The commentary repeated church teaching that says the Catholic Church "has the fullness of 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 said.Additionally in a report from the Reuters it is noted,
The document said the Council's opening to other faiths recognized there were "many elements of sanctification and truth" in other Christian denominations, but stressed only Catholicism had all the elements to be Christ's Church fully.The text refers to "ecclesial communities originating from the Reformation," a term used to refer to Protestants and Anglicans. Father Augustine Di Noia, Under-Secretary for the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, said the document did not alter the commitment for ecumenical dialogue, but aimed to assert Catholic identity in those talks. "The Church is not backtracking on ecumenical commitment," Di Noia told Vatican radio.I am all for asserting one's identity, but feel this is a jab and a crush of other's identity, as though the Roman Catholic Church has the authority to declare once-and-for-all whose identity is legitimate or not. Ugh! I don't know what else to say. My hope, my prayer, my dream for the global church is to see the Protestant/Anglican communities (all, but Lutheran being my slant) to be able to join together FULLY in ministry, to worship together and share in the meal of Christ as one body, distinct with varying traditions and theology, but together in Christ through Christ. My prayer continues now more fervently and I ask you to join me. One body....one diverse and beautiful body!
Here's a link from the Vatican to the report that brought all of this out (on the Feast of St. Peter/Paul no less!)
Watch for more links and commentary as I dig a bit more into this.
3 comments:
Yeah, I was pretty offended by this document. I used to look at Rome as a wise parent or grandparent or even, in some respect, an ideal. Not just as a consequence of this document, but now I see Rome as just another church, defective and incomplete, like the rest of us.
Thanks for the note Chris...I just checked out your blog and you are coming my way! I am in the first call process right now with a church in N.VA. (Dc Synod) and so I'll see you around when you're on internship. God's blessings to you and your family as you prepare for this experience and move. Peace! Kim
Yeah, I stumbled upon your blog a few weeks ago and noticed that we'll be in the same neck of the woods. I'll be there for internship and then seeking first call there, too, as my wife has accepted a job as a professor at one of the seminaries in DC . . .
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