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Christian Unity
[1] INTRODUCTION
The impetus for establishing CIHIC came from the realisation that a large proportion of English speaking people,
had a very negative view of the place of the Catholic Church in history. This was due to generations of people
in England being subjected to state sponsored myths and distortions, together with the censorship of positive Catholic
achievements.
When setting out to rectify this problem, CIHIC recognised that some Catholic kings, Churchmen and others had not
acted in a Christian manor. But, as their crimes were already well advertised, there was no need to repeat them.
CIHIC would concentrate on correcting the more numerous false accusations.
In preparation for the new millennium, pope John Paul II called for a 'Purification of Memory'. As a contribution
to the healing of historically based animosities, he wanted Catholics to admit faults of the past and ask pardon
from the decedents of those involved. As a first step, he asked the International Theological Commission to prepare
a document, and it was published in the year 2000.
CIHIC has set this page aside so as to make the document, and further developments, better known.
[2] In March 2000, Cardinal Ratzinger provided a brief outline of the theological document.
Cardinal Ratzinger Explains Purification of Memory
'The Purification of Memory' by Cardinal Ratzinger
At a press conference in Rome on March 7, 2000, Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger briefed reporters on
the new document entitled Memory and Reconciliation: The Church and the Faults of the Past. That document, prepared
under his editorial direction by the International Theological Commission, is designed as an explanation of the
appeal for pardon which Pope John Paul II will make on March 12.
"The Church of today cannot serve as a tribunal to judge the Church of the past," Cardinal Ratzinger
observed. "But we can seek to 'do' the truth-- that is, we can not deny the faults of the past-- while at
the same time we will not adopt a stance of false humility, and acknowledge errors which have not been demonstrated
historically."
The Christian world can never deny that the sins of individual sinners wound the entire Church, the cardinal observed.
He recalled the words of Cardinal Consalvi, when he was informed that Napoleon wanted to destroy the Church. "He
will never succeed," Cardinal Consalvi said; "We have not managed to do it ourselves!"
The document produced by the International Theological Commission, Memory and Reconciliation, was released in French
on March 1. The document notes that the "purification of memory is an act of courage and humility," and
predicts that the Church will see an "increased credibility of ecclesial pronouncements" as the world
recognizes the virtue of the confession of pardon.
At the same time, Memory and Reconciliation concedes that there have been "expressions of unease" among
many Catholics because of what " may look like acquiescence in the face of accusations made by those prejudicially
hostile to the Church." And the International Theological Commission also notes that there are " no precedents
for requests for forgiveness by the magisterium for past wrongs."
Still, the document cites areas in which the history of the Church has clearly been marked by error. These include:
First, the division of Christianity. In that process-- both
at the time of the Great Schism and later during the Reformation-- the document notes that a "lack of supernatural
love, of 'agape', seems to have been common to both the breaches.
Second, the use of force in the service of truth. At times, such
as during the Inquisition, Church leaders wrongfully used violence and compulsion against dissidents, thus violating
the principle of religious freedom.
Third, the relationship between Christians and Jews. While noting
that the Holocaust "was certainly the result of the pagan ideology that was Nazism," the document concedes:
"it may be asked whether the Nazi persecution of the Jews was not made easier by the anti-Jewish prejudices
imbedded in some Christian minds and hearts."
Fourth, the evils of the current day. Memory and Reconciliation
asks whether the Church has done enough to stop "the denial of the right to life of the unborn child sanctioned
in pro-abortion legislation, and a great indifference to the cry of the poor in entire sectors of the human family."
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[3] The easiest way to access the full document is to type - Memory and Reconciliation - into the Google Search
Engine. Or it is available by clicking:
MEMORY AND RECONCILIATION: THE CHURCH AND THE FAULTS OF THE PAST
The following are examples of efforts being made to heal the scars of history.
[4] London
Catholic & Protestant Martyrs (pdf).
[5] The Martyrs and Christian
Unity - by the Secretary of UNITAS [www.unitas.org.uk]. ; (pdf).
(Both papers have been taken from the Tyburn & London section of : The Seed of the Church
: Martyrs of Christian Unity)
This version: 3rd October 2010
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