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Vatican insults other churches saying 'Catholicism is the only true church'
11.07.2007
Source: AP ©

The Vatican set itself on a collision course with other Christian faiths yesterday, reaffirming the primacy of the Roman Catholic Church in a corrective document that it said was designed to clear up recent "erroneous" doctrine, AFP reports.

The document's central claim, that the Catholic Church is "the one true Church of Christ," is likely to revive a debate that has dogged the Vatican's relationship with rival denominations for decades.

For the second time in a week, Pope Benedict XVI has corrected what he says are erroneous interpretations of the Second Vatican Council, reasserting the primacy of the Roman Catholic Church and saying other Christian communities were either defective or not true churches.

Benedict approved a document released Tuesday from his old office, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, which repeated church teaching on Catholic relations with other Christians.

While there was nothing doctrinally new in the document, it nevertheless prompted swift criticism from Protestants, Lutherans and other Christian denominations spawned by the 16th century Reformation.

"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," said the World Alliance of Reformed Churches, which groups 75 million Reformed Christians in 214 churches in 107 countries.

"It makes us question whether we are indeed praying together for Christian unity," the alliance said in a letter to the Vatican's key ecumenical official, Cardinal Walter Kasper, charging that the document took ecumenical dialogue back to the pre-Vatican II era.

One of the key developments from Vatican II, the 1962-65 meetings that modernized the church, was its ecumenical outreach.

Another key change was the development of the New Mass in the vernacular, which essentially replaced the old Latin Mass. On Saturday, Benedict revived the old Latin Mass, saying it was wrong for bishops to deny it to the faithful because it had never been abolished. 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.

The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith said it was issuing the new document on ecumenism because some contemporary theological interpretations of Vatican II's ecumenical intent had been "erroneous or ambiguous" and had prompted confusion and doubt.

The new document - formulated as five questions and answers - restates key sections of a 2000 text the pope wrote when he was prefect of the congregation, "Dominus Iesus," which riled Protestant, Lutheran 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."

"Christ 'established here on earth' only one Church," said the document released as the pope vacations at a villa in Lorenzago di Cadore, in Italy's Dolomite mountains.

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 - and therefore their priestly ordinations are not valid, it said.

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.

Vatican insults other churches saying 'Catholicism is the only true church' (http://english.pravda.ru/news/world/11-07-2007/94821-vatican-0)

Why did you post this dw?  :'(

Why not post it. It is news and it is no different than the many posts we have on others doing something similar.

I am Italian, raised Roman Catholic..attended catholic schools...When I was 16, I question the the priest on the Staion of the Crross...My Grandfather paid much money to this school, so of course they gave me their time and listened to me as well as tried to give reason for mary being the focal point of the cross...Catholics do not read thebible..catholics do what the church instructs through much religious practice...I was given the answer that Mary was blessed for having Jesus and that through her she would plead with Jersus for us...I took the bible to school and went into the priest office and showed him scripture...the verse of scripture..'No man cometh to the Father accept through Jesus...Mary is never mentioned...I also gave scripture "Let the dead bury the dead" and asked them why they were being paid to pray dead people into heaven when they have no right to and why did they clean dead bones and worship the dead for all that know the Lord are saints......My parents were called into the office for a meeting and were instructed to give me correction...My father looked at the scriptures and took me out of the school and left the church...His family turned their back on him for becoming a christian and was not included in the family...When my grandfather died, my father was not welcome at his funeral and cried because my grandfather did not know the Lord only religion and my grandfather had people pray him to heaven...There is no religion but to be grafted on to the vine paid by precious blood that Jesus shed...The church is made up of all who believe and have received what Jesus has done and have fellowship with Jesus and know His Word...The caholics know religion that is made for priest to bring themselves in high esteem and the congregation is in the dark...I have been invited to minister in catholic churches which claim to be Spirit filled...and have told them the same...We are not under denomination or religion man has made up...but under the blood of Jesus that makes us free and it is not by any other than Jesus and to pray to any other is sin....

Amen!



Amen and AMEN!

Because it is news.

I know some people that are catholic.  Though they are catholic, in name only.  If you follow prophecy, you will see the seat of the false prophet is in the catholic church.

Now if you ask me if Pope Benedict XVI, is the false prophet I'd say no.  Pope Benedict XVI, doesn't fulfill the scripture, of the false prophet in my eyes. 

I woulld also be a false prophet, to say Pope Benedict XVI is the false prophet. No one knows who the false prophet, or the antichrist is yet.  Only after the Rapture of the Church, will it become known who is who.

AMEN sister, AMEN

No it isn't. Roman Catholics are true Christians.

Good Morning Brother David and All,

Going to church or sitting in church does not make one a Christian, and that is true of all churches and all denominations.

Now, keeping this in mind, Dreamweaver was talking about Bible Prophecy that is completely true. The Catholic Church and Rome are part of Bible Prophecy. This is a lengthy and difficult Bible Study with many complicated issues. A beginning study of Bible Prophecy takes years, but some of the issues are easily understood. Dreamweaver was not suggesting that all of the people in the Catholic Church are lost, rather the place of the Catholic Church in Bible Prophecy. There are many people in all of man's churches who aren't saved, but the Catholic Church is definitely and specifically mentioned in Bible Prophecy. In fact, the Bible mentions it in very negative and harsh terms. Along the same lines of thought, the Bible speaks of lost people in very negative and harsh terms, and that would include the lost in all churches. I hope this helps some. There are detailed studies of Bible Prophecy already on the forum if you want to do a detailed Bible Study. In the most blunt terms, Bible Prophecy calls the Catholic Church the "great harlot". Again, this does not suggest that there aren't any saved people in the Catholic Church.

Now, let's get back to reality and talk about the REAL CHURCH, THE CHURCH WHICH IS THE BODY OF CHRIST. There are members in this ONE and ONLY TRUE CHURCH from many churches and denominations. Membership does not depend on which brick and mortar church building a person attends or which name appears over the door. Membership depends solely on FAITH and ACCEPTANCE of JESUS CHRIST as LORD and SAVIOUR in the ONLY TRUE CHURCH. Many people sit in church pews most of their lives and aren't saved at all. The REALITY is that there are TRUE CHRISTIANS attending many different brick and mortar buildings. AND, there are many lost people attending many different brick and mortar buildings.

The ONE TRUE CHURCH, THE CHURCH WHICH IS THE BODY OF CHRIST is not made with human hands, and it doesn't bear any of man's names over the door. It's a living organism of believers who belong to JESUS CHRIST. All of the denominations, tags, and labels will be thrown out for eternity. SO, it boils down to one of two possibilities:  a person either belongs to JESUS CHRIST or they don't.

Love In Christ,
Tom

Amen to that.  And that is Biblical....the church is referred to as the Body of Christ and not a denomination.  I always felt that Christ would come down and smack us all in the face for calling ourselves Catholic, Baptist, or whatever.  He would have said call your selves children of God, Christians, or anything other than those man made titles that separate the church itself.

Maryjane.
Let me say I am thankful that you and your father took a great leap.  While I was in the service I had an opportunity to speak to a young lady in Italy (Genoa) about church.  She attended a Catholic church because her family did.  She could not leave because of fear of being excommunicated. 

David
Let me say something about the Catholics church in general.  BEP pretty much already covered most of it.  But I am adding my two bits in from experience.  The Catholic church in the United States is quite different from that of Europe.  And the closer you get to Rome the more it changes.  You have testimony from Mary Jane and I can confirm that.  Here in the states the fear of excommunication is no where near as much as it is in Italy.  Nor is the actual excommunication near as bad here as it is the closer you get to Rome.  Excommunication here is basically just the church turning it's back upon you.  You still get to stay at home with your family, enjoy the family dog, go to the same grocery store, eat at your favorite restaurant and pretty much continue your life.  In Italy if you are excommunicated you may as well just about pack up and move to a different country.  Because everyone around you is the church.  And if you get excommunicated your family does not want to have anything to do with you, you community casts you out, and you become an outsider to the world you know.

It is definitely different here as far as Catholicism is concerned than it is over seas.  Yeah the doctrine is the same but the entity of the church is different.

Praise THE LORD at such a young age you were for wanting to know the truth! God Bless you Sweetie!

sorry all, I guess I got a little defensive. Just Roman catholics are given such a bad name. No, there is nothing wrong with dw posting. But bep you're wrong, Bible isn't talking about the catholic church. Bible says Matthew 16:18
And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.

Hi David,

Many take the verse of Mat 16:18 to mean a specific denomination. This a wrong assumption. When Jesus mentioned church He was talking about the body of Christ not a specific denomination. All too often mankind wants to attach this verse to their denomination and to exclude all other denominations as being of any value. The Church is not the denomination, it is the body of Christ, which are all those that believe in and have accepted Jesus Christ as their Lord and Saviour. This is the one true Church.

Oh I do agree but since Roman Catholics are Christians, they are part of the body of Christ. Therefore the gates of Hades will not overcome it.

As pointed out not all Roman Catholics are true Christians. The same applies to all denominations. People/denominations will be deceived. There will be false prophets and teachers that will enter them all. We should not put our faith in any denomination including the Roman Catholics. Our faith should be in God and God alone. Jesus Christ is the head of the Church not a pastor or priest.

Hello Brother David,

I do undertand. Reference Peter and surrounding teaching, that would be false teaching. Faith in JESUS is what JESUS CHRIST was talking about, NOT PETER. Peter wasn't the foundation of anything. If you go down a few verses, you will see JESUS telling Peter, "get thee behind me Satan." "Peter" translated from the ancient languages is "small stone", not rock. JESUS CHRIST alone is the ROCK and FOUNDATION of the CHURCH which is the BODY OF CHRIST. Peter even denied JESUS three times shortly before the crucifixion, so Peter was never a rock or foundation for anything at all. The foundation JESUS was talking about in Matthew was Peter's Faith in HIM - JESUS CHRIST. SO, Faith in JESUS CHRIST is the foundation for the ONLY TRUE CHURCH, and the ONLY TRUE CHURCH isn't made out of brick and mortar. CHRIST HIMSELF is the HEAD over the ONLY TRUE CHURCH, and it doesn't bear NOT one of man's labels, denominations, or tags.

Brother David, this is the blunt truth about some horrible false teaching that has been going on for centuries. Peter also knew that he wasn't the foundation for anything, rather JESUS CHRIST is the foundation. This can be easily verified in the writings of Peter, but it has been falsely used to promote a man-made church building. Any religion without JESUS CHRIST as the only foundation is a false religion because JESUS CHRIST is the ONLY WAY, THE TRUTH, AND THE LIFE. Faith in Peter will get you nothing, so the false teaching about Peter is really sad.

Here's one more absolute fact to help you understand the ONE TRUE CHURCH, THE CHURCH WHICH IS THE BODY OF CHRIST. 100% of the members are SAVED. There aren't any pew warmers, visitors, or lost people in THE CHURCH WHICH IS THE BODY OF CHRIST.

Love In Christ,
Tom

Rituals are the biggest part of the Roman Catholic...Cananization...beautification...to clean  body over and over again...to worship the creation rather than the creator...We know who is of christ  because the sprit bears witness with the Spirit...and my Spirit and I am sure those who know the Lord and not hooked on denominational wars will tell you no one is seated next to Jesus that we pray to...No one other than Jesus has paid the price for sin...We do not have to worship idols made of people that have died and glorified for a miricale that God has the glory of...I can tell you first hand...the true church was born in the upper room...with one accord..the Spirit fell and many were saved...not one of these people who died for the cause of Christ were canonized nor were they beautified...but they see God for they lay down their lives for the cause of Christ...many think the bones of Peter are available..but let me tell you that in those days when christians were being tortured for the cause of Christ..they did not stop to pick up dead bones...but went on to offer life...I know you may think I am bashing the catholics...but what I am pointing out is that unless you know God's word you will not know you are being deceived and many fall away and get into religious rituals that depend on man's ability and for great show that has nothing to do with God...It is my ministry that I tell the truth and to bring those who are deceived back to the Lord and that being by pointing to the Cross and to His word...

Amen, sister. These are truths not only of the Roman Catholic denomination but of many such denominations that we see in existance today. Again it is not the denomination that is the true church and it is not a denomination that saves.

True...and the new god of the churches today is prosperity...prayer rags sold for a thousand dollars...I think it would be great if many of the prosperity teachers would do as the Lord told the rich man...give it away and follow me...People are glued to the tv set watching one teaching after another and sit in much confusion...The true church will go out and spread the Word...salvation is free to all men...God has promised eternal life and all that is off this world will pass away and turn to dust...but God's word stands forever and He will do as He says He will do...It is not for every denomination but for every christian to stand together in one accord and reach this world...the time is so short and there is no time to argue who is greater than the other as we are all the same...grafted on to the same vine...working together as a body jointly fitted together...we have so much work to do before the coming of the Lord...

I really do agree with you all. I have a very good friend that I really think is a gift to me. She has helped my walk. She is Roman Catholic and a very good Christian. Now you know why I am defensive

Brothers and Sisters,

I really do think that the time grows short for people to accept JESUS CHRIST as their LORD and SAVIOUR.

The Greatest message needed by a lost and dying world is JESUS CHRIST and the CROSS!

I'm absolutely positive that the devil is competing for every lost soul. If Christians Glory in anything at all, it should be in JESUS CHRIST. I'm thinking about a simple message given by Paul, and I think that this message becomes more important by the day. The gist of this message was Paul telling them that he didn't come to them with excellency of speech and the wisdom of men - rather he preferred to know nothing but JESUS CHRIST and HIM CRUCIFIED. Paul was talking about the ultimate power of the Gospel of the Grace of GOD:  JESUS CHRIST taking our place on the CROSS and paying the penalties we should be paying. ONLY JESUS CHRIST was Holy and Perfect enough to make such a sacrifice, and Faith in JESUS CHRIST is the ONLY way to be saved. This is the most Powerful and Beautiful TRUTH in the entire Bible. JESUS CHRIST loved us enough to die for us, and HE wants us to accept HIM as LORD and SAVIOUR. There is no greater Love than what JESUS CHRIST has already shown to us, and HE is reaching down to pull us out of the pit of darkness and despair. HE died to rescue us from the eternal curse of sin and death, and HIS death is a GIFT to us so that we might have eternal life instead of eternal torment in the fires of hell. Have FAITH, TAKE HIS HAND, let HIM pull you out of the pit, and make HIM the LORD over your life. This is the most priceless GIFT in existence, and the lost are in desperate need of this priceless GIFT being offered to them.

This is the GOOD NEWS of JESUS CHRIST and Salvation. It's the most powerful and precious messages given in the history of mankind. It's simple enough for small children to understand, and that's the way that GOD meant it. SO, I want to say it one more time:  if Christians Glory in anything at all, let us GLORY IN JESUS CHRIST and tell others how to be Saved from the curse of sin and death!

Love In Christ,
Tom

Yes David I understand.  However as mentioned do not hold to the denominational aspect of things.  It has been clearly stated by many here that when we mention Catholic we are more often referring to the institution of the Catholic Church and not the individuals who attend every Sunday.  And anyone who would honestly believe that their church organization is exempt from Satan's influence must be in Satan's church already.

Also let me state I think it admirable that you would come to a friends defense.  But do not do so blindly.  ONe of my best friends is an atheist, and you can bet that I will NOT defend his beliefs.  I may defend his right to have those beliefs...but not the beliefs themselves.  And besides those great differences we remain friends.  If there is any friend that is worth defending tooth and nail for it would be Jesus.  And if anyone wants to go against that then I will fight them, even if they call themselves christian....or latter day saints or whatever :)

Hello David: I greet you in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus

I too was once a devout,and adamant catholic. I was an alterboy for 12 years,
I mowed the church ,pastorage, and cemetery grass, went to a catholic high school,
and revolved my life around my "church"

I even broke off an engaement and entered their cemetery, oops I meant seminary.
I was going to be a priest, and serve my church.

When I got there I was told that all of a sudden I could read the bible and understand it now-Wow what a miracle to be able to speak to God all of a sudden!
That was the beginning of the end for me, because I did begin to read the bible,
in fact: I began to study the scriptures fervently, and I began to find discrepancies
between what my "church" taught, and what the bible said.

Bible says Matthew 16:18
And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.

You quote a verse that the RCC uses often, but it is taken out of context, and is
missing meaning due to the difference in languages.

The Greek makes it plain that the "This Rock" that Jesus refered to was himself
and not Peter. The book of Acts shows us that Peter was a married man, and that
"gasp" he made mistakes concerning spiritual matters. Paul had to confront him
and point out his error.

The RCC teaches that "the faith of the one and only true church" is based upon:
     1)tradition
Mar 7:7 Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.
Mar 7:8 For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do.
Mar 7:9 And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition.
     2)the teachings of the vatican
I refer you to the above verses again
Rev 22:18 For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book:
Rev 22:19 And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.
     3)the scriptures
I find it amazing that what God had to say rates a distant 3'rd.
2Ti 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
2Ti 3:17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

Please understand that I do not hate catholics, quite the opposite is true. I have
an agape love for them, and pray daily for them. It is not the people that I have a
problem with, but the heirary of personel that wish to maintaining a dominance
over people who sincerely wish to learn about our savior.
We were not made by God to be ruled over by man:
Rev 4:11 Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.

We were made to worship and praise our lord, by our life and our life style, not
"earn our way into heaven" by our actions.
 All those who I know that truely come to know Jesus not only as lord and savior,
but as their best friend, leave the RCC and join a bible believing church.
If this offends you I am sorry, but I do not appologize for telling you the truth that
can set you free in Jesus.

Rev 18:4 And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.

All bible teachers that I know, and trust, teach that the RCC is the mother harlot
spoken of in the book of Rev. I beg you to search the scriptures, and ask the
Lord to show you(with an open mind and heart) if what I have said is true.

respectfully and prayerfully your servant in Jesus

ravenloche   (Rev.Joseph Barnhouse Sr.)

Hello Ravenlocke,

Brother, I just wanted to share a few things I was thinking about while reading your post.

It's WONDERFUL for a Christian to know that (1) the HOLY SPIRIT OF GOD lives in our hearts, (2) JESUS CHRIST HIMSELF is our Intercessor, (3) we have access to GOD'S THRONE OF GRACE in prayer 24 hours a day - 7 days a week, (4) when we don't know how to pray, the HOLY SPIRIT in our hearts helps us, (5) we are NOT limited in when, how, or where we worship, pray, and give thanks - again, GOD welcomes us 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, (6) THE LORD not only allows - rather encourages us to develop a close and personal relationship with HIM. HE really wants to walk with us every step of every day, but we must be willing to give HIM LORDSHIP over every aspect of our lives to enjoy the fellowship that the LORD really wants with us.

NOW, just think about the significance of the above paragraph and MUCH MORE that I didn't list. We are just lowly men, and we can talk to ALMIGHTY GOD - OUR CREATOR! Not only this, HE has adopted us and given us an eternal inheritance. We are, IN FACT, children of the KING OF KINGS. Why in the world would we place any faith or trust in men when THE LORD HIMSELF wants to be our "ALL IN ALL". The answer for us should be obvious. The least and poorest of us in this short life have reason to praise and thank the LORD continually. Our hopes, dreams, and eternal realities are in JESUS CHRIST - NOT the world or men. HE has gone before us to prepare a place for us, and our PROMISES IN HIM are so sure that we can consider them already done. This is the REALITY FOR CHRISTIANS, so why should we be interested in what the world or men have to offer?

Love In Christ,
Tom

Amen...The Vatican did not insult anyone but themselves...It is not for us to argue their point but to point the lost to Jesus...not to man but to Jesus...`

Amen...The Vatican did not insult anyone but themselves...It is not for us to argue their point but to point the lost to Jesus...not to man but to Jesus...What chrsitian has time for this?...It reminds me of paul shaking the dust off his feet and moving on to those who will hear...