Free Republic
Browse · Search
Religion
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Protestants aren't proper Christians, says Pope
Daily Mail ^ | 11th July 2007 | SIMON CALDWELL

Posted on 07/10/2007 6:55:28 PM PDT by indcons

Pope Benedict XVI declared yesterday that Christian denominations other than his own were not true churches and their holy orders have no value.

Protestant leaders immediately responded by saying the claims were offensive and would hurt efforts to promote ecumenism.

Roman Catholic- Anglican relations are already strained over the Church of England's plans to ordain homosexuals and women as bishops. The claims came in a document, from a Vatican watchdog which was approved by the Pope.

It said the branches of Christianity formed after the split with Rome at the Reformation could not be called churches "in the proper sense" because they broke with a succession of popes who dated back to St Peter.

As a result, it went on, Protestant churches have "no sacramental priesthood", effectively reaffirming the controversial Catholic position that Anglican holy orders are worthless.

The document claimed the Catholic church was the "one true church of Christ".

Pope Benedict's commitment to the hardline teaching comes days after he reinstated the Mass in Latin, which was sidelined in the 1960s in an attempt to modernise.

The timing of the announcement fuelled speculation that the pontiff - regarded as an arch-conservative before his election in 2005 - is finally beginning to impose his views on the Catholic Church.

The Vatican said it was restating the position set out by the then Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger in 2000 in a document called Domine Jesus because theologians continued to misunderstand it.

At that time, Anglican leaders from around the world made their anger felt by snubbing an invitation to join Pope John Paul II as he proclaimed St Thomas More the patron saint of politicians.

Bishop Wolfgang Huber, head of the Evangelical Church in Germany, said the Vatican document effectively downgraded Protestant churches and would make ecumenical relations more difficult.

He said the pronouncement repeated the "offensive statements" of the 2000 document and was a "missed opportunity" to patch up relations with Protestants.


TOPICS: Catholic
KEYWORDS: catholics; pope; protestants; vatican
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 101-120121-140141-160 ... 601-606 next last
To: Revelation 911
um - no this is the part where I express sadness that you derive a hollow comfort in mancenteredness, knowing full well our understanding of the cosmos and the earths history is extremely limited, since science has really only been practiced earnestly for the past several hundred years.....

You are right. Science doesn't have all the answers, yet. Still a scientifice guess is better than religious dogma ^_^

121 posted on 07/11/2007 7:05:43 AM PDT by LeGrande (Muslims, Jews and Christians all believe in the same God of Abraham.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 99 | View Replies]

To: lupie
I mean a set of beleifs that is not 100% congruent.

Coming from an atheist ex-momron, I am not sure how to take that, or even if I want to figure out how to take it. :)

I am not sure I do either. Where did I say that?

122 posted on 07/11/2007 7:09:35 AM PDT by LeGrande (Muslims, Jews and Christians all believe in the same God of Abraham.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 117 | View Replies]

To: LeGrande

The Book of Mormon record shows that he visited the America’s after his resurrection.


123 posted on 07/11/2007 7:14:16 AM PDT by sandude
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 111 | View Replies]

To: LeGrande

haha.. I have NO clue where that came from! I was just replying to your comment that was in italics. And at first I didn’t know why you typed it. So I went back to my post and was suprised to see it there. I do not remember reading it, I know that I did not type it, I do not remember seeing it on the post preview!! Weird...


124 posted on 07/11/2007 7:14:36 AM PDT by lupie
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 122 | View Replies]

To: xzins; jude24
I mentioned those things that have not got one whit, one iota of biblical backing....assumption, immaculate conception, and coredemption of Mary.

I understand, but those things are not the reasons Catholicism does not recognize Prot. denominations as Churches. The Orthodox don't exactly like our formulation of those ideas either (BTW 3 is still very up for debate and I particularly don't like it very much), and yet they are considered proper Churches.

Where the rubber meets the road is, as jude24 very astutely said above, sacramental theology. Catholics believe that the sacraments were instituted by Christ to dispense grace among the faithful. The Church is where the sacraments are. Where they do not exist in their true fulness, there cannot be the Church.

When you good folks hear us say that though, (and please correct me if I am mistaken), you hear that phrase as a total denial that you are Christian at all. Because you view the Church as an invisible institution solely of those who have believed in Christ.

It is very important for non-Catholics to view this document in terms of *our own* ecclesiology, and not any one else's. We go by the sacraments, not just a sinner's prayer. And note well that we recognize one of your sacraments (Baptism) as valid...so we are forced to recognize that there is some element of the Church among you, even if the other sacraments are not.

125 posted on 07/11/2007 7:18:56 AM PDT by Claud
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 97 | View Replies]

To: P-Marlowe
Is Christ a liar?

It was Christ who sent the flood.

He would know.

He was there.

You weren't.

Wow, that is irrefutable logic ^_^ ROFLMAO

How did the Koala bears make it to Noah's Ark?

126 posted on 07/11/2007 7:24:20 AM PDT by LeGrande (Muslims, Jews and Christians all believe in the same God of Abraham.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 120 | View Replies]

To: LeGrande

So what do you pretend to be? : )


127 posted on 07/11/2007 7:25:26 AM PDT by Osage Orange (“To call illegal aliens, undocumented workers, is like calling drug dealers unlicensed pharmacists.”)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 72 | View Replies]

To: sandude
The Book of Mormon record shows that he visited the America’s after his resurrection.

I stand corrected. Thank you.

128 posted on 07/11/2007 7:26:25 AM PDT by LeGrande (Muslims, Jews and Christians all believe in the same God of Abraham.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 123 | View Replies]

To: mnehrling

John Paul II affirmed this same point many times.


129 posted on 07/11/2007 7:28:20 AM PDT by tiki
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: LeGrande
Wow, that is irrefutable logic

Indeed. Either Noah and the ark is a true story or Christ is a liar.

Which is it?

130 posted on 07/11/2007 7:29:17 AM PDT by P-Marlowe (LPFOKETT GAHCOEEP-w/o*)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 126 | View Replies]

To: Osage Orange
So what do you pretend to be? : )

I am a seeker of truth. Most people call me an atheist ^_^

I also like to poke fun at Fundamentalist Born Agains, who attack other religions.

131 posted on 07/11/2007 7:30:01 AM PDT by LeGrande (Muslims, Jews and Christians all believe in the same God of Abraham.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 127 | View Replies]

To: indcons


Global warming is the only true religion, cleverly combining
hell, fire and damnation with unlimited wasteful spending on
Democratic consultants and other leftist control freaks. /sarc.

.


132 posted on 07/11/2007 7:35:14 AM PDT by OESY
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: LeGrande
XS>Allah is not the Elohim of Abraham, Isaac and Israel !

Ever heard of Ishmael?

116 posted on 07/11/2007 7:57:40 AM MDT by LeGrande

A study on the breath of Elohim:

Abram became Abraham

Abram became Abraham when Elohim breathed into Abram
the Ru'ach HaKodesh as indicated by the "HEY" at the end of his name.

Sarai became Sarah

Sarai became Sarah when Elohim breathed into Sarai
the Ru'ach HaKodesh as indicated by the "HEY" at the end of her name.

See the letter : Hey

Ishmael was born to Abram, when Abram was in the flesh, before Elohim breathed the Ru'ach HaKodesh into him.

Isaac was born to Abraham and Sarah after Elohim breathed the Ru'ach HaKodesh into both of them.

So even if Muslims are descendants of Ishmael, Ishmael did not worship the Elohim of Abraham.

b'shem Yah'shua
133 posted on 07/11/2007 7:45:33 AM PDT by Uri’el-2012 (you shall know that I, YHvH, your Savior, and your Redeemer, am the Elohim of Ya'aqob. Isaiah 60:16)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 116 | View Replies]

To: sageb1

There are 30,000 Christian sects. So far and counting. That’s probably fewer than other major religions.


134 posted on 07/11/2007 7:50:51 AM PDT by RightWhale (It's Brecht's donkey, not mine)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 13 | View Replies]

To: Claud; P-Marlowe; Alamo-Girl; blue-duncan; Dr. Eckleburg; Alex Murphy; BibChr; jude24

Claud, where the rubber meets the road is Jesus saying that those who worship must worship in Spirit and in Truth.

Those who teach obvious, made-up UNTRUTH cannot be the true Church, no matter if they’ve got sacramental theology coming out their ears, complete with real-life, true splinters from the actual Golgotha cross itself and the factual, actual Holy Grail to drink from.

Human lineage is of no importance. Props are of no importance. SPIRITUAL, TRUTHFUL worship is what matters. The RC FLUNKS the test with a number of things, the most egregious being: assumption, immaculate conception, and coredemption of Mary.

For all his vaunted, entirely too opulent status, Pope Benedict is an empty vessl, “pontificating” foolishness, traditions of men, and UNTRUTH.


135 posted on 07/11/2007 7:52:49 AM PDT by xzins (Retired Army Chaplain And Proud of It! Those who support the troops will pray for them to WIN!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 125 | View Replies]

To: Krankor
You said,

So, then, you concede Osama bin Laden’s brand of Islam is just as much the one, true religion as the Anglicans?

in answer to the posters

That's the difference between a Christian and a Catholic...

Maybe I need another cup of coffee. I'm not understanding how you connect the two

Or do YOU need another cup of joe

136 posted on 07/11/2007 7:53:15 AM PDT by maine-iac7 ( "...but you can't fool all of the people all the time." LINCOLN)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 17 | View Replies]

To: LeGrande
Seek more.

Poke less.

FRegards,

137 posted on 07/11/2007 7:54:00 AM PDT by Osage Orange (“To call illegal aliens, undocumented workers, is like calling drug dealers unlicensed pharmacists.”)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 131 | View Replies]

To: Argus
By the way, which Apostle was the head Apostle ofter the crucifixtion?
138 posted on 07/11/2007 7:56:32 AM PDT by maine-iac7 ( "...but you can't fool all of the people all the time." LINCOLN)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 18 | View Replies]

To: humblegunner
Right after I take the PopeMobile mudding at the river.

Why wait? LOL

139 posted on 07/11/2007 7:57:41 AM PDT by maine-iac7 ( "...but you can't fool all of the people all the time." LINCOLN)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 21 | View Replies]

To: jddqr; Religion Moderator
Do you not consider it personal when someone insults your family?

You've never met my family, have you?

140 posted on 07/11/2007 7:58:01 AM PDT by Alex Murphy (As heard on the Amish Radio Network! http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/1675029/posts)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 63 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 101-120121-140141-160 ... 601-606 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
Religion
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson