the holy office on worship with non-catholics ecumenismo

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The Holy Office on Worship with Non-Catholics from 1622 to 1939

by Craig Allan Advent/Christmas 2006

Following such historical catalysts as the persistent Great Schism o !0"#$ the %rotestant &evolt$

and the Age o '(ploration$ there was begun by the Catholic Church a vast missionary activity

throughout the world that had not been seen since the days o St) %atric*$ St) Augustine oCanterbury and St) +oniace) +ishops and priests conronted an array o pastoral and moral

situations or which they sought guidance rom the ,oly See) -he ,oly .ice throughout this

period preserved the original ueries and the subseuent responses careully crated by its

theologians and approved by the &oman %ontis) -hese collections became the standard

reerences indicating the Churchs sharpened sel1understanding vis11vis her relationship with the

non1Catholic parts o the globe) -hey shred the credibility o the ot1uoted mantra that 3nothing

has changed3 in the modern Church)

-he ,oly .ice$ also *nown as the &oman 4nuisition 5&omana 4nuisitio$ was a congregation in

the &oman curia 3dating rom 4nnocent 444 5!!7#1!2!6$ although some authorities attribute its

establishment to 8ucius 444 5!!9!19") 4n the beginning o the thirteenth century 4nnocent 444established at &ome an inuisitorial tribunal against the Albigensians and other innovators o the

south o France) From its irst title o &omana 4nuisitio was derived the usage o calling this

body the Congregation o the ,oly &oman :niversal 4nuisition)))) 8ater it had the oicial title

Suprema Congregatio Sanct; &oman; et :niversalis 4nuisitionis) %ius < in his recent

Constitution calls it$ simply$ Congregatio S) .icii)3! :nder the pontiicate o %aul =4$ the name

o the congregation was changed to the Congregation or the >octrine o the Faith)2 -he essential

unction o this oice rom its inception was to address and authoritatively ?udge matters

pertaining to aith and morals) >uring the period o !622 to !7@7$ uestions regarding worship

with non1Catholics were addressed to the ,oly .ice) -he response o the ,oly .ice to the

uestions throughout the nearly three centuries which constitute this period is without e(ception

consistent$ giving one a grasp o the mens ecclesiae 53the mind o the Church3) -his article will

restrict itsel to the ,oly .ice itsel$ not including statements rom popes or other dicasteries on

the issue during the period) -he purpose o this article$ thereore$ is to provide an understanding o

the ,oly .ices teaching on worship with non1Catholics during a speciic historical period which

ended ?ust twenty years beore the summoning o the Second =atican Council by %ope ohn


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cannot participate in schismatic worship$# even i it is a Catholic rite)" ,ere the uestion$ as ar as

the ,oly .ice was concerned$ is not whether the worship is Catholic$ but whether one can ?oin

with schismatics or not) ,istorically there have been occasions where Catholics ind themselves in

locations where there was no Catholic priest$ but the schismatics who were present oered the

same ritual as was oered by the Gree* Catholics and now today by the &oman Catholics) -he

,oly .ice went on to say that Gree* &ite Catholics$ when they do not have their own church$cannot go to the Gree* rites said by heretics and schismatics$ but they should go to the 8atin rite)6

-hereore$ i the rite to which a Catholic belongs is not oered in his area$ he is to assist at a

dierent rite said by a Catholic priest) 4 there is no Catholic Dass available Ea Catholic rite said

by a Catholic priest$ one is not held to the precept o hearing ,oly Dass) .ne cannot attend a

non1Catholic Dass) 4n connection to this discussion$ the ,oly .ice stated that Catholics were

orbidden to approach schismatic churches$ when there is no Catholic Dass$ in order to hear Dass$

even i there is nothing contrary to the Faith)9 Bhen there is no Catholic priest available$ they are

not held to the precept o hearing Dass) 4n relation to Gree* Catholics$ the ,oly .ice was wont

to observe that they should attend a 8atin rite church$ i available$ and the same would apply to

8atins) -his would ollow since Catholics must avoid all communicatio in sacris with schismatics

and heretics)7 Catholics were orbidden to give alms at a Dass oered by a schismatic priest$!0presumably since this would be a orm o support o alse worship and conirming the schismatic

priest in his error by inancial support)

Furthermore$ one cannot participate in schismatic prayer$ even i there is nothing contrary to the

Faith)!! Again$ the ,oly .ice said that it is not so much a matter o whether the prayer contains

anything ob?ectionable to the Faith$ but the very act that one participates with schismatics) For

this reason the ,oly .ice said that by participating Ein schismatic and heretical worship$

Catholics give e(terior signs o segregation Erom and disapproval!2 Eo the Catholic Church by

uniying themselves with those who disapprove or segregate themselves rom the Catholic Church$

since participation in liturgical actions constitutes a sign o unity)!@ +y coming together with

them in unity o prayer$ in unity o cult$ in unity o veneration and worship$ one does so with

perverse!# schismatic and heretical ministers)!" 4n eect$ the ,oly .ice was saying that it is by

the very coming together with those who re?ect the Faith and ?oining ones prayer and worship to

them that one is participating in worship which is done by those who re?ect the Catholic Church)

-o participate with those who re?ect the aith is thereore orbidden)

Bith heretics$ there are errors pertaining to matters o the Faith$!6 and given the aorementioned

considerations regarding schismatic worship$ the ,oly .ice stated that participation in schismatic

and heretical worship is orbidden or the ollowing reasons) First$ there is a danger o perversion

o the Catholic Faith$! i)e) there is a danger o the loss o Catholic Faith) -his indicates the

implicit obligation to protect ones aith) Second$ there is the very danger o participating in aheretical or schismatic rite$!9 or the above mentioned reasons$ i)e) the very participation maniests

a sign o disunity rom the Church by being united in worship with those not united to the Church)

-hird$ participation in heretical or schismatic worship is a danger and occasion o scandal)!7 +y

scandal$ we presume the ,oly .ice meant that participation in schismatic and heretical worship

can aect the Faith o others who see Catholics involved in such worship) Fourth$ in schismatic

churches there is the commemoration o some schismatics who are venerated as holyH there are

images$ cult o relics or easts that are celebrated o those who died in schism as well as the

commemoration o living patriarchs or schismatic bishops and heretics)20 Fith$ by participating in

their worship$ one conirms schismatics and heretics in their errors)2!

-he ,oly .ice thereore observed that the Council o Carthage orbade praying and singing5psallendum with heretics)22 -he Supreme Congregation stated that participation in schismatic


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and heretic worship is 3universally prohibited by natural and divine law)))Erom which no one has

the power to dispense )))Eand with respect to this participation nothing e(cuses)32@ -hose who so

participate must see* absolution in the sacrament o penance)2#

44) %articipation in ,eretical and Schismatic Borship in %articular

,aving orbidden participation in non1Catholic worship in general$ the ,oly .ice li*ewise

answered uestions about the application o this prohibition in a variety o dierent circumstances)

-he irst category o circumstances is Catholics participating or attending schismatic and heretical

worship and/or churches) -he second category o circumstances is with respect to non1Catholics

?oining in Catholic prayer$ worship or the reception o sacraments rom Catholic priests)

As to the irst category$ the ,oly .ice addressed the uestion about whether Catholics can

receive sacraments rom non1Catholics) 4t said that Catholics may do so provided the ollowing

conditions are in place)2" -he irst is that there must be grave and urgent cause)26 Second$ it must

be administered by a validly ordained non1Catholic priest who administers the sacrament by a

Catholic rite without any mi(ing o the condemned rite 5ritus damnati)2 -hird$ by thecommunicatio in divinis$ there must be no e(ternal proessing 5protestatio o alse dogma) Fourth$

it must not cause scandal) Bhile this pertains to the reception o sacraments or a grave and urgent

cause$ or those occasions which are outside o those conditions$ it is orbidden) ,ence$ the ,oly

.ice orbade Catholics to go to the uneral o non1Catholics$ e(cept rom a causa civilis$29 i)e)

rom a civil cause) +y this$ it appears we are to understand that only those who hold a civil oice

or a position o prominence within a civic community could go to the uneral o a non1Catholic)

,owever$ those who attend a uneral or a civil cause may do so only i their presence is

material$27 when there is no harm to the Catholics@0 and when they do not participate in the rites

or ceremonies)@! -his means that Catholics at non1Catholic unerals cannot be pallbearers in a

procession to or within the heretical church)@2 ,owever$ they can accompany the body to the

cemetery but must be separate rom the non1Catholics)@@ Catholics were orbidden to carry

candles in the uneral procession o schismatics$@# presumably since this would be a orm o

communicatio in divinis)

Bhen schismatics have a procession o the +lessed Sacrament$ Catholics are to adore the +lessed

Sacrament as it passes$ however$ they cannot associate with the schismatics)@" -his would seem to

indicate that Catholics should *neel or perorm some other orm o reverence while not

participating in the actual procession itsel 5i)e) wal*ing in the procession$ nor engaging in the

singing in con?unction with the procession) A Catholic bishop is orbidden to go to a schismatic

Gree* church to chant the do(ology)@6 Catholic priests are entirely orbidden to oer ,oly Dass

in the private houses o and in places reuented by schismatics and heretics)@

Catholics were orbidden to be godparents at the +aptisms o schismatics and heretics)@9 4t is not

licit to receive the nuptial blessing rom a non1Catholic minister)@7 Be may surmise that this is

due to the act that it is a orm o communicatio in divinis with the non1Catholic minister) As or

Catholics going to the marriages o Catholics being married outside o the Church$ the ,oly .ice

says this is orbidden by virtue o law 5regula) ,owever$ it may be tolerated or a causa civilis$#0

and provided that$ scandal being removed$ there is no perversion o the Faith or contempt or

ecclesiastical authority)#! -his meant that unless one had a civil cause$ one was orbidden to go to

the wedding)

Bhen approaching or entering a schismatic or heretical church 5building$ the ,oly .ice hadseveral conditions) First$ one can enter out o curiosity as long as there is no communicatio in


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Conclusion

-o summariKe$ we may recall that the ,oly .ice said that it is not so much a matter o whether

schismatic worship contains anything ob?ectionable to the FaithH rather$ the problem is the very

participation in worship with schismatics) +y participating in schismatic and heretical worship$one is giving e(terior signs o segregation and disapproval) Any participation in liturgical actions

would constitute a sign o unity with those who are not in union with the Church) +y coming

together with them in unity o prayer$ in unity o cult$ in unity o veneration and worship$

Catholics would oer worship with perverse schismatic and heretical ministers) 4n eect$ the ,oly

.ice said that it is by the very coming together with them and ?oining ones prayer and worship to

theirs that one is participating in worship o those who re?ect the Catholic Church) -o participate

with those who re?ect the Faith was thereore orbidden$ since there is a danger o perversion and

loss o the Catholic aith) -here is the very danger o participating in a heretical or schismatic rite$

since the participation maniests a sign o disunity rom the Church) %articipation in heretical or

schismatic worship is an occasion o scandal and by participating in their worship$ one conirms

schismatics and heretics in their errors) -he ,oly .ice thereore observed that the Council oCarthage orbade praying and singing with heretics and that participation in schismatic and heretic

worship is 3universally prohibited by natural and divine law)))Eabout which no one has the power

to dispense)))Eand with respect to this participation nothing e(cuses)3

Craig Allan is a nom de plume or a proessor who has earned a doctoral degree rom a pontiical

university) ,e is presently teaching at the graduate level in the :nited States)

JotesI

!) Catholic 'ncyclopedia 5-he Gilmary Society$ Jew or*$ !7!@1!7"9$ vol) ecreta 4nstructiones

&escripta pro Apostolicis Dissionibus 5'( -ypographia %olyglotta$ &oma$ !70$ vol) 4$

p) 77$ n) @!! 5!27 and Col)$ vol) 4$ p) 27@$ n) #"" 5!6#) ,enceorth$ the Collectanea

will be reerred to asI Col)$ volume$ page$ number 5date)

#) Col)$ vol) 4$ p) 7!$ n) 26 5!0#)

") Col)$ vol) 4$ p) 7!$ n) 26 5!0#

6) Col)$ vol) 4$ p) 2@!$ n) @97$ ad 2 5!"@)

) Col)$ vol) 4$ p) "#$ n) !! 5!669)

9) Col)$ vol) 4$ p) "#$ n) !! 5!669 and Col)$ vol) 4$ p) 7!$ n) 26$ ! 5!0#)

7) See Col)$ vol) 44$ p) 2@@$ n) !676$ 5!999)

!0) Col)$ vol) 4$ p) @!$ n) 600$ 2 5!97)


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!!) Col)$ vol) 4$ p) 7!$ n) 26 5!0#)

!2) Col)$ vol) 4$ p) !00$ n) @!! 5!27)

!@) Col)$ vol) 4$ p) 6#2$ n) !!6 5!9"7)

!#) ,ere$ the term perverse does not necessarily reer to the Si(th and Jinth

Commandments as it tends to in modern 'nglish parlance) &ather$ it is a broader

nomination)

!") Col)$ vol) 4$ p) !00$ n) @!! 5!27)

!6) Col)$ vol) 4$ p) !00$ n) @!! 5!27)

!) Col)$ vol) 4$ p) 77$ n) @!! 5!27 and Col)$ vol) 4$ p) 6#2$ n) !!6 5!9"7) -he C4C/!

5can) 2@!6 observes that those who participate in schismatic and heretical worship aresuspect o heresy)

!9) Col)$ vol) 4$ p) 77$ n) @!! 5!27)

!7) 4bid)H Col)$ vol) 4$ p) 2@!$ n) @97 5!"@ and Col)$ vol) 4$ p) 6#2$ n) !!6 5!9"7)

20) Col)$ vol) 4$ p) !00$ n) @!! 5!27)

2!) 4bid)

22) Col)$ vol) 4$ p) 6#2$ n) !!6 5!9"7)

2@) Col)$ vol) 4$ p) !00$ n) @!! 5!27)

2#) 4bid)

2") -hese conditions are ta*en rom Col)$ vol) 4$ p) 2@!$ n) @97 5!"@ and Col)$ vol) 4$ p)

672$ !2"$ 6 5!96#)

26) 4t would appear than an e(ample o this would be the danger o a Catholic dying in

the state o mortal sin)

2) A ritus damnati would be a rite o the non1Catholic priest which has been

condemned or which contains heresy or alse worship)

29) Col)$ vol) 4$ p) #29$ n) 2 5!9!9 and Col)$ vol) 44$ p) #!!$ n) !@62$ 2 5!9!) See

also Col)$ vol) 4$ p) "!7$ n) 72!$ 2 5!9#!)

27) +y material presence is meant that it is not ormal$ i)e) they are not voluntarily and

actively ?oining in the actual rites o the uneral)

@0) Jormally$ this is understood in the sense that$ by going to the unerals o heretics$there must be no danger to the Catholics aith) See below)


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@!) Col)$ vol) 4$ p) #29$ n) 2 5!9!9)

@2) Col)$ vol) 4$ p) !90$ n) @"# 5!"! and Col)$ vol) 4$ p) 2!$ n) @7 5!"!)

@@) Col)$ vol) 4$ p) 2!$ n) @7 5!"!) 4n some places$ this translated into accompanyingthe body to the cemetery but not actually entering the non1Catholic cemetery)

@#) Col)$ vol) 4$ p) #0"$ n) 62$ ! 5!90@ and ibid)$ p) 672$ n) !2"$ ! 5!96#)

@") Col)$ vol) 4$ p) 27#$ n) #"9 5!"! and ibid)$ p) 672$ n) !2"$ " 5!96#)

@6) Col)$ vol) 4$ p) "!7$ n) 72! 5!9#!)

@) Col)$ vol) 4$ p) 2@0$ n) @99$ ! and 2 5!"@)

@9) Col)$ vol) 4$ p) @!$ n) 600$ ! 5!97H Col)$ vol) 4$ p) #0"$ n) 62$ 2 5!90@ and Col)$vol) 4$ p) 672$ n) !2"$ ! and # 5!96#)

@7) Col)$ vol) 4$ p) #20$ n) ! 5!9!)

#0) See above on discussion o unerals o non1Catholics)

#!) Col)$ vol) 44$ p) 6$ n) !#!0$ ! 5!9#)

#2) Col)$ vol) 4$ p) #29$ n) 2 5!9!9)

#@) Col)$ vol) 4$ p) #29$ n) 2 5!9!9)

##) Col)$ vol) 4$ p) #29$ n) 2 5!9!9)

#") All our o these are ta*en rom Col)$ vol) 4$ p) #29$ n) 2 5!9!9)

#6) See Col)$ vol) 4$ p) 70$ n) 26# 5!0#)

#) Col)$ vol) 4$ p) 27#$ n) #"9$ ! 5!6#)

#9) Col)$ vol) 4$ p) 672$ n) !2"$ 9 5!96#)

#7) Col)$ vol) 4$ p) 672$ n) !2"$ !0 5!96#)

"0) Col)$ vol) 44$ p) 2#0$ n) !!@ 5!997)

"!) Col)$ vol) 4$ p) #@2$ n) @7$ ad 2 5!920)

"2) Col)$ vol) 4$ p) 2@!$ n) @97$ ad @ 5!"@)

"@) Col)$ vol) 4$ p) 26@$ n) #!!$ ad 2 5!"9)

"#) Col)$ vol) 4$ p) 6#2$ n) !!6 5!9"7)


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