The Pope and Catholic Church states that non Catholics churches arent "proper" churches?

Question

The catholic church has again stated that Protestant, Orhodox and other churches are not true churches, as they do not follow catholic doctrine or recognise the pope as head of all christians! What insulting crap!

As a member of the Ancient Church of The East, i find this grossly insulting. We are Aramaic speakers(Assyrians) whose church was founded in AD78, LONG before there was any christianity in Rome, and long before there was any organised WESTERN church, or catholocism.

In addition, the Orthodox and coptic churches in Syria, Egypt Armenia etc have traditions that go bah before the Roman/Western church existed.

Essentially this is a symptom of the Vatican's thirst for power.

The catholic church is neither historically, chronologically, theologically or morally correct in its assertions.

What say you? Are they right? Are they Wrong? Are they insulting?

It should be remembered that Christianity started in the Middle East, NOT Rome or europe, and that eastern churches and more importantly christian traditions existed BEFORE catholicism.

The catholic church has long tried to victimise and surpress anyone that opposes is self appointed primacy over all christendom, and challenged its real role which is a thirst for political and economic power.

AD33??The Catholic church did not automatically come into being at the death of christ, it was a body organised and created much later on, its doctrine not finalised until 100s of years after christ..
If you went back in time to say 60AD, and asked where the nearest catholic church was, youd get some strange looks! No christians in Rome then either!

PETER? The Catholic church RETROSPECTIVELY, claimed petros as the first catholic, he of course WAS NOT, and would not have seen himself as such. They have retrospectively claimed this lineage to validate themselves, and it is historically and theologically WRONG for them to do so!

MARTYRED IN ROME? So WHAT? Its a FACT, that christianity started in the mid east, among mid eastern people, and was hijacked by Rome. And the doctrines of the early eastern church have LITTLE to do with the doctrines of the modern catholic church!

Answer 1

I have read the book and formed my own opinion. In my opinion Catholicism contradicts what it says in the Bible (praying to Mary for example, anyone who reads the book and doesn't realise that Jesus and God are the ones to be praying to has missed something in my view). It doesn't make sense to me. It's like Jehovah's witnesses and Mormons, they use the same book but have translated it differently so their views mean very little to me. Providing they are good people and treat others well then I have no problem with them, the pope however flies in the face of that (his daft views on birth control and stuff, in a sense condoning the spreading of all sorts of diseases and I'm not talking about pre-marital sex) and I have no respect for him. He is no closer to heaven than I am.
I find his talk of other churches quite patronising and arrogant, considering the way many people in his own church have behaved (their superficial wealth, oppressive views and bigotry, although I'm not saying all behave in such a way there are awful people in every religion/church).

Answer 2

Over reaction.
Says Protestant churches are churches.
When Henry 8th. split from Rome that was heretical.
East and Western Christendom split around 1054 over the defination of the Trinity.
Jewish Christians were kicked out of the synagogue around the time of St.Paul.
Paul went to Rome to speak to the Jewish Christians there.
Paul & Peter were martyred in Rome and the tomb of Peter is in Rome. Term Roman Catholic added by writers. Learn your history please

ASSYRIAN GOD- your really ignorant of the facts.

Answer 3

Hmmm,

Well, The Catholic Church started with Peter who was one of the 12 Disciples of Jesus, that goes right back there.

Did you read the whole article?

Why does it surprise you so much that the Catholic Church does not feel that other branches do not have the same fullness of faith? You must know that our Communion is not open to non-Catholics for a reason? That is nothing new.

Honestly, I wish the Pope would soften his remarks, but the main problem with this is the mis-reporting of them in the first place.

Peace be with you!

Answer 4

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 5

I don't think they are right. I don't believe what they believe. I think what they do is actually against the Bible with worshiping idols and all. I am a Protestant Christian and I think the Pope is just like any other man and really isn't that close to God as he says. I also think they shouldn't have said that. They are once again trying to be the best church and getting people mad at them again.

Answer 6

Yes i feel offended by that. We have enough trouble with other religious institutions attacking Christianity, do we have to attack each other as well? Surely the Church is big enough for different opinions, as long as we agree on the foundations of our faith?
Any group of people who are saved by and follow the teachings of Jesus Christ is a true church.
God bless

Answer 7

Never a remake can be better than the original, Protestants and Anglicans just adapted the Catholicism for their own personal interest of the moment, and everybody knows it.

Answer 8

I am so glad that someone brought this up. When I was reading the article yesterday my response was “Oh my”…I can’t believe he said that

It was very insulting but he surely will have to answer to God for that statement “Catholicism provides the only true path to salvation”

Salvation is not found through any man on earth, symbols or man made rituals. God is also a jealous God and I have seen people praise the Pope as if he was God. I have read where people believe the Pope healed them. Never was credit given to God.

Answer 9

Try reading the ACTUAL DOCUMENT. You're falling for the media hype. The document clearly states that salvation can be found through the ministry of other churches, too.

Honestly, people, learn to think for yourselves!

Answer 10

How could your church have existed longer if it started in the year 78 and the Catholic Church started in the year 33 ?

The Church was founded in Jerusalem, but the Roman Church is the exact same Church.

*edit*

Hundreds of years after Christ?? Have you NEVER read any of the writings of St. Ignatius??? Why don't you try actually researching your alleged facts?