www.byzcath.org Forums General Discussions Town Hall Antichrist is an ecumenist, Vatican preacher warns

CWNEWS is reporting:
Antichrist is an ecumenist, Vatican preacher warns [cwnews.com]

Interesting arguement...

I couldn't agree more.

Found this at Argent by the Tiber Blog...I don't much about Mr. Solovyov but it is interesting.


According to Vatican Radio's summary of his preaching, the cardinal explained that "the teaching that the great Russian philosopher [Vladimir Sergeyevich Solovyov] left us is that Christianity cannot be reduced to a set of values. At the center of being a Christian is, in fact, the personal encounter with Jesus Christ."

Quoting the work "Three Dialogues on War, Progress and the End of History," Cardinal Biffi told his listeners that "the Antichrist presents himself as pacifist, ecologist and ecumenist."

"He will convoke an ecumenical council and will seek the consensus of all the Christian confessions, granting something to each one. The masses will follow him, with the exception of small groups of Catholics, Orthodox and Protestants," he said.

The cardinal added that Solovyov says in that work: "Days will come in Christianity in which they will try to reduce the salvific event to a mere series of values."

No cross

In his "Tale of the Antichrist" Solovyov foresees that a small group of Catholics, Orthodox and Protestants will resist and will say to the Antichrist: "You give us everything, except what interests us, Jesus Christ."

For Cardinal Biffi, this narrative is a warning: "Today, in fact, we run the risk of having a Christianity which puts aside Jesus with his cross and resurrection."

The 78-year-old cardinal said that if Christians "limited themselves to speaking of shared values they would be more accepted on television programs and in social groups. But in this way, they will have renounced Jesus, the overwhelming reality of the resurrection."

The cardinal said he believes that this is "the danger that Christians face in our days � the Son of God cannot be reduced to a series of good projects sanctioned by the prevailing worldly mentality."

However, "this does not mean a condemnation of values, but their careful discernment. There are absolute values, such as goodness, truth, beauty," Cardinal Biffi said. "Those who perceive and love them, also love Christ, even if they don't know it, because he is Truth, Beauty and Justice."

The preacher of the Spiritual Exercises added that "there are relative values, such as solidarity, love of peace and respect for nature. If these become absolute, uprooting or even opposing the proclamation of the event of salvation, then these values become an instigation to idolatry and obstacles on the way of salvation."

Cardinal Biffi affirmed that "if Christianity -- on opening itself to the world and dialoguing with all -- dilutes the salvific event, it closes itself to a personal relationship with Jesus and places itself on the side of the Antichrist."

james

Thanks for the relocation of my post...my mind is not functioning at it's normal 75% rate

james

Good stuff. I think Cdl. Biffi is focusing on those "Ecumaniacs" who are guilty of syncretism and false irenicism, as opposed to those genuine Ecumenists who want to restore the full communion between genuine Christians who hunger for religious truth. Dn. Robert

Antichrist is an ecumenist, Vatican preacher warns

Vatican, Mar. 1, 2007 (CWNews.com) - Excesses of ecumenism and a tendency to downplay the Cross of Christ reflect the spirit of the Antichrist, Cardinal Giacomo Biffi warned Pope Benedict XVI (bio - news) and the leaders of the Roman Curia.

In a meditation preached during the Lenten Retreat for Vatican leaders this week, the outspoken Italian cardinal cited the vision of the Russian philosopher Vladimir Soloviev. �The Antichrist presents himself as a pacifist, ecologist, and ecumenist,� he said.

Cardinal Biffi decried the tendency of some Catholics to promote vague spiritual goals, rather than stressing the centrality of Christ�s Sacrifice. �Today,� he said, �we run the risk of having a Christianity that puts aside Jesus, the Cross, and the Resurrection.� He warned against the temptation to faith in Christ to �a mere set of values.�

Recalling Soloviev�s portrait of the Antichrist, the preacher said that the Antichrist waters down the truths of the faith, making concessions to satisfy every interest, and steadily gaining popularity. �The crowds follow him,� the cardinal said, �except for little groups of Catholics, Orthodox, and Protestants.�

This lingering remnant, Cardinal Biffi said, levels the charge against the Antichrist: �You have given us everything except the one thing that we want: Jesus Christ.�

(The cardinal�s meditations are being preached during private sessions in the Redemptoris Mater chapel of the apostolic palace. But Vatican Radio provided a summary of his talk.)



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Sorry. I didn't know this was already posted!

Dn. Robert

I remember reading a book about Soloviev's "The Antichrist." What was intriguing about it was that the "small group" of Orthodox, Catholic, and Protestant faithful had to flee into the wilderness (obviously a reference to the children of the woman fleeing into the desert, book of Revelation), because the main Church institutions Roman, Orthodox, and Protestant had all been taken over by the devil. I can't remember, offhand, if Soloviev thought that the antichrist would take over the papal throne as well; but I do remember that, in Soloviev's story, the antichrist is either some kind of prominent Cardinal in the Vatican or is helped by the Cardinals in the Vatican. It seems to parallel some versions of the prophecy of St. Malachy that I've heard about, namely, those versions, which suggest that the last Pope will be the antichrist.

I can appreciate what Cardinal Biffi has to say about the spirit of the Antichrist appearing as an "angel of light." The devil is not going to show his true face, horns, tail, and pitchfork. He is much more likely to present himself as a good Christian theologian, environmentalist, and one who stands up for family values. Still, we must be careful not to condemn genuinely good environmentalism, ecumenism, and opposition to unjust war. The cardinal's words could easily be spun into support for a neo-conservative ideology. But, in all likelihood, it could be the case that the antichrist will be a neo-Conservative and a faithful contributor to the Wall Street Journal.

Joe

I forgot to add the wink. So, just so there is no misunderstanding, imagine this as added at the end of my last post

Here is a link to Soloviev's, "Tale of the Antichrist." This is what Cardinal Biffi's Lenten reflections were about on Tuesday. The Tale is a timely and enjoyable read:

http://web.archive.org/web/20051220145353/praiseofglory.com/taleantichrist.htm

Here is an interesting article about Cardinal Biffi from 2000:

http://www.time.com/time/europe/magazine/2000/1030/biffi.html

With regard to Cardinal Biffi's views on favoring Catholic immigration over Muslim immigration, I found this quote to be offensive and disturbing:

"the vast majority of Muslims come here intent on remaining outside our humanity as well as the most essential and non-negotiable aspects of our secular identity."

What does "remaining outside our humanity" mean?

Joe

I think we might have a living Saint in Cardinal Biffi.

God Grant Him Many Years!

If you read the story from the link provided, you'll see that Soloviev had the leadership of the three denominations (for lack of a better word) stand resolute against the Anti-Christ.

The three have symbolic names: Pope Peter II - obviously showing the continuity of the see of Peter; Professor Pauli - the Protestant who would be faithful to the writings of his namesake St. Paul who has influenced Protestant reformers such as Luther and Wesley; and the elder John - the Orthodox monk who, while not an official hierarch of the Church, represents the heart of Orthodoxy = the mysticism of the beloved disciple

I see this as Soloviev listing his take on the virtues of the faithful remnant in each group: i.e. Catholics - fidelity in ecclesial structures, Protestants - fidelity to the Scripture, Orthodox - fidelity to the spiritual life. Of course that doesn't necessarily mean that the other two lack what one has, just what is the prominent feature of each.

At least that's my read of it.

As far as the prophecy of St. Malachy. I think I remember something about the last Pope being Peter II. But nothing about him being an apostate. In fact, wasn't there talk of this when Benedict XVI was named pontiff - something about only 2 popes left until the 2nd Coming?

Glory to Jesus Christ!

Two popes remaining, including Benedict. After Benedict there is only one!

-Uspenije

Okay, thanks for reminding me of the details of the story. It is a fascinating story and has much to commend it. As far as the prophecy of St. Malachy goes, I confess that I do not believe in such things. But, provided I don't die first, I will be around to find out if it comes true.

Joe

Cardinal Biffi's seat in the Archdiocese of Bologna, is the Basilica of San Petronio which features a 1415 fresco of Mohammed the founder of Islam, in Hell. In 2002 a group of terrorists connected to Al-Qaeda were planning on bombing the church, but there plot was foiled by police. Moslems in Italy continue to demand the destruction or removal of the fresco.