The Friendlier Face of Rome?
McGeown critically examines Vatican II's seemingly contradictory positions on indulgences and salvation, questioning how Rome can anathematize those who deny indulgences while simultaneously embracing Reformed Protestants as "separated brethren." The article uses primary sources from Vatican II and Cardinal Manning to expose the inherent tensions between Rome's doctrinal claims and its modern ecumenical outreach.
Martyn McGeown Given recent ecumenical propaganda concerning “the friendlier face of Rome,” could someone explain what Vatican II, which met in the 1960s, meant when it stated in “Apostolic Constitution on the Revision of Indulgences” that the Roman Church “condemns with anathema those who say that indulgences are useless or that the Church has not the power to grant them” (Chapter IV, paragraph 8)? Anathema means “accursed.” Does this anathema mean the same thing as the anathemas in the Bible...