Cardinal Gerhard Müller, the former head of the Vatican’s doctrinal office, emphasised that belief in the Holy Trinity and the divinity of Jesus Christ are the core issues that religions fundamentally disagree over.
He likewise called on Catholics to “resist the relapse into ancient heresies…which saw in Jesus Christ only a good person, brother and friend, prophet and moralist.”
His comments were part of a document entitled “Manifesto of the Faith” released last February 8, which sought to publicly correct numerous doctrinal errors under the present papacy.
In the manifesto, Cardinal Müller does not mention the Pope but says that he was asked to make a public testimony of the truth “in the face of growing confusion about the doctrine of the Faith.”
The manifesto was released in the wake of Pope Francis’ highly controversial joint document with an Islamic leader which says that “the pluralism and the diversity of religions” are “willed by God in His wisdom” – a statement many believe contravenes the Catholic Faith. Cardinal Müller takes a contrary stand when he says in the Manifesto:
The distinction of the three persons in the divine unity (CCC 254) marks a fundamental difference in the belief in God and the image of man from that of other religions. Religions disagree precisely over this belief in Jesus the Christ. … Therefore, the first letter of John refers to one who denies His divinity as an antichrist (1 John 2:22), since Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is from eternity one in being with God, His Father (CCC 663).
Providing clarity on the Church’s view of Islam, Cardinal Müller rejects the Muslim view that sees Christ as a prophet, rather than the Messiah. “We are to resist the relapse into ancient heresies with clear resolve, which saw in Jesus Christ only a good person, brother and friend, prophet and moralist,” the Manifesto says.∎
By Jeremy Zions, Veritas