Cardinal George: We’re back to the Protestant Reformation

There are many good people whose path to holiness is shaped by religious individualism and private interpretation of what God has revealed. They are, however, called Protestants. When an informed and committed group of Catholics, such as the Archdiocesan Pastoral Council, comes up with an agenda for discussion that is, historically, Protestant, an important point is being made. Catholics assimilated to American culture, which is historically Protestant, are now living with great tension between how their culture shapes them and what their Catholic faith tells them to hold.

This is not surprising. Many writers who claim to be Catholic make names for themselves by attacking truths basic to our faith. Without the personal integrity that would bring them to admit they have simply lost the faith that comes to us from the Apostles, they reconstruct it on a purely subjective, individualistic basis and call it renewal. The Second Vatican Council wasn’t called to turn Catholics into Protestants. (emphasis added)

Unfortunately, the resulting chaos, confusion, and distortions, whether intentional or not, in the decades following the Council, have contributed to the fact that far too many Catholics do not know their faith and are protestant in their beliefs. Why, we even hear from them on this blog at times when their comments reveal their true identities...