Pope denounces non-Catholic churches
Here’s some news for those out there that consider themselves Protestants. Pope Benedict of the Roman Catholic Church has said that any church outside of the Roman Catholic hierarchy is not a “true” church.
“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.
This is complete hogwash. I strongly advise all Christians (who are not Roman Catholic) to pay no heed to this.
The word “church” comes from the Greek word ekklesia, meaning “a company of Christian, or of those who, hoping for eternal salvation through Jesus Christ, observe their own religious rites, hold their own religious meetings, and manage their own affairs, according to regulations prescribed for the body for order’s sake.”
The only verse that Pope Benedict is going on is Matthew 16:18, which states:
And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
All Jesus was saying here was that Peter was the first and foremost member of the church. The church is Jesus’, and no one elses. Therefore, if we adhere to John 3:16 which says:
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
And this verse (Matthew 18:20):
For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.
How dare any man say that we who believe in the only begotten Son of God and have been saved by Him are not part of the church? The church is considered the body of believers.
Here’s another verse for proof (Ephesians 5:23):
For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.
Jesus Christ is the head of the church. Not Simon Peter, and certainly not any pope that sits in Rome.
And as a side note, here’s an article to read regarding Mystery Babylon, the Great Whore in Revelation. Gets you thinking doesn’t it?
You’re an idiot - your quotes have nothing to do with what the Catholic Church said - read the actual letter you spin doctor…This is why Catholics look down at all you others - you’re all so full of hate toward us.
http://www.catholic.org/international/international_story.php?id=24660
Wow, Brian P. Your genius shines through when you call me an “idiot” and “spin doctor”. I have not shown any “hate” toward catholics.
And the article you link to states: “the church of Christ continues to exist fully only in the Catholic church”. That is self-explanatory, and is inherently exclusive of all other beliefs. So who is actually “full of hate”?
And my quotes have everything to do with what the Catholic Church said.
Just because the Catholic Church supposedly was started by Simon Peter, that doesn’t mean that they are the only church.
I am a member of the church, the bride of Christ, even though I am not a “Catholic.” And no pope, or any other person, can say otherwise. Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. No man comes unto the Father God except through Him. Jesus is the head of the Church. Therefore, any one who believes on Him, repents of their sin, and confesses with their mouth that Jesus is Lord, they shall be saved. That is scriptural, and that is The Truth.