Ecumenism Warning: You are not logged in. Your IP address will be publicly visible if you make any edits. If you log in or create an account, your edits will be attributed to your username, along with other benefits.Anti-spam check. Do not fill this in! ==Opposition to ecumenism== ===Catholics=== Most [[Traditionalist Catholicism|Traditionalist Catholics]] (such as [[Society of Saint Pius X]], [[Society of Saint Pius V]], [[Congregation of Mary Immaculate Queen]], [[Slaves of the Immaculate Heart of Mary]] etc.) are almost universally opposed to ecumenism with other faith groups. Critics in the Catholic church are often critical of Vatican II documents that promote ecumenism, such as ''[[Nostra aetate]]'' and ''[[Unitatis redintegratio]]''. Catholic opponents to ecumenism often cite preceding papal documents such as ''Mortalium Animos'' (1928) by [[Pope Pius XI]], who considered the position that the Church of Christ can be divided into sections and that the Unity of the Church has not been achieved as a false opinion. Considering these notions, Pius XI continued "[T]he Apostolic See cannot on any terms take part in [non-Catholic] assemblies, nor is it anyway lawful for Catholics either to support or to work for such enterprises; for if they do so they will be giving countenance to a false Christianity, quite alien to the one Church of Christ. Shall We suffer, what would indeed be iniquitous, the truth, and a truth divinely revealed, to be made a subject for compromise? For here there is question of defending revealed truth."<ref>Mortalium Animos, Pius XI. http://www.papalencyclicals.net/pius11/p11morta.htm</ref> Many traditional-leaning Catholics often strictly interpret the teaching of ''[[Extra Ecclesiam nulla salus]]'' ("outside the Church there is no salvation"), or that salvation can only be found in the Catholic Church.<ref>[https://www.unionleader.com/news/religion/slaves-of-the-immaculate-heart-of-mary-sanctioned-by-catholic/article_ac1831fa-113f-5f55-a625-2649bd79cd5b.html?block_id=664688 Fisher, Damian. "NH-based 'only Catholics go to heaven' group sanctioned by Church; aspiring nun allegedly held against her will", ''New Hampshire Union Leader'', January 8, 2019]</ref> In November 2015 Pope Francis stirred controversy among Catholics when he addressed a gathering of Lutherans in Rome regarding the issue of inter-communion. Addressing the issue of a whether a Lutheran woman married to a Catholic man and attended mass together could receive communion together, Francis said that while he could not give permission for her to receive communion, if she would pray about it and come forward he could not deny her communion. Cardinal [[Robert Sarah]] and Bishop [[Athanasius Schneider]] reacted to the pope's comments saying it would almost never be acceptable for a non-Catholic to receive communion.<ref name="Aleteia">{{cite web|title=Cardinal Sarah, Bishop Schneider Respond to Pope's Comment on Intercommunion|url=https://aleteia.org/2015/11/30/cardinal-sarah-and-bishop-schneider-respond-to-pope-francis-comments-on-intercommunion/|publisher=[[Aleteia]]|date=November 30, 2015|access-date=November 20, 2019|first=Diane|last=Montagna}}</ref> On the matter of inter-communion Sarah said "Inter-communion is not permitted between Catholics and non-Catholics. You must confess the Catholic Faith. A non-Catholic cannot receive Communion. That is very, very clear. It's not a matter of following your conscience."<ref name="Aleteia"/> In early 2019 [[Barry C. Knestout]], the 13th bishop of the [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Richmond]], gave permission to the [[Episcopal Diocese of Southern Virginia]] to ordain Susan B. Haynes as the new bishop at St. Bede Catholic Church in [[Williamsburg, Virginia]]. The Episcopal Diocese of Southern Virginia does not have a cathedral and usually rotates where it hosts ordinations and other events.<ref>{{cite web|title='An act of charity': Virginia bishop defends parish hosting Episcopalian consecration|url=https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/an-act-of-charity-virginia-bishop-defends-parish-hosting-episcopalian-consecration-92025|publisher=[[Catholic News Agency]]|first=Christine|last=Rousselle|date=January 15, 2020|access-date=January 17, 2020}}</ref> However the announcement was met with opposition by many Catholics who objected to holding a non-Catholic worship service and [[Ordination of women and the Catholic Church|women's bishop ordination]] in a Catholic church. Over 3,000 people signed an internet petition objecting to the event. On 17 January the Episcopal Diocese of Southern Virginia announced it would no longer hold Haynes' ordination at St. Bede.<ref>{{cite web|title=Catholic parish will not host Episcopalian consecration|url=https://www.catholicworldreport.com/2020/01/17/catholic-parish-will-not-host-episcopalian-consecration/|publisher=[[Catholic World Report]]|date=January 17, 2020|access-date=January 17, 2020}}</ref> ===Lutherans=== Most churches following the doctrine of [[Confessional Lutheranism]] are generally strongly opposed to ecumenical activities. Most notably the [[Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod]] (LCMS) bars its clergy from worshiping with other faiths, contending "that church fellowship or merger between church bodies in doctrinal disagreement with one another is not in keeping with what the Bible teaches about church fellowship."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://archive.episcopalchurch.org/documents/abrahampaper.pdf|title=A Brief Statement of the Doctrinal Position of the Missouri Synod|year=2009|publisher=Concordia Publishing House|access-date=7 February 2013}}</ref> In keeping with this position, a Connecticut LCMS pastor was asked to apologize by the president of the denomination, and did so, for participating in an interfaith prayer vigil for the 26 children and adults [[Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting|killed at a Newtown elementary school]]; and a LCMS pastor in New York was suspended for praying at an interfaith vigil in 2001, twelve days after the [[September 11 attacks]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.yahoo.com/pastor-apologizes-role-prayer-vigil-connecticut-massacre-021918940.html |title=Pastor apologizes for role in prayer vigil after Connecticut massacre |agency=Reuters |year=2013 |access-date=7 February 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130208120345/http://news.yahoo.com/pastor-apologizes-role-prayer-vigil-connecticut-massacre-021918940.html |archive-date=February 8, 2013 }}</ref> ===Reformed Christians=== When the [[Manhattan Declaration: A Call of Christian Conscience|Manhattan Declaration]] was released, many prominent [[Evangelicalism|Evangelical]] figures—particularly of the [[Calvinism|Reformed]] (Calvinist) tradition—opposed it, including [[John F. MacArthur]], [[D. James Kennedy]], [[Alistair Begg]], and [[R. C. Sproul]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Document on Interfaith Cooperation Causes Rift : Dispute: Unofficial paper drawn up between evangelicals and Catholics draws criticism from Protestants who say it undermines basic tenets.|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1995-03-04-me-38744-story.html|work=[[Los Angeles Times]]|date=March 4, 1995|access-date=July 5, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Irreconcilable Differences: Catholics, Evangelicals, and the New Quest for Unity, Parts 1-3 |url=https://www.gty.org/library/sermons-library/GTY54/irreconcilable-differences-catholics-evangelicals-and-the-new-quest-for-unity-parts-13 |publisher=[[Grace to You]]}}</ref> ===Anglicans/Episcopalians=== [[William David Walker]], who was the first bishop of [[Episcopal Diocese of North Dakota|North Dakota]] (1883–1896), and [[Episcopal Diocese of Western New York|Western New York]] (1897–1917), was strongly opposed to dialogue with other denominations.<ref>Review of G. Sherman Burrows ''The Diocese of Western New York, 1897–1931'' by E. Clowes Chorley in the ''Historical Magazine of the Protestant Episcopal Church'' Vol. 5, No. 1 (March 1936), 71.</ref> In his address to the 1914 Convention of the Diocese of Western New York, Walker said that "in my opinion while divided Christendom remains, separated sects are better apart—each peaceably working out its own salvation."<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=NxkRAAAAIAAJ&dq=The+Diocese+of+Western+New+York&pg=PA54 ''Journal of the Proceedings of the Annual Convention of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the Diocese of Western New York, Volumes 77–79 '' (The Diocese, 1914), 63.]</ref> ===Methodists=== There are some members of the [[United Methodist Church]] who oppose ecumenical efforts which are "not grounded in the doctrines of the Church" due to concerns over theological compromise.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://archive.episcopalchurch.org/documents/abrahampaper.pdf|title=United Methodist Evangelicals and Ecumenism|year=2012|publisher=Southern Methodist University|access-date=11 November 2012|author=William J. Abraham|author-link=William J. Abraham}}</ref> For example, an article published in ''Catalyst Online: Contemporary Evangelical Perspectives for United Methodist Seminarians'' stated that false ecumenism might result in the "blurring of theological and confessional differences in the interests of unity".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://catalystresources.org/issues/303balmer.html |publisher=Catalyst Online: Contemporary Evangelical Perspectives for United Methodist Seminarians |year=1998 |title=The Future of American Protestantism |access-date=11 November 2012 |author=Randall Balmer |author-link=Randall Balmer |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120415002847/http://catalystresources.org/issues/303balmer.html |archive-date=April 15, 2012 }}</ref> The [[Evangelical Wesleyan Church]], a Methodist connexion in the [[conservative holiness movement]], teaches in its [[Book of Discipline]] that ecumenism with denominations that teach doctrines which contradict [[Wesleyan-Arminian theology]] should be avoided:<ref name="EWC2015">{{cite book |title=Discipline of the Evangelical Wesleyan Church |date=2015 |publisher=[[Evangelical Wesleyan Church]] |page=62-63 |language=English}}</ref> {{quotation|1. The church warns all its members that the doctrine of "eternal security" ("once in grace, always in grace," the absolute final perseverance of the saints,) is not in accord with the teachings of the Scriptures. The Word of God plainly teaches the possibility of apostasy and eternal damnation. The scriptural references, as alleged proofs favoring this doctrine, may be showing to rest upon an assumption in each case that the Word of God will not substance. Therefore, all our people should exercise extreme caution in regard to the "eternal security" movement, whose teachings have been such a detriment to true Scriptural holiness and productive of lives of "sinning religion" in many; especially should they guard against financial support to the same. <br /> 2. We further warn against the modern "unknown tongues" and "commercialized healing" movements. We believe that the Holy Ghost distributes His gifts, "dividing to every man severally as He will," for the purpose of edification; and that it is perilous to teach that any one manifestation of the Spirit is necessary to, or an invariable accompaniment of, any work of divine grace. None of our people should support or affiliate with these movements, for their teachings also have done untold damage to the spread of genuine holiness throughout the world.<ref name="EWC2015"/>}} ==={{Anchor|Opposition from some Orthodox Christians}}Eastern Orthodox Christians=== {{See also|Sobornost}} Practically, "the whole of Eastern Orthodoxy holds membership in the World Council of Churches".<ref name="Fey2009">{{cite book|last=Fey|first=Harold C.|title=A History of the Ecumenical Movement, Volume 2: 1948–1968|date=1 December 2009|publisher=Wipf and Stock Publishers|isbn= 978-1-60608-910-1|page= 304|quote= With the exception of the Orthodox Church of Albania the whole of Eastern Orthodoxy holds membership in the World Council of Churches.}}<!--|access-date=23 April 2015--></ref> [[Germanus V of Constantinople|Ecumenical Patriarch Germanus V of Constantinople]]'s 1920 letter {{' "}}To all the Churches of Christ, wherever they may be', urging closer co-operation among separated Christians, and suggesting a 'League of Churches', parallel to the newly founded League of Nations" was an inspiration for the founding of the World Council of Churches. As such "Constantinople, along with several of the other Orthodox Churches, was represented at the Faith and Order Conferences at Lausanne in 1927 and at Edinburgh in 1937. The Ecumenical Patriarchate also participated in the first Assembly of the WCC at Amsterdam in 1948, and has been a consistent supporter of the work of the WCC ever since."<ref name="Ware1993">{{cite book|last= Ware|first= Kallistos |title= The Orthodox Church|date= 29 April 1993|publisher= Penguin Adult|isbn= 978-0-14-014656-1 |page=322|quote=From the beginning of the twentieth century the Ecumenical Patriarchate has shown a special concern for Christian reconciliation. At his accession in 1902, Patriarch Joachim III sent an encyclical letter to all the autocephalous Orthodox Churches, asking in particular for their opinion on relations with other Christian bodies. In January 1920 the Ecumenical Patriarchate followed this up with a bold and prophetic letter addressed 'To all the Churches of Christ, wherever they may be', urging closer co-operation among separated Christians, and suggesting a 'League of Churches', parallel to the newly founded League of Nations. Many of the ideas in this letter anticipate subsequent developments in the WCC. Constantinople, along with several of the other Orthodox Churches, was represented at the Faith and Order Conferences at Lausanne in 1927 and at Edinburgh in 1937. The Ecumenical Patriarchate also participated in the first Assembly of the WCC at Amsterdam in 1948, and has been a consistent supporter of the work of the WCC ever since.}}<!--|access-date=23 April 2015--></ref> Many Orthodox Christians support the cause of ecumenism as espoused by the Patriarch of Constantinople and their autocephalous Churches.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Demacopoulos |first= George |date=2016-03-22 |title=Innovation in the Guise of Tradition |url= https://publicorthodoxy.org/2016/03/22/innovation-in-the-guise-of-tradition-anti-ecumenist-efforts-to-derail-the-great-and-holy-council/ |access-date=2022-06-17 |website=Public Orthodoxy |language= en-US}}</ref> However, some of the Eastern Orthodox laity vehemently oppose ecumenism with other Christian denominations. Such people view ecumenism, as well as interfaith dialogue, as potentially pernicious to Eastern Orthodox Church tradition—as a "weakening" of Eastern Orthodoxy itself.<ref>{{cite web|title= Ecumenism Awareness Introduction|access-date= 2008-12-30|url= http://www.orthodoxinfo.com/ecumenism/|author=Patrick Barnes|publisher=Orthodox Christian Information Center}}</ref> In the Eastern Orthodox world, the Theological Committee of the Sacred Community of [[Mount Athos]], arguably the most important center of Orthodox spirituality, has voiced its concerns regarding the ecumenist movement and has expressed opposition to the participation of the Eastern Orthodox Church.<ref>{{cite web|title= Memorandum on the Participation of the Orthodox Church in the World Council of Churches|date=2007-02-18|access-date=2008-11-01|url= http://www.orthodoxinfo.com/ecumenism/memorandum-on-the-participation-of-the-orthodox-church-in-the-world-council-of-churches.aspx|author= The Theological Committee of the Sacred Community of Mount Athos|publisher= orthodoxinfo.com}}</ref> They regard modern ecumenism as compromising essential doctrinal stands in order to accommodate other Christians, and object to the emphasis on dialogue leading to intercommunion rather than conversion on the part of participants in ecumenical initiatives.{{cn|date=November 2022}} [[Greek Old Calendarists]] also claim that the teachings of the [[Seven Ecumenical Councils]] forbid changing the church calendar through abandonment of the [[Julian calendar]].{{citation needed|date=February 2014}} The Inter-Eastern Orthodox Theological Conference entitled "Ecumenism: Origins, Expectations, Disenchantment",<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.orthodoxinfo.com/ecumenism/thess_conclusions.aspx |title=Conclusions of the Inter-Orthodox Theological Conference "Ecumenism: Origins Expectations Disenchantment"|publisher= orthodox.info|access-date= 2008-11-03}}</ref> organized in September 2004 by the [[Aristotelian University of Thessaloniki]], drew negative conclusions on ecumenism. Russian Orthodox bishop [[Tikhon (Shevkunov)]] has strongly criticised ecumenism, especially with the Catholic Church, saying "Catholics are not even a church and as a result not even Christian."<ref>{{cite news|title= The Vatican's secretary of state visits Moscow for the first time in 19 years|url= https://www.economist.com/blogs/erasmus/2017/08/religious-diplomacy |access-date= 26 August 2017|newspaper=[[The Economist]]|date=25 August 2017}}</ref> Fr. Timothy Evangelinidis of the [http://www.orthodoxresearchinstitute.org/ Orthodox Research Institute] notes, "Orthodoxy also sees itself in a fragile position within the Ecumenical Movement. It is neither completely at home within ecumenism, nor is closed to other Christian groups wishing to dialogue with it."<ref>{{Cite web |last= Evangelinidis |first= Timothy |date= 2017 |title= Orthodox Research Institute |url= http://www.orthodoxresearchinstitute.org/ |access-date= 2022-06-17 |website= Orthodox Research Institute}}</ref> Opposition to ecumenism in the Orthodox Church has its roots in the teachings of many{{quantify|date=November 2022}} modern-day saints{{cn|date=November 2022}} and monastics.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Holy Synod - Encyclicals - On Christian Unity and Ecumenism |url= https://www.oca.org/index.phpholy-synod/encyclicals/on-christian-unity-and-ecumenism |access-date= 2022-06-17 |website=www.oca.org}}</ref>{{qn|date=November 2022}}<ref>{{Cite web |last=Rausch |first= Thomas P. |date= 2019-05-14 |title= Will a New Gathering of Orthodox Scholars and Leaders Push Ecumenism Forward? |url= https://www.americamagazine.org/faith/2019/05/14/will-new-gathering-orthodox-scholars-and-leaders-push-ecumenism-forward |access-date= 2022-06-17 |website= America Magazine: The Jesuit Review |language= English}} | quote = In spite of the fact that a number of Orthodox churches took part in the founding of the World Council of Churches at Amsterdam in 1948, there remains a strong anti-ecumenical spirit among many in the laity and monastic communities.</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title= The Orthodox Church and the Ecumenical Movement |url= http://orthodoxinfo.com/ecumenism/denverreport.aspx |access-date= 2022-06-17 |website= Orthodoxinfo.com | quote = Some groups within the Orthodox Church even "wall themselves off" from those segments of the Church which dabble with the Ecumenical Movement. Even certain monastic communities struggle with their hierarchy over this very same issue. }}</ref> For example, the popular [[Greece |Greek]] Saint, [[Ephraim of Katounakia |Elder Ephraim of Katounakia]] (died 1998), said when asked about ecumenism, "I went to my cell and prayed, asking Christ to inform me what Ecumenism is. I received his reply, which was that Ecumenism has a spirit of wickedness and is dominated by unclean spirits."<ref>{{Cite web |last= Tseleggides |first= Demetrios |title= Elder Ephraim of Katounakia: Ecumenism is Dominated by Unclean Spirits |url= https://www.impantokratoros.gr/C54EBF09.en.aspx?__cf_chl_jschl_tk__=85604d57dc8d638502fffa3f3def9e4fecd641b5-1615935784-0-AaqW_unwnDE2wx599T4ySJBPKTcxde4PHTO-pFe0eTo2eFVoXRnjso_xRUTviMN5U9wdLk4YKqjFjsVbKlxhcpnockf7oua_sVqFsmXk32Xj5iPboBkrrLWIcu3CjMw8TGHS_eOIDdK-uH0rVzTfjRs0UBm8mVYkrKRKn1kFZ8MIZV29I31OAFLARaC-6m9lSrhjk2mhKo2qUKxxoiQ9MD3AtE4z8mQ5DqSRzJoJbpLQvs6sz-5ia3sR32-2Lqo2g4pqgKP9JMd2eishHK6vXVGqAgi4GaiTGgkdrXuNKcsFG9FSJpUskE6a6GJCXtkW_-fcjy3gJK4jrgy-ml9cSR0yXh-NJWJiIrSIL-JreTcDKgNZ9A401a2rjTMT9Luaf_vbZrnEaSyqrDYqvZ6gwrA |website=Impantokratoros Monastery}}</ref> Similarly, the well-known Saint [[Paisios of Mount Athos]] (died 1994) gave many teachings about ecumenism. In a private letter to a priest named Fr. Haralambos on 23 January,1969, Elder Paisios wrote, "With sadness I must write that among all the unionists [ecumenists] I've met, never have I seen them to have either a drop or shred of spirituality."<ref>{{Cite web |title= Blessed Elder Paisios the Athonite's Private Letter Concerning Ecumenism |url= http://orthodoxinfo.com/ecumenism/elder-paisios-the-athonite-letter-on-ecumenism.aspx |access-date=2022-06-17 |website=Orthodoxinfo.com}}</ref> Opposition to ecumenism comes not only from the laity and from monastics, but also from the [[Clergy|Orthodox clergy]]. The popular [[Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia |ROCOR]] metropolitan [[Philaret (Voznesensky) |Philaret]] of [[New York (state)|New York]] (died 1985) wrote a series of three "sorrowful" [[epistle]]s from 1969 to 1975 against ecumenism, in which he called ecumenism an "error".<ref>{{Cite web |title= The First Sorrowful Epistle of Metropolitan Philaret |url= http://orthodoxinfo.com/ecumenism/sorrow.aspx |access-date=2022-06-17 |website= Orthodoxinfo.com}}</ref> The anti-ecumenical words of such prominent and highly-respected figures in the Orthodox Church garners attention from many members of the clergy and laity.<ref>{{Cite web |title= Ecumenism |url= https://www.orthodoxwitness.org/ecumenism/ |access-date= 2022-06-17 |website=Orthodox Witness |language=en-US}}</ref> === Seventh-day Adventism === {{main | Seventh-day Adventist Interfaith Relations}} Some [[Seventh-day Adventist]]s express a visceral rejection of ecumenism<ref> {{cite book |last1 = Bull |first1 = Malcolm |last2 = Lockhart |first2 = Keith |year = 2007 |orig-date = 1989 |chapter = The Politics of Liberty |title = Seeking a Sanctuary: Seventh-day Adventism and the American Dream |url = https://books.google.com/books?id=ACUBSUGQCMYC |edition = 2 |publication-place = Bloomington, Indiana |publisher = Indiana University Press |page = 191 |isbn = 9780253347640 |access-date = 7 November 2022 |quote = [...] full involvement with the council and with the ecumenical movement it promoted would compromise Adventism's special mission [...]. }} </ref>—apparently linked to a traditional Adventist dislike of the Roman Catholic Church.<ref> {{cite book |last1 = Bruinsma |first1 = Reinder |year = 1994 |title = Seventh-day Adventist Attitudes Toward Roman Catholicism, 1844-1965 |url = https://books.google.com/books?id=hlkmAQAAIAAJ |publisher = Andrews University Press |isbn = 9781883925048 |access-date = 7 November 2022 }} </ref> Summary: Please note that all contributions to Christianpedia may be edited, altered, or removed by other contributors. 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