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http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070710/ap_on_re_eu/pope_other_christians;_ylt=AuiNdVrNROKq5PP9YBtptVJvaA8F

2007-07-10 10:18:53 · 24 answers · asked by doublewidemama 6 in Society & Culture Religion & Spirituality

24 answers

"Extra Ecclesiam nulla salus."

This debate has raged from the earliest days of the church, but now the Fifth Lateran Council has reaffirmed Saint Cyprian's famous dictum, "Extra Ecclesiam nulla salus..." which means, "Outside the Holy Roman church, there is no salvation."

But what of the Greek Christians? or the Protestant Christians? Catholics believe that a Roman bishop, not a Greek bishop, was Peter's successor.

Is this based on an over-literal reading of Matthew 16:18: "You are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church..." ??

Yet two lines earlier, in verse 16, we Christians find the very foundation of our faith: "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God!"

Surely the more universal we make these great words, the nearer we come to the mind of Christ.

I believe that the Pope, like the Fourth Lateran Council, should allow that Cyprian (and the present Pope himself) could be wrong and that salvation CAN exist outside of the Roman Catholic church, though not outside Christ.

He is rolling back all of the great things that his predecessor did to unite all true Christians.

2007-07-13 08:03:01 · answer #1 · answered by Scotty Doesnt Know 7 · 1 0

That there is no salvation outside the Roman Catholic Church and that the RC Church is the one and only true Church of Christ is a well established dogma of the Church. Many Popes and saints have confirmed this. What Pope Benedict has said is nothing new. He merely reaffirms a dogma of the Church.

2007-07-11 12:39:15 · answer #2 · answered by Pat 3 · 0 0

Most Christian denominations believes 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.

But She does not claim that non-Catholic Churches are not truly Christian Churches. 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.

2007-07-11 00:22:01 · answer #3 · answered by imacatholic2 7 · 0 0

Yes, I agree. But it's not the way it sounds. The Pope is reaffirming the teaching that has always been held true by the Catholic Church...for centuries.

The Catholic Church is THE Church started by Christ himself and can be traced back through Apostolic succession. No other Church can do this...not one.

The Protestant reformation is a heresy. The father of the reformation, Martin Luther, is the founder of the protestant churches. The founder of the Catholic Church is Christ.

I am a convert to Catholicism and was protestant for 30 years. I know that there are many protestants who love and serve God. They are one with us in Christ and therefore members of the body of Christ. This does not mean that the Church they attend is a true church.

2007-07-10 17:26:44 · answer #4 · answered by Misty 7 · 2 2

I do not agree with the pope....If you look at the catholic church throughout the ages I think that it will have a lot to answer for when that time comes.....I could go on for quite a while but I will just say that I think the pope could not be farther from the truth.......

DWM i think you may have opened a can of worms with this subject......:D

2007-07-10 17:43:08 · answer #5 · answered by bernman101 6 · 2 0

The news article is very misleading. Following is what teh Catechism of the catholic Church states:

"The Church knows that she is joined in many ways to the baptized who are honored by the name of Christian, but do not profess the Catholic faith in its entirety or have not preserved unity or communion under the successor of Peter." Those "who believe in Christ and have been properly baptized are put in a certain, although imperfect, communion with the Catholic Church."


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.”

2007-07-10 17:41:10 · answer #6 · answered by Sldgman 7 · 0 0

If the Roman Catholic Church is the first and original, then yes. The others broke away from it.

2007-07-10 17:22:50 · answer #7 · answered by TarKettle 6 · 2 0

No.
Next question; Why is the RCC the true church?
(In my present opinion, there are 7 basic deviations from God's word. The 'church I grew up in had all 7). The RCC is around 3.5 deviations. For awhile, I went to a RCC. (The 0.5 is a common, but dangerous deviation).
Besides, Jesus saves people (who) not churches (what) presently.

2007-07-10 17:59:43 · answer #8 · answered by jefferyspringer57@sbcglobal.net 7 · 0 0

I definitely do not agree. I'm sure many were outraged by this decree. To quote directly from the Bible "Whoever believed as is Baptized will be saved. Whoever does not believe will be condemned." It doesn't say anything about being a member of a specific church. What about the criminal on the cross next to Jesus? He didn't even have time to claim a religious affiliation! He simply believed and that saved him. If this is in fact the case that you need to believe to be saved, why can't other churches contain true believers?

2007-07-10 17:26:30 · answer #9 · answered by tomhicks206 1 · 0 2

No I believe that the only true church is on earth and is not the Catholic Church

2007-07-10 17:22:37 · answer #10 · answered by Mr. Roboto 3 · 0 2

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