Pope: Other Christians Not True Churches

[Sergius]

Well, the Orthodox Church is indeed national and does not answer to one central authority (apart from, you know, that guy ), but going by the Cambridge English dictionary, calling it different denominations is incorrect.

denomination (RELIGIOUS GROUP)
group noun [C]
a religious group which has slightly different beliefs from other groups which share the same religion:
Protestantism and Roman Catholicism are both denominations of the Christian faith.

Seeing as there is an unreformed and unreformable common ground for the national churches, the division between them is merely political, not theological.

[Occidentian]

Um, this is what the Roman Catholic Church has always believed.

He's just repeating what's documented writings.

The Church also believes you (non-Roman Catholics) all are going to hell.

Cheers!

[Milesian]

Well, at least we can all agree that the Athiests are going to hell whatever happens.
If I must end up in eternal torment, the knowledge that they buggers are suffering beside me will be some consolation at least

[Sergius]

Fun fact: 'Bugger' is actually derived from Bulgar. Yep.

[Cirrus]

Originally Posted by Milesian

Well, at least we can all agree that the Athiests are going to hell whatever happens.
If I must end up in eternal torment, the knowledge that they buggers are suffering beside me will be some consolation at least

Don't forget to say hello to your old friend Charles Darwin.

[Marcus Marulus]

Originally Posted by Occidentian

The Church also believes you (non-Roman Catholics) all are going to hell.

Those who willingly reject faith will end up in hell for sure, according to the traditional Roman Catholic teaching.

As for those who never heard of Church and Jesus, their fate is uncertain...

Originally Posted by Milesian

Well, at least we can all agree that the Athiests are going to hell whatever happens.

They have no excuse, not even that of "invincible ignorance."

Originally Posted by Milesian

If I must end up in eternal torment, the knowledge that they buggers are suffering beside me will be some consolation at least

LOL

But what if you have to share your bathroom with them?

Originally Posted by Ljubomir

Fun fact: 'Bugger' is actually derived from Bulgar. Yep.

It is the legacy of Crusaders. One theory says that the word "Bulgar/Bougre/bugger/buzzero", which originally denoted a person originating from Bulgaria, later came to be used when refferring to anyone "Oriental". And it was believed that buggery had come from he Orient.

Another theory says that it originates from the times of the Latin Empire (1204-1260), established on the ruins of Byzantium, as a result of the Fourth Crusade, during which Crusaders took and sacked Constantinople (1204). The Latin Empire was in inimical relationship with the neighbouring Second Bulgarian Empire, meaning that the Crusaders didn't particularly like Bulgarians, so that they ascribed them the "vice" and transferred the word bougre/bugger to Western Europe.

Originally Posted by Salaün

Don't forget to say hello to your old friend Charles Darwin.

I had no idea Charlie was Milesian's best friend. I prefer Haeckel myself.

[symmakhos]

Originally Posted by Milesian

Reading it again,

The document said Orthodox churches were indeed ``churches'' because they have apostolic succession and that they enjoyed ``many elements of sanctification and of truth.''

...

I think the Pope has actually conceded as much as he possibly can to the Orthodox Churches without being branded a heretic to the Catholic Faith.

Exactly. I believe this is to be viewed as the really significant content of the pope's message. In my view, the current pope is devoting considerable power towards reconciliation, possibly even in the long run unification, between the Orthodox and Catholic churches. For instance: Citing the Byzantine emperor Manuel II Palaiologos against the muslims. Meeting with the patriarch of Constantinople. And now admitting Orthodoxy to be a "true church" (or "true churches").

This is in line, of course, with Ratzinger's comittment to Europe: what could be a better bulwark against on the one hand Islam, on the other hand colonial Anglophone liberalism, than a unified, traditional European church?

Sailing to Byzantium - Editorials & Commentary - International Herald Tribune

[Paleo]

Originally Posted by symmakhos

Exactly. I believe this is to be viewed as the really significant content of the pope's message. In my view, the current pope is devoting considerable power towards reconciliation, possibly even in the long run unification, between the Orthodox and Catholic churches. For instance: Citing the Byzantine emperor Manuel II Palaiologos against the muslims. Meeting with the patriarch of Constantinople. And now admitting Orthodoxy to be a "true church" (or "true churches").

This is in line, of course, with Ratzinger's comittment to Europe: what could be a better bulwark against on the one hand Islam, on the other hand colonial Anglophone liberalism, than a unified, traditional European church?

Sailing to Byzantium - Editorials & Commentary - International Herald Tribune

The Latins would have to go a long way to return to the True Church...