Evidence of Rome’s design for the gradual submission of the Protestant Churches. “Interconfessional Co-operation” in 1968 shown to be in harmony with Rome’s plan outlined in 1894.
(Issued by the Trinitarian Bible Society)
“Interconfessional Co-operation”
It was publicly announced early in June 1968 that agreement had been reached on a document entitled, “Guiding Principles for Interconfessional Co-operation in Translating the Bible”. This document was issued jointly by the Executive Committee of the United Bible Societies and the Vatican Secretariat for Promoting Christian Unity. At a meeting in London in January, attended by the Archbishop of York, President of United Bible Societies, Bishop J. G. M. Willebrands, Secretary of the Vatican Secretariat, announced that Pope Paul VI had given his approval to the “Guiding Principles”. The press release was adopted by the United Bible Societies’ Executive Committee and the Vatican delegation in London on January 10th, but the “Guiding Principles” had been under discussion since 1963. The first of a number of developments which made this agreement possible was the recommendation of the Second Vatican Council that Roman Catholics should co-operate with other Christians in translating and distributing the Scriptures.
The National Bible Societies draw nearer to Rome
The United Bible Societies’ organisation includes the British and Foreign Bible Society, the National Bible Society of Scotland, the American Bible Society and many other national Bible Societies. These are now publicly committed to a policy of “interconfessional co-operation” with the Church of Rome.
The Romeward drift of the ecumenical movement with which the national Bible Societies are aligned is increasingly evident in many parts of the world. The Brisbane Courier dated 17th July 1968 reported an announcement by the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Port Moresby and the Secretary of the British and Foreign Bible Society in the territory concerning moves towards complete co-operation on Bible projects in Papua-New Guinea. The moves were decided upon at a conference of Roman Catholic bishops. Until now the work of the British and Foreign Bible Society in that area has been supported by Protestant churches and missions, which are now drawn into “co-operation with Rome”.
A carefully laid plan
These are the actual words of the Roman Catholic Cardinal Vaughan at the opening of the “Catholic Conference” at Preston on 10th September, 1894, and the whole address was published by the Catholic Truth Society in a sixteen page booklet sold for one penny. The Cardinal referred to a recent Papal encyclical to the Rulers and Peoples of the World in which “the Holy Fathers made a new appeal to the conscience of our separated brethren—
Let us one and all labour assiduously to restore the ancient concord and union . . . the present is the most seasonable time . . . why should not our present century bequeath to mankind pledges of concord and the prospect of those great benefits which are dependent upon the unity of Christian faith”.
The Cardinal said —
“The Catholic Church cannot accept Reunion or communion on the condition of change, or modification, or compromise in her own Divine constitution. The charter of her constitution was drawn up by her Divine Founder. It is therefore altogether outside her power to alter it. Such as He has built her upon a Rock, such in constitution she remains for ever.
“But the Church is free for the sake of some greater good to admit changes and modifications in her discipline and legislation which concern times and circumstances. She has power over her own commandments and over questions of discipline, such as clerical celibacy, communion under both kinds, over her liturgy, and the language in which it is clothed. Nor would she hesitate again to make concessions, as she did in times past, for the sake of some greater good . . .”
This is precisely what the Church of Rome has been doing — making these minor concessions “for the sake of some greater good” — that is, in order to encourage reunion on her own terms, and those terms insist upon the impossibility of “any change or modification or compromise in her own Divine constitution”.
Testimony maintained by T.B.S.
For more than 137 years the Trinitarian Bible Society has maintained its testimony and work as a Protestant Bible Society, “for the circulation of Protestant or uncorrupted versions of the Word of God”, and there was never a period when the distinctive and unequivocal testimony of this kind was more needed than it is today — when “evil men and seducers wax worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived”. (2 Timothy, 3, 13).
Copies obtainable from The Trinitarian Bible Society, 217 Kingston Road, Merton, London, S.W. 19. (2d. per copy, postage extra).