One of the commentators on the relevant CWN article expressed it well: “It’s past time someone said this. Too often ecumenism is taken to mean the weakening of the teachings of the Church and the addition of non-Catholic ritual and beliefs.” A-m-e-n-!
Past time is better than no time — or, “better late than never.” All the scandal that has transpired, and is ongoing, in the name of ecumenism and inter-religious dialogue should cease at these words of Cardinal Levada defining its purpose (or “final cause” to you Aristotelians out there): “Union with the Catholic Church is the goal of ecumenism.”
I once asked a priest, who worked in the office for ecumenism and inter-religious affairs for a major American Archdiocese, if he could tell me the purpose, or goal, of ecumenism. His answer? The exact words, burned into my mind by their very absurdity, were: “We’ll know it when we see it.” When I asked Father if the conversion of non-Catholics (i.e., “Union with the Catholic Church”) was the goal, he replied most firmly in the negative.
I wonder what he’s thinking now.
