Does anyone find it ironic that Protestants are criticizing the Pope for his statements about salvation?

Question

So the Pope says that the only true Church is the Catholic Church and no one else will receive salvation. And, rightly so, the Protestants are strongly disagreeing with him. But isn't it ironic that a lot of those same Protestants say the same thing to Jews, Muslims, Wiccans, etc.?

Maybe I haven't expressed myself clearly enough. When I said "rightly so," what I meant was not that I agree with one side or the other, but just that people have the right to stand up for their own religion. And I thank the people who told me what he did say but I guess I don't understand the theological differences.

Answer 1

Delicious irony.

However, what Christian denomination doesnt think that it is the only True Path to God and salvation? They are all the same - everyone else is wrong, mine is right.

Answer 2

Well, that's not quite what the Pope said, despite what you might have heard. What the Pope actually said was that Protestant churches are incomplete in the sense that they don't have the full spiritual authority passed down from the apostles to their successors. He also said that Protestant and Orthodox churches have a "measure of the truth" and are indeed Christian.

But you're right -- it's ironic that the same Protestants who bash Catholics in this Forum and tell us that we're not "real" Christians are the ones doing the most wailing and gnashing of teeth. Apparently the shoe really pinches when it's on the Protestant foot for a change. "How could the Pope say we're not real Christians?" (sob, whimper, whine)

I hope that those who have been most vocal about their hatred of Catholicism will remember the hurt they felt when they thought they were being told they weren't real Christians. Maybe they'll think twice before they lash out at a brother or sister in Christ -- no matter what denomination they are.

Answer 3

What's ironic about it is, the founders of the Protest-ant churches rejected the authority of the Church founded by Jesus Christ (the Catholic Church). Thus, they rejected the blessings of and the opportunity of holiness (Jesus calls all to be holy) obtainable through Christ's Church, so how do these spiritual descendants of them think they can maintain an equal footing with the true Church, when they have nothing to do with Her?
In short, the Protestants and other non-Christians have no authority, certainly not from Scripture, to establish or belong to man-made religions.

Answer 4

You are missing the point entirely concerning the Pope's statement.
Benny XVI is completely undoing what JP 2 spent his entire tenure as Pope doing: bringing Christian denominations back together. Benedict has set the Ecumenical movement of the Roman Catholic Church back to the stone age.
Central to the differences between Catholics and Protestants is Matthew 16, below. Catholics have taught that Peter received the leadership of the church. Yet, in Jerusalem, the early Church was overseen by James, Peter, and John; John being the one who survived the longest.

Answer 5

The Catholic Church is the only true church that was founded, authorized, empowered, and eternally guaranteed by Jesus Christ.

No one in the entire world disagreed with that fact, for around 1500 years ... including emperors and kings.

Any authentic Christian, no matter what particular denomination they might identify with, remains a part of that one, true church ... even if they don't accept all of the church's beliefs and practices.

This is nothing new. It is in fact, very gracious.

Leave it to protestants to miss the entire point, and totally misconstrue what was said.

That's what happens when you think you know more than the Pope.

Answer 6

A bit.

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.

For more information, see the Catechism of the Catholic Church, section 819: http://www.usccb.org/catechism/text/pt1sect2chpt3art9p3.htm#819

With love in Christ.

Answer 7

i think of the Pope has each proper to particular his perspectives, even to the chagrin of people who disagree with him. greater, the perspectives he expressed reflect easily (particularly than imagined) Biblical suggestions. he's in certainty in simple terms doing his interest. And doing it properly. That his words come for the duration of as irrational to a pair persons is irrelevant. i'm distinctly confident that if the Pope became around and mentioned homosexuality and each of something of replaced into the excellent element on condition that sliced bread the LGBT community could be calling him each good ol' boy below the sunlight. As an atheist i think of the Pope is lots from a stable source of awareness. As a heterosexual i hit upon it puzzling to get worked up a pair of perceived insult to homosexuals. And as an earthling with a vested pastime in residing I quite like the assumption of keeping the rain forests. i know of no faith that promotes attractiveness even with existence variety. the entire factor of religion is to control existence variety, no longer compromise with it.

Answer 8

>>So the Pope says that...no one else will receive salvation.<<

It would be -- if the Pope was saying that. The document actually reiterates that "these separated churches and Communities, though we believe they suffer from defects, are deprived neither of significance nor importance in the mystery of salvation. In fact the Spirit of Christ has not refrained from using them as instruments of salvation, whose value derives from that fullness of grace and of truth which has been entrusted to the Catholic Church."
http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/cfaith/documents/rc_con_cfaith_doc_20070629_responsa-quaestiones_en.html

Answer 9

Many Protestants bash us daily here, and when this came out, distorted by the media as usual, they jumped hard and were so offended.

Yes, I find it VERY ironic that those same people who are so offended (and most haven't even bothered to actually read the dang documant) consistently tell us we're going to hell, we're false, etc etc etc.

Answer 10

Protestant as in Gentiles?
Mary's son Jesus is the one who died and was resurrected so mankind could get fellowship with God, sense the fall of Adam & Eve. Where does he get his info? Muslims & Wiccans who died over there for mankind and was resurrected?

Answer 11

There is one way to salvation... repentance from sin and faith in Jesus Christ. Any church that teaches anything extra or anything else is wrong. The Catholic church is just as wrong on the core issue as are wiccans, muslims, jews, etc... so there's no irony involved. There are not many paths to God... just one. Jesus said "I am the way, the truth and the life. Nobody comes to the Father but through me."