence that characterise much of the world we live in.
Unfortunately, what the Holy Father said to the young people in Singapore have been twisted, and sometimes even beyond recognition. Two points must be made at once before we get into the substance of this post. First, Pope Francis is known for making passing remarks which, because of the non-precise nature of those remarks, may easily be misinterpreted, intentionally or otherwise. If you truly wish to understand what the Pope says in any particular instance, go to his official Vatican website which is responsible for the publication of what the Holy says and means. Secondly, perhaps the biggest mistake on the part of the Pope’s detractors is their deliberate or negligent omission to acknowledge the fundamental fact that Pope Francis is the head of the Roman Catholic Church which has a long history of peace-promotion among religions and thus a reservoir of official teachings on interreligious dialogue.
Many Catholics, troubled by negative comments that they have heard and read, have sought clarification from us. In three brief articles spread evenly over this month of December, we hope to get beyond all those negative remarks by anchoring ourselves solidly in the official teachings of the Church and in what Pope Francis is about. The three articles shall respectively cover first, the official teaching of the Church, followed by what various Popes have said, and finally what Pope Francis is doing. We begin with official teaching of the Church.
[1] Lumen Gentium (Dogmatic Constitution on the Church)
In 1964, The Second Vatican Council promulgated Lumen Gentium (“LG”), a key document on what the Church is essentially about. It begins with the fundamental reason for the existence of the Church, that is, Christ is the light of humanity, so that the Church exists for universal mission, not for the sake of its own glory.
In paragraph 16, the Council Fathers in part teaches:
- 16. Finally, those who have not yet received the Gospel are related in various ways to the people of God. In the first place we must recall the people to whom the testament and the promises were given and from whom Christ was born according to the flesh. On account of their fathers this people remains most dear to God, for God does not repent of the gifts He makes nor of the calls He issues (Cf. Rom. 1 l:28-29.) But the plan of salvation also includes those who acknowledge the Creator. In the first place amongst these there are the Muslims, who, professing to hold the faith of Abraham, along with us adore the one and merciful God, who on the last day will judge mankind. Nor is God far distant from those who in shadows and images seek the unknown God, for it is He who gives to all men life and breath and all things (Cf. Acts 17:25-28.) and as Saviour wills that all men be saved (Cf. 1 Tim. 2:4.) Those also can attain to salvation who through no fault of their own do not know the Gospel of Christ or His Church, yet sincerely seek God and moved by grace strive by their deeds to do His will as it is known to them through the dictates of conscience (Mark 4:14). Nor does Divine Providence deny the helps necessary for salvation to those who, without blame on their part, have not yet arrived at an explicit knowledge of God and with His grace strive to live a good life. Whatever good or truth is found amongst them is looked upon by the Church as a preparation for the Gospel (Lk. 12:32). She knows that it is given by Him who enlightens all men so that they may finally have life. But often men, deceived by the Evil One, have become vain in their reasonings and have exchanged the truth of God for a lie, serving the creature rather than the Creator( Cf Rom. 1:21, 25). Or some there are who, living and dying in this world without God, are exposed to final despair. Wherefore to promote the glory of God and procure the salvation of all of these, and mindful of the command of the Lord, “Preach the Gospel to every creature” (Mark 16:16) the Church fosters the missions with care and attention.
Homo Sapiens is a species that is naturally religious. Humanity in different corners of the earth, with different histories and cultures, readily worship all sorts of deity. St Paul’s teaching at the Areopagus cited at the front of this post is deep in insight and wisdom. In its four parts, LG16 acknowledges those who “sincerely seek God” and try their best to follow the dictates of “conscience”. St Paul’s teaching at the Areopagus cited at the front of this post is deep in insight and wisdom.
[2] Nostra Aetate (The Relation of the Church to Non-Christian Religions)
We do well to keep at the forefront of our consciousness that all good things come from God.
So in Nostra Aetate, the Second Vatican Council highlights the rays of truth and the seeds of truth which God spread throughout the world as the positive foundations for the multitude of religions, to help direct humanity forward so that all could come prepared, in their own way, to the revelation given by Jesus Christ. Paragraph 2 of AE states:
- … The Catholic Church rejects nothing that is true and holy in these religions. She regards with sincere reverence those ways of conduct and of life, those precepts and teachings which, though differing in many aspects from the ones she holds and sets forth, nonetheless often reflect a ray of that Truth which enlightens all men. Indeed, she proclaims, and ever must proclaim Christ “the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6), in whom men may find the fullness of religious life, in whom God has reconciled all things to Himself. (Cf 2 Cor. 5:18-19)
- The Church, therefore, exhorts her sons, that through dialogue and collaboration with the followers of other religions, carried out with prudence and love and in witness to the Christian faith and life, they recognize, preserve and promote the good things, spiritual and moral, as well as the socio-cultural values found among these men.
This resounding Spirit-inspired teaching in paragraph 2 of Nostra Aetate that “The Catholic Church rejects nothing that is true and holy in these religions” is well worth our utmost respectful attention. The background is a humble bow to God. The world in the end is His; it is part of His creation. He is bigger than any narrow-minded “mine is better than yours” attitude. Thus, living in Malaysia which has a rich racial, cultural and religious mix, but with a Muslim majority, paragraph 3 of Nostra Aetate is most helpful in positively highlighting that the Muslims “value the moral life and worship God especially through prayer, almsgiving and fasting.” And then, it goes on to make a statement that is always timely, but particularly so today:
- Since in the course of centuries not a few quarrels and hostilities have arisen between Christians and Moslems, this sacred synod urges all to forget the past and to work sincerely for mutual understanding and to preserve as well as to promote together for the benefit of all mankind social justice and moral welfare, as well as peace and freedom.
Finally, in Paragraph 5 of Nostra Aetate, the Council urges that:
- The Church reproves, as foreign to the mind of Christ, any discrimination against men or harassment of them because of their race, color, condition of life, or religion. On the contrary, following in the footsteps of the holy Apostles Peter and Paul, this sacred synod ardently implores the Christian faithful to “maintain good fellowship among the nations” (1 Peter 2:12), and, if possible, to live for their part in peace with all men (Cf. Rom. 12:18), so that they may truly be sons of the Father who is in heaven (Cf. Matt. 5:45).
[3] Ad Gentes, Decree on the Mission Activity of the Church
On the rationale for mission and evangelization, Ad Gentes explains:
- 9. And so the time for missionary activity extends between the first coming of the Lord and the second, in which latter the Church will be gathered from the four winds like a harvest into the kingdom of God (Cf. Matt. 24:31, Didache, 10, 5) For the Gospel must be preached to all nations before the Lord shall come (cf. Mark 13:10).
Missionary activity is nothing else and nothing less than an epiphany, or a manifesting of God’s decree, and its fulfillment in the world and in world history, in the course of which God, by means of mission, manifestly works out the history of salvation. By the preaching of the word and by the celebration of the sacraments, the center and summit of which is the most holy Eucharist, He brings about the presence of Christ, the author of salvation. But whatever truth and grace are to be found among the nations, as a sort of secret presence of God, He frees from all taint of evil and restores to Christ its maker, who overthrows the devil’s domain and wards off the manifold malice of vice. And so, whatever good is found to be sown in the hearts and minds of men, or in the rites and cultures peculiar to various peoples, not only is not lost, but is healed, uplifted, and perfected for the glory of God, the shame of the demon, and the bliss of men.(24) Thus, missionary activity tends toward eschatological fullness.(25) For by it the people of God is increased to that measure and time which the Father has fixed in His power(cf. Acts 1:7).
[4] Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC)
The Catechism naturally appreciates elements of truth and grace in other religions. We find this in CCC, 839-856.
Beginning on a positive note, and implicitly trusting on God who is far bigger than us, CCC 839 teaches that “Those who have not yet received the Gospel are (still) related to the People of God in various ways”. Among them, the Jews and Moslems are given special mention.
From passages in the CCC written from a generous and positive spirit, some in the Church may presume that the Church has turned its back on the important work of proclaiming the fullness of the Gospel message. They may and indeed do question how there can be common teachings shared by Catholics and non-Catholics, and how Catholics, Jews and Muslims can possibly share certain ideas. The CCC positive states:
- “The Catholic Church recognizes in other religions that search, among shadows and images, for the God who is unknown yet near since he gives life and breath and all things and wants all people to be saved” (CCC, 843).
This is in line with Lumen Gentium 16 which points out, “the Church considers all goodness and truth found in these religions as a preparation for the Gospel”.
On the other hand, the Catechism stresses that in their religious behavior, however, humanity “also displays the limits and errors that disfigure the image of God in them”. So CCC 844 continues:
- Very often, deceived by the Evil One, men have become vain in their reasonings, and have exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and served the creature rather than the Creator. Or else, living and dying in this world without God, they are exposed to ultimate despair (see LG,16; Rom 1:21, 25).
As the Catechism of the Catholic Church, it naturally insists that the Church is “the place where humanity must rediscover its unity and salvation”, “that bark which in the full sail of the Lord’s cross, by the breath of the Holy Spirit, navigates safely in this world” (CCC 845). But, and this is important, the old claim that “outside the (Catholic) there is no salvation” is no longer a tenet of faith the Catholic Church espouses. That era is long past. What the Church now teaches is the positive tenet of belief: “all salvation comes from Christ the Head through the Church which is his Body” (CCC 846).
So the Catechism, making due allowance for the reality that there are “those who, through no fault of their own, do not know the Gospel of Christ or his Church” (CCC 847), thus insists on the Church’s “obligation and sacred right to evangelize” (CCC 848). Based on our own Scripture and Tradition, we understand “that the Church, a pilgrim now on earth, is necessary for salvation” (CCC 846). However, even in its evangelical mission, the Church must maintain a “respectful dialogue with those who do not yet accept the Gospel”. We can profit from this dialogue by learning to appreciate better “those elements of truth and grace which are found among peoples, and which are, as it were, a secret presence of God” (CCC 856).
From these citations from Vatican II documents and from the Catechism of the Catholic Church, we can see that Pope Francis was solidly faith-based and Spirit-inspired when he spoke to the young generation at an inter-religious event in Singapore.
In part 2, to appear on 11 December, we shall move on to papal teachings.
Copyright © Dr. Jeffrey & Angie Goh, December 2024. All rights reserved.
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