Response of Louis PARISOT, the archbishop of Cotonou, Benin, to Vatican II’s Antepreparatory Commission

Quoad opportunitatem Concilii.

Futurum Concilium Oecumenicum, si ad unitatem tantum pertineret, in angustias iturum videretur; attamen, etsi non adhuc matura, omnium Ecclesiarum etiam dissitarum, quasi ab omnibus optata, apparet Conventio.

Concilium scilicet ad falsas opiniones et odia dispellenda, per totum orbem, precum concursus et laborum suscitabit vel amplificabit.

Quoad doctrinam.

a) Effatum “Extra Ecclesiam, nulla salus” non prorsus vulgo adhibiturum esse videtur. Consequenter, nunc clarius “Quid sit Ecclesia? Quid sit Communio Sanctorum” declarari deberetur?

b) Adversus Communismum et eius impudentes progressus nonne deberet socialis Ecclesiae doctrina fortius et fulgentius exponi et acrius propugnari?

Quoad disciplinam.

a) Nonne fasti (calendrier) utiliter reformarentur?

b) Catechismum ad usum puerorum et catechumenorum ad mentem Sancti Pii X exaratum, concretius et in capita singula, quam maxime ex Evangelio profluxum optatur.

c) In Missionum regionibus, fratres nostri separati, vulgarisatione Sanctorum Bibliorum, nos valde superant et illorum neophyti maiorem habent notitiam Verbi Dei quam Catholici et idcirco magis idonei sunt ad fidem propugnandam.

Nonne imitandi sunt in profusione Librorum utriusque Testamenti?

d) Nonne oporteret Breviarium brevius et expurgatum facere? Et eius recitationem quoad tempus, locum et modum, strictiorem reddere?

+ LOUIS PARISOT
Archiepiscopus Cotonuensis

Regarding the opportuneness of the Council.

If the upcoming Ecumenical Council were to pertain only to unity, it would seem about to head into difficulties; nevertheless, although not yet opportune, a Convenvention of all Churches, even those that are separated, appears as if desired by all.

Of course, the Council will kindle or even amplify unions of prayers and efforts for the purpose of dispelling false opinions and hatred throughout the whole world.

With regard to doctrine.

a) The axiom “Outside the Church, there is no salvation” does not seem to be commonly used anymore. Consequently, should “What is the Church?” What is the Communion of Saints?” now be declared more clearly?

b) Shouldn’t the social doctrine of the Church be set forth more forcefully and brilliantly and defended more keenly against Communism and its impudent progress?

As for discipline.

a) Shouldn’t the calender (calendrier) be usefully reformed?

b) A catechism for the use of children and catechumens, composed according to the mind of Saint Pius X, more concretely and in individual chapters, derived as much as possible from the Gospel, is desired.

c) In the regions of the missions, our separated brothers greatly surpass us in the popularization of the Holy Bible, and their neophytes have a greater knowledge of the Word of God than Catholics and, on that account,  are more suited to defend the faith. 

Are they not to be imitated in the profusion of the Books of both Testaments?

d) Would it not be necessary to make the Breviary shorter and expurgated? And to make its recitation stricter as to time, place, and manner?

+ LOUIS PARISOT
Archbishop of Cotonou