False Ecumenism Takes a Formidable Beating

The following is reproduced from the web site of Professor Enrico Maria Radaelli. It is a review by Corrado Trinci O.M.R.I., of Professor Radaelli’s own book: The Mystery of the Blindfolded Synagogue. The Professor is an author who should be known to us. A student of Romano Amerio’s and a serious intellectual critic of ecclesial novelties, he has earned the respect of some well-placed ecclesiastics. With the likes of Radaelli in our camp — neither lightweight nor theological troglodyte — the respectful challenge of the traditionalist critique cannot be dismissed. It appears, moreover, that his critique is being embraced in some unexpected circles.

Romano Amerio’s “Iota Unum“- a Study of the Changes in the Catholic Church in the XXth Century has been described, in reference to Vatican II, as the “best book on the pre-Council, the Council, and post Council”. His student, and close personal friend and collaborator (during the last years), Professor Enrico Maria Radaelli has in his possession the typed script of the sequel to Iota Unum, “Stat Veritas“, where Amerio writes detailed ( fifty five to be exact) commentaries on Pope John Paul II Apostolic Letter “Tertio Millennio Adveniente” promulgated in preparation for the “Giubileo” of the Year 2000.

In addition, Professor Radaelli has in his collection over 200 recorded Audio Tapes of conversations and commentaries of Romano Amerio – all yet to be transcribed and published. It is obvious that these represent a veritable treasure chest from one of the 20th century’s greatest minds.

Professor Radaelli who himself has contributed over 30 articles in the Italian Journal “Sì Sì No No” has written and recently published “Il Mistero della Sinagoga bendata” (Effedieffe Editor, Milano 2002, pp XXIX + 410) with an Introduction by Monsignor Antonio Livi- Dean of the Pontifical Lateran University and Chaplain to His Holiness, John Paul II. It is a scholarly, erudite, detailed and seminal study of the Doctrine of the Most Holy Trinity as promulgated by St. Ambrose, St. Augustine, St. Thomas and through them, by the Magisterium of the Church through the centuries.

It is a defence of the fundamental Dogma of the Faith, God in Three Persons, the Blessed Trinity. It therefore pushes aside and refutes any attempt to bring together, the Divinely- revealed Christian concept of God, i.e. The Blessed Trinity, with the two most obvious (and any other, for that matter) Monotheistic Religions of today, Judaism and Islam – as the heretical ecumenists of today ( including senior clergymen) attempt to do. This is the Fundamental Thesis of the Book. (ref. St. Thomas, S. Th., I, 39. 6). This serenely Catholic Thesis rapidly dismantles the hardly-Catholic Ecumenism of the last forty or so years.

For the first time in the history of Theology, this book contains a metaphysical thesis which demonstrates that, after Revelation, one has to distinguish even rationally the Christain Trinitarian monotheism (as revealed by Jesus Christ) from other monotheisms and false gods (of Judaism and Islam, for example), basing oneself on S. Thomas’s affirmation that “God is the Three Persons” (S. Th., I, 39, 6).

Also, for the first time in the history of Catholic resistance to fundamentalist ecumenism, an essentially anti-ecumenical book can boast of an Introduction by an important churchman of the Pope’s own University (The Lateran). Monsignor Livi strongly supports the arguments developed on the Blessed Trinity as he sees in them a decisive barrier against the prevalent, current spirit pervading the Church, which is anti-Dogmatic, doctrinally relativistic and naturalistic – all enemies of those who love Truth.

Monsignor Livi, in a warm appreciation of this book, writes of Professor Radaelli’s “exceptional logical rigour” and “intrinsic coherance” of the arguments developed. Moreover, the arguments presented cannot be refuted: to refute them is to refute the very basis of our Catholic Faith.

Il Mistero della Sinagoga Bendata” (The Mystery of the Blindfolded Synagogue) has been forwarded to the highest authorities in the Church. Their silence is deafening! As a result, Professor Radaelli has addressed a letter “Ad Silentium Pastorum” to various prelates in order to break the silence surrounding his book.

He demands an audience; he demands to be heard. If his arguments are not deemed Catholic, then he expects his errors, if any, to be pointed out in a spirit of active, benevolent Charity. He fears, however, that the silence surrounding the book comes from an uncomfortable realization that the point of departure of today’s ecumenical dialogue in the Church needs to be universally and radically altered – a “cataclysmic” movement- to use Professor Radaelli’s own words.

I hope this brief introduction to Prof. Radaelli’s book will demonstrate the timely, critical, and absolutely essential need to have the work translated, published and distributed in the English-speaking world. To quote one critic, who writing in the Roman Daily newspaper “Il Tempo” said of Romano Amerio:

“In an era of undeniable crisis, the greatest gift that an elder of the faithful can make to his Church is to speak clearly” – the same can be said today for his pupil and collaborator Professor Enrico Maria Radaelli.

Nothing is more important and, at the same time, more urgent.