A Nod to Honorius
“…the great error of this age [is] that a regard for religion should be held as an indifferent matter, and that all religions are alike. This manner of reasoning is calculated to bring about the ruin of all forms of religion, and especially of the Catholic religion, which, as it is the only one that is true, cannot, without great injustice, be regarded as merely equal to other religions”
– Pope Leo XIII, Encyclical Humanum Genus on Freemasonry
Is the pope Catholic?
Much like that other Socratic inquiry, “Does a bear sh*t in the woods?”, this question was once rhetorical… a stock affirmation of anything obvious.
But it’s been a genuine concern for the last dozen years. Some suggest it’s lingered longer than that.
Monothelite Misstep
Fourteen centuries ago, Pope Honorius I received a clever letter from the Patriarch of Constantinople. To reconcile the eastern and western wings as to whether Christ was of one nature or two, Sergius suggested a middle way.
To bridge the Byzantine Monophysites with the dual-nature dogma of Rome, he proposed a Monothelite theory that Christ was both God and Man, but with only “one will”. Honorius didn’t accept the compromise. But he missed the opportunity to clarify his case.
He rejected the idea of debating whether Christ was of “two operations”, fearing many would assume each was at odds with the other. Honorius noted that Christ couldn’t have opposing wills, since He was always doing that of His Father.
But that was it. The pope neglected to elaborate with a more thoughtful line of argument. That Christ might lack human will was philosophical nonsense and doctrinal heresy. One who was (part) human couldn’t lack human agency.
Honorius didn’t say that. But his response was interpreted that way, and his imprecision gave him posthumous problems.
As this wasn’t ex cathedra teaching binding on all Catholics, the pronouncement didn’t affront papal infallibility. But it caused confusion during a theological controversy.
For this, the Council of Constantinople anathematized Honorius four decades after his death. He was the only pope the Church ever condemned.
That’s probably because Pope Francis wasn’t alive at the time. Sadly, as of a few hours ago, he isn’t now either. In Honorius’s era, it’s hard to imagine the late pope would’ve escaped censure.
A Competing Option
If nothing else, Jorge Bergoglio was a piece of work. He joined the Jesuits in 1958 and ordained a priest a decade later. He was named Cardinal in 2001, after being Archbishop of Buenos Aires for only three years.
Upon the weird resignation of Benedict XVI, he took the papal name Francis.
From the Chair of Peter he made a point to flaunt his “humility”. He opted for a simple cossack shorn of embellishment, shunned the Apostolic Palace for the Santae Marthae guest house, and minimized the moniker “Vicar of Christ.”
Reducing the awe of his office was in character for Francis. His pontificate converted the Vatican to something of an exalted NGO.
Priority shifted from salvation of souls to criticizing capitalism, extolling “the environment”, controlling “the climate”, and advocating for illegal migration to any place except the Holy See.
Regardless readers’ opinions on any of these issues, they aren’t the reasons the Church exists. Plenty of organizations support these causes.
But only one was established by Christ to guard the Faith, spread its Gospel, and teach, govern, and sanctify followers so they’re worthy to enter the Kingdom of God.
Yet Francis treats the Catholic faith as if it were merely a competing option among many viable choices. As he proclaimed to a General Audience with representatives of the world’s various religions:
“the Church regards with esteem the believers of all religions, appreciating their spiritual and moral commitment…Now, to conclude this Audience, I invite everyone, each one on his or her own, to pray in silence. May each one do so according to his or her own religious tradition.”
In his eagerness to be “ecumenical”, Francis welcomed the doctrines of Luther, Cranmer, Calvin, Buddha, and Mohammed. He seemed reluctant to offer vehement opposition to anything, with the sole exception of tradit
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