Pope: Other Christians not true churches

AP ^ | July 11, 2007 | NICOLE WINFIELD

[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.

[SoothingDave]

There is a passage in the Catechism of the Catholic Church that does state that other non-Catholic Christians can be received into heaven; if prodded I could produce the citation. How is that to be reconciled with today’s statement? Is the Pope changing the Catechism?

Of course not. He is re-iterating that other denominations are not "churches" as the term is properly understood by Catholic teaching.

But don't ask the Pope. Ask the Protestants themselves. Do they believe that their denomination re-presents the Sacrifice of Calvary and, by doing so, that this Sacrifice acts as the chanalle by which saving grace enters into our moment in space and time?

No, they don't.

Catholics do. That is what a "church" is. That's why Protestants do not have "churches." Now individual Protestans may be saved, but that is because of the grace brought into the world through the Mass.

[Revolting cat!]

Allow me to recommend an educational opportunity to everyone. Not only will they teach you the art of mixology there, but also the art of avoiding discussions of religion and politics. Really!

[pctech]

I was a Free Methodist and while there are still pockets of the FMC that haven’t jumped on the liberal methodist bandwagon, here in Indiana they are almost as liberal as traditional methodists. That’s why I stopped attending.

[Pyro7480]

That is not an argument.

[NRA2BFree]

I don’t recall Christ being picky as to what denomination his followers were...............

Well, Catholics and everyone else would be out of luck if He did, since His followers were Jews!

[DTA]

Can someone from your list confirm the verbatim statement? This does not sound like BXVI's statement to me, more like supermarket tabloid headline.

But after the nonsense about Macedonian "church" everything is possible.

[lastchance]

I would never rely on AP for correctly reporting on Catholic or Protestant.teaching. I will read the original which I am sure will say something quite different from what the article reports.

[DesScorp]

"And Protestant leaders don’t consider Catholics Christian. Ho hum."

Hell, Protestants don't consider some other Protestants real Christians. I've heard Church of Christ members talk about the evil of the Baptist Church, and vice versa. Most denominations exist because they think they're the One True Church.

[muawiyah]

Still, if the Church at Jerusalem (the first one) was the only True Church I'd say all Christians have a problem ~ that congregation had some real problems back in the First Century AD and didn't last all that long.

These Popes, all the time trying to stir 'em up ~ maybe the Jews should pray for him to be converted.

[AngelesCrestHighway]

Your right...It’s denial.

[Busywhiskers]

I usually appreciate that he does not dither. In this case he would have done well to do a little dithering and forgo this sort ecclesiastical arrogance that divided the church long ago and continues to keep it divided.

[SkyPilot]

....... 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.

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That's fine. I'll stick with Jesus Christ as my Savior - not the "church."

[Larry Lucido]

Their motto is, “Buy cracky, by cracky!”

[The Ghost of FReepers Past]

I think trying to unite all Christian faiths is a bad thing. That’s why I am glad he said it.

[muawiyah]

See "Treaty of Westphalia" ~ lays it all out for you concerning forcing religion on this or that or another party ~ even the Pope (of the time) signed on.

It brought an end to the various conflicts making up what we call the Thirty Years War.

[Stark_GOP]

I remember being told by my Catholic friends that I was going to hell because I was not Catholic.

[RugbyKing]

The Roman Catholic Church is the universal church, and I’m pleased that the Pontiff has finally called you bible thumping evangelicals, ecumenics, and protestants for what you are....heretics.

[pctech]

Here in the “americanized” version of the RCC the worship of the Pope isn’t stressed. But if you go overseas it taught as a founding doctrine of the RCC and those nations live by it. Check your facts.

[trisham]

Well you can give this Pope one thing, he doesn't dither.

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No, nor should he. Our beloved Pope Benedict is concerned with the souls of all, and is brave enough to fight for them.

This is a labour of love.

[Iowegian]

I see the RC freepers are in their full “it doesn’t mean what is says” spin mode. Which is always their fall back position when their true arrogance is exposed by their leaders.