The Wall Street Journal editorial (11/03/99) entitled "By Grace Alone" is the penultimate example of the dangers inherent in ecumenical efforts such as the recent joint declaration between Catholics and a certain branch of the Lutheran Church. The WSJ is generally very fair to the Catholic Church on its editorial page, but the confusion that the joint declaration brings is exemplified in the following quote from the editorial:

"The doctrine of 'works,' Luther charged, had the effect of convincing bad people, abetted by the Church's then practice of selling indulgences, that they could buy their way into heaven. [The Church, of course, never taught that selling indulgences was proper, moral or efficacious toward salvation. It was an abuse that occurred in certain local churches.] The Catholic Church put an end to indulgences in 1562 at the Council of Trent. [This is patently false. Indulgences are still a teaching of the Church] But the dispute over justification, and the Catholic Church's official condemnation of Lutheran teaching, persisted until Sunday. [It still persists because this agreement is merely a summation of what Catholics and Lutheran have always held in common regarding justification, which is not much; they are diametrically opposed to one another. Trent is still quite in effect and is an authoritative, dogmatic Council]. The joint declaration issued by the two churches was the product of 30 years of work at doctrinal reconciliation. It effectively concedes the theological debate to Luther." [It actually does nothing of the kind, but theological exactness of words is not the media's strong point. Getting "the news" out quickly is.] What matter most here is that the WSJ writer, an intelligent individual, believes the Church has adopted Luther's formula!

The major problem with this editorial is not so much the inaccuracies, but the fact that millions of people rely upon the WSJ for accurate, usually unbiased information. This is the inherent consequence of any ecumenical compromise. Does the Church teach that "outside the Church, there is no salvation" still? Yes it does. Does the Church believe that true ecumenism (as conservatives always claim) results in conversion to the one true Church? Nowhere does the joint declaration state that. And certainly those reading the WSJ editorial, both Catholics and Protestants, will not come to that conclusion.

In the final analysis, is the method of dialogue and reworking theological texts the way to true unity in Jesus Christ? Or before we can claim this unity---- that WSJ and euphoric ecumenicists on both sides are so quick to embrace----will those separated return to the Bark of Peter? Do they accept the dogmas as outlined in the Council of Trent? Do they submit to the Sovereign Pontiff? Do they reject sola scriptura? Do they reject sola fide? If not, then there will be no true unity in Jesus Christ, as unity must exist in Truth, and there is no other truth than that of Jesus Christ and His one true Church. Unfortunately, this editorial will do nothing to convert people to Catholicism, and will spread the error of religious indifferentism like wildfire. Pope Pius XI, pray for us!