That's not what the document says. It specifically mentions the fact that many elements of "truth and sanctification" exist in other churches. It's not demonizing anybody. What's so shocking about the Catholic Church issuing a statement of belief that it is the full and complete expression of Christ's revelation through scripture and tradition? Doesn't any church, by definition, believe the same thing about itself? I personally feel like this statement is pretty tame.
__________________ And the good Saint Francis that said Little Sister Death, that never had a sister.
But there is a difference between belief and publicizing it like this. Under Vatican II the RC Church tried to bridge the gaps between themselves and other Christian demonimations, especially under JPII.
while it may seem like a statement of the obvious, the message from the Vatican is certainly not one of Christian unity, and given there are places in the world where even the protestant/catholic split is still an open sore, this cannot be helpful.
no, actually, he reversed Vatican Policy on evolution. JPII made it clear that evolution was "more than a hypothesis"
(Speaking of rabidity...Dawkins slammed that opinion and harassed the Pope for not basically abolishing God's role (hes' the effing POPE you arse) in evolution and accused him of meddeling in science.)
Ratzinger, on the other hand...supports ID and sacked the Chief Vatican Astronomer (of 28 years) for stating that ID was not scientific theory.
And ya, good old Dawkins, "what, you mean you support what I am saying and are willing to peacefully co-exist with science and religion as seperate non-overlapping entities? Unacceptable! You must accept the version of the universe that I accept"
Well statements like this will certainly bring the churches in the world closer together. Lucky for him though that the most organized church is still that Catholic church and most other churches can't a release a statement that is even close in impact to this one. So I would assume that the effects are rather minimal, although some church leaders of minor churches would certainly feel attacked by it.
OK. Point taken. However, ecumenicalism cuts both ways. The Catholic Church shouldn't be the only institution made to reach out and "adapt" while the others can just sit pat. Most other Christian denominations (especially the Evangelical wings) are openly hostile to the Catholic Church. Some even preach that Catholics are damned by virtue of their beliefs. So, I think that this statement is pretty tame considering...
Furthermore, one of the chief things that separates the Catholic Church from other denominations is this very issue of apostolic succession and papal authority. By issuing this statement, the Church is doing nothing but publicly clarifying its own self-understanding. How can there be honest dialogue if the Church isn't honest about its own self-image?
__________________ And the good Saint Francis that said Little Sister Death, that never had a sister.
ok Mr. Dawkins...here's a concept called "variation"...and essential component of evolution.
The thing is that other churches aren't as centralized as the Vatican, the minister of the church down the block saying "Catholics are ______ because they have a pope" would not have any real impact ont eh global religious climate.
I don't think of any other religious leader in the world who has as much pull as the Pope. JPII proved that in modern times, the Pope is a spiritual and a political leader. BenedictXVI is certainly failing at that second aspect. Thats a backtrack imo.
Then why did it "strenghten" under the Popes who adapted it?
The non-specificity of this statement makes it difficult to respond. However, I will say that all change - with respect to institutions - is not alike in either kind, degree, or intrinsic motivation. Surely, the Church has responded and must respond to what is most prevalent in the culture at large at any given time. It must even ocassionaly reprioritize various facets of its teaching to meet current needs. But it cannot change the core of its own self-undertanding, without ceasing to be what it claims to be.
I assume your Mr. Dawkins crack is an allusion to Christopher Dawkins, the Catholic historian? I invite this comparison with gusto!
__________________ And the good Saint Francis that said Little Sister Death, that never had a sister.
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Jul 11th, 2007 09:23 AM
