Anyone whose "mind is blown" by Scott Hahn...well, that statement speaks for itself.
The funny thing is that if this foolish book portends a real shift in position by the "evangelicals," it's occurring at a time when Ratzinger is tightening the reigns of his own denomination and pronouncing all Protestant churches as "defective."
Apparently people don't change much at all. Nobody expects the Inquisition.
Except for the Inquisitors.
It's probably good in some respects that this political agenda now has been made so explicitly obvious that none can deny it.
Colson should stick to his prison ministry with felons in need of the Gospel. He's clearly blind to those held captive outside the steel bars.
I want to iterate a couple of things that you said.
It is true that true ecumenism is only possible inasmuch as people convert to the Catholic Church, the pillar and ground of truth. There is no discrepancy at all between the Church that grows more patristic, teaches her doctrines more forcefully and clearly, and the fact that people who take their Christianity seriously are attracted to it. By the same token, people who do not take their Chrisitanity seriously are repelled (our absolute numbers are shrinking).
Especially it is true in pro-life work and in all corporate works of mercy, the ministry in which Chuck Colson in engaged. Anyone who lives out the Gospel of Jesus Christ will soon discover that no matter what theological theories appeal to his intellect, the Catholic Church of the nameless monks and friars who dedicate their lives to the work of charity appeal to his heart. While I am happy for Colson’s testimony as an Evangelical, I would not be surprised if he followed Randall Terry and Al Kresta across the Tiber one day.
As I remember it, this Pope doesn't even allow that Protestants are good or Christian enough to worship in churches. Last year, in a document reaffirming what he earlier wrote, PBXVI relegated Protestant worship to that of communities or assemblies, but NOT churches, because only Apostolics can be churches in God's eyes according to his determination of what God thinks. The defective ones were the Orthodox, so at least they got second class citizen status. Pope: Other denominations not true churches.
Presumably we are going to have to wait for the next Pope before we are seen as anything more than wandering, churchless, heathen dregs (but they love us of course :). I love how their leaders will smile and shake your hand while simultaneously driving a steak knife into your eye with the other hand. Pass. No thanks for me. :) With this type of spitting on other Christians and the separation it causes, I'll bet Pat Buchanan LOVES this Pope! LOL!
I mean, I know intellectually that this Pope doesn't want to appear this hateful, but his people HAD to know how this would be taken, and they didn't care. That is fine, the consolidation of power has to be maintained with separatist documents like this from time to time. So what this Pope sows he shall reap, this article notwithstanding. :)