1964 Awake! - Theocratic Collector.com

Disappointment
The second session of the twenty-first
ecumenical council proved to be a great
disappointment to many of the liberal segment
of the Catholic Church and also to
many non-Catholics. Despite all the high
hopes and publicity, the prolonged discussions
and debating within the Council produced
very little of any real importance.
The greatest disappointment came when
the Council failed to vote on the two key
chapters of the policy statement concerning
religious liberty and the Jews.
For a Council that was widely heralded
for the sweeping changes it promised, the
second session proved to be an assembly
of stalemate and compromise. Said one
American Roman Catholic bishop: "I don't
see what we've accomplished. They talk
about it, but I don't see it. I get more work
done before breakfast than we did here all
session."
Another Catholic clergyman declared:
"In the realm of formulated doctrine there
was not much done, admittedly ... Windows
have been opened. And with the
opening of the windows, the dirt of the
house was shown."
It is doubted by many whether the progressive
sentiments expressed by some
bishops will ever be enacted into definite
legislation. This serious doubt lingers because
the powerful, conservative Curia still
maintains the greatest authority next to
the pope, and this body is generally resistant
to liberal ideas.
Regarding the goal of unifying the other
religions of Christendom with Rome, the
fact remains that the Catholic Church's
16
DecepHva SIt1&atioD
conception of unity is still for non­
Catholic religions to return to the authority
of Rome. The doctrines and policies laid
down by centuries of popes and councils
cannot be undone easily.
However, the second session did not
bring the Council to an end. A third session
is scheduled for September 1964.
What that third session, or any future
sessions of the Cotulcil, will accomplish remains
to be seen. But of this we can be
certain: Of far greater value than working
to simplify rituals, taking note of modern
means of communication and agreeing to
cooperate in efforts at calendar reform is
an earnest comparison of one's faith with
the Holy Bible to bring it into harmony
with that inspired Word of God. And
whether the Ecumenical Council does tl).at
or not, it is something that you can and
should do as an individual.
God's Word does not encourage one
whose faith is firmly founded on the Bible
to compromise his beliefs to make them
more acceptable to others. It does not urge
true believers to join hands with those
who advocate other forms of worship, simply
so they can be joined together in organizational
W1ity. It says: "Do not be·
come unevenly yoked with unbelievers. For
what sharing do righteousness and lawlessness
have? Or what fellowship does
light have with darkness?" (2 Cor. 6:14-
18) If that advice is not being followed by
the leaders of your church, then it is advice
that you personally should heed, that
you may worship God in a manner that is
acceptable to him.
• A rattlesnake found in the middle of its meal, while it is swallowing
its prey, is not to be viewed as helpless: It can quickly disgorge even
prey that is almost swallowed and be ready to turn Its fangs on any
disturber of its peace.
A WAKE!