Cardinal Darío Castrillón Hoyos Promotes ‘An Ecumenism of Return’

“An ecumenism of return” is the pejorative with which a famous progressivist labeled the type of ecumenical activity which seeks to bring people into the Catholic Church. Now it appears that the Holy See is endorsing the idea.

Cardinal Darío Castrillón Hoyos recently granted an interview to the liberal Italian journal, Jesus. (It is here in English translation.) The much-awaited document clarifying Summorum Pontificum and the Church’s dealings with the SSPX were among the subjects discussed.

The interviewer remarked: “But with the Lefevbrians there is also a problem of acceptance of ecumenical dialogue…” (ellipsis in original).

To which the Cardinal responded: “Yes, indeed there are difficulties with the interpretation of texts of the Council on this issue and with some concrete ecumenical practices, but no bishop of the Fraternity of St. Pius X will say that there is no need to seek the unity of the Christians.”

While there are “difficulties” in interpreting the text of Unitatis Redintegratio (difficulties, that is, interpreting them in light of tradition), and “problems” with certain concrete practices, the need to seek the unity of all the baptized is not in dispute. The implication here is that seeking Catholic unity is the essence of ecumenism. True, His Eminence does not specify “Catholic” unity, but does he really think that “no bishop of the Fraternity of St. Pius X” would dispute a “unity” which is not totally Catholic? He is not so callow. It would seem that, to the Cardinal, the “difficult” parts of Unitatis Redintegratio and certain non-traditional ecumenical practices which traditionalists object to are not binding on the Church, but seeking to extend Catholic unity is binding.

While he is not the Church’s official spokesman on ecumenism, Cardinal Castrillón Hoyos does speak for the Holy Father on the subject of traditionalists, most of whom have “difficulties” and “problems” with the way ecumenism is often carried out. We may assume that this is the official line.