Were you as interested as I was to read that the pope has ruled that the Catholic Church is the only true church. The statement he released a few days ago deemed that protestant churches are "Christian communities" but not churches. I am sure the pontiff believes that the Catholic Church is the original church.
But the Catholic Church is a man made organization that has promoted their traditions to equal or superior authority as the Scriptures. The Bible indicates that the true church of Christ is not man made and is not joined by our choice. In Acts 2 we read that those who are saved are are “added” by Christ to His church. So everyone who obeys the gospel, as specified by the Bible, is a member of Christ’s church.
And no man has the authority to change that church.
__________________________
Oh boy, I see a disagreement here....
Submitted by merryone on Sat, 07/14/2007 - 00:50.
I'm not familiar with the actual quote, so if you point me to a reference, I'll look - though I think this is a bit of a misinterpretation of the intent of the statement that was made by the Pope.
If you go to The Holy See (the Vatican's website - I don't have the link right this second but you can find it by googling) You can find the Church's stance on other denominations that are not Roman Catholic.
The following is an excerpt from the site which explains, in part, the beliefs we adhere to - I'll include the full answer (the numbers relate to clauses in a document of church teaching which can also be researched if you are so inclined). The third paragragh relates directly to the Church's stance on other denominations:
"...What is the meaning of the affirmation that the Church of Christ subsists in the Catholic Church?
RESPONSE
Christ “established here on earth” only one Church and instituted it as a “visible and spiritual community”, that from its beginning and throughout the centuries has always existed and will always exist, and in which alone are found all the elements that Christ himself instituted. “This one Church of Christ, which we confess in the Creed as one, holy, catholic and apostolic […]. This Church, constituted and organised in this world as a society, subsists in the Catholic Church, governed by the successor of Peter and the Bishops in communion with him”.[7]
In number 8 of the Dogmatic Constitution Lumen gentium ‘subsistence’ means this perduring, historical continuity and the permanence of all the elements instituted by Christ in the Catholic Church[8], in which the Church of Christ is concretely found on this earth.
It is possible, according to Catholic doctrine, to affirm correctly that the Church of Christ is present and operative in the churches and ecclesial Communities not yet fully in communion with the Catholic Church, on account of the elements of sanctification and truth that are present in them.[9] Nevertheless, the word “subsists” can only be attributed to the Catholic Church alone precisely because it refers to the mark of unity that we profess in the symbols of the faith (I believe... in the “one” Church); and this “one” Church subsists in the Catholic Church.[10]
..."
So, from my perspective, if I understand your post correctly, it's a combination of things that are at play here - first, we don't believe that the Church is a man made organization, we trace our inception directly back to Christ. The idea that other Christian churches are not the 'one' can be interpreted as a matter of language - the actual teaching neither denegrates nor invalidates the sanctity of other denominations - the belief is, in the end all Christians will come together in the one true Church of Christ.
Wow, Merryone, my internet connection has been down all day
Submitted by Familyfunandfaith on Sat, 07/14/2007 - 18:20.
at home, so I came to the office to do a few things. It seems as though I missed out on a fun discussion. As you know I appreciate the fact that you are willing to discuss your faith and state your positions openly and passionately. It is one of the reasons I enjoy you so much.
My post was prompted by an article this week is the Houston Chronicle called Vatican reasserts Roman Catholic primacy, here it is in full
July 10, 2007, 10:53PM
Vatican reasserts Roman Catholic primacy
Statement cites defects of other Christian churches
By FRANCIS X. ROCCA
Religion News Service
VATICAN CITY — The Vatican on Tuesday reasserted the primacy of the Roman Catholic Church, saying that other Christian churches suffer defects and that Protestant denominations cannot be called churches "in the proper sense."
The statement, "ratified and confirmed" by Pope Benedict XVI and published with his approval, purports to correct "erroneous interpretation" and "misunderstanding" of the teachings of the Second Vatican Council of the 1960s, which paved the way for ecumenical dialogue between Catholics and other Christians.
The new document said Vatican II "neither changed nor intended to change" the teaching that the "one Church of Christ ... subsists in the Catholic Church" alone. Other Christian denominations, it argues, can also be "instruments of salvation," but "suffer from defects."
The statement brought swift criticism from Protestant leaders. "It makes us question whether we are indeed praying together for Christian unity," said the World Alliance of Reformed Churches, a fellowship of 75 million Protestants in more than 100 countries.
"It makes us question the seriousness with which the Roman Catholic Church takes its dialogues with the reformed family and other families of the church," the group said.
It was the second time in a week that the pope has addressed what he says are erroneous interpretations of Vatican II, the meetings that modernized the church. On Saturday, he revived the Latin Mass — a move cheered by traditionalists.
Tuesday's document said Eastern Orthodox churches, though lacking communion with Rome, nonetheless deserve the term "church" because their priests follow in the succession of bishops and priests that started in the early Christian church.
Protestant denominations, however, "because of the absence of the sacramental priesthood, have not preserved the genuine and integral substance of the Eucharistic Mystery," and are therefore to be termed mere "Christian communities."
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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