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Pope: Other Christians not true churches
AP ^ | July 11, 2007 | NICOLE WINFIELD

Posted on 07/10/2007 8:57:47 AM PDT by f150sound

LORENZAGO DI CADORE, Italy - Pope Benedict XVI has reasserted the universal primacy of the Roman Catholic Church, approving a document released Tuesday that says Orthodox churches were defective and that other Christian denominations were not true churches.

In the latest document — formulated as five questions and answers — the Vatican seeks to set the record straight on Vatican II's ecumenical intent, saying some contemporary theological interpretation had been "erroneous or ambiguous" and had prompted confusion and doubt.

It restates key sections of a 2000 document the pope wrote when he was prefect of the congregation, "Dominus Iesus," which set off a firestorm of criticism among Protestant and other Christian denominations because it said they were not true churches but merely ecclesial communities and therefore did not have the "means of salvation."

"Christ 'established here on earth' only one church," the document said. The other communities "cannot be called 'churches' in the proper sense" because they do not have apostolic succession — the ability to trace their bishops back to Christ's original apostles.


TOPICS: Catholic
KEYWORDS: catholic; catholics; exclusivefranchise; orthodox; quidestveritas; religion; truthisabsolute; vatican; viniusinvictus
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To: Natchez Hawk
Oh boy, here we go again...

Oh well, this oughtta give the Mormons a break from the stone-throwing for a little while. ;-)

161 posted on 07/10/2007 10:58:57 AM PDT by uglybiker (relaxing in a luxuriant cloud of quality, aromatic, pre-owned tobacco essence)
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To: Constitutions Grandchild
“”I, on the other hand, as a convert (Vacation Bible School, Sunday School and PSR teacher) went over the edge last night when it was announced on EWTN””

You are overreacting here dear friend.
The Church is only saying as it always has -that protestants are communities of believers and many of them are attached to the Catholic Church through valid Baptism and such. We view them as our separated brothers and sisters in Christ but not full members of the Church,thus we do not call their churches a church but rather a community of believers. There can only be ONE true Church

This is from the Vatican document Dominius(hope this helps)
http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/cfaith/documents/rc_con_cfaith_doc_20000806_dominus-iesus_en.html
The Church is the “universal sacrament of salvation”, since, united always in a mysterious way to the Saviour Jesus Christ, her Head, and subordinated to him, she has, in God’s plan, an indispensable relationship with the salvation of every human being. For those who are not formally and visibly members of the Church, “salvation in Christ is accessible by virtue of a grace which, while having a mysterious relationship to the Church, does not make them formally part of the Church, but enlightens them in a way which is accommodated to their spiritual and material situation. This grace comes from Christ; it is the result of his sacrifice and is communicated by the Holy Spirit”; it has a relationship with the Church, which “according to the plan of the Father, has her origin in the mission of the Son and the Holy Spirit”.82

162 posted on 07/10/2007 11:00:15 AM PDT by stfassisi ("Above all gifts that Christ gives his beloved is that of overcoming self"St Francis Assisi)
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To: Constitutions Grandchild
So, do you think sacraments are important or not?

As for Latin, maybe in today's world where many parishes have Spanish and English and Vietnamese Masses all at different times, it would make sense to have everyone together united under the official language of the Church.

Homilies are given in the local vernacular. Readings as well. But really, you can (and should) have read the readings before Mass. And if you can't say "Amen" to a prayer you can't understand, perhaps you should consider looking at the translations.

It's not like in the 1950s people had no idea what was going on. They had Missals with Latin on one page and English on the opposite.

163 posted on 07/10/2007 11:00:59 AM PDT by SoothingDave
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To: f150sound

I guess everyone is a Mormon these days... LOL... all you Mormon haters, I told you many think of you in the same ilk.....

HA HAHAHAHAHAHAHA


164 posted on 07/10/2007 11:02:27 AM PDT by Porterville (I'm an American. If you hate Americans, I hope our enemies destroy you. I will pray for my soul.)
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To: never4get; wideawake
So you believe the RCC as it stands today was the full extent of Christ’s Church and no longer does God call those to serve the the Church unless those employed by the Church agree they are acceptable.

Try reading the passages both wideawake and I (and others) have posted. I'll wait.

They clearly indicate that the Church believes that all baptised Christians (of any denomination) are joined to the One Church.

165 posted on 07/10/2007 11:04:42 AM PDT by SoothingDave
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To: uglybiker

Looks like the Pope is the one throwing the stones in this case. But I’m sure somehow the Freeper RC’s can manage to make themselves into the “victims” (as usual) whenever anyone dares to question this garbage.


166 posted on 07/10/2007 11:05:11 AM PDT by Iowegian
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To: f150sound
Other Christians not true churches

Maybe God will forgive them anyway ;)

167 posted on 07/10/2007 11:06:07 AM PDT by P.O.E. (School's Out. Drive Safely.)
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To: Iowegian
Looks like the Pope is the one throwing the stones in this case.

How is defining the word "church" and then classifying various groups according to the definition "throwing stones"?

168 posted on 07/10/2007 11:08:25 AM PDT by SoothingDave
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To: f150sound; pacelvi
they were not true churches but merely ecclesial communities and therefore did not have the "means of salvation." "Christ 'established here on earth' only one church,"

The church is the body of Christ. It is not a building, it is not a sect, it is not any particular RELIGION. The Church of Christ are the BELIEVERS who, regardless of which BUILDING, or NOT BUILDING, in which they worship Him. The Pope is WRONG.

169 posted on 07/10/2007 11:09:09 AM PDT by nicmarlo
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To: SoothingDave

I find it offensive that an organization as Anti-Semitic as the RCC claims exclusivity as being the only true church.

NO CHRISTIAN can be an Anti-Semite or Anti-Zionist , and certainly no organization which purports to be sole legitimate indwelling of the Holy Spirit would do such acts.

The Jews are God’s People.. God’s Holy Spirit would not be leading the charge in killing them.

No.. the RCC is not some special apple in God’s eye.. the Israelis are.

And the rest of us, through Israel , come to learn of God and receive our grace just as all people do,... via faith in God alone.. BECAUSE NO ONE IS WORTHY (via works) by other means... NOT ONE.


170 posted on 07/10/2007 11:09:20 AM PDT by pacelvi
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To: wideawake

“Correct. The Roman Catholic Church, founded by Jesus Christ, is not under human control - it is a divine institution guided by God”

Right.. a divine institution by God would not an Anti-Semitic or Anti-Zionist institution.


171 posted on 07/10/2007 11:10:44 AM PDT by pacelvi
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To: SuziQ

I don’t see how I interpret that differently. The Church’s one true foundation is Jesus Christ her Lord. That’s fairly basic Christianity. Of course the Apostles went forth to build the Church by “making disciples of all nations”. That doesn’t mean Peter was in charge of them all. In fact the Holy Spirit was in charge. It is worth noting that at the Council in Jerusalem, chronicled in Acts of the Apostles, James chaired the meeting, not Peter.


172 posted on 07/10/2007 11:11:57 AM PDT by bobjam
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To: SoothingDave

The answer to that should be obvious to even you, SD.


173 posted on 07/10/2007 11:12:08 AM PDT by Iowegian
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To: pacelvi
the RCC is not some special apple in God’s eye.. the Israelis are.

bttt!

174 posted on 07/10/2007 11:12:27 AM PDT by nicmarlo
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To: theanonymouslurker
Do you or did you ever use the term "father" in regards to your biological father, or did you in fact call him by his first name? If you did use the term, then it seems you're steeped in sin. Shame on you.

Shame on you dumbass. My dad died 2 weeks ago so shut your mouth about him.

175 posted on 07/10/2007 11:12:40 AM PDT by NRA2BFree ("The time is near at hand which must determine whether Americans are to be free men or slaves!")
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To: Patriotic1
“Sacraments are a way of receiving graces from God, not a work of law”

So what happens to people who dont have access to the magic priesthood? Say, stranded on an island. How do they get grace since there’s no priest around? Do the rules suddenly change? Gee.. that’s rather arbitrary to me.

Jesus came to smash the intermediaries and interlopers between the believer and God the Pharisees and here comes the RCC to put the middle guy back in business.

Disgraceful.

176 posted on 07/10/2007 11:12:52 AM PDT by pacelvi
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To: bobjam
the Holy Spirit was in charge.

And still is...if only people will ALLOW HIM to be in their own lives.

177 posted on 07/10/2007 11:13:21 AM PDT by nicmarlo
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To: Constitutions Grandchild

Regarding the Latin Mass....
The thing you need to remember is that it is NOT replacing the Mass you are used to.
It is going to offered in certain churches within Dioceses that want to offer it.
There is a lot of traditional Catholics who want it back.

Dear Friend, put your mind at ease. You will still have the regular mass that you like to go to.

I wish you a Blessed day!


178 posted on 07/10/2007 11:14:35 AM PDT by stfassisi ("Above all gifts that Christ gives his beloved is that of overcoming self"St Francis Assisi)
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To: theanonymouslurker; NRA2BFree
Discuss the issues all you want, but do NOT make it personal.
179 posted on 07/10/2007 11:14:39 AM PDT by Religion Moderator
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To: marsh_of_mists

The “this” was the eating of the Passover meal.. Passover was/is a prophecy for Jesus’ death.. thus from that time onward those who recognized what was happening would continue the Biblical feasts (not the invented Catholic ones) with new understanding.


180 posted on 07/10/2007 11:16:00 AM PDT by pacelvi
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