Pope: Other Christians not true churches
LORENZAGO DI CADORE, Italy (AP) — 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. The statement brought swift criticism from Protestant leaders. “It makes us question whether we are indeed praying together for Christian unity,” said the World Alliance of Reformed Churches, a fellowship of 75 million Protestants in more than 100 countries.
Being truly successful at anything requires at least a modicum of arrogance and self-assuredness. One has to believe that they can do whatever it is they do better then anyone else. Then again, there’s a very thin line between arrogance and conceit, and between self-assuredness and self-righteousness. One needs look no farther than the Vatican to see this truism played out on a daily basis.
I’ve never made it a secret that I’m no fan of the Catholic Church, which is little more than Christianity’s most successful cult. This latest sorry episode of religious arrogance and conceit simply serves as confirmation of the successful hijacking of the teachings of Jesus Christ.
To make matters even worse, Pope Benedict XVI is perpetuating the arrogance and self-righteousness by proclaiming the Catholic Church as the only true church. Apparently, the mindset responsible for the Crusades is alive and well.
I have no problem with anyone holding whatever beliefs give their life meaning and purpose. If Catholicism is what does that for you, then more power to you. You might want to keep in mind, though, that the Pope is no more an authority figure than you or I. The Pope is merely just another over-fed Conservative male overly-enamored of his own personal power. There’s nothing Scriptural about his position or his alleged power over Catholics. In fact, all Benedict and his predecessor have really done is to stand for the subjugation of women, the enrichment of the Catholic Church, and their own self-aggrandizement. Granted, some Popes have been less self-absorbed and self-serving than others, but the institution they represent and perpetuate has nothing to do with the teachings of Jesus Christ.
What Pope Benedict XVI has done is to verbalize what has historically always been the attitude of the Catholic Church, which is that if you’re not with us, you’re illegitimate and unworthy. No matter how much the Vatican tries to spin Benedict’s words, this is really what it boils down to…and yet millions of Catholics hang on every word spewed by this ignorant, intolerant DUMB@$$. Go figure.
