Pope Benedict XVI says that other Christian denominations are not true churches. Does that leave you confused?

Answer 1

That means their r only 1.2 Christians.

Looks like Muslims gonna outnumber Christians after all.

Answer 2

The word Christian means Follower of Christ. In order to be a Follower of Christ, you need to acknowledge him as the Head of the Church because that is what is taught in the Bible.
The Catholic Church claims that the Pope is the head of the Church. Therefore by definition, Catholics cannot be considered Christians. The correct designations for Catholics is Paptist which means Follower of the Pope.
Also, the Catholic Church claims that their religion goes all the way beck to the original group of believers and that Peter was the first Pope. However, the idea of one person being Head of the entire Church didn't come into existence until four hundred years after Peter died. Therefore, he could not have been the first Pope.
In summary, Catholics are not Christians. They are using the name of Jesus as a marketing tool to promote their own religion.

Answer 3

What is a true church? The Catholic church by definition is just a denomination. It is a Roman state run church created in 325 AD. So since it did not exist before then it is a denomination of something else that did exist.

Just because something came later does not mean it cannot have truth in it. If nothing except what came from Christ and Peter is false than the Pope has proved his own religion false by definition. Assuming that is what he meant.

Answer 4

Not really. Once again the media is making a new crisis of very old doctrine.

Here is the full text of the new document that states nothing new: http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/cfaith/documents/rc_con_cfaith_doc_20070629_responsa-quaestiones_en.html

Most Christian denominations believe that each of them is the fullest version of the Church of Christ.

While the Catholic Church also believes that she is "the highest exemplar" of the mystery that is the Church of Christ, she does not claim that non-Catholic Churches are not truly Christian. The Catholic Church teaches:

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.

With love in Christ.

Answer 5

Notice the pope did not quote Scripture. So he will not confuse me or DECEIVE ME with FALSE DOCTRINE.

Peter was in Jerusalem on the Day of Pentecost so How did the True Church get based in ROME? Peter was killed by the ROMANS in the upside Crucifixion for his beliefs.

Paul only spent his last days in ROME. He was in Jerusalem and based out of churches in ASIA mostly and not ROME until he was in prison there and KILLED by the Romans just like JESUS.


God said in the last days there will be a REVIVAL of the ROMAN empire with a ONE WORLD church and government and the Antichrist. We as Christians will be raptured up before the Antichrist reigns.


Hmmm......sounds like pope benedict is showing the true colors of the HARLOT church predicted in Daniel and Revelation.

Answer 6

Hello,

No, if he said this, nothing new or confusing at all. This statement has been going around since the Reformation and equally there are many fundementalist protestant leaders who say the same of the Catholic church not Christian being from the devil, The Whore of Babylon etc.

Michael

Answer 7

Jesus Christ, not the pope, is head of the Church. The Orthodox Church, which is never mentioned in these arguments, is the original Christian Church. Throughout all the turmoil, reformations and changes, the Orthodox Church is the one which has not changed. If any of you want to learn about Christianity, I would recommend studying the Orthodox Church. It's amazing.

Answer 8

not confused at all.
he has just affirmed what everyone already knows..that the catholic church continues to pat themselves on the back as being the only true church,with sole authority to direct doctrine.and refuses to acknowledge any other christians as going to heaven because they're flawed.
its like saying we're all clueless idiots,who are on their way to hell with all the non-believers.
its ridicules and arrogant,not to mention wrong.and continues to prove that they dont have a clue what it means to be a christian.

Answer 9

Don't really see why it should. If you aren't Catholic, that probably means you neither follow the Catholic church nor its pope, and therefore don't believe what he says anyway... so why should it really matter to a non-Catholic what the pope says? Most denominations in Christianity all assert that they are the only "correct" path, so this isn't new.

Answer 10

That is only a political move against the JWs and others for securing exclusivity in what they hope to be the New World Order. The Pope is in for it, the Zionists are in for it, and The JWs are in for it.

Answer 11

This is a good thing to discuss. However, before anyone else starts writing their opinions or even slurs, they should read such documents as Lumen Gentium and a few of his personal writings in order to understand what he is truly saying. And this will take more than what this site can provide (space to write and time to teach). So, the best recourse is to study and speak with your local parish priest. May the Lord bless and keep you. May the light of His face shine upon you.

Fr. john