Our Attitude Towards Separated Brethren

Fr. Williams Onyilo, CSSp.

According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC 818), “separated brethren” are baptized Christians who are not in full communion with the Catholic Church, but who cannot be blamed for the sin of separation if they were born into those communities. The Church accepts them with respect and affection as brothers and sisters in Christ, acknowledging that they are justified by faith through Baptism.

In our world today, Christians are divided into different denominations such as the Catholic Church, Deeper Life Bible Church, Redeemed Christian Church of God, Living Faith Church, Apostolic Church, Seventh-day Adventist Church, and many others. The Catholic Church refers to many of these communities as “separated brethren” because they once shared full communion with the Church before separating over doctrines, dogmas, and methods of worship.

Today, however, our attitude towards one another is often marked by antagonism and rivalry. Yet, the Church’s teaching on ecumenism does not encourage hostility towards other Christians, provided our faith is not endangered by their practices. Even the Pope, the head of the Catholic Church, consistently promotes ecumenism and mutual understanding rather than antagonism.

It is important to note that this spirit of rivalry did not begin in our own generation. It also existed during the time of Jesus Christ. People were divided over the baptism of John and the baptism of Jesus, the disciples of John and the disciples of Jesus, as well as Christians from Jewish backgrounds and those from Gentile backgrounds. Yet, Jesus always sought unity among them.

Regarding baptism, Acts 19:2–6 tells us:

“Paul made his way overland as far as Ephesus, where he found a number of disciples. When he asked, ‘Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you became believers?’ they answered, ‘No, we were never even told there was such a thing as a Holy Spirit.’ He asked, ‘Then how were you baptised?’ They replied, ‘With John’s baptism.’ Paul said, ‘John’s baptism was a baptism of repentance; but he insisted that the people should believe in the one who was to come after him — namely Jesus.’ When they heard this, they were baptised in the name of the Lord Jesus, and the moment Paul had laid hands on them, the Holy Spirit came down on them, and they began to speak in tongues and to prophesy.”

Similarly, John 4:1–3 says:

“When Jesus heard that the Pharisees had found out that he was making and baptising more disciples than John — though in fact it was his disciples who baptised, not Jesus himself — he left Judaea and went back to Galilee.”

In the area of discipleship, the disciples of John once approached Jesus and asked:

“Why do your disciples not fast as we do?”

Although John’s disciples showed signs of antagonism, Jesus always responded with love, understanding, and a desire to unite rather than divide.

Luke 9:49–50 further demonstrates this spirit:

“John answered and said, ‘Master, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we forbade him because he does not follow with us.’ And Jesus said unto him, ‘Do not forbid him, for he that is not against us is for us.’”

There was also tension between believers from Jewish backgrounds and those from Gentile backgrounds. Acts 15:1–2 says:

“Certain men came down from Judea and taught the brethren, ‘Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.’”

In this case, Paul and Barnabas worked hard to settle the disagreement peacefully and preserve the unity of the Church.

Today, in the first reading, we encounter a similar example. An Alexandrian Jew named Apollos, who was well-versed in the Scriptures and filled with zeal for preaching, met Paul and the early Christians. Instead of rejecting him, they welcomed and encouraged him. As a result, the Gospel reached even more people.

I have come to realise that we will win more souls for Christ when we work together, each contributing our different gifts and talents. We all serve one God, one Lord Jesus Christ, and one Holy Spirit who is given to us all.

May God bless us as we continue to work in the spirit of love, unity, and ecumenism. Amen.