Benedict XVI states again that St. Paul’s desire was not so much to baptize all peoples and that we should have respect for different false religions

By Bro. Michael Dimond, O.S.B.
Read more of Benedict XVI’s Recent Heresies

Benedict XVI, answering questions during a meeting with the Clergy of Rome, February 7, 2008: [Benedict XVI’s answer to a question from a “priest”] “Let us think of the great figure of Mahatma Gandhi: although he remained firmly bound to his own religion... Let us think of St. Paul... His desire was not so much to baptize all peoples as rather that the Gospel, hence, the fulfillment of history as such, be present in the world... “[1]

[Question for Benedict XVI from “Fr” Umberto Fanfarillo] “Holy Father, I am a Conventual Franciscan and parish priest of Saint Dorotea in Trastevere. Together with the Christian community in the parish, I am eager to point out a conspicuous if not deeply rooted presence of other religious contexts. We encounter them daily with reciprocal esteem, knowledge and respectful coexistence. I can list in this substantial positiveness of intentions the commitment of the Academia dei Lincei, of the John Cabot American University, with more than 800 students from about 60 countries and with religious backgrounds that range from Catholic to Muslim. It is precisely these young people who, on the death of John Paul II, gathered in prayer in our Church... We find a similar situation and respectful encounters among the different religions contained in Regina Coeli Prison, again in the parish territory. Holy Father, we are all seeking new and more balanced attitudes of knowledge and respect. We have always appreciated your talks, filled with respect and dialogue, in the quest for the truth. Please help us again with your words.”

[Benedict XVI’s response to this question] “Thank you for your testimony of a truly multidimensional and multicultural parish. It seems to me that you have somewhat concretized what was discussed earlier with our Indian brother: the whole picture that consists of dialogue, respectful co-existence, respect for one another, acceptance of one another as they are in their otherness, in their communion... through respect for our differences...”[2]

Just a few weeks ago the Heresy of the Week was Benedict XVI stating that St. Paul was not concerned about baptizing people. Benedict XVI stated in his Address to Cardinals, December 21, 2007:

     “St. Paul travelled tirelessly, taking the Gospel with him. He even felt under a sort of ‘compulsion’ to proclaim the Gospel (cf. I Cor 9:16) – not so much out of concern for the salvation of the single non-baptized person who had not yet been reached by the Gospel, but rather because he was aware that history as a whole could not attain fulfillment until the Gospel had reached the full number of Gentiles.”

Well, he utters the same heresy again by saying: “Let us think of St. Paul... His desire was not so much to baptize all peoples.” I guess Benedict XVI is really trying to stress that St. Paul was not concerned about baptizing people. We know that St. Paul said that he came to preach the Gospel, but Benedict XVI is trying to give the heretical impression that St. Paul did not believe that men need baptism for salvation.   Benedict XVI then goes on to state that we should respect members of different false religions “in their communion” and in “their otherness” and that we should “respect our differences.” This is to say that we should respect people who are in false religions which lead them to everlasting damnation.

Benedict XVI’s Recent Heresies

The Heresies of Benedict XVI file

Notes:

[1] L’ Osservatore Romano, February 20, 2008, p. 9.

[2] L’ Osservatore Romano, February 20, 2008, p. 10.