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.
Well, gosh, that just goes to prove their point, now, doesn't it?
Focusing on the LORD wouldn’t hurt either.
My second thought was that I’m glad that who is or isn’t a ‘proper Christian’ isn’t a choice of the pope, that decision is God’s.
Well, you have to be kind of an idiot to belong to a religion you didn’t think was the one true one.
I agree....lots of panes in the glass house of the Pope....
*rolls eyes*
That's the difference between a Christian and a Catholic...
One could reasonably argue that “Thou shall have no other god before me” includes any number of Popes...
Hopefully I don’t understand what you are saying. Please expand.
Divisions have weakened Christianity. Unity is strength.
You understood perfectly. Unfortunately.
Pope: Other Christian Denominations Not True Churches
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/1863775/posts
Pope: Other Christians not true churches
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/1863645/posts
Vatican says other Christian churches “wounded” (Non-Catholics not fullly Christian)
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/1863612/posts
Vatican reiterates hardline on primacy of Catholic Church
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/1863549/posts
and, related:
Protestants and the Pope
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/1863618/posts
If you are offended, I apologize...It is just my opinion based on my observations...
So, then, you concede Osama bin Laden’s brand of Islam is just as much the one, true religion as the Anglicans?
The Pope didn’t say anything about who’s going to Heaven and who isn’t. He simply said that the only legitimate apostolic succession rests with the Roman Catholic Church. And in that, he is stating the simple truth. You don’t even have to be Catholic, or believe that that matters, to acknowledge that.
Sorry if that offends anybody, but it’s the fact.
And some folks consider that a good thing. I can see why the ECT crowd would be unhappy.
No, I believe I'll limit it to Christianity...
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