Fraternity
In today's world we hear a lot of good things. We see many efforts being made to promote what many call "The Brotherhood Among Men." For the promoters of this concept, it is important that we understand each other, accept each other, and learn from our differences in order to live peaceful and happy lives in this world. It sounds good and catchy. But is that enough for us Catholic Christians? Is this really God's will for us?
For me the clear answer is NO! Unless these efforts are conceived with God as our Father and Jesus Christ as the head of this "fraternity" being the firstborn over all creation (cf. Colossians 1:15) and obedience to his teachings is recognized and defended, with the help of the Holy Spirit, these initiatives place man at the center of their efforts and not God. They are putting MAN first before God and stating as if this world is the only world we have, that what is important is the life we are living here, forgetting the eternal life for which we were created. After all, how can we be brothers and sisters if we do not accept and believe in the same Father? And how can that One Father reveal that Jesus Christ is His Only Begotten Son to some, and Muhammad is His greatest prophet to others?
On Feb. 4, 2019, Pope Francis signed the Document on Human Brotherhood with the Grand Imam of al-Azhar in Abu Dhabi (United Arab Emirates) with the words, "the diversity of religions, colour, sex, race and language are willed by God in His wisdom,..." (Document on Fraternity). This raised a question: how can God will the existence of different religions, with different professions of faith, each proclaiming that what it teaches is true but in direct contradiction to the other. If God is One, the Truth about Him is one! There is no way there can be more than one truth; one plus one is two. There is no way it can be otherwise even if you firmly believe that one plus one is five! The truth remains the same. And we know that we can only know the Truth because God Himself has revealed them to us especially in the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. The only way we can explain the plurality of religions is because of God's permissive will. This only means that nothing happens in the world without God allowing it, but this does not mean that He willed it. It may be similar to my will for my son to become a doctor, but if he wants to be otherwise, "I allow my son to be what he wants to be (by giving him freedom)." God is so great that He wanted to create free man. By giving us freedom he expects us to make the right choice. If we choose the opposite, we know that we will have to face the consequence of that choice. If I offer you a choice between two rooms, one with a festive meal prepared and the other with poisonous snakes; if you choose to enter the room with poisonous snakes because you are free to choose it, you cannot blame me if you are bitten by snakes. You will suffer because of the wrong choice you made.
If God really wanted the existence of many religions, different professions of faith, then it doesn't matter whether I am Christian or not, Catholic or Protestant, believe and disbelieve whether Jesus is the Son of God or not! What then is the meaning of Jesus' saying, “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matthew 28:19-20 - NIV) Or, " Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned." (Mark 16:15-16 - NIV)
There is a great danger in trying to make too many efforts to promote "human brotherhood" without first knowing our common Father and His Will for humanity. To do otherwise will only end in a false respect for "our brother," keeping him in error and away from the truth that God has revealed. Indeed, it is true that "But some are more easily deceived by the outward appearance of good when there is question of fostering unity among all Christians." (Encyclical MORTALIUM ANIMOS, Pope Pius IX - Jan. 6, 1928, No. 3)
The same Encyclical Mortalium Animos: " Admonished, therefore, by the consciousness of Our Apostolic office that We should not permit the flock of the Lord to be cheated by dangerous fallacies, We invoke, Venerable Brethren, your zeal in avoiding this evil; for We are confident that by the writings and words of each one of you the people will more easily get to know and understand those principles and arguments which We are about to set forth, and from which Catholics will learn how they are to think and act when there is question of those undertakings which have for their end the union in one body, whatsoever be the manner, of all who call themselves Christians." (Mortalium Animos, no. 5)
"So, Venerable Brethren, it is clear why this Apostolic See has never allowed its subjects to take part in the assemblies of non-Catholics: for the union of Christians can only be promoted by promoting the return to the one true Church of Christ of those who are separated from it, for in the past they have unhappily left it" (Mortalium Animos, no. 10)
It is really confusing if Holy Mother Church teaches these things from a papal encyclical, from the Magisterium , and today many people within the Church seem to simply ignore them.
Let us not be deceived. "The Catholic Church is alone in keeping the true worship. This is the fount of truth, this the house of Faith, this the temple of God: if any man enter not here, or if any man go forth from it, he is a stranger to the hope of life and salvation. Let none delude himself with obstinate wrangling. For life and salvation are here concerned, which will be lost and entirely destroyed, unless their interests are carefully and assiduously kept in mind." (Mortalium Animos, no. 11)
It is really sad to see that we compromise the truth just to feel and be part of this "global fraternity." Sacrificing our faith so as not to hurt "my brother" even if by doing so, we directly forget what God our Father has taught through Scripture and Tradition. We must keep in mind what the beloved Apostle said, " If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not take them into your house or welcome them. 11 Anyone who welcomes them shares in their wicked work." (II John 1:10-11 - NIV)
Today we celebrate the Feast of the Most Holy Rosary. It commemorates the day when the "Holy League" defeated the invading Ottoman Empire at the Battle of Lepanto in 1571. Pope St. Pius V attributed this victory to the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Even at this time, we are called to pray and be vigilant to protect the faith of Holy Mother Church from her enemies.