[George W. Bush]

Naturally. That's what he meant by saying that Rome would refer to you as a separated brethren.

Generally, this term is used to refer to Protestants or other non-RCs who have a generally orthodox confession of Christ as savior.

Of course, "separated brethren" is actually a strange term for Rome to use. Given that they call the Roman church the Catholic (universal) church, they don't really have much theological ground upon which to call any of us brethren. If salvation is found only within the doctrine and sacraments and obedience of the Roman Church as they teach internally, then they really have no right to offer a false hope that we might be their "brethren" if we remain "separated" from the only (supposed) church of Christ which they consider to be Rome. And the reason it is the only possible valid Christian church: apostolic succession of their popes and the continuing authority to ordain priests for the Roman sacraments, especially the Eucharist.

Given the theological claims and tradition of Rome, the term "separated brethren" can only be a non sequitur to all parties.

Interesting how this ecumenism compromises traditional Roman principle. One can observe the same inevitable inconsistencies among evangelicals and Protestants who try to ecumenize with the Roman church.

[OrthodoxPresbyterian]

If salvation is found only within the doctrine and sacraments and obedience of the Roman Church as they teach internally, then they really have no right to offer a false hope that we might be their "brethren" if we remain "separated" from the only (supposed) church of Christ which they consider to be Rome.... Given the theological claims and tradition of Rome, the term "separated brethren" can only be a non sequitur to all parties.

True, IMO -- but the only Roman Catholics with the gumption to say so anymore, are the Feeney-ite Extra Ecclesia Nulla Salus SSPX "traditionalist" Roman Catholics.

Who, having been summarily "drummed out of the Corps" by the modernist Vatican II Catholics (on account of the SSPX-ers acting too much like, well, traditional Roman Catholics, I guess)... have ended up as "separated brethren" from Rome in their own right, I guess. (LOL!!)