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To: Unam Sanctam
I would recommend you read the actual letter (the link to which is found on this post) before launching into an unfounded attack. The "silent apostasy" in the title refers to a quote from the Pope's encyclical "Ecclesia in Europa":

"At the root of this loss of hope is an attempt to promote a vision of man apart from God and apart from Christ. This sort of thinking has led to man being considered as 'the absolute centre of reality, a view which makes him occupy – falsely – the place of God and which forgets that it is not man who creates God, but rather God who creates man. Forgetfulness of God led to the abandonment of man'. It is therefore 'no wonder that in this context a vast field has opened for the unrestrained development of nihilism in philosophy, of relativism in values and morality, and of pragmatism – and even a cynical hedonism – in daily life'. European culture gives the impression of 'silent apostasy' on the part of people who have all that they need and who live as if God does not exist."

Bishop Fellay's letter attempts to lay the blame for this "silent apostasy" on the false ecumenism now rampant in the Church as a result of Vatican II - he doesn't assert that the Pope is an "apostate," as you caluminously infer. Perhaps before you accuse others of "total and malicious mischaracterization," you should note the beam in your own eye.
27 posted on 02/03/2004 8:18:16 AM PST by Fifthmark
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To: Fifthmark
The implication of the letter is clearly to attack the Pope as an "apostate". The title is called "From Ecumenism to Silent Apostasy: 25 "ears of Pontificate". The introduction states that "The ecumenism is not a stranger to this situation [i.e., the "silent apostasy" referred to in Ecclesia in Europa"]. This analysis of the thought of John Paul II (First Part) will show us that, not without a profound sadness, the ecumenical practices come from a no-catholic thought ()Second Part) and lead to apostasy )Third Part). The entire letter is filled with citations of John Paul II's writing. It is thus a direct attack on the Holy Father and falsely accusing him of apostasy. It completely misrepresents the true intentions of ecumenism, falsely describes the teaching of the Church, and deliberately does not mention Dominus Iesus Christus and the condemnations of religious relativism or syncretism. It is simply not an objective study, but rather an anti-Papal diatribe written in bad faith.
32 posted on 02/03/2004 8:39:44 AM PST by Unam Sanctam
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