What do you think of the Popes statement that the Catholic Church is the only true church?

Question

Personally, as a Catholic, I find it offensive to think that one man can denegrate all other religons. Our religon has taken enough hits lately without more.

Answer 1

I think the Pope is entitled to his fallible opinion.

Answer 2

As a protestant I agree with you entirely. I have never put much thought into what was said by the Pope (I am not Catholic after all) but when things like this are said they feel in some way un-Christian to me.
I will never understand a man who is supposed to be the face and voice of millions of people, of an entire church, could say things and make decisions that obviously do not reflect the beliefs of all of his followers, or most for that matter.
It makes me wonder what the difference is between our current and previous Popes. John Paul made public apologies for the wrongdoing of the church as well as for humankind in general. He made great attempts to bring love and sollidarity to the Catholics and Protestants. and now there is a powerful man who seems to be trying to open old wounds. Wars are fought over words like his and it pains me to see people who believe in the same God and in Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior, fight over belief systems that differ so little.
Honestly I am slightly heart-broken as a Christian and a Person.

Answer 3

I don't find it offensive that anyone thinks his religion is the true and fullest religion. I don't see it as a put-down of any other religion unless the one that claims to be such says all or most of the others are wicked and fraudulent.

It is obvious that you have not read the document since it calls non Catholic Christian "ecclesial communities"" instuments of salvation'.

If you are Catholic( or even if readers are not)please get a copy of the Documents of Vatican II and the Catechism of the Catholic Church to find out what the Church actually teaches. Go to primary sources

Check out the Clarification On The Doctrine Of The Church document at www.zenit.org/article-20090?I=english

Answer 4

Alignment with Scriptural teaching, not apostolic succession, is the determining factor of the trueness of a church. What is mentioned in Scripture is the idea that the Word of God was to be the guide that the church was to follow (Acts 20:32). It is Scripture that was to be the infallible measuring stick for teaching and practice (2 Timothy 3:16-17). It is the Scriptures that teachings are to be compared with (Acts 17:10-12). Apostolic authority was passed on through the writings of the apostles, not through apostolic succession.

Recommended Resource: The Gospel According to Rome: Comparing Catholic Tradition and The Word of God by James McCarthy.

Answer 5

I would like to know where in the Bible does it say that the Catholic Church is THE church. From what I understand, the pope says that if a church's bishops are unable to trace themselves back to the original apostles then they are not a real church. Where in the Bible does it say that? Once, the apostles stopped a man from teaching about Jesus (because he was not one of the 12) and when Jesus heard about it he told them that they should not have done that. He said that if the man is not against them, he is for them.

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.

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 this is his opinion. The Catholic church has said similar things before. I do not need to go through the pope to have a relationship with God. He is merely being consist with generations of Catholic beliefs. He just had the courage to speak it.

Answer 8

What the Pope reasserted is not his personal opinion , but a dogma of the Roman Catholic Church.
No one, not even a Pope can change dogma. The Popes of old and the saints have always confirmed the fact that the Roman Catholic Church is the one and only true Church and that there is no salvation outside the RC Church. He speaks the truth whether people think that is popular or not.

The Catholic Church has solemnly defined three times by infallible declarations that outside the Catholic Church there is no salvation.
The most explicit and forceful of the three came from Pope Eugene IV, in the Bull Cantate Domino, 1441, who proclaimed ex cathedra: "The Most Holy Roman Church firmly believes, professes and preaches that none of those existing outside the Catholic Church, not only pagans, also Jews, heretics, and schismatics can ever be partakers of eternal life, but that they are to go into the eternal fire 'which was prepared for the devil and his angels' (Mt. 25:41) unless before death they are joined with Her... No one, let his almsgiving be as great as it may, no one, even if he pour out his blood for the Name of Christ can be saved unless they abide within the bosom and unity of the Catholic Church."
The other two infallible declarations are as follows: 'There is one universal Church of the faithful, outside of which no one at all can be saved.' Pope Innocent III, ex cathedra, (Fourth Lateran Council, 1215).
'We declare, say , define, and pronounce that it is absolutely necessary for the salvation of every human creature to be subject to the Roman Pontiff.' Pope Boniface VIII, (Unam Sanctam, 1302).
This means, and has always meant, that salvation and unity exist only within the Catholic Church, and that members of heretical groups cannot be considered as "part" of the Church of Christ. This doctrine has been the consistent teaching of the Popes throughout the centuries.

St. Augustine (354-430), Bishop and Doctor of the Church: "No man can find salvation except in the Catholic Church. Outside the Catholic Church one can have everything except salvation. One can have honor, one can have sacraments, one can sing alleluia, one can answer amen, one can have faith in the Name of the Father and the Son and of the Holy Ghost, and preach it too, but never can one find salvation except in the Catholic Church."

St. Fulgentius (468-533), Bishop: "Most firmly hold and never doubt that not only pagans, but also Jews, all heretics, and all schismatics who finish this life outside of the Catholic Church, will go into eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels."

Pope St. Gregory the Great (590-604): "The holy universal Church teaches that it is not possible to worship God truly except in Her and asserts that all who are outside of Her will not be saved."

St. Francis of Assisi (1182-1226): "All who have not believed that Jesus Christ was really the Son of God are doomed. Also, all who see the Sacrament of the Body of Christ and do not believe it is really the most holy Body and Blood of the Lord . . . these also are doomed!"

St. Thomas Aquinas (1226-1274), the Angelic Doctor: There is no entering into salvation outside the Catholic Church, just as in the time of the Flood there was not salvation outside the Ark, which denotes the Church."

St. Louis Marie de Montfort (1673-1716): "There is no salvation outside the Catholic Church. Anyone who resists this truth perishes."

Answer 9

Hey just use the encyclopedia, even the Catholic Encyclopedia, and you will see a FALSE group of POPES,
A complete deviation from the true documents.
Not to mention look up Lucretia Borgia, guess who her DAD was?????????
These popes are not a direct line from PETER as they claim.
Not to mention the infallible thing....SO what about child molesters, OH, HEY! the POPE who agreed with the NAZI'S, AND HITLER?????????? HEY , there was a GOD INSPIRED DECISION...proof of the LACK of infallibility. especially considering over 10 thousand people died with the help of the POPE and Bishops choosing to ignore hate in exchange for NOT loosing land or Power!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Answer 10

Is this something new? As a Catholic, have you never said the Nicene Creed? "We believe in the one holy Catholic and apostolic church" has been part of it since 325 AD.

Doesn't the leader of every church believe that his is the right path? If not, wouldn't he change?

The Pope saying this is no different from an American president saying "America is the greatest country on earth." That is -- his believing it is obvious and his saying it transmits no new information.

Answer 11

This question has been asked before, but thank you for not being smug and annoying like some Catholic have been since his announcement. I really don't care what he says, as I know I'm saved by God's grace, my Baptist church didn't save me, Jesus did.
God Bless.