Castle Church Discussion on Pope Reaffirms the Universal Primacy of Roman Catholicism

Rod Dreher on the Pope’s Recent Clarification

Fri, 27 Jul 2007 04:05:14 GMT

Rod Dreher comments on the Pope’s recent clarification that the Roman Catholic Church is the only true church:

“It’s the pope’s job to explain and defend Catholic teaching, which makes unique and exclusive truth claims. It would be logically inconsistent for the pope to affirm Catholic teaching while asserting that churches proclaiming contradictory things are equally correct.

“Benedict said nothing new. He reaffirmed the Catholic position that Christ’s saving work can occur among non-Catholic Christians, despite rejecting Roman orthodoxy. What caused the most consternation was the pontiff’s point that Protestant churches aren’t proper churches at all.Undiplomatic? Sure. But Benedict was clarifying an important point of Catholic theology: that you cannot have a real church without a valid Eucharist. You can’t have a valid Eucharist without a sacramentally legitimate priesthood. And you can’t have that in ecclesial bodies that have severed the line of apostolic succession, as Protestant communions have.”

You’ll want to read the rest of this one:

“Which religion is the right religion?” – by Rod Dreher (Dallas Morning News)

Protestant Heads Still Committed to Dialogue Despite Vatican’s ‘One True Church’ Claim

Sun, 15 Jul 2007 03:00:12 GMT

From the Christian Post:

Following the quick response from the head of the world’s Reformed churches, more Protestant denominational heads have spoken out against the Vatican’s reassertion this week of the primacy of the Roman Catholic Church. However, the leaders, although voicing disagreement with the Vatican, noted that the statement is nothing new.

“Similar statements and perspectives precipitated the 16th century Reformation nearly 500 years ago,” Dr. Gerald B. Kieschnick, president of The Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod, said in a statement Thursday. “At that time Martin Luther said, ‘Popes and councils can err.’ Apparently that is still true today,” he added.

Did this "Lutheran" just say, "Apparently"!?!

Not Offended at the Pope

Fri, 13 Jul 2007 19:01:29 GMT

From the keyboard of Albert Mohler...

Aren't you offended? That is the question many Evangelicals are being asked in the wake of a recent document released by the Vatican. The document declares that the Roman Catholic Church is the only true church -- or, in words the Vatican would prefer to use, the only institutional form in which the Church of Christ subsists.

No, I am not offended. In the first place, I am not offended because this is not an an issue in which emotion should play a key role. This is a theological question, and our response should be theological, not emotional. Secondly, I am not offended because I am not surprised. No one familiar with the statements of the Roman Catholic Magisterium should be surprised by this development. This is not news in any genuine sense. It is news only in the current context of Vatican statements and ecumenical relations. Thirdly, I am not offended because this new document actually brings attention to the crucial issues of ecclesiology, and thus it presents us with an opportunity. Read the rest of the article here...

From The Fox Newsroom

Thu, 12 Jul 2007 16:01:06 GMT

I found this report from Fox news’ "Father John" to be quite interesting.

This excerpt is very compelling. Read between the lines:

"Regardless of what you may be reading on news sites and blogs elsewhere, this document does not represent a shift away from the teaching of the late and revered Pope John Paul II about ecumenism (relationship and dialogue with Christians of other denominations.) It is not a return to pre-Vatican II theology. It is not a move to drive a wedge between Catholics and Protestants. In fact, it is an attempt to lay the foundations for eventual unity by clearly expressing the theological disagreements that currently divide Christian communities. Unity based on a whitewashing of differences, according to Pope Benedict, is a facade and only stalls fruitful dialogue."

Don’t worry, be happy.

The Pope popes

Thu, 12 Jul 2007 12:05:10 GMT

Loyal reader Rev. F. A. Bischoff suggested that we discuss Pope Benedict's announcement that the Roman Catholic Church is the only true church after all.

Well, of course he would say that. While disagreeing with him utterly, I am actually glad that the church is taking a conservative turn. It is far better to be so exclusive than to be so inclusive as to include even non-believers, which had been the tendency in Catholic ecumenism.

I am glad the pope is allowing the Latin mass and seemingly reversing Vatican II, since the vernacular masses, with their flat language and awful pop guitar strains, are often even worse than when Protestants try to be contemporary. Being contemporary is not in the Catholic nature--nor is it in the Lutheran nature--and when we try to be, we are awkward and off-key. And the theology of worship that came out of Vatican II has been a baleful influence that has plagued even Protestant theologies of worship and that, as at least some have pointed out, have opened the door to contemporary worship.

So, if there has to be a pope, let him be a pope, bringing out the teachings of Rome clearly for all to see.

“Pope: Other Christians Not True Churches”

Thu, 12 Jul 2007 02:05:17 GMT

Pope Benedict XVI has reasserted the universal primacy of the Roman Catholic Church, approving a document released Tuesday that says Orthodox churches were defective and that other Christian denominations were not true churches. HT: Dan Hadick

So the Pope Is Catholic

Wed, 11 Jul 2007 21:40:00 GMT

Pope Benedict XVI has reasserted that the Roman Catholic Church is the only true church because it is the only one that can lay claim to a legitimate apostolic succession. A writer from the Associated Press has figured out the significance of the timing and the content of Benedict’s move:

Pope Benedict XVI reasserted the primacy of the Roman Catholic Church, approving a document released Tuesday that says other Christian communities are either defective or not true churches and Catholicism provides the only true path to salvation. . .

It was the second time in a week that Benedict has corrected what he says are erroneous interpretations of the Second Vatican Council, the 1962-1965 meetings that modernized the church. On Saturday, Benedict revived the old Latin Mass _ a move cheered by Catholic traditionalists but criticized by more liberal ones as a step backward from Vatican II.

Among the council’s key developments were its ecumenical outreach and the development of the New Mass in the vernacular, which essentially replaced the old Latin Mass.

Benedict, who attended Vatican II as a young theologian, has long complained about what he considers its erroneous interpretation by liberals, saying it was not a break from the past but rather a renewal of church tradition.

(HT: Bruce Tomaso)

Special Thanks to the Pope

Tue, 10 Jul 2007 23:24:09 GMT

It is not very often that I get an opportunity to thank the Pope for something he said, some things he has said in the last several weeks have gotten me really excited.

With prominent evangelicals leaving Christianity and becoming Catholic, and Rick Warren still promoting "Purpose Driven"(R) Catholics and Mormons I was beginning to think this ecumenicalism thing was really running amuck. My special thanks to the Pope is for proclaiming the Catholic church the only true church. So to Pope Benedict I say a hearty thank you very much. Let's face it Rick Warren says the Reformation was a bad idea, a lot the emergent crowd is bending over backwards to embrace Catholics, Evangelical and Catholics Together is gaining momentum. All these people want to embrace the Roman Catholic church, but the Catholic Church doesn't want to embrace them. I know this is a pipe dream, but now maybe some of this will swing this crazy ecumenical pendulum back a few notches. If nothing else it should help certain people see just how far apart evangelicals and Roman Catholics are theologically. The Pope understands we are not the same. He even understands we can't be a part of the same church. He, unlike others, actually drew some lines in the sand and I for one appreciate it. While I think the Pope is 100% wrong and will face fiery judgment I at lease appreciate him taking a stand. Now maybe we can quit trying to get along with Catholics and start winning them to Christ.