We have always thought that the drive for ecumenism, spearheaded by Pope Blessed John XXIII, was somewhat...idealistic and, well, unreal. It seems Cardinal Barbarin, Archbishop of Lyon and Primate of the Gauls, agrees with this assessment.
In an interview with one of the best religious journalists in France, Sophie de Ravinel, published today in Le Figaro, the Cardinal explained why the irregular situation of the "Lefebvrists" is, by all measures, impossible to fix. Any "separation" which takes this long (18 years and counting) is really impossible to mend.
In an interview with one of the best religious journalists in France, Sophie de Ravinel, published today in Le Figaro, the Cardinal explained why the irregular situation of the "Lefebvrists" is, by all measures, impossible to fix. Any "separation" which takes this long (18 years and counting) is really impossible to mend.
"[The Pope] wishes to offer his hand, before it is too late, to those who are afar. I feel, however, that the issue is not certain. Whenever a schism is in its beginnings, it is still possible to achieve an understanding... [sic] It is more complicated after several decades."
Just so. This whole discomfort among the French bishops is not worth the healing of a separation. We believe the Cardinal's anti-ecumenical view of events applies even more forcefully to the Churches and ecclesial communities separated from Rome after the Council of Ephesus (1575 years and counting), after the Council of Chalcedon (1555 years and counting), after the events of 1054 in Constantinople (952 years and counting), after the Diet of Worms (485 years and counting)...
We hope Cardinal Barbarin shares the same thoughts in his future visits to Russia and Constantinople, which will probably be as numerous in the future as they have been in the past. And we would like to know if he is willing to use the word "schism" with the Ortodox as liberally as he does regarding those Traditionalists in irregular canonical standing (the Traditionalists in the diocesan-authorized communities of Lyon are already familiar with the Cardinal's abundant charity and understanding...).
We hope Cardinal Barbarin shares the same thoughts in his future visits to Russia and Constantinople, which will probably be as numerous in the future as they have been in the past. And we would like to know if he is willing to use the word "schism" with the Ortodox as liberally as he does regarding those Traditionalists in irregular canonical standing (the Traditionalists in the diocesan-authorized communities of Lyon are already familiar with the Cardinal's abundant charity and understanding...).
