Except no one holds to that anymore.
Gamecock:
Lets look at this from both an historical perspective and how the 16th century statements from Trent about the Protestant groups that split from Rome be they (Anglican, Lutheran, Reformed, etc) and how those same Protestant Confessions made statements about the Catholic Church and Catholics.
The Westminister Confession does say what Petronski stated. So, my questions to you are 1) How many different Groups still hold to the Westminister Confession and 2) Which Reformed body has removed the 16th century polemic that the Pope is the anti-Christ and given 1 and 2, question 3 is: How many Reformed Confessions hold to the revised Westminister Confession as you described it?
From the Catholic perspective, Trent did issue anathma’s against those holding the positions that Luther, Calvin, Zwingli held. However, two Catholic councils have occurred since the close of Trent in 1564, Vat I and II, 1870 and 1965, respectively, and Catholic Doctrine has developed and stated that the anathma’s due to the divisions of the 16th century that resulted in large numbers of individuals splitting from Rome and forming Protestant Communities is an issue that is a sad one for Western Christianity and sins on both sides were to blame.
Furthermore, Rome has clearly taught that the sins of division of the 16th century can’t extrapolated to todays Protestant Christians. Please note the following quote from the Catechism of the Catholic Church:
CCC 818 “However, one cannot charge with the sin of the separation those who at present are born into these communities [that resulted from such separation] and in them are brought up in the faith of Christ, and the Catholic Church accepts them with respect and affection as brothers. . . . All who have been justified by faith in Baptism are incorporated into Christ; they therefore have a right to be called Christians, and with good reason are accepted as brothers in the Lord by the children of the Catholic Church.”
The Catholic Church again makes it clear that all who are Baptized into the Holy Trinity are in some communion with the Catholic Church, but the Eastern Orthodox Church is closer to Full Communion with the Catholic Church than Protestants. Again, the CCC states:
CCC 838 “The Church knows that she is joined in many ways to the baptized who are honored by the name of Christian, but do not profess the Catholic faith in its entirety or have not preserved unity or communion under the successor of Peter.” Those “who believe in Christ and have been properly baptized are put in a certain, although imperfect, communion with the Catholic Church.” With the Orthodox Churches, this communion is so profound “that it lacks little to attain the fullness that would permit a common celebration of the Lord’s Eucharist.”
So, while I have cited authoritative texts that clearly articulates the Catholic position, can you provide me with and authoritative pronouncement that supports your thesis that those Reformed Christian Bodies holding to the Westminister Confession no longer hold the view that the Pope is the antichrist.
Thanks in advance