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The Catholic Church's views of other faith groups
Individual reactions to the Vatican's
"Responses to Some Questions..."

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Background:
Pope Benedict XVI approved on 2007-JUL-10 a document written by
William Cardinal Levada, head of the Roman Catholic's
Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. It is called: "Responses to Some Questions
Regarding Certain Aspects of the Doctrine on the Church.
1
The following are some of the over 600 responses to an article by Richard
Owen and Ruth Gledhill in The Times Online on 2007-JUL-11.
1 The title of the article is: "If it isn’t Roman Catholic then it’s not a proper Church, Pope
tells Christians."

Some responses by individuals:
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Gloria, Freehold, NJ: |
"As ... an adherent of a non-Christian
religion, it is utterly amazing to me that in the 21st century, after
all the wars fought over religion and all the millions killed, even
today people are still arguing about whose God is better and whose
church is true!! As an outsider looking it, it boggles the mind!"
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Wayne Paul, Edmonton, AB, Canada:
"I think all of the powers of reason
and logic are explicitly clear! The very moment two denominations
disagree on a single solitary particle of faith, then we have a
scientific, irrefutable fact - ONE of them is not the true Church,
established by Christ Himself."
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Michael Nye, Coinbrook, Sough, UK: " |
"Of course the Pope is right - If you are a devout Catholic. If you
are of any other faith then the Pope is wrong, and it is ONLY your own
faith that is right. Isn't this, precisely, what is wrong with the world
today. Spiritual leaders should be working towards harmonization of
world cultures, not pontificating on their own right to religious
doctrine against all others in the world. Perhaps we may see the
Inquisition resurrected once more."
"One particular point that I am pleased about, this particular
statement reinforces my belief in the divisiveness that is the only
offering that religion has to contribute. ..."
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Lisa, Boston MA: |
"Wake up people! Wake up Catholic Church! Jesus and his apostles were
all Jewish!! If anyone has a legitimate path directly to Jesus it is the
Jews! So much for the 'true church'. And oh, by the way, Jesus did not
establish a 'church.' First and foremost he was a Jew and preached to a
Jewish audience. The Catholic church has misrepresented the teachings
and twisted the words of the Jewish Messiah--Yeshua! What a step
backward for ecumenical dialog between the different faiths. The RCC
should focus more on cleaning up their sins of child molestation, greed,
and power than taking the ego-manical stance that they have a monopoly
on salvation. There are many pathways to God to those who seek the
truth."
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Tony Gold, Chiang Mai, Thailand" |
"Some would say that all received
belief systems, such as Christianity, Islam, or ... Judaism, are
designed as mass control systems of humanity. Others might say that
Constantine's implemented control system - the Roman church and
salvationism through the executed Nazarene - has engendered much
violence and inhuman behavior in this world. And still others might
reflect that what Ratzinger stands for is not so different from the
Aryan Christian fundamentalism of Hitler's political party. I would go
further, and say that religion is a cancer invading the human psyche. It
is what we do that matters, not what we subscribe to or delude ourselves
with."
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Mark D, Dublin, Ireland: |
"As usual, most of the comments
generate heat but shed little light. Regardless of what the Pope said
the same retinue of faith bashers would spout on, sporting their total
ignorance about complex theological issues. Naturally the 'discourse'
has to rake over the crusades, the inquisition, clerical child abuse and
the Nazis. Someone soon will find a link between the Vatican and Global
warming. Throw in a few lines from the Bible to support your tirade or a
bit of pop psychology and hey presto another little Dawkins clone is
born. It is astounding how juvenile, and frankly uneducated, most
comments have been. The relative anonymity of email gives people the
courage to write comments that they would be embarrassed to repeat in
front a crowd."
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Chris Mason, Cheltenham, UK: |
"The truth is always provocative and
challenging. The truth will also set you free and will bring you into
full communion with Christ. Clearly Christ founded His Church on the 12
Apostles making them the authentic leaders of the Church on earth. The
laying on of hands by these 12 Apostles and their successors (the
authentic making of bishops and priests) makes the Catholic Church the
authentic Church of Christ through the ages. The Church of England, for
example, was founded so that one man, Henry VIII, could divorce or kill
his wives. Full communion with Christ means accepting Christ's authority
in your life which includes accepting the apostolic authority which
Christ gave the 12 Apostles and their authentic successors."

Reference used:
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Richard Owen and Ruth Gledhill, "If it isn’t Roman Catholic then it’s not a
proper Church, Pope tells Christians," The Times Online, 2007-JUL-11. at:
http://www.timesonline.co.uk


Copyright © 2007 by Ontario Consultants on Religious
Tolerance
Originally posted: 2007-JUL-17
Latest update: 2007-JUL-17
Author: B.A. Robinson 

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