By Bro. Michael Dimond, O.S.B.
Read more of Benedict XVI’s Recent Heresies

Benedict XVI, October 27, 2009 Message to “Orthodox” Bishop Karekin II for the 10^th anniversary of his election and enthronement as a schismatic bishop of the “Orthodox” Church:

“To His Holiness Karekin II Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians

‘Grace to you and peace from God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ’ (Gal 1:3) On the joyful occasion of the 10^th anniversary of your election and enthronement as Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, I extend to Your Holiness my warm fraternal greetings. I give thanks to God for the blessings he has bestowed on the Armenian Apostolic Church through Your Holiness’ ministry… The recovery of freedom for the Church in Armenia towards the end of the last century brought joy to Christians throughout the world. The immense task of rebuilding the ecclesial community fell upon Your Holiness’ shoulders. What has already been achieved, in such a short time, is truly remarkable: new initiatives have flourished for the Christian education of the young, for the training of clergy, the creation of new parishes, the building of new churches and community centers, as well as the promotion of Christian values in the social and cultural life of the nation. Your Holiness, I implore Almighty God that, through the intercession of St Gregory the Illuminator, we may be ever more closely united in a holy bond of Christian faith, hope and love. On this significant anniversary, I pray that the blessings of the Triune God may rest upon Your Holiness: may the love of God the Father enfold you, the wisdom of the Son enlighten you and the fire of the Holy Spirit inspire you. With sentiments of esteem, I assure you of my fraternal affection in the Lord.” [1]

Benedict XVI says that the anniversary of the election of a schismatic bishop is “joyful.” He states that “blessings” have come to people through the schismatic’s “ministry.” Benedict XVI states that the immense task of rebuilding the church has fallen upon the schismatic’s shoulders. He then praises the schismatic for the “remarkable” schismatic work that has been completed. He praises the new schismatic churches and clergy that have been created. The schismatic Benedict XVI then states that he esteems the schismatic and prays that the blessings of God will rest upon the schismatic. Anyone who does not agree that Benedict XVI is a schismatic, and that he believes that schismatic bishops are part of the one true Church of Jesus Christ, is a total liar.

Benedict XVI, November 1, 2009 Speech after the Angelus: “Exactly 10 years have passed since high-ranking representatives of the Lutheran World Federation and the Catholic Church signed the Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification, on 31 October 1999, in Augsburg. That statement was also adhered to in 2006 by the World Methodist Council. The Document attested to a consensus between Lutherans and Catholics on the fundamental truths of the doctrine of justification – truths which lead us to the heart of the Gospel itself and to the essential questions of our life. We are accepted and redeemed by God; our existence is inscribed on the horizon of grace; it is guided by a merciful God, who pardons our sins and calls us to new life in the footsteps of his Son; we live by the grace of God and are called to respond to his gift; all this frees us from fear and instills hope and courage in a world full of uncertainty, uneasiness, and suffering. On the day that the Joint Declaration was signed, the Servant of God John Paul II defined it as “a milestone on the difficult path to re-establishing full unity among Christians” (Angelus, 31 October 1999). Thus, this anniversary is an occasion to remember the truth about the justification of man, to which we bear common witness, reuniting us in ecumenical celebration that we may look more deeply into this doctrine and others that are the object of the ecumenical dialogue.”[2]

He states that the Catholic Church and the Lutheran World Federation signed the Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification. Benedict XVI states that this agreement formed a consensus between Lutherans and Catholics on the fundamental truths of the doctrine of justification. Benedict XVI also states that Lutherans and Catholics bear common witness on how man is justified. The Joint Declaration on the doctrine of justification states clearly that man is justified by faith alone and that the condemnations of the Council of Trent against the Lutherans for believing in justification by faith alone no longer apply.

Benedict XVI, October 29, 2009 Address to the new ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Iran: “… the Holy See aims to strengthen its relations with the Islamic Republic of Iran, and promote reciprocal understanding and collaboration with a view to the common good. Iran is a great Nation that possesses eminent spiritual traditions, and its people has a profound religious sensibility. This can be a reason for hope in an increasing openness and a trusting collaboration with the international community… Today everyone must hope for and support a new phase of international cooperation… Faith in the one God must bring all believers closer, impelling them to work together for the defense and promotion of fundamental values. Among these rights, religious freedom and freedom of conscience play a fundamental role, because they constitute the basis of the other freedoms… Moreover, as I have often had the opportunity to emphasize, it is an urgent necessity of our time to stabilize cordial relations among believers of different religions, in order to construct a world that is more human and in greater harmony with God’s plan for Creation.”[3]

Benedict XVI wants to strengthen relations with an Islamic country. He states that Iran – a country that is about one hundred percent Islamic in its “faith” – has eminent spiritual traditions. He also says that Iran’s people possess “a profound religious sensibility.” He then says that we need to work with believers of different false religions to construct a world more in accord with God’s plan.