8.64. Isn’t it more loving to engage in dialogue with other religions instead of trying to convert everyone?
Since Vatican II, Catholics have been told that the “Church” no longer seeks to convert non-Catholics, but rather to “dialogue” with them. This “dialogue” is said to be a path of mutual understanding and enrichment, not of confrontation or proselytism. This mindset has led to joint prayer services with pagans, public admiration of heretical sects, and the belief that conversion is optional.
But this is a complete reversal of Christ’s command:
“Go ye therefore, and teach all nations… teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you.”
The Catholic Church was founded to preach the Gospel to every creature, convert souls, and bring all men into the one true Church. Interreligious dialogue, as promoted by Vatican II and its “popes”, obscures the truth, promotes indifferentism, and leaves souls in darkness.
Below is a comparison showing the Catholic doctrine of evangelization vs. the Vatican II program of interreligious dialogue.
| Category | Catholic Evangelization | Vatican II Interreligious Dialogue | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Convert all people to the one true Faith for their salvation | Foster mutual understanding and “enrichment” between religions | The goal shifted from truth and salvation to worldly harmony |
| Biblical Foundation | “Go... teach all nations... baptizing them” (Matt. 28:19) | “We must walk together in dialogue” (Francis, various speeches) | Dialogue is not commanded by Christ; conversion is |
| View of False Religions | Errors and idols to be rejected and converted | “Elements of truth and sanctification” to be respected (*Lumen Gentium* §16) | Affirming falsehood is spiritual cruelty, not charity |
| End Goal | Bring all men into the Catholic Church | Promote peaceful coexistence and shared values | Coexistence is not salvation; the Church’s mission is supernatural |
| Missionary Spirit | Martyrs, missionaries, and saints who preached Christ alone | Diplomacy, conferences, and ecumenical ceremonies | The spirit of martyrdom is gone; replaced by political correctness |
| Doctrinal Clarity | Salvation only in Christ and His Church (*Extra Ecclesiam Nulla Salus*) | Implicit faith and good will are sufficient for salvation | This denies the necessity of grace, baptism, and the true Faith |
| Historical Practice | Conversion of nations: Europe, Latin America, Africa | Ecumenical gestures: Assisi, Abu Dhabi, synagogue and mosque visits | Vatican II reversed centuries of missionary practice |
| Salvation | Offered only through the one true Church founded by Christ | Presumed for sincere people in all religions | Leads to religious indifferentism and spiritual blindness |
| Fruits | Conversion, martyrdom, flourishing of Catholic civilization | Apostasy, loss of missionary orders, confusion among the faithful | “By their fruits you shall know them” (Matt. 7:16) |
Summary:
The mission of the Church is not dialogue, but conversion. Christ did not say “dialogue with all nations,” but “teach... baptize... observe all things whatsoever I have commanded.” The Vatican II program of interreligious dialogue is a betrayal of the Gospel, a denial of the First Commandment, and a scandal to souls.
True charity is not to affirm people in false religions, but to lead them out—to show them the truth of Jesus Christ, the one true Savior, and His one true Church. Dialogue leaves souls in error; evangelization leads them to eternal life.
As Pope Pius XI declared:
“The union of Christians can only be promoted by promoting the return to the one true Church of Christ, which they have unhappily left.”