What I Got Wrong About the Latin Mass
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Fr. Pierre Teilhard de Chardin's writings have garnered significant attention among Catholic writers and theologians. However, many Catholics remain unaware of the Catholic Church's repeated censure of Teilhard and his works.
The out-of-print book, "The Truth About Teilhard," by Monsignor Leo Schumacher, provides a comprehensive and critical analysis of this highly respected Catholic figure. The book is available for free online.
Before delving into the details, it's essential to note that Msgr. Schumacher was not a run-of-the-mill Catholic who took to gathering and publishing dirt and the latest gossip about fellow Catholics for "clicks and views". (With the boom of the internet and the misplaced zeal of many of us -myself included- it can be all to easy to fall into this bad habit.) However, Msgr. Schumacher was quite distinguished and had an "extremely interesting academic career."(1). He was a scholar with a distinguished academic career.
He first entered the Catholic University of America, Washington, D.C. as a layman. Then he went to Basselin & College — the philosophy seminary at Catholic University, where he received his Master’s Degree, and later his Ph.D. in philosophy. He has also attended courses at the University of Laval in Quebec, the Sorbonne and L’Institut Catholique in Paris.
Monsignor Schumacher taught philosophy at St. Mary’s Seminary for six years, and at the Borromeo College Seminary for fourteen years. He was made a Papal Chamberlain in 1960; and served on the Executive Council of the American Catholic Philosophical Association.(2)
He passed away in 1994 at the age of 76.
"The Truth About Teilhard" (published in 1968) is a concise 46-page book packed with information about Teilhard. Fr. Daniel Lyons, S.J., writes in the introduction that Teilhard is often presented as a great religious thinker, scientific genius, and paragon of virtue, "(s)o to many it comes as a shock to learn that according to the official ruling of the Catholic Church, Teilhard is not a blessing but a menace." (3)
The book, "The Truth About Teilhard," has eight short chapters, each providing many direct sources to its claims, which is very important.
The Eight Chapters are titled,
1. Did Teilhard Try To Found A New Religion
2. Teilhard—The Religious Evolutionist
3. Teilhard—The Monist
4. Teilhard—The Pantheist5
5. The Christ of Teilhard
6. Teilhard—The Collectivist
7. Teilhard—The Seculatist
8. Teilhard—The Scientist
Again, you can read this very short book in its entirety online for free.
Fr. Lyons continues,
The hard, cold facts are these. In 1957 the Holy Office decreed that his works must be withdrawn from libraries, seminaries, and religious institutions; that they must not be sold in Catholic bookshops, and they must not be translated into other languages. During Teilhard’s lifetime, Rome repeatedly refused to permit him to publish the books for which he is now so famous. In 1962 the Holy Office, with the approval of Pope John XXIII, issued a warning exhortingv all diocesan bishops, superiors of religious institutes, rectors of seminaries, and presidents of universities to protect effectively the minds of all, especially the young, against the dangers in Teilhard’s writings. This monitum stated that in philosophical’ and theological matters, his works swarmed not only with ambiguities but with serious errors that give offense to Catholic doctrine. In 1967, in answer to an inquiry, the Sacred Congregation on Doctrine (the former Holy Office) replied that this warning is still in effect. (4)
The 1962 "Monitum" reads:
Several works of Fr. Pierre Teilhard de Chardin, some of which were posthumously published, are being edited and are gaining a good deal of success. Prescinding from a judgment about those points that concern the positive sciences, it is sufficiently clear that the above-mentioned works abound in such ambiguities and indeed even serious errors, as to offend Catholic doctrine. For this reason, the most eminent and most revered Fathers of the Holy Office exhort all Ordinaries as well as the superiors of Religious institutes, rectors of seminaries and presidents of universities, effectively to protect the minds, particularly of the youth, against the dangers presented by the works of Fr. Pierre Teilhard de Chardin and of his followers.
Teilhard's works were so dangerous that even his own religious order, the Society of Jesus, forbade him to publish his philosophical or religious writings during his lifetime.
In the 2003 document, "Jesus Christ the Bearer of the Water of Life," published by the Pontifical Council for Culture & Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue, they actually mention Teilhard, (footnote 15),
In late 1977, Marilyn Ferguson sent a questionnaire to 210 “persons engaged in social transformation”, whom she also calls “Aquarian Conspirators”. The following is interesting: “When respondents were asked to name individuals whose ideas had influenced them, either through personal contact or through their writings, those most often named, in order of frequency, were Pierre Teilhard de Chardin, C.G. Jung, Abraham Maslow, Carl Rogers, Aldous Huxley, Robert Assagioli, and J. Krishnamurti.
In 1981, the Vatican Press Office reaffirmed the "monitum" on Teilhard's works. It has never been removed even to this day!
In a 1926 letter, Teilhard writes, "Rome does not want me to return to my professorship. They do not seem to have taken a dislike to me, far from it; but they want to save Religion ... I would take enormous delight in breaking all ties." In a conference in 1947, he stated, "I do not think God should be worshipped." "According to my own principles, I cannot fight against Christianity; I can only work inside it by trying to transform and convert it. A revolutionary attitude would be much easier, and much more pleasant, but it would be suicidal. So I must go step by step, tenaciously." (Letter, Mar. 21, 1941)
These are just a few examples of his eerie views.
For excellent information on Teilhard and his dangerous theology and views, I recommend reading "Teilhardism And The New Religion " by Dr. Wolfgang Smith, and the short article "What's the Story on Pierre Tielhard de Chardin?" by Susan Brinkmann on Woman of Grace.com.
Dietrich von Hildebrand, a distinguished Catholic philosopher and writer who was called "the twentieth-century Doctor of the Church" by Pope Pius XII, denounced Teilhard's views, calling him a "False Prophet." In his book, "Trojan Horse in the City of God," Hildebrand criticizes Teilhard's philosophical confusion, theological primitiveness, and crass naturalism.
Dietrich writes,
I MET TEILHARD DE CHARDIN in 1949 at a dinner arranged by Father Robert Gannon, S.J., then president of Fordham University. Previously, the noted scholars Father Henri de Lubac and Msgr. Bruno de Solages had highly recommended him to me. I was, therefore, full of expectations. After the meal, Father Teilhard delivered a long exposition of his views.
Teilhard’s lecture was a great disappointment, for it manifested utter philosophical confusion, especially in his conception of the human person. I was even more upset by his theological primitiveness. He ignored completely the decisive difference between nature and supernature. After a lively discussion in which I ventured a criticism of his ideas, I had an opportunity to speak to Teilhard privately. When our talk touched on St. Augustine, he exclaimed violently: “Don’t mention that unfortunate man; he spoiled everything by introducing the supernatural.” This remark confirmed the impression I had gained of the crass naturalism of his views, but it also struck me in another way. The criticism of St. Augustine, the greatest of the Fathers of the Church, betrayed Teilhard’s lack of a genuine sense of intellectual and spiritual grandeur.
It was only after reading several of Teilhard’s work’s, however, that I fully realized the catastrophic implications of his philosophical ideas and the absolute incompatibility of his theology fiction (as Etienne Gilson calls it) with Christian revelation and the doctrine of the Church.
He then continues to give a detailed overview of Teilhards views and denounces the errors. Anyone who is curious to learn more would do well to read it!
While Teilhard de Chardin's writings have gained widespread popularity in the past decades, it is essential to recognize the Catholic Church's official stance of his work. (Note: past and present Popes "liking" his works do not remove the censures or warning that the Church has officially placed Teilhards work under.) His ideas have had a significant impact on modern Catholics and even significantly influenced the New Age movement! Catholics should be aware of the spiritual dangers associated with Teilhard's writings.
Let us pray that we have the grace to be able to follow Christ and not be easily led astray by false prophets.
But for the grace of God, there go I!
(1) "The Truth About Teilhard," page 47, (back cover.)
(2) Ibid.
(3) Ibid. Page 7.
(4) Ibid.
I have written a bit about Teilhard in the past in my article, "Barron's 'This Is My Body' Somewhat Misses the Mark."
