Posted on 03/16/2013 11:03:44 AM PDT by marshmallow
Why believers of all stripes should care about the new head of the Catholic Church.
When the new pope is consecrated, he will inherit a troubled global church. Internal scandal and unaddressed external problems pose great risks to the vitality of Catholicism. But the consequences of success or failure are huge for the church universal, the world's 2.1 billion Christians of every denomination.
This is more than a butterfly effect. Rome is not Las Vegas—what happens in Rome will not stay within the borders of Vatican City. One consequence of globalization is that the walls that have long divided Catholics from Orthodox, mainline Protestants, evangelicals, and Pentecostals are eroding.
Brian Stiller,a global ambassador for the World Evangelical Alliance, commenting about Catholic and evangelical relations, wrote on his blog recently, "Not in 500 years have the two sides been so close and friendly."
The challenges inside the Vatican and the Catholic Church are familiar, and they are of concern to every Christian who longs for a healthy body. Two cardinals, Keith O'Brien (Scotland) and Roger Mahony (Los Angeles), are just the latest Catholic leaders who stand accused of wrongdoing. Several priests allege that O'Brien initiated "inappropriate" behavior, possibly sexual, with them. Court documents reveal that Mahony relocated priests, known to be sexually abusive, to shield them from prosecution. In addition, a money-laundering scandal has tainted the Vatican's reputation of integrity. And the so-called Vatileaks scandal has pulled back the curtain on infighting and factionalism within the potent Catholic curia, the leadership core.
(Excerpt) Read more at christianitytoday.com ...
A lame-duck pope. A secret dossier. Rumors of a gay cabal. A cardinal accused of "inappropriate" behavior. The Vatican is in an uproar, and church scholars say there hasn't been this much drama surrounding a conclave since 1800, when Pope Pius VI died while being held prisoner by Napoleon. One Vatican watcher says you have to go back to 1730 — when Pope Benedict XIII's right-hand man fled Rome in disguise amid allegations of corruption — to find a conclave buffeted by this much scandal........The pope's historic Feb. 11 announcement has been overshadowed, however, by an extraordinary wave of revelations and accusations. There were calls for cardinals accused of mishandling the sex-abuse crisis to abstain from voting. Then came a report that Britain's top cleric, Cardinal Keith O'Brien had been accused of bad behavior by priests, followed by his resignation on Monday. Over the weekend, the Vatican had to deny an Italian newspaper report that Pope Benedict abdicated because an internal probe into the so-called Vatileaks mess had uncovered a network of gay priests who were being blackmailed. Now comes the news that the pope will only let two people see the report on the document leaks — himself and his successor — despite calls for the Holy See to become more transparent....
-- from the thread 'Amateur hour': Vatican conclave drama is one for the history books, experts say
Catholicism’s central truth, the Eucharist, The Mass, the authority of the Petrine Ministry to teach one truth, is directly antithetical to the beliefs of all other Christian religions. There aren’t many pathways to heaven. If so why proclaim one teaching and one truth? If Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism, are all valid alternative paths to God, then the life and death of the Christ was superfluous.
All this is irrelevant to Catholic dogma and teaching. St. Peter too sinned but he repented and was given the keys to the Kingdom of Heaven.
What this world needs more than anything is wise, competent leadership.
“Getting Protestants as such to ramp up mission is not that easy, since there are so many, often bickering, voices in the mix of Protestantism. Whether we Protestants like to admit it or not, though, there is a single person in Rome who can influence Christians of every stripe to work more heartily in the cause of Christ, sometimes together (even with Catholics) and sometimes faithfully in their own theological tradition. That’s why even non-Catholics are praying fervently for the new pope. Given the monumental challenges of the 21st century, it is more important than ever that Protestants and Catholics figure out how to work together.”
The differences between Catholicism and Protestantism, however, are the same differences between life and death. The Roman doctrines of works-righteousness, prayer to saints, the devotion to Mary, and many other doctrines, are utterly incompatible with the scripture. It is not a mere difference in “traditions,” as the author claimed.
I have no problem with the Catholics doing their own thing and electing their Pope; however, he is certainly not MY Pope, nor do I even consider the Pope’s message to truly be the Gospel.
The chief problems I have with your post center around those two underlined words. Are you saying that Hinduism, Buddhism and Judaism are "other Christian religions"? Are you saying that "all other Christian religions" claim that there are multiple pathways to heaven, or that they specifically teach that Hinduism, Buddhism, and Judaism are "valid alternate paths to God"?
How do you square the words of your own cardinals, to your post above?
Who, then, can be saved?Catholics can be saved if they believe the Word of God as taught by the Church and if they obey the commandments.
Other Christians can be saved if they submit their lives to Christ and join the community where they think he wills to be found.
Jews can be saved if they look forward in hope to the Messiah and try to ascertain whether God’s promise has been fulfilled.
Adherents of other religions can be saved if, with the help of grace, they sincerely seek God and strive to do his will.
Even atheists can be saved if they worship God under some other name and place their lives at the service of truth and justice.God’s saving grace, channeled through Christ the one Mediator, leaves no one unassisted. But that same grace brings obligations to all who receive it. They must not receive the grace of God in vain. Much will be demanded of those to whom much is given.
-- concluding paragraph (formatting mine), from the thread Who Can Be Saved?
article by Cardinal Avery Dulles
A Lutheran told me yesterday: “The Pope is the spiritual leader of all Christians.” It appears that only American snake handlers disagree.
“Who, then, can be saved?
Catholics can be saved if they believe the Word of God as taught by the Church and if they obey the commandments.
Other Christians can be saved if they submit their lives to Christ and join the community where they think he wills to be found.
Jews can be saved if they look forward in hope to the Messiah and try to ascertain whether God’s promise has been fulfilled.
Adherents of other religions can be saved if, with the help of grace, they sincerely seek God and strive to do his will.
Even atheists can be saved if they worship God under some other name and place their lives at the service of truth and justice.”
These are very good reasons to “burn any bridges” that the Catholic Church builds to meet with Protestants.
Salvation is through Jesus Christ alone. Outside of Him, all are damned.
Joh_3:18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
Joh 3:14-15 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: (15) That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.
Furthermore, Christians are born not through the will of man or even their own will, but through the will and power of God, whose Spirit blows where it wills.
Joh_6:44 No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.
1Co_12:3 Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost.
Rom 8:29-31 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. (30) Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified. (31) What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?
Salvation, therefore, from the first to the last, is the work of God. Not of ourselves, nor due to our works, for God is no respecter of persons. It is the mercy of God.
Rom 9:11-16 (For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth;) (12) It was said unto her, The elder shall serve the younger. (13) As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated. (14) What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? God forbid. (15) For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. (16) So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.
Eph 2:8-9 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: (9) Not of works, lest any man should boast.
This is irrevocable. All those who belong to Christ eternally belong. They cannot be removed from God’s hand.
Joh_6:37 All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.
Joh_10:29 My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand.
Notice that in none of these scriptures are we told to “join the community where you believe Christ’s will is” as a condition of salvation. In fact, the condition of salvation... is God’s choice, and not yours at all. So that all who are called by God, have their eyes opened, so that they confess Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, thus having their sins forgiven and their lives changed forever.
Sorry if I wasn’t clear enough.
No, Hinduism, Buddhism, and Judaism are not “Christian” religions because they don’t believe in the Christ as the Son of God.
Yes, all other Christian religions (from Rev. Joel Osteen’s “prosperity” Gospel to Rev. Wright’s “socialism” gospel, etc) think and propagate what they believe is their brand of “Christianity” and thus we are presented with multiple pathways to heaven.
Trying to comment on specific excerpts made by one Cardinal of the Church without reference to the whole of his thesis is problematical. Why then evangelize? Why have missionaries? St. Paul should have left the pagans alone? Why have converts from other Christian denominations to the Catholic Church? Why did Cardinal Henry Newman, GK Chesterton, and the long parade of distinguished atheists, including a former Rabbi of Rome, bother to convert to Catholicism? Why have martyrs? Indeed, why did Christ provide the Great Commission to Peter and his Apostles to “Go forth and teach all nations....” and establish His Church (not Churches) where the gates of hell shall not prevail against it?
Well, golly, if a Lutheran told you so then it must be true.
“A Lutheran told me yesterday: “The Pope is the spiritual leader of all Christians.” It appears that only American snake handlers disagree.”
Luther himself, up in heaven, would probably roll about in fury at the notion coming from a so called Lutheran. I would use the normal phrase “rolling in their graves,” but, obviously, that’s not a place a Christian’s soul remains.
Of course he is not your Pope if you are not Catholic just like a Rabbi is not my Rabbi if I am not Jewish.
However, you have to admit that the Pope is the most influential person in the world as far as Christianity goes, and even the many Protestant faiths look to the Pope for guidance on issues of Christianity.
Dogma of each faith may be different, but Christianity is born of the same roots.
“Trying to comment on specific excerpts made by one Cardinal of the Church without reference to the whole of his thesis is problematical. Why then evangelize? Why have missionaries? St. Paul should have left the pagans alone? Why have converts from other Christian denominations to the Catholic Church? Why did Cardinal Henry Newman, GK Chesterton, and the long parade of distinguished atheists, including a former Rabbi of Rome, bother to convert to Catholicism? Why have martyrs? Indeed, why did Christ provide the Great Commission to Peter and his Apostles to “Go forth and teach all nations....” and establish His Church (not Churches) where the gates of hell shall not prevail against it?”
That’s a question you’ll have to ask the Cardinal. It is not an opinion I have not encountered with Catholics before. In fact, on other forums, they call me bigoted for denying them.
AMEN!
Establish his Church and the Gates of Hell shall not prevai; against it?
Umm..which Church do you think that turned out to be?
“Of course he is not your Pope if you are not Catholic just like a Rabbi is not my Rabbi if I am not Jewish.”
The Rabbi is yet in his sins, as is the Buddhist or the Hindu or the whoever the heck, for they deny that Jesus Christ is the One True God.
It’s a strange comparison to make.
lITTLE HATEFUL, AREN’T YOU?
“However, you have to admit that the Pope is the most influential person in the world as far as Christianity goes,”
No, I don’t really have to admit it at all. He’s the most influential person in the world as far as Catholicism has to go.
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