Day's Links - 2016-10-15

Lest anyone think that I am alone in bemoaning the attempts of some to create a false dichotomy between evangelisation and proselitysm - and I would in many cases argue, a false distinction altogether -, Steve Skojec makes a similar point:

The error of the statement, however it is translated, should require no explanation. “Doctors of the law” have been raising challenges to the Francis maxim that “proselytism is solemn nonsense” for years. While it is true that the word “proselytism” has taken on a negative context, it can also be understood to mean “to recruit someone to join one’s party, institution, or cause”. (That’s Merriam Webster’s definition, not mine.) “Evangelization” and “proselytism” used to be virtually synonymous. The attempt to set up a false dichotomy between them is troubling.

The words in question, are of course the one's reported as being to the tune of:

The last thing you must do is ‘to say, to convince’. It’s not right to convince someone of your faith,” he said. “Proselytism is the strongest venom against the path of ecumenism.

It is yet another of Bergoglio's many idiotic utterings: As soon as he opens his mouth without reading a script written by someone else, stupid stuff comes out.

As the Vatican has refused to issue an official transcript - to spare us the embarassment of a pope either drunk or crazy or simly evil - it is impossible to know which words he used exactly. However, these words seem to capture the gist of what he has said on many occasions. Steve Skojec puts it well:

If anyone has any example of him doing something to the contrary — of trying to make converts to the Catholic Faith — I would love to hear it.

Indeed, so would I and all of the faithful.