The Illusion of Unity: Unraveling the Origins and Meaning of a Misattributed Quote

How a Shrewd Archbishop’s Call for Neutrality Became a Misguided Mantra for Christian Unity

Let’s unravel the mystery of a frequently misattributed quote—a quote I admire and have often used. It is common in religious news articles, blogs, books, and sermons. Its popularity is evident from its recent use in a sermon I heard and from my citation of it in a seminary research paper last week:

“Maintain unity in things essential, liberty in non-essentials, and in all things charity.”

Many attributions of this famous—or infamous—quote are often made to an anonymous source. Some, like myself, have attributed it to St. Augustine. In fact, evangelist Greg Laurie cites Augustine in a Facebook video.¹ Quotefancy.com attributes it to Philipp Melanchthon.² The sermon I recently heard credited it to the German Lutheran theologian Rupertus Meldenius (1627). A quick Google search reveals the widespread confusion surrounding its true origin.

Admit it, the quote has a certain catchy quality.

I’ll explain later why this quote can be problematic for Christians, but first, here’s a brief history validated by academic scholars.

Steve Perisho, the Theology and Philosophy Librarian at Seattle Pacific University, has provided the most in-depth scholarship on this mysterious quote and the likely person behind its origin.³

Dr. Perisho traced it back to an early seventeenth-century Latin text: The Ecclesiastic Republic, Volume 1, Book 4, Chapter 8, page 676, published in London in 1617 by Marco Antonio De Dominis, the Catholic Archbishop of Split, Croatia.⁴

Here’s a link to review the page (you’ll need to brush up on your Latin). The quote reads:

Latin: In necessariis unitas, in non necessariis libertas, in utrisque caritas.

English Translation: Unity in what is necessary, freedom in what is not necessary, charity in both.

Now that we know De Dominis is the source of the quote, a couple of questions emerge: Who was he? Why are so many evangelical Christians quoting a Roman Catholic? And what did De Dominis mean by his statement?

Who Was Marco Antonio De Dominis?

Marco Antonio De Dominis was a colorful character with a complicated story. He was a Roman Catholic Archbishop, then an Anglican, and later a Roman Catholic again. He was also a Renaissance philosopher, religious scholar, university dean, apostate, and prisoner. Ultimately, he was burned to a crisp—along with his books.

Historical Background

De Dominis was born on the Croatian coast of Dalmatia, a stunning port city dotted with charming villages, medieval streets, Gothic architecture, and crystal-clear water. European castles and a picturesque coastline surround Dalmatia, so it’s no wonder the Roman Emperor Diocletian retired there in the early fourth century.

Dalmatian Coast, Croatia | Credit: Feng Wei Photography/Moment RF/Getty Images

The Renaissance Man

De Dominis joined the Jesuit society as an educator in rhetoric, math, and logic.⁵ Under unique circumstances, he was appointed Bishop of two territories in Dalmatia (1600). By 1602, he was transferred to the position of Archbishop of Split in Croatia.

The Controversy

In 1606, a dispute arose between Venice, where his religious jurisdiction resided, and Pope Paul V. De Dominis sided with Venice against the Pope. His independent thinking often put him at odds with fellow bishops and clergymen. Historians tell us he expressed “utter disgust at the character of the theology then prevailing, the ignorance of scripture, and the abuses rife among the clergy.”⁶ These controversial views led him to break with the Roman Catholic Church.

The Schism & Inquisition

In 1616, De Dominis renounced Roman Catholicism, moved to England, and became an Anglican. In explaining his actions, he wrote, “This my departure, my exit from Babylon.”⁷ Papal investigators added his name to the Inquisition’s investigative docket that same year. 1617, he published The Ecclesiastic Republic, a fiery rebuke of papal authority and a call for Catholic-Protestant reunification. It is in this text that we find the infamous quote. Rome soon labeled De Dominis a heretical apostate.

Galileo before the Inquisition (1847) by the French painter Joseph Nicolas Robert-Fleury, now in the Paris Musée du Louvre. Credit: Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

The Opportunist

De Dominis received a warm welcome from James I—yes, that James, the commissioner of the King James Bible (1611). 1618 James appointed him Dean of Windsor University and Master of Savoy Hospital, prestigious positions.⁸

Though favored by King James, De Dominis was not well-liked. Contemporary writers described him as “corpulent, irascible, pretentious, and exceedingly avaricious.”⁹ Translation: obese, hot-tempered, self-important, and greedy. Despite his privileged position, De Dominis constantly feared the Inquisition. When Pope Paul V died in 1620, his anxiety eased for a while.

Shrewd & Foolish

De Dominis was both cunning and overconfident. When Pope Gregory XV, a relative of De Dominis, took power, the Archbishop secretly negotiated a deal to return to Catholicism in exchange for a pardon and a salary.¹⁰ Despite warnings from his friends, his arrogance once again got the better of him.

The Disloyal Betrayer

De Dominis decided to return to the Catholic fold, infuriating James I. His actions put him at odds with the monarch, who held absolute power, and the Pope, who had the Inquisition’s authority.

The Plot Twist

Sensing deception, the king seized De Dominis’s money, knowing he had hoarded a substantial sum. While waiting in Brussels for the Pope’s permission to return, De Dominis published The Return Policy, retracting his earlier anti-Catholic stance. He praised the Roman Catholic Church as pure and godly and condemned the Anglican Church as corrupt.

The Pathetic Groveler

Hoping to regain favor, De Dominis returned to Rome. However, instead of receiving forgiveness, he was met by the Inquisition and imprisoned.

The Consequence

In 1624, De Dominis succumbed to poor health and died remorseless in prison.¹¹ The Inquisition court declared him a heretic posthumously and ordered his body and books to be burned.¹²

What Does the Quote Mean?

De Dominis’s quote often implies ecumenical consensus on core beliefs and silence on disagreements. It calls for unity—but what kind of unity? It intends to downplay doctrinal diversity in favor of religious or social cooperation.

Consider De Dominis’s character: cunning, shrewd, dishonest, and opportunistic. What do you think he meant? Regrettably, some evangelical Christians use this quote to suggest that doctrinal differences are inconsequential, likening them to trivial disagreements like vegetarians versus meat-eaters.

Connect the Dots

De Dominis likely saw the quote as a way to increase his influence by appealing to both sides of the religious divide. He was the medieval equivalent of Rodney King, asking, “Can’t we all just get along?” With a divided heart, he was disloyal to both sides and unfaithful to God.

His call was not for true unity but for neutrality—something Christians should reject. Neutrality is not a Christian principle. We do not compromise our convictions for cultural convenience. We stand for truth, righteousness, the gospel, doctrinal purity, loyalty, and faithfulness—everything De Dominis compromised. His troubled life reflected his philosophical quote, leveraging common ground to avoid conflict while remaining committed to nothing.

1. Greg Laurie, “In essentials, unity; in nonessentials, liberty; in all things, charity,” Facebook post, January 30, 2018, https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=10155953339796698.

2. Quotefancy.com, accessed September 24, 2024, https://quotefancy.com/quote/1634539/Philipp-Melanchthon-In-essentials-unity-in-differences-liberty-in-all-things-charity.

3. Also, consider the research published by Dr. James J. O'Donnell, University Librarian at Arizona State University and professor in the School of Historical, Philosophical, and Religious Studies. Previously, he served as provost and university professor at Georgetown University. Dr. O'Donnell holds degrees from Princeton and Yale and is a classical scholar and linguist, proficient in French, German, ancient Greek, Italian, and Latin. As a historian specializing in the life of St. Augustine, his expertise provides valuable insights into this subject. https://faculty.georgetown.edu/jod/augustine/quote.html.

4. Steve Perisho, In necessariis unitas, in non necessariis libertas, in utrisque caritas (Marco Antonio De Dominis, 1617). Cf. In necessariis unitas, in dubiis libertas, in omnibus caritas (and other variants). English: "In essentials unity. . . ." Liber locorum communium blog (Spring 2010): https://liberlocorumcommunium.blogspot.com/2010/03/in-necessariis-unitas-in-non.html.

5. Edward Myers, "Marco Antonio de Dominis," The Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 5. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1909, http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/05113b.htm.

6. George Gresley Perry, Dictionary of National Biography, vol. 15, 1885-1900/Dominis, Marco Antonio de, last edited 28 December 2020, https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Dictionary_of_National_Biography,_1885-1900/Dominis,_Marco_Antonio_de.

7. Perry, Dictionary of National Biography.

8. Kate McQuillian, Dean Marc Antony de Dominis, Image of the Month archives, n.d., https://www.stgeorges-windsor.org/image_of_the_month/dean-marc-antony-de-dominis/.

9. Perry, Dictionary of National Biography.

10. Perry, Dictionary of National Biography.

11. Perry, Dictionary of National Biography.

12. McQuillian, Dean Marc.