My summer reading has been pretty bleak. I have focused on articles, newsletters and books that take a macro examination of world religions and where they seem to be headed. Once I thought we were moving, albeit painfully slowly, toward interfaith understanding and dtente. Not anymore. The we-are-better-than-you obsession seems intent on prevailing, never mind civilizations survival. Forces leading global faiths are determined to gain the upper hand through edicts and statements that are undoing the work of spiritual peace-makers seeking common ground over decades and centuriesLatest evidence: Pope Benedict XVIs rattling 16-page document released Tuesday that reaffirms the primacy of the Roman Catholic Church and how flawed other Christian churches are. Here is how a Catholic News Service reporter in Rome, John Thavis, worded it: In a brief document, the Vaticans doctrinal congregation reaffirmed that the Catholic Church is the one true church, even if elements of truth can be found in separated churches and communities.Ecumenical News International phrased it this way: The document says that Protestant denominations of the Reformation have not preserved the genuine and integral substance of the Eucharistic mystery (and) cannot, according to Catholic doctrine, be called churches in the proper sense.And Reuters News explained Christian Orthodox churches are true churches but they suffer from a wound because they did not recognize the primacy of the pope. (Christianity went through its Great Schism in 1054 after centuries of brooding over papal supremacy). While Orthodox traditions do, in fact, maintain an apostolic succession, a priesthood and the Eucharist, it is still lacking something in their condition as particular churches because they united under the pope in Rome, Reuters said. Benedicts statement has been explained as a step to clear up ambiguity of previously stated doctrine. Anything not Roman Catholic is either defective or not true churches. The document, which will be debated and analyzed a long time, was called Responses to Some Questions Regarding Certain Aspects of the Doctrine on the Church. So while other churches, now a term used loosely, may have some sanctifying elements that can be used as instruments of salvation, their actual value emanates from the fullness of grace and truth which has been entrusted to the Catholic Church, it said in drawing words from a Vatican II statement called Decree on Ecumenism.The great gulf not only stems from Protestants nonacceptance of papal authority and the succession of leadership from Christs apostles to Pope Benedict, but the understanding of Holy Communion, or the Eucharist, itself. Protestants generally regard Holy Communion as a sacrament that re-enacts the Last Supper and becomes a moment of grace. Catholics are taught that Jesus Christ himself actually indwells the bread or wine in what is the ultimate mystery.The announcement triggered widespread surprise, especially Protestant groups like the World Alliance of Reformed Churches, consisting of 75 million folks living in more than 100 countries. It makes us question whether we are indeed praying together for Christian unity. It asked, How serious were Catholics all along to engage in ecumenical dialogue with Reformed groups when it now says they are inferior followers of Christ? Yet a Vatican undersecretary, the Rev. J. Augustine Di Noia, insisted the document does not undercut the popes work toward ecumenical progress. He insisted that when people go into a Catholic church and take part in the Mass, both the sacraments and the spiritual experience demonstrate everything that Christ intended the church to be.Tell that to hundreds of millions of non-Catholics who believe Christ is fully present in their spiritual experiences. Other religions, of course, tout such superiority and perfection but many thought the Catholic Church was about finished with that privileged claim in the face of Christianity’s critical need to confront common threats and problems.
 Pope: Protestants not in true churchesJuly 11th, 2007, 2:27 pm · 2 Comments · posted by lawngriffiths2 CommentsLeave a Reply |
Sometimes, all people need to say why they believe what they believe, and what is different about them and others. The document the pope wrote was to unify and clarify Catholic beliefs, as some priests were interpreting things differently. The pope had to say what he said, because without understanding the differences between faiths, there isn’t a way for them to work together. Piecing together two completely different faiths, as though they were the same, will lead to greater breaks and problems later.
The real tragedy is that instead of helping people of all Faiths grow, the hierarchy makes catholicism just another competing “ism” albeit the best–so they claim.