Pope: Other denominations not true churches? What say you?

Question

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/19692094/

Answer 1

Most denominations feel all the others have it wrong.

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

Very well said Ritefielder. .I choose to have only 1 Holy Father because my God is a jealous God and does not look to kindly on idol worship. The only true church according to the bible is the Church of Christ and I do not mean that as denomination. Jesus said himself, "where 2 or 3 are gathered in my name" That is what a true church is in my heart. I do however believe church is important. It is a place of learning and fellowship. A good Pastor will tell you to not just take his word for it and to look up what he tells you and see it for yourself. When I was a child as a Catholic I was taught that a mere man could not interpret what the bible teaches that only the priests could understand it.

Answer 4

Has the Pope looked in the mirror lately?

Jesus Christ came to make an example of worshiping God. Jesus showed us that God loves simplicity. Catholicism is the most complex of all the denominations.

Catholics have cardinals, popes, bishops, you name it they have it. If any denomination is not true, it is catholicism...I am not saying that the lord hates Catholics, but He just wants us to worship him...not make complex rituals that drive us further from Him.

I don't understand why the Pope is the only person who can get close to God. Everyone has a right to have a relationship with God...not just the Pope.

With all that said, I think that all denominations are silly. I think that God just wants us to worship him and not get caught up in human made rituals that just make worshiping him more complicated.

Answer 5

I have sort of addressed this earlier...but in brief...I think before this Pope throws stones, he should consider his own actions first. There is so much which could be used to argue the point, but frankly, it's just another ill conceived statement from a person who interprets certain writings differently than others. He's entitled to his opinion, even if he's so very wrong. All I can say is, I consider the source of any such pronouncement.

Answer 6

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 7

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 8

I think it's funny that he based that statement on the idea that other denominations do not have apostolic succession.

In reality, the Catholic and Orthodox churches do not have apostolic succession, either. During the Roman persecutions of Christianity, many of their leaders converted to paganism to avoid being executed and then converted back to Christianity later.

Leaders who refused to compromise with paganism became known as Donatists. These Donatists were later deemed heretics by the Catholic and Orthodox churches for their refusal to submit to the authority of church leaders who burned scriptures and offered pagan sacrifices.

Donatism was killed off centuries ago. Any legitimate claim to apostolic succession died with it.

Answer 9

The Bible is against sectarianism, yet we seem to have it. In reality, the church is one body, and what constitutes a Christian is not decided by any church body...it's whether one follows Christ or not.
The Leaders of the R.C. can say whatever they want...they are NOT God. They claim to be able to speak for God, but such a stance really leaves them in a position where many embarrasing questions could be raised.
It's just a re-hash of the ages old argument people have discussed and argued, and even died over for many years.

Answer 10

I say... since the Pope is not the boss of all those other denominations, it really shouldn't matter that much to them. Not a big surprise there.

Answer 11

As usual, the secular news has gotten it wrong again. Following is copied from an online catholic news source:

Noting that churches and ecclesial communities not yet fully in communion with the Catholic Church “suffer from defects,” the doctrinal congregation acknowledged that “elements of sanctification and truth” may be present in them.

“It follows that these separated churches and communities … are deprived neither of significance nor importance in the mystery of salvation,” the congregation said. “In fact, the spirit of Christ has not refrained from using them as instruments of salvation, whose value from that fullness of grace and of truth which has been entrusted to the Catholic Church.”