Posted on 07/11/2008 5:54:33 AM PDT by Between the Lines
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.
Benedict approved a document from his old offices at the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith that restates church teaching on relations with other Christians. It was the second time in a week the pope has corrected what he says are erroneous interpretations of the Second Vatican Council, the 1962-65 meetings that modernized the church.
Benedict, who attended Vatican II as a young theologian, has long complained about what he considers the erroneous interpretation of the council by liberals, saying it was not a break from the past but rather a renewal of church tradition.
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.”
In the new document and an accompanying commentary, which were released as the pope vacations here in Italy’s Dolomite mountains, the Vatican repeated that position.
“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.
(Excerpt) Read more at msnbc.msn.com ...
But we shouldn't call out the errors of the Catholic church cause that's Catholic bashing......priceless.
Other churches were established by disciples in various places. The Pope owns one of 'em.
Is there anything new in this?
Such a courageous leader.
As I was told more than once, "You are graduating from this school only through the grace of God and the mercy of the School Sisters of Notre Dame."
Course, in high school, it was "...through the grace of God and and the mercy of the Resurrectionist Fathers", so maybe that came in a newsletter and various people just picked it up.
how does he feel about hinduism, islam, judaism, buddhism...did i forget anything?
oh yeah, scientology.
Nooooooooooooooooooo! Not this again.
>>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.” I guess tracing back through the Anglican church does not count? Apostates....all of’em, apostates.
The Amish and Mennonites all claim “apostolic sucession”; the Catholic church doesn’t recognize their claim but they make it anyway. My own church gets around the concept by claiming they are a recreation of the First Century church in Jerusalem.
Yeah Benny, well God says otherwise.
Well I’m gobsmacked!
< not really >
The Anglician church was started by a fat lecherious King of England so he could get a divorce from his wife, so I would that doesn't count.
It may follow the basic traditions of the Catholic churcn, but the bishops and priests trace their authority to Henry VIII, who simply appointed himself supreme head of the Church of England on no one's authority.
There's no reason why anybody should have to do that. the faith and practice of the churches are determined by God's Word, not some bogus "apostolic succession".
The Pope needs to read the Bible.
Noted
If this is said from true concern for my soul then I have no problem with it. However I have prayed faithfully and it has been clearly revealed to me that the church I am at is where God wants me to be right now. So I think I’ll need a little more convincing than an I said so from the Catholic leader.
I will continue to pray I’m where God wants me, and if I am led to the Catholic Church of Rome, I would go.
There is a rumor that this could become a yearly event.
The Anglician church was started by a fat lecherious King of England so he could get a divorce from his wife, so I would certainly say that doesn't count as "apostolic succession".
It may follow the basic traditions of the Catholic church, but the bishops and priests trace their authority to Henry VIII, who simply appointed himself supreme head of the Church of England on no one's authority but his own.
I guess the idea of the Pax Romana is alive and well.
And the Hitler Youth wasn't the Boy Scouts
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