The Pope on Non-Catholic Churches
There’s been a lot of talk this week about the Pope’s comments regarding those outside of the Roman Catholic Church. Eastern Orthodoxy, even though separated, does warrant the label “Church.” Protestant bodies, however, are not properly called “Churches.”
The Pope’s comments came in response to five questions regarding the nature of the Catholic church and recent apparent changes in Catholic ecclesiological teaching.
Here are the questions with excerpts from the answers:
- Did the Second Vatican Council change the Catholic doctrine on the Church?
The Second Vatican Council neither changed nor intended to change this doctrine, rather it developed, deepened and more fully explained it. . . . - What is the meaning of the affirmation that the Church of Christ subsists in the Catholic Church?
Christ “established here on earth” only one Church and instituted it as a “visible and spiritual community,” that from its beginning and throughout the centuries has always existed and will always exist, and in which alone are found all the elements that Christ himself instituted. . . . - Why was the expression “subsists in” adopted instead of the simple word “is”?
The use of this expression, which indicates the full identity of the Church of Christ with the Catholic Church, does not change the doctrine on the Church. Rather, it comes from and brings out more clearly the fact that there are “numerous elements of sanctification and of truth” which are found outside her structure, but which “as gifts properly belonging to the Church of Christ, impel towards Catholic Unity.” . . . - Why does the Second Vatican Council use the term “Church” in reference to the oriental Churches separated from full communion with the Catholic Church?
The Council wanted to adopt the traditional use of the term. “Because these Churches, although separated, have true sacraments and above all—because of the apostolic succession—the priesthood and the Eucharist, by means of which they remain linked to us by very close bonds,” they merit the title of “particular or local Churches,” and are called sister Churches of the particular Catholic Churches. . . . - Why do the texts of the Council and those of the Magisterium since the Council not use the title of “Church” with regard to those Christian Communities born out of the Reformation of the sixteenth century?
According to Catholic doctrine, these Communities do not enjoy apostolic succession in the sacrament of Orders, and are, therefore, deprived of a constitutive element of the Church. These ecclesial Communities which, specifically because of the absence of the sacramental priesthood, have not preserved the genuine and integral substance of the Eucharistic Mystery cannot, according to Catholic doctrine, be called “Churches” in the proper sense.
Some have been shocked that the Pope would make such statements. Others have been shocked that anyone would be shocked. The former group sees this as a major step backwards in terms of ecumenical progress. The latter group sees this as consistent with historical Catholic teaching. I tend to think that it does seem to be slightly out of line with the recent trajectory of Roman Catholic ecclesiology.
Read the Pope’s statements.
See the following sources for further coverage:
News
- ABC News: Vatican hits ‘wounded’ Christian churches
- Associated Press (via Yahoo News): Pope: Other Christians not true churches
- Baltimore Sun: Pontiff asserts Catholic primacy
- BeliefNet (Crunchy Con): Benedict on “untrue” churches
- Catholic World News:
- Christian Post: Reformed Church Head Rebuts Vatican’s ‘One True Church’ Claim
- Christian Today: Christian Leaders Rebut Vatican’s ‘One True Church’ Claim
- Christian Worldview Network: Holy Wars
- Get Religion: The pope (dramatic pause) is Catholic
- The Guardian: Dismay and anger as Pope declares Protestants cannot have churches
- NY Times: Pope, Restating 2000 Document, Cites ‘Defects’ of Other Faiths
- Times Online:
- UTV: Paisley lambasts Pope in address
- Virtue Online: ROME: Dismay and anger as Pope declares Protestants cannot have churches
- VOA News: Pope Reaffirms Primacy of Catholic Church
Bloggers
- Doctrine Unites: The One True Church?
- Scot McKnight at Jesus Creed: The Pope on Protestant “churches”
- Al Mohler: No, I’m Not Offended
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Bosco Peters
Another reflection: not a proper church
Jul 19th, 2007 3:20 am
Damian
Thanks Phil.
My only comment would be to question why you didn’t include the latter part of the second response concerning the operative presence of the Church of Christ in other Churches and “ecclesial communities.” To me, this statement negates much of the commentary which has painted the document as purely negative towards the “ecclesial communities,” even denying them as means of salvation.
Damian
Aug 9th, 2007 7:53 pm
Phil Gons
Thanks for the note, Damian. Good point. The omission was not intentional on my part. I usually choose to quote only a portion of the article (or whatever) and send people to the source to read the whole thing. Perhaps my excerpt was poorly chosen. Thanks for pointing that out.
Aug 13th, 2007 2:25 pm