Vatican: Non-Catholics 'wounded' by not recognizing pope

[USA Ranger]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: centennialdawg</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I don't think that you could call them false teachings, but they are rituals. All churches in all denomonations have some rituals. The Roman Catholic Church is full of rituals as are the Lutherans, Methodists, Baptists, and Church of God, just to mention a few. Rituals give man a sense of belonging and of repentance. All-in-all, the rituals should give man a sense of being closer to GOD and Christ and it gives them the feeling that they are more in obedience to GOD'S wishes. These are how diverse Christianity's denominations have become. The early Lutheran Church, if I am not mistaken, worshipped GOD much in the same way the Catholic Church did then. All forms of Christianity have pastors, preachers, and evangelists in their respective forms. It is in our hearts as to how we worship the Lord. If rituals make one feel more comfortable and at ease with worship, then that is how you should worship. </div></div>

Allow me to clarify, coming from a following of Christianity I believe it is fair to say that they are in fact false teachings.Since I believe and hold dear the Teachings of Jesus Christ as produced in the Holy Bible if something else is taught elsewhere that is against the Holy Bible teaching it is a false teaching. I understand where you are coming from with traditions or rituals, and that is true in some of the cases. No matter what denomination one is, we can only worship God in one way and that is in Spirit and in truth.

[centennialdawg]

Exactly, but, in Christianity, and you, being a Christian, must agree that rituals play an important part in our lives. The Bible says to repent with your heart and with your mouth, the Catholics just took the "mouth" part and ritualized it somewhat, with a confessional. The priest CAN NOT absolve you though, of any sin. That must be GOD who forgives you, not the priest. I have studied the Bible, too, and have come to firmly believe in my salvation as you have yours. I am, in no way, saying that anyone is wrong, or right(although, I do have strong thoughts on some denominations).

As in all religions/denominations, there is a spiritual leader, who in turn, voice what the followers should/should not believe. The Catholic Churck just believes that the pope has full autonomy on the teachings of Christianity, whereas, most others have deacons, elders, or other leaders to help set the course of teaching these rituals.

[USA Ranger]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: centennialdawg</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Exactly, but, in Christianity, and you, being a Christian, must agree that rituals play an important part in our lives. The Bible says to repent with your heart and with your mouth, the Catholics just took the "mouth" part and ritualized it somewhat, with a confessional. The priest CAN NOT absolve you though, of any sin. That must be GOD who forgives you, not the priest. I have studied the Bible, too, and have come to firmly believe in my salvation as you have yours. I am, in no way, saying that anyone is wrong, or right(although, I do have strong thoughts on some denominations). </div></div>

Yes, most all denominations have some traditions that have nothing to do with Salvation.

[USA Ranger]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: elp6n</div><div class="ubbcode-body">VATICAN CITY (Reuters) -- The Vatican on Tuesday said Christian denominations outside the Roman Catholic Church were not full churches of Jesus Christ.

A 16-page document, prepared by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, which Pope Benedict used to head, described Christian Orthodox churches as true churches, but suffering from a "wound" since they do not recognize the primacy of the Pope.




But the document said the "wound is still more profound" in the Protestant denominations -- a view likely to further complicate relations with Protestants.

"Despite the fact that this teaching has created no little distress ... it is nevertheless difficult to see how the title of 'Church' could possibly be attributed to them," it said.

The Vatican text, which restates the controversial document "Dominus Iesus" issued by the then Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger in 2000, said the Church wanted to stress this point because some Catholic theologians continued to misunderstand it.

Ratzinger was elected Pope in April 2005. The document is his second strong reaffirmation of Catholic tradition in four days, following a decree on Saturday restoring the old Latin Mass alongside the modern liturgy.

The document stressed that dialogue with other Christians remained "one of the priorities of the Catholic Church."

The document, issued by Benedict's successor in doctrinal matters, Cardinal William Levada, complemented the Latin Mass decree in aiming to correct what it called "erroneous or ambiguous" interpretations of the Second Vatican Council, which took place from 1962 to 1965.

Church modernizers interpreted the Council as a break from the past while conservatives, like Benedict, see it in continuity with 2,000 years of Catholic tradition.

The document said the Council's opening to other faiths recognized there were "many elements of sanctification and truth" in other Christian denominations, but stressed only Catholicism had all the elements to be Christ's Church fully.

The text refers to "ecclesial communities originating from the Reformation," a term used to refer to Protestants and Anglicans. Father Augustine Di Noia, under-secretary for the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, said the document did not alter the commitment for ecumenical dialogue, but aimed to assert Catholic identity in those talks.

"The Church is not backtracking on ecumenical commitment," Di Noia told Vatican radio.

"But, as you know, it is fundamental to any kind of dialogue that the participants are clear about their own identity. That is, dialogue cannot be an occasion to accommodate or soften what you actually understand yourself to be."
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What are your views on this?