Why do you believe Jesus gave St. Peter unique responsibility for founding the Christian Church? Is there salvation outside the Church of Rome? Why does a church or priest have to intercede between God and humans?
2006-09-13 05:21:57 · 12 answers · asked by Brad 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Interestingly, if one studies the history of the development of the Church, one will discover, much the the surprise of Protestant polemics, that Rome was one of the LAST Christian communties to have a singular bishop. When it first started, communities were overseen by a collegial group, called episkopoi (in the plural). Rome was one of the last communities to drop a collegial group for a singular bishop. Thus, the Church being founded on Peter makes good theological sense, but the practical efficacy of the pope did not develop immediately.
Jesus did not establish a Church per se. Jesus called groups of disciples to follow him, and it was up to them to figure out what to do after Jesus was gone. Peter is thus not the bona fide founder of the Church, but one of many disciples trying to live Jesus' commands.
Soteriology, in Catholic understanding, is moving away from allegiance to the Church. Nowadays, access to salvation is not gained throus profession of formulae. There is indeed salvation, and I suspect many outside the Church will have access to it just as many within the Church will.
Sacramental comfession seems to be one of those Protestant picking-points. "Why not confess sins directly to God?" they protest. Here's the deal: Catholics DO confess sin to God, and God forgives the sin. Why the sacrament, then? Humans have a need to physically hear that they're forgiven (or loved or whortwhile or whatever affirmation you please). Sacraments reflect divine realities: God forgives us implicitly; the priest to whom we confess forgives us explicitly. It makes visible and audible and unseen and unheard spiritual reality. Is the priest necessary? No, God forgives sin directly. Is the priest necessary? Yes, to fulfill that need. Also, confessing sin to another person is a humbling endeavor. To publically admit wrongdoing can signal the proper attitude toward sin: repugnance and shame. We are called to be humble, so as a secondary achievement, reconciliation with a priest forces us to be more humble.
But this is from a liberal Catholic who loves the Church but sees room for the Church to more closely reflect Jesus' teachings of love and service. Sorry if it's not what you want.
2006-09-13 05:59:19 · answer #1 · answered by David W 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Jesus said to Peter: "On this rock I will build my church" - Peter, or Petra, being the name for rock (hence "petrified")
I'm not a Roman Catholic but I don't think Catholics do believe a priest has to intercede. The worldwide Christian church (of which Roman Catholicism is a part) believes that Jesus is the intercessor between God and Man - hence the curtain in the temple (separating the public space from the holy place where the Scriptures were kept) was torn in two as Jesus died.
2006-09-13 12:27:02 · answer #2 · answered by stafflers.t21@btinternet.com 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
According to the New Testament, Jesus tells Peter that he has the key to heaven; Peter was to lead the lost sheep. A church or a priest do not intercede between God and man; Priests are simply shepherds. A church is just a building where people of the same faith congregate.
2006-09-13 12:28:33 · answer #3 · answered by Roxton P 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
No man can intercede. Here is some history on the church of Rome.
Nimrod in the O T, started the church by ordaining homosexuals as priests and lesbians as nuns. The pope still wears the costume Nimrod designed for him self.
2006-09-13 12:29:39 · answer #4 · answered by Who am I? 5 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Christ gave St Paul to run the Catholic church! And Yes!! there is salvation outside the Catholic church!! Seems you have not read the Holy Scriptures! Before Jesus departed from earth, he told Peter: I give the right to pardon, whom you pardon, his sins will be pardon. And whom you don't forgive, his sins will not be forgiving!! If you rad "Acts of the Apostles," St. Peter, just walking by, sick persons, used to get well, with his shadow!!!
2006-09-13 12:29:03 · answer #5 · answered by alfonso 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Yes - "Thou art Peter and upon this Rock I shall build my church".
Yes, and the church catechism says so.
They don't *have* to, catholics still claim a valid and personal relationship with God. For certain sacramental duties, the trained and ordained minister is appointed by the successor to the apostle, and thus by God.
2006-09-13 12:25:55 · answer #6 · answered by UKJess 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
+ Peter +
Jesus said to him in reply, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah. For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my heavenly Father. And so I say to you, you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven." (Matthew 16:17-19)
The Catholic Church believes the Lord made Simon alone, whom he named Peter, the "rock" of his Church. He gave him the keys of his Church and instituted him shepherd of the whole flock.
Pope Benedict XVI is the direct successor of Simon Peter.
+ Salvation +
The Catechism of the Catholic Church states:
About Non-Catholic Christian Churches: "Furthermore, many elements of sanctification and of truth" are found outside the visible confines of the Catholic Church: "the written Word of God; the life of grace; faith, hope, and charity, with the other interior gifts of the Holy Spirit, as well as visible elements." Christ's Spirit uses these Churches and ecclesial communities as means of salvation, whose power derives from the fullness of grace and truth that Christ has entrusted to the Catholic Church. All these blessings come from Christ and lead to him."
About Judaism: "The Jewish faith, unlike other non-Christian religions, is already a response to God's revelation in the Old Covenant. To the Jews "belong the sonship, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the worship, and the promises; to them belong the patriarchs, and of their race, according to the flesh, is the Christ"; "for the gifts and the call of God are irrevocable.
About Islam: The plan of salvation also includes those who acknowledge the Creator, in the first place amongst whom are the Muslims; these profess to hold the faith of Abraham, and together with us they adore the one, merciful God, mankind's judge on the last day.
About other non-Christian religions: All nations form but one community. This is so because all stem from the one stock which God created to people the entire earth, and also because all share a common destiny, namely God. His providence, evident goodness, and saving designs extend to all against the day when the elect are gathered together in the holy city.
+ Church of Rome +
The Catholic Church is not the Church of Rome.
The Catholic Church has consistently referred to itself as the “Catholic Church” at least since 107 AD, when the term appears in the writings of St. Ignatius of Antioch
The "new" Anglican Church in England started using the term “Roman” in the 1500s as one of many ways of demeaning and demonizing Catholics.
Catholics accepted this late coming adjective without too much protest. Today “Catholic” and “Roman Catholic” are interchangeable terms. Both terms are even used in the Catechism of the Catholic Church.
To add a little more confusion, some apply the term “Roman Catholic Church” only to the Latin Rite Catholic Church, excluding the Eastern Rite Catholic Churches that are in full communion with the Pope, and are part of the same Church, under the Pope.
The term “Roman” neither increases nor decreases the faith, hope and love of the Catholic Church.
+ With love in Christ.
2006-09-14 00:56:24 · answer #7 · answered by imacatholic2 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
If there were no middle man, and you went directly to the source, how could the church make any $$$$$.
Everyone know that an omnipotent being like God can always use more $$$$$$.
2006-09-13 12:25:15 · answer #8 · answered by whidd2003 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
if you have a group leader about to leave, you must leave someone in charge if not then chaos ensues.
yes, but the Universal church has a direct lineage back to the apostles.
ask a priest to answer your last question.
2006-09-13 13:01:03 · answer #9 · answered by cliffy 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
St. peter was also crucified upside down in ad 67
2006-09-13 12:23:06 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋