Vatican Representative Plays Down 'One True Church' Statement
European Church leaders iron out concerns over the Vatican's recent 'one true church' statement at the Third European Ecumenical Assembly currently taking place in Sibiu, Romania.
by Maria Mackay
Posted: Thursday, September 6, 2007, 10:51 (BST)
The Vatican's President of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, Cardinal Walter Kasper, has played down concerns among Europe's Protestant Church leaders following the Vatican's recent statement asserting that the Catholic Church is the only true church of Jesus Christ.
The 16-page July document, ratified by Pope Benedict XVI, stated that the Roman Catholic Church is "the one true Church of Christ".
It also claimed that "communities emerging from the Reformation" - the Protestant and Anglican Churches - are "not Churches in the proper sense of the word".
Cardinal Kasper attempted to qualify the assertion at the Third European Ecumenical Assembly, currently taking place in Sibiu, Romania.
In reiterating that other communities "were not churches in the proper sense, we did not mean that these others were somehow false churches", he told reporters. "We meant that the EKD (Evangelical Church in Germany) or the Church of England, for example, have a different understanding of what the church is."
Bishop Wolfgang Huber, chair of the council of the EKD, said he regretted the negative phrasing of the Vatican's statement in deeming some churches to be "not churches in the proper sense". He added, however, that he was encouraged to hear Cardinal Kasper's more positive description of communities having their own understanding of what it means to be the church.
"We continue on our journey together," said Huber, "with the Holy Spirit leading us."
The President of the Conference of European Churches, the Rev Jean-Arnold de Clermont, also dismissed fears over the Vatican statement.
While noting that the statement did not reflect a Protestant view of the church or of Protestantism, De Clermont said the Vatican's assertions were "nothing new" and should not be given too much weight.
"Ecumenical life does not issue from the summit, but from the base of the church," he said.
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Added: Monday, September 10, 2007, 13:18 (BST)
I mean, who cares what the Papists think? I don't mean to sound snarky, but our Messiah said "Woe unto you when they speak well of you." I'd be a lot more worried if the Romish Organization considered us beloved brethren. It seems to degrade Him when His children (supposed) get all wrapped around the axle because "the Catholics don't like us."
Rob Cheney, Charlotte, USA
Added: Sunday, September 9, 2007, 12:20 (BST)
Pope Benedict,
has shown his true colors. He always believed that there is no salvation outside the church of Rome. But now, being the successor of Peter (at least he believes that), he has a very personal reason for emphasizing this dogma. The other churches... may have pastors, elders, deacons... may be true to the Word of God, the Bible.... but they do not have apostolic succession... in other words the other churches do not have "him". In this he demonstrates that he is a son of Eve like the rest of us... and like the rest of us has eaten of the forbidden fruit and has been deceived to believe that when one eats the fruit one does not die....but will become like God.
As i said we have all eaten of the fruit everytime we have acted or become little gods in our own little world. But Benedict has gone a few steps further... after all does he not consider himself the successor of Peter, Christ on earth (the vicar of Christ), "Holy Father", "His Holiness", "Sommo Pontefice"?
Benedict has come a long way from the Eternal Son of God, whom he tries to substitute here on earth. The Lord Jesus Christ who although was eternally God, humbled himself in order to become a man so that He may die and pay for our sins, rise again and sit at the right hand of the Father to intercede for all those who believe in Him.
The "Sommo Pontefice" of Rome has in the last two thousand years built a religious and political empire (who would have imagined that the church of the carpenter from Nazareth would have its own embassies around the world.
The other churches may not be true churches in the proper sense of the word, they may not have the apostolic successor... they may not have Benedict XVI... but if they are built on the Lord Jesus Christ and in Him alone... they have eternal life... for the One and True Sommo Pontefice (the carpenter from Nazareth, left heaven in order to build the bridge between a sinful humanity and a holy God... He came to earth to build that bridge and he built it by using two planks and three nails. He who has ears to hear, let him hear.
B. J.
B. J., bayside, Maine
Added: Sunday, September 9, 2007, 2:50 (BST)
Amen to Ralph Gaily's comment. As Christains we must be prepared to defend our Faith in love as the Bible commands. We may well be witnessing the beginning of a time of trouble. Pray for Catholics, witness to them in love. Invite them to a Bible Study.....let the sword of the Spirit do it's work !
Tom Hughes, Oxford, CT.
Added: Friday, September 7, 2007, 0:19 (BST)
A gigantic, well-financed, organized cult.....teaching doctrines of men, doctrines of demons, and traditions of men, for hundreds of years .......the Truth will one day lay it all bare before all to see ......put your faith in Christ Jesus....the Jesus of the Bible, and throw down all the false religion.
Ralph Gaily, Carmel Valley, Calif.
