Posted by
Michael Scotto on Friday, July 13, 2007 10:40:13 AM
Nothing New Here... Catholic Church is the Only "Real Church" "[O]n Tuesday, [the Vatican] released a document saying that only Catholicism 'has the fullness of the means of salvation'." - Washington Times Pope Benedict released yet
another statement reiterating what the Catholic Church has always taught: she is the only true church, only she has the "means of salvation." Ho hum, nothing new here. This is Catholicism 101.
They didn't say anything new Tuesday than they haven't said for 1500 years. However, we all know two things:
Had I tried to say that the CC teaches exactly what it has always taught, I'd be attacked as a "bigot" by Catholics and Evangelicals alike.
Had I or any other Evangelical claimed that our church was the "only true church" or that only we had "the means of salvation," we'd be vilified from coast to coast by Catholics and Evangelicals alike.
Well, dear Evangelical friends, the CC not only teaches that it is "the
only ark of safety" it also teaches that "outside the Apostolic Church there is no salvation." That doctrine is stated, restated and reiterated multiple times multiple ways and with great clarity throughout Catholic history.
Why won't anyone take Rome at its word? Why are those of us who merely quote the Popes and Councils vilified for pointing out what these Popes and Councils clearly wanted us to recognize?
Benedict also stated that Vatican II has been misinterpreted. Again, he agrees with me! I know that Rome changed no core doctrine at the Council (it can't and still claim to be infallible). Leo XIII made it clear that Catholic doctrine can never be "reinterpreted" because of some "better understanding."
The Popes and Councils have been glaringly clear on their doctrines. The difference today is that the Popes no longer control an army as the Popes had during most of the history of the CC. They also do not control monarchies. Their long hatred of the United States and the ideals of "liberty of conscience" (deemed "insanity" by Pope Gregory) and the wall of
separation (deemed a sin by Pope Pius IX) have been laid out for all to see. But most (Catholics and Evangelicals) refuse to take the Popes at their infallible word.
Here's some news:
I believe the Popes! I believe they clearly meant what they clearly stated.
Gallup's and Barna's Polls I don't care much for polling, but since certain statistics are kept over years their validity can be accepted to some degree. One such poll is "mass attendance" by Catholics. In the 50s and 60s mass attendance by Catholics was around 75%. Today that figure sits at 28% (
Gallup's numbers). I wonder if the 72% non-attenders realize that missing mass on any Sunday or Holy Day of Obligation without a narrowly defined exception means they have committed a "grave sin" (see also "mortal sin"... eternal torment awaits you if you do not receive absolution).
Barna also
notes that Catholics read the Bible far less than their counterparts in the general adult population. Mind you, that includes everybody else, not just Evangelicals. The answer given by a Catholic apologist for this is that Catholics get their Bible fix every Sunday at mass. That's nice, but only 28% go to mass and having it read to you is hardly "study[
ing] to show yourself approved unto God."
I attended Catholic school and was a regular mass attender (as an altar boy I sometimes attended seven times a week). I used to take my lunch hour at work and slip on over for daily noon masses at St. Benedict's. I attended
CCD classes and was a Religious Education teacher. But I never "studied" my Bible, nor was I ever
encouraged to study it.
I took the Popes at their word. The current catechism states that the Pope and his Bishops are the "
sole interpreters of scripture." Without explanation from the Pope or from his bishops, Catholic Bible studies are exercises in futility (and deemed dangerous by scores of Popes).
Keep on Talking, Benedict Since nobody wants to believe me when I quote the Popes and Councils, I am hopeful that Pope Benedict keeps on talking! I am sure as I write, however, that ecumenical Evangelicals are scrambling to nuance the Pope's latest codification of millennial-old codified Catholic doctrines.
Oh, and you might want to note that when Rome uses the term "ecumenical" it means something
entirely different than the naive, uneducated and willfully ignorant Evangelicals who use the same word. "Ecumenical" to the Pope means... you recognize
his supremacy. Period.
How many times and in how many ways can the Popes say "no unity without submission to the Holy See" before somebody believes him?