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Title: Pope: Other Christians Not True Churches
Source:
AP
URL Source: [None]
Published: Jul 10, 2007
Author: NICOLE WINFIELD
Post Date: 2007-07-10 19:03:24 by innieway
Keywords: None
Views: 387
Comments: 24
LORENZAGO DI CADORE, Italy (AP) -- 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. Benedict approved a document from his old offices at the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith that restates church teaching on relations with other Christians. It was the second time in a week the pope has corrected what he says are erroneous interpretations of the Second Vatican Council, the 1962-65 meetings that modernized the church. On Saturday, Benedict revisited another key aspect of Vatican II by reviving the old Latin Mass. Traditional Catholics cheered the move, but more liberal ones called it a step back from Vatican II. Benedict, who attended Vatican II as a young theologian, has long complained about what he considers the erroneous interpretation of the council by liberals, saying it was not a break from the past but rather a renewal of church tradition. 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." In the new document and an accompanying commentary, which were released as the pope vacations here in Italy's Dolomite mountains, the Vatican repeated that position. "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. The Rev. Sara MacVane of the Anglican Centre in Rome, said there was nothing new in the document. "I don't know what motivated it at this time," she said. "But it's important always to point out that there's the official position and there's the huge amount of friendship and fellowship and worshipping together that goes on at all levels, certainly between Anglican and Catholics and all the other groups and Catholics." The document said Orthodox churches were indeed "churches" because they have apostolic succession and that they enjoyed "many elements of sanctification and of truth." But it said they lack something because they do not recognize the primacy of the pope -- a defect, or a "wound" that harmed them, it said. "This is obviously not compatible with the doctrine of primacy which, according to the Catholic faith, is an 'internal constitutive principle' of the very existence of a particular church," the commentary said. Despite the harsh tone of the document, it stresses that Benedict remains committed to ecumenical dialogue. "However, if such dialogue is to be truly constructive, it must involve not just the mutual openness of the participants but also fidelity to the identity of the Catholic faith," the commentary said. The document, signed by the congregation prefect, U.S. Cardinal William Levada, was approved by Benedict on June 29, the feast of Sts. Peter and Paul -- a major ecumenical feast day. There was no indication about why the pope felt it necessary to release the document, particularly since his 2000 document summed up the same principles. Some analysts suggested it could be a question of internal church politics, or that it could simply be an indication of Benedict using his office as pope to again stress key doctrinal issues from his time at the congregation.
Poster Comment:the Vatican seeks to set the record straight
I have not seen anyone set the record straight on the Vatican quite like Walter Veith. This is just the parts of his total onslaught series from google, which is an excellent series, and the series where he tells the biblical and historical story of the Vatican. To purchase dvd's from Veith, visit http://amazingdiscoveries.org/
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#5. To: innieway (#0)
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." Jesus: I AM THE WAY, the truth, and the LIFE; NO ONE COMES UNTO THE FATHER BUT BY ME.
The truth, the way, and the life have nothing in common with this Monarch, the oldest monarchy on earth. Why would anyone go to the trouble of wearing all of this phoney horseshit just to impress the moronic masses, anyway ? The guy looks like a mafia don in drag !
Why would anyone go to the trouble of wearing all of this phoney horseshit just to impress the moronic masses, anyway ? The guy looks like a mafia don in drag ! I don't usually comment on people's looks, but, dang, they are some oogly creatures. Why would anyone go to the trouble of wearing all of this phoney horseshit just to impress the moronic masses, anyway ? Mat 23:4 For they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay [them] on men's shoulders; but they [themselves] will not move them with one of their fingers. Mat 23:5 But all their works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments, Mat 23:6 And love the uppermost rooms at feasts, and the chief seats in the synagogues, Mat 23:7 And greetings in the markets, and to be called of men, Rabbi, Rabbi. [Holy Father! Holy Father!] Mat 23:8 But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, [even] Christ; and all ye are brethren. Mat 23:9 And call no [man] your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven......
Does anyone see the utter hypocrisy of calling someone "father" that is sworn to celibacy !
#15. To: noone222 (#13)
good point!
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#7. To: AllTheKings'HorsesWontDoIt (#5)
#12. To: noone222 (#7)
#13. To: AllTheKings'HorsesWontDoIt (#12)
Mat 23:9 And call no [man] your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven......
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