Is the Pope right? Is the Catholic church the only "real" church?

Question

Well, if you're Catholic, of course you think the Pope is right, since the Pope is always right. The Pope said: ""cannot be called 'churches' in the proper sense" because they do not have apostolic succession -- the ability to trace their bishops back to Christ's original apostles -- and therefore their priestly ordinations are not valid"

Well, I'll bet they didn't teach you catholics much about Pope Stephen VII, and Pope Formosus. Pope Stephen had Pope Formosus's body dug up and put on trial! Read about it here:

http://www.law.uga.edu/academics/profiles/dwilkes_more/his31_cadaver.html

Maybe the Pope should worry more about keeping the priests off the little boys than worrying about protestants.

The story about what the Pope said is here:

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,288841,00.html

Answer 1

Every Christian denomination thinks they're the only right one. I don't see why so many people are shocked about this.

Answer 2

I don't where you got your figures. What exactly do you mean by many? Less 1% of the total number of priests were convicted of the crime. Is that many
Less than 1.5% of the 405,067 Priests have been accused. Do not blame all the Priests there are a lot of good honest Priests in the world
Look into other Churches you will find the percentage is much higher
What is being parroted by you is the fanciful history of Loraine Boettner a leader in the anti-Catholic movement.

you are tragically misinformed.

Love your enemies

The new document -- formulated as five questions and answers -- restates key sections of a 2000 text the pope wrote when he was prefect of the congregation, "Dominus Iesus," which riled Protestant, Lutheran and other Christian denominations because it said they were not true churches but merely ecclesial communities and therefore did not have the "means of salvation."

"Christ 'established here on earth' only one Church," said the document released as the pope vacations at a villa in Lorenzago di Cadore, in Italy's Dolomite mountains.

The other communities "cannot be called 'churches' in the proper sense" because they do not have apostolic succession -- the ability to trace their bishops back to Christ's original apostles -- and therefore their priestly ordinations are not valid, it

The Catholic Church is the Church founded by Christ, whose authority was passed to St. Peter, the prince of the Apostles. This Apostolic lineage is preserved through the Apostolic Succession of bishops all over the world. The Catholic Church consists of many different rites and jurisdictions, all under the bishop of Rome, currently Benedict XVI. The Catholic Church has weathered a lot over the years, and is the Church of many great saints and sinners. This whole blog is written from a Catholic perspective, and I can't describe the whole of the Catholic faith in this little section. The best way is to order yourself a Catholic Catechism and read over it.
Catholics believe that theirs is the one true Church of Jesus Christ, firstly, because theirs is the only Christian Church that goes back in history to the time of Christ; secondly, because theirs is the only Christian Church which possesses the invincible unity, the intrinsic holiness, the continual universality and the indisputable apostolicity which Christ said would distinguish His true Church; and thirdly, because the Apostles and primitive Church Fathers, who certainly were members of Christ's true Church, all professed membership in this same Catholic Church (See Apostles' Creed and the Primitive Christian letters). Wrote Ignatius of Antioch, illustrious Church Father of the first century: ``Where the Bishop is, there let the multitude of believers be; even as where Jesus is, there is the Catholic Church.'' Our Lord said: ``There shall be one fold and one shepherd, yet it is well known that the various Christian denominations cannot agree on what Christ actually taught. Since Christ roundly condemned interdenominationalism (``And if a house be divided against itself, that house cannot stand.'' Mark 3:25), Catholics cannot believe that He would ever sanction it in His Church.

Answer 3

I guess the Pope thinks it is safe to make a declaration of this type due to the dwindling ranks of church going Christians of the Catholic denomination. Only devout catholics still go to church these days. However, even if you believe that the catholic faith is the one truth christian denomination, the crimes of the priesthood against the congregations has severely eroded the people's faith in Catholicism.

The Pope maybe "technically correct" about apostolic succession as determined by the council of Nicaea. (I personally, do not recognize the apostle Paul as a true companion of Jesus since he was not one of the "original" apostles.)

God does not need the "Church" people need the "Church". Churches are convenient places to worship but they are not necessary for worship, since God is a divine and transcendent entity. Consider if you will that Jesus was a carpenter, if he wanted to preach the gospel in a specific location or locations he would have simply have built structure to give his speeches. He did not do that. Why? Because the message was more important than the place.

It seems to me that the Pope is committing a sin with this announcement. The sins of pride, vanity and perhaps deceit.

Answer 4

I saw this as a best answer on someone's question:


"Protestants don't believe in the Catholic Church anyway so why does it matter to them that the Pope said something to clarify and teach the faith to Catholics. "

Answer 5

I think I'm missing something. How do Pope Stephen's actions affect whether or not Protestant Communities have apostolic succession?

Answer 6

Dear, U just "Scratch the Surface" of the History of the Catholic church!!! But U do it Well!!! Numerous times I have Posted Non-Religious History Sites here in an Attempt to "Open the Eyes & Hearts" of those following the LIES & DOGMA of the Catholic church, but I'm sure that it is "Painful" to learn the TRUTH, having Lived the LIE in Faith, even though it was "Purposefully Mis-Guided" by "Papa" driven by the churches "Power Lust"!!! Keep up the Good Fight & Studies!!! John

Answer 7

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 8

No, you are letting the news commentaries tell you what the document says instead of reading the actual document for yourself. The document can be found at http://www.zenit.org/article-20090?l=english

Here is a real quote from teh document:

It is possible, according to Catholic doctrine, to affirm correctly that the Church of Christ is present and operative in the churches and ecclesial Communities not yet fully in communion with the Catholic Church, on account of the elements of sanctification and truth that are present in them.[

It follows 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,

Answer 9

Over reaction. Says Protestant church homes are church homes. whilst Henry 8th. chop up from Rome that replaced into heretical. East and Western Christendom chop up around 1054 over the defination of the Trinity. Jewish Christians have been kicked out of the synagogue around the time of St.Paul. Paul went to Rome to talk to the Jewish Christians there. Paul & Peter have been martyred in Rome and the tomb of Peter is in Rome. term Roman Catholic further via writers. learn your background please ASSYRIAN GOD- your truly unaware of the info.

Answer 10

I notice in your question that you never entertain the idea the Pope Formosus deserved for his body to be dug up and put on trial.

We've had good Popes and bad Popes. Their moral rectitude has nothing to do with the validity of their office.

Answer 11

Of course he's not right. Jesus never said that he was building the Catholic church. If you read the book of Acts, it talks about the churches at Antioch and Jerusalem, but it never mentions a denomination. What do you think about that? I think it shows that we as Christians are the "church". I don't know what the Pope said and really don't care. I know my salvation is safe, my Bible tells me so.