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To: GonzoII; vladimir998; All
One thing should be noted:

The content of this material is from a radio show produced during the 1930s

The approach the Church has taken toward Christians not in communion with the Holy Father has changed dramatically since that time.

Relevant documents that outline this are as follows:

The relationship between the Church and other Christians is best summed up via the contents of the Catechism of the Catholic Church:

817 In fact, "in this one and only Church of God from its very beginnings there arose certain rifts, which the Apostle strongly censures as damnable. But in subsequent centuries much more serious dissensions appeared and large communities became separated from full communion with the Catholic Church - for which, often enough, men of both sides were to blame."269 The ruptures that wound the unity of Christ's Body - here we must distinguish heresy, apostasy, and schism270 - do not occur without human sin:

Where there are sins, there are also divisions, schisms, heresies, and disputes. Where there is virtue, however, there also are harmony and unity, from which arise the one heart and one soul of all believers.271

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."272

819 "Furthermore, many elements of sanctification and of truth"273 are found outside the visible confines of the Catholic Church: "the written Word of God; the life of grace; faith, hope, and charity, with the other interior gifts of the Holy Spirit, as well as visible elements."274 Christ's Spirit uses these Churches and ecclesial communities as means of salvation, whose power derives from the fullness of grace and truth that Christ has entrusted to the Catholic Church. All these blessings come from Christ and lead to him,275 and are in themselves calls to "Catholic unity."276

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."322 Those "who believe in Christ and have been properly baptized are put in a certain, although imperfect, communion with the Catholic Church."323 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."324


8 posted on 05/28/2009 3:43:14 AM PDT by markomalley (Extra Ecclesiam nulla salus)
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To: markomalley
The content of this material is from a radio show produced during the 1930s. The approach the Church has taken toward Christians not in communion with the Holy Father has changed dramatically since that time.

Thanks for posting this.

9 posted on 05/28/2009 5:53:57 AM PDT by Alex Murphy (Presbyterians often forget that John Knox had been a Sunday bowler.)
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To: markomalley; Alex Murphy
Thanks for the addition, Mark.

May I add that the content of the "way" the Faith is defended is what is most important here. As you know doctrine doesn't change.

The good Fathers were born in the 1800s. I hope we can continue to diologue with our separated brethren keeping that in mind.

I still consider "Radio Replies" a classic in Catholic apologetics.

10 posted on 05/28/2009 7:15:51 AM PDT by GonzoII ("That they may be one...Father")
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