The National Catholic Register reports on Bishop Antonio Suetta of Ventimiglia-San Remo, Italy, who issued a pastoral letter urging Catholics to evangelize Muslim migrants, emphasizing charity, respect, and a visible Christian identity. The St. Nicholas Tavelic Network (TavNet), a group supporting converts from Islam, praised the bishop’s initiative, echoing his call for clear proclamation of the Gospel. While the article presents this as a commendable missionary effort, it is saturated with the very errors that have led to the post-conciliar apostasy: a false understanding of ecumenism, a diluted sense of the Church’s exclusive salvific mission, and a dangerous conflation of natural virtues with supernatural truth.
The Illusion of “Charity” Without Truth
Bishop Suetta’s pastoral letter, titled “There Is No Greater Love,” attempts to balance respect for Muslims with the duty to proclaim the Gospel. He writes: “We shall also learn, in a more conscious way, how to exercise our duty as baptized persons, which is a task of love and therefore of proclamation of Him who is the salvation of mankind.” On the surface, this appears orthodox. However, the context reveals a fundamental flaw: the bishop’s approach is rooted in the conciliar spirit of Nostra Aetate, which, despite its ambiguous language, has been used to foster religious indifferentism—the condemned error that all religions are equally valid paths to God (cf. Syllabus of Errors, Proposition 17).
The bishop’s emphasis on “aspects we hold in common with Muslims” and collaboration in upholding “basic morality” is a classic modernist tactic. It reduces the supernatural mission of the Church to a mere humanitarian project, ignoring the primary duty to convert souls to the one true Faith. As Pope Pius XI taught in Quas Primas, Christ’s reign is not merely spiritual but extends over all nations and aspects of life, demanding public acknowledgment of His kingship. The bishop’s focus on “common morality” subtly implies that Islam possesses a natural goodness that can be harmonized with Catholic truth, a notion condemned by the Church’s perennial teaching that outside the Church there is no salvation (Extra Ecclesiam nulla salus).
The Heresy of Religious Liberty and False Ecumenism
The bishop’s call for “delicate respect for their freedom” in evangelization echoes the conciliar declaration Dignitatis Humanae, which enshrines the heresy of religious liberty—the idea that man has a right to choose his religion without coercion. This directly contradicts the teaching of Pope Pius IX in the Syllabus of Errors (Proposition 77), which condemned the notion that “in the present day it is no longer expedient that the Catholic religion should be held as the only religion of the State, to the exclusion of all other forms of worship.” The Church has always taught that error has no rights, and while physical coercion is not permitted, the state must recognize the true religion and suppress public manifestations of false worship.
Bishop Suetta’s reference to Nostra Aetate is particularly telling. This document, a product of the modernist Vatican II council, has been used to justify dialogue with non-Catholics at the expense of conversion. The bishop’s invocation of St. Francis of Assisi’s meeting with the Sultan is a misreading of history. St. Francis sought to convert the Sultan and even offered to undergo martyrdom to prove the truth of the Faith. He did not engage in “dialogue” or seek common ground on morality. The bishop’s version is a sanitized, modernist reinterpretation that strips the saint of his missionary zeal.
The Dangers of “Visible Christian Identity” Without Doctrine
The TavNet network’s support for the bishop’s letter highlights a recurring problem among those who claim to be traditional Catholics: they often accept the conciliar framework while trying to work within it. Numair R., head of TavNet’s U.K. chapter, states that “a strong Christian identity is absolutely necessary to evangelize Muslims.” Yet, this “identity” is not defined by the unchanging doctrines of the Faith but by a vague sense of “witness” and “love.” The network’s emphasis on “genuine respect and charity” mirrors the language of Pope Leo XIV (Robert Prevost), a known modernist who has consistently promoted interreligious dialogue over conversion.
The bishop’s analogy of the “rope” for a drowning man is apt, but his application is flawed. He writes: “How many Muslims living among Christians will turn to them on the day of judgment and say: ‘Why did you not throw me the rope? Why did you not make me know the truth?’” This is a powerful image, but it is undermined by his refusal to clearly condemn Islam as a false religion. The “rope” is not merely “love” or “witness” but the fullness of Catholic truth, including the necessity of baptism and the rejection of Islamic doctrine. Without this, the “rope” is a lifeline to nowhere.
The Symptomatic Silence on Islamic Errors
The article and the bishop’s letter are conspicuously silent on the specific errors of Islam. There is no mention of the denial of the Trinity, the divinity of Christ, or the sacramental system. Instead, the focus is on “common morality” and “collaboration.” This is a betrayal of the Church’s mission, which is not to find common ground with error but to proclaim the truth and convert souls. As St. Pius X warned in Pascendi Dominici Gregis, modernism seeks to reconcile faith with science and religion, leading to the corruption of doctrine.
The bishop’s call for “formation and occasions for encounter” is a euphemism for the very interreligious dialogue that has weakened the Faith. True formation would involve teaching the faithful about the dangers of Islam and the necessity of conversion, not fostering a false sense of unity. The Church’s mission is not to make Muslims feel comfortable but to save their souls through baptism and incorporation into the Mystical Body of Christ.
The Role of Converts and the Illusion of Authenticity
The TavNet network, composed of converts from Islam, is presented as a model of authentic evangelization. Yet, their approach is shaped by the conciliar mentality. Joseph L., leader of TavNet’s French chapter, states that converts “do not need ambiguity and diplomatic niceties, but serious accompaniment, rigorous catechesis, the sacraments and a Catholic home.” This is commendable, but it is undermined by their acceptance of the conciliar framework. True catechesis would include a clear condemnation of Islam and the necessity of abandoning its errors, not a focus on “accompaniment” that avoids confrontation with falsehood.
The network’s praise for Pope Leo XIV’s call for “genuine respect and charity” reveals their alignment with the modernist agenda. Leo XIV, a product of the post-conciliar church, has consistently promoted interreligious dialogue and downplayed the need for conversion. His exhortations are not rooted in the Church’s traditional teaching but in the spirit of Vatican II, which has led to the current crisis of faith.
Conclusion: A Call to Return to True Mission
Bishop Suetta’s pastoral letter, while well-intentioned, is a product of the post-conciliar apostasy. It reflects the modernist errors of religious indifferentism, false ecumenism, and the reduction of the Church’s mission to naturalistic humanism. The support of the TavNet network, though understandable given their experience, is ultimately misguided, as it reinforces the very errors that have weakened the Church.
The true mission of the Church is not to engage in dialogue with Islam but to proclaim the Gospel and convert souls. This requires a clear rejection of all false religions, including Islam, and a return to the Church’s traditional teaching on the necessity of baptism and the exclusive salvific role of Christ and His Church. As Pope Pius XI declared in Quas Primas, “The kingdom of Christ is not of this world, but it is in this world, and it must be recognized in this world.” The bishop and his supporters must abandon the conciliar errors and embrace the unchanging truth of the Catholic Faith.
Source:
Italian Bishop’s Call to Evangelize Muslims Wins Support From Converts’ Network (ncregister.com)
Date: 04.06.2026