Did the Second Vatican Council say that it does not matter anymore which church a person belongs to?
Did the Vatican II decree on ecumenism change the way the Catholic Church looks at herself?
Did the Second Vatican Council forbid the use of Gregorian Chant in Catholic
churches?
On the contrary, the Second Vatican Council promoted the use of Gregorian Chant in the Church's liturgy. The Council said: "The Church acknowledges Gregorian Chant as proper to the Roman liturgy. Therefore, other things being equal, it should be given pride of place in liturgical services."
Reprinted from January 30, 1998
I read somewhere that the Church used to proclaim itself a "perfect
society," but after the Second Vatican Council it gave up this title.
Is this true?
I never heard of the Church giving up any "titles" as a result of the Second Vatican Council. The term "perfect society," as I understand it, is an ancient juridical term. It does not pertain to "moral perfection" nor any inerrancy, but is juridical paralance for a society or aggregation of persons which has within itself all the means necessary to accomplish its purposes or goals. It is said that only the Church and the State, in this sense, are "perfect societies." It may be that some people who are ignorant about the juridical meaning of the term have mistakenly used it with another meaning, but that may just indicate that they are not "perfect people."
Reprinted from February 20, 1998
Does the Second Vatican Council say anything about parents sending their children
to Catholic schools?
Yes. The Second Vatican Council states, "As to Catholic parents, this Council calls their attention to their duty to entrust their children to Catholic schools when and where this is possible, to support such schools to the extent of their ability, and to work along with those schools for the welfare of their children."
Reprinted from January 31, 1997
Did the Second Vatican Council say that it does not matter anymore which church
a person belongs to?
On the contrary, the Second Vatican Council taught, "Whosoever, therefore, knowing that the Catholic Church was made necessary by God through Jesus Christ, would refuse to enter her or to remain in her cannot be saved." ("Lumen Gentium 14"). Of course, those who are outside the visible boundaries of the Church through invincible ignorance and no fault of their own could possibly attain to salvation, which could come to them only through the Catholic Church, even though they do not know or realize this.
Reprinted from February 21, 1997
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Was the late
Bishop Flavin "in tune" with the Second Vatican Council?
I am not sure what "in tune" might mean. Bishop Glennon Flavin attended and participated in and voted in the Second Vatican Council. He was fully in accord with the documents of the Second Vatican Council and carefully applied and implemented them. As an auxiliary bishop in the Archdiocese of St. Louis, he established "Operation Renewal," a widely imitated program to promote the knowledge of the Second Vatican Council among priests, religious and laity. He was very much a "Bishop of Vatican II." Many of his critics are themselves even now extremely ignorant about the teachings of the Second Vatican Council.
Reprinted from July 2, 1999
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Is it all right now after the Second Vatican Council to give a child at baptism
a name that is not a saint's name?
As far as I know the Second Vatican Council never treated this issue. The current Code of Canon Law says, "Parents, sponsors, and the pastor are to take care that a name is not given (to a child being baptized) which is foreign to Christian sentiment." It is a beautiful practice to give a child a saint's name, even if it has to be a second or third name. The saint can intercede for the person as he or she grows up. The person can learn about the saint's life and try to imitate the saint's virtues in following Christ, etc. For Christians this is certainly preferable over naming children after relatives, sports or rock stars, months or seasons of the year, nuts and fruits, etc.
Reprinted October 1, 1999