(And earlier, we worshipped Jim and Tammy!)
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.
Same here! Had I not learned the TRUTH and been able to lead my family into Salvation, we would all have perished!
Well, unfortunately, not all of them. One Aunt lead her family from the Methodist Church to the Jehovah Witness cult, and she is so brainwashed that she won't listen.
I’ll forgive the leader of the RCC Sect his arrogance since he is trying to save Europe and also sounding the alarm about Islam.
The arrogance of the Catholic Church knows no bounds.
Actually, it’s sophistry. You don’t even bother to refute the viewpoint. You just bring up another issue in an attempt to shut up the other side.
Everything old is new again. Same words. Same ideas. Same people seemingly proud of their ignorance.
Therefore, there exists a single Church of Christ, which subsists in the Catholic Church, governed by the Successor of Peter and by the Bishops in communion with him.58 The Churches which, while not existing in perfect communion with the Catholic Church, remain united to her by means of the closest bonds, that is, by apostolic succession and a valid Eucharist, are true particular Churches. 59 Therefore, the Church of Christ is present and operative also in these Churches, even though they lack full communion with the Catholic Church, since they do not accept the Catholic doctrine of the Primacy, which, according to the will of God, the Bishop of Rome objectively has and exercises over the entire Church.60
On the other hand, the ecclesial communities which have not preserved the valid Episcopate and the genuine and integral substance of the Eucharistic mystery,61 are not Churches in the proper sense; however, those who are baptized in these communities are, by Baptism, incorporated in Christ and thus are in a certain communion, albeit imperfect, with the Church.62 Baptism in fact tends per se toward the full development of life in Christ, through the integral profession of faith, the Eucharist, and full communion in the Church.
No synagogues in the Church either.
A rather important issue don’t you think?
Everyone believes they are right. Else, they would change their opinion. It’s that simple. What I don’t understand is why people get so worked up about what someone else says about whether they’re saved or not. If you don’t agree with their view, why should you care what they say?
Ah, yes, and I have a bunch of historical documents from a Baptist Church where they refer constantly to “the so-called Christian church” ~ a Church of Christ down the road a piece.
It does mean what it says. You just have to be willing to actually read it.
It is, but what does it have to do with the issue in the article? Yeah, there are sinners in the Church. They have been there since day one.
No, the Church maintains that anyone who is validly baptized is a member of the Church, whether they separate themselves from communion or not.
The Church is one, and Christians participate in the Church fully (i.e. by being communicants of the Catholic Church) or defectively (being noncommunicant with the Catholic Church).
Jesus Christ ultimately judges who will gain heaven, and has mercy on whom He will.
The Catholic Church's position is that full membership in Christ's Church, i.e. the Catholic Church, is the only sure path to salvation - Christ may choose to save those who are separated from His Church, but don't count on it.
Dude, you couldn't more off base with that statement. The Mass has nothing to do with my salvation.
(And earlier, we worshipped Jim and Tammy!)
he-he-he HA! HA!
The RC Freepers also ran to dadday moderaters because the non RC Freepers are making fun of them and we need censorship.
From the Catholic point of view we are simply "unchurched".
I suppose if the Catholic church had a vast surplus of missionaries they might well go out into this vast, overwhelmingly Protestant country and try to convince most people of the error of their ways.
Still, only ex-Catholics can be heretics.
What’s the fun in that? ;)
Just as I thought the article is reeking of BS. Here is a link to the original. http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/cfaith/documents/rc_con_cfaith_doc_20070629_responsa-quaestiones_en.html
From the document. “It follows that these separated churches and Communities, though we believe they suffer from defects, are deprived neither of significance nor importance in the mystery of salvation.
It is possible, according to Catholic doctrine, to affirm correctly that the Church of Christ is present and operative in the churches and ecclesial Communities not yet fully in communion with the Catholic Church, on account of the elements of sanctification and truth that are present in them
Fifth Question: Why do the texts of the Council and those of the Magisterium since the Council not use the title of “Church” with regard to those Christian Communities born out of the Reformation of the sixteenth century?
Response: According to Catholic doctrine, these Communities do not enjoy apostolic succession in the sacrament of Orders, and are, therefore, deprived of a constitutive element of the Church. These ecclesial Communities which, specifically because of the absence of the sacramental priesthood, have not preserved the genuine and integral substance of the Eucharistic Mystery[19] cannot, according to Catholic doctrine, be called “Churches” in the proper sense[20].”
Most Protestants do not believe in a visible Church. Their definition of Church is not the same as it is for Catholics. This does not mean that the Protestant denominations are invalid but that they do not meet the Catholic definition of Church.
JOHN 3:16 says it all.
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