Salvete! Today Pope Benedict XVI opened up another can of whoop-ass on Vatican II and - well - all you heathen non-Catholics. LOL His newly released document, basically a reassertion of a 2000 document, "re-emphasizing" the universal supremacy of the Roman Catholic Church and that Orthodox churches are somewhat defective and other Christian denominations are not "true churches.
"Christ 'established here on earth' only one church," the new document states. 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 the original apostles. It continues that while Orthodox churches are "churches" because they revolve around apostolic succession and other elements of "sanctification and truth," they're still lacking because they refuse to recognize the pope's unwavering leadership. Something like that.
In an attempt to stave off an internal Christian civil war, Benedict said he's committed to continued "positive" ecumenical dialogue among all Christian beliefs. I'm sure if that dialogue goes forward, Benny will have the big cushy leather seat while the Protestants must settle for the little kids' table with the tiny hard plastic chairs.
I do recall my high school theology studies, in which according to Father Wood, some Protestants in the past (and probably do now) view(ed) Catholicism as non-Christian and even the devil's work. I'm no theologian, but last time I checked, Jesus didn't establish nor invent any church. He preached the word of the Lord, around which followers helped build a belief system through proselytizing through the decades and centuries.
That is not merely a physical building but a set of beliefs and values that make up this church of Christianity. It is this all-encompassing church of believers that accept Christ as the son of God who came to this Earth as man, lived a life without sin and taught the Word of God. He was crucified, buried and rose from the dead, ascended to Heaven and sits at the right hand of God, intervening on the behalf of all believers.
Yes, I understand the New Testament has "warnings" (for lack of a better term) about similar teachings cloaked as Christianity. Yes, I understand the Catholic Church says it is a continuation of people who remain(ed) faithful to apostolic and episcopal leadership and reject(ed) "false teachings."
But remember that this belief system was further developed by man. God alone governs the true Christian church. That whole church. Better still, see John 3:16 again (in New Testament): "...that whosoever believeth in Him…" It's that, not "whosoever is a member of the Catholic Church." Now if you'll excuse me, I want to prepare to attend a traditional Latin Mass. Pax vobiscum!
