“Negotiations with the extremists founded by Archbishop Lefebvre are ongoing. Relationships with the Orthodox Church have developed and there is a renewed appreciation of the cultural identity and acceptance of Islam. While the pontificate of John-Paul II strongly endorsed a new understanding of our Judaic roots, the papacy of Benedict seems to favor a more global sense of inclusion of theological pluralisms.”

First, wanting to say or attend the Tridentine (Latin) Mass does not make one an extremist. Pope Benedict XVI has authorized its use for all priests.

Second, reaching out to people of other faiths on the one hand in an ecumenical manner should not imply that the Catholic Church is somehow accepting that their Protestant, Islamic, or Buddhist beliefs will lead them to salvation.

Finally, Vatican II does not reverse long standing church doctrine that the Catholic Church “alone” has the fullness of salvation. “Unitatis Redintegratio” does not contradict the “ex cathedra” statements of salvation by earlier Popes, such as Innocent III, Clement V, Pius V, Eugene IV, Leo X, and Pius IX.