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CajunRick
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| Joined: | Fri Sep 29th, 2006 |
| Location: | Houma, Louisiana USA |
| Posts: | 4981 |
| First Name: | Rick (& Kermie) | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | Lifetime Catholic, Latin Rite |
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Posted: Wed Aug 1st, 2007 11:34 pm |
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Orlando, Aug 1, 2007 / 10:12 am (CNA).- Is the pope Catholic? Well, yeah. But considering the reaction that the recent reaffirmation of the Catholic Church's self-understanding (issued under the pope's signature by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith) received, you might think that many were surprised to learn that the pope is, well, still Catholic.
Of course, many non-Catholics, expressed hurt, incomprehension, even anger. However, the statement, "Responses to Some Questions Regarding Certain Aspects of the Doctrine of the Church," in reality said nothing new. Dominus Jesus, issued in 2000 by then-Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, said the same thing. And this was nothing more than another reaffirmation of Catholic teachings found in Vatican II and in the constant tradition of the Roman Catholic Church: Namely, that the Church, willed by Christ as a visible and spiritual community, actually continues to exist in the Catholic Church as a continual concrete, historical reality.
Much of the overwrought reaction, I believe, was caused not so much by what was said but by how it was reported in the secular media. Did the media deliberately give it a negative spin?
Not necessarily. We can and should presume their good faith. However, they often get it wrong because in reality we often do not speak the same language: The pope speaks in the languages of philosophy and theology; most modern reporters, untrained in these disciplines, speak more comfortably in the idioms of sociology and psychology.
Most Catholics, including the pope, would not deny that myriad denominations that have emerged in the almost 500 years since the Protestant Reformation are indeed "churches" according to the popular -- i.e., sociological -- idiom in which people speak today. But we do say, as did the Second Vatican Council, they are not churches -- as Catholic theology understands "church."
In fact, most Protestants, especially those who hold that Jesus did not found a visible hierarchical structure with apostolic succession and a Petrine office as Catholics do, would readily agree. They believe themselves to be churches, but they do not believe themselves to be churches in the Catholic sense. Our understandings of "church" simply differ. In any case, we Catholics do believe that, "separated churches and communities . . . are neither deprived of significance or importance in the mystery of Salvation."
Does this reaffirmation of Catholic teaching impede the ecumenical movement and the dialogue with those whom we have called our "separated brethren" since Vatican II?
Not according to Metropolitan Kiril of the Russian Orthodox Church. He called the statement "honest" and preferable to a diplomatic approach that dodges the tough issues. Dialogue in the ecumenical and interfaith context should not mean "splitting the differences" or soft pedaling the real differences that exist. Many religious communities -- most Baptists, for example -- shun such dialogues because they believe that this is precisely what is implied.
To dialogue -- and to forge from dialogue, relationships, based on mutual trust and understanding -- cannot mean setting aside or bracketing how one's own tradition understands the truth. Ecumenical dialogue is aimed at restoring unity to the Body of Christ, but such unity is built on truth, not at the expense of truth. Dialogue is not about undermining one another's truth claims but understanding them. The Catholic-Lutheran dialogue in recent years on "justification by faith" is one very good example of such honest and, therefore, fruitful dialogue.
A few weeks ago, the Sunday magazine of The New York Times profiled Robert Novak, the noted journalist and news pundit -- and recent convert to the Catholic faith. Asked why he converted from Judaism, he answered the same way that the pope would. It is the same answer the every well-catechized Catholic would give: "I believe that the Catholic Church is the one true Church."
Such a statement is never meant to be a conversation stopper; it is, however, an invitation to further dialogue.
Thomas G. Wenski is the bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Orlando.
The above article is reposted with permission from the Catholic News Agency.
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Understanding is the reward of faith. Therefore seek not to understand that you may believe, but believe that you may understand. - Augustine
Rick Luquette
Luquette Lane
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TotusTuus
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| Joined: | Tue Oct 31st, 2006 |
| Location: | Alabama USA |
| Posts: | 113 |
| First Name: | Mark | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | Cradle Catholic (thanks Mom and Dad!) |
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Posted: Sat Aug 4th, 2007 12:21 am |
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My Bishop in Birmingham, Alabama was quite upset about the way the Associated Press spun this story. In fact he wrote in the Diocesean newspaper that he is taking some action to address the situation with the AP.
The AP spun this story to make it sound like the Church was asserting exactly the opposite of what was really being said, that non-Catholics cannot be saved.
It's hard to imagine this was not malicious. Neither incompetence nor malice is acceptable, but it's what we've come to expect from the MSM.
Last edited on Sat Aug 4th, 2007 12:22 am by TotusTuus
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TTM!
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catholiceternal
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| Joined: | Wed Jul 18th, 2007 |
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| Posts: | 24 |
| First Name: | Sarah | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | Cradle Catholic |
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Posted: Sun Aug 5th, 2007 03:16 pm |
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I think that you are right TotusTuus! The AP spins everythin as it is so Anti-Catholic which sometimes gives me comfort that I am right where I need to be! Also, God Bless your bishop for having a backbone and saying that this delivery of the news was malicious!
We need more bishops like him! God Bless
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kimdyuma
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| Joined: | Mon Oct 9th, 2006 |
| Location: | Arizona USA |
| Posts: | 710 |
| First Name: | Kim | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | cradle Anglican, Episcopal /Catholic-04/07/07 |
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Posted: Sun Aug 5th, 2007 04:45 pm |
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The media has gone on to become the most biased influence in our modern world. I was talking to a relative the other day- about the pedofil scandals- this person believes the worst and will not accept that there may be other factors at play in the settlements etc. This person has complained numerous times about how the media twist politics and even some local issues in our community so that we only hear one side of the story. I asked if she felt she could absolutely believe everything the press printed about the Catholic church ( in addition to the scandals she talked about how the rich church didn't help enough and hoarded the billions they have) and said of course why would the press lie? This after comments FROM her on how the press lies.
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Adopt from your local Humane Society- Please spay or neuter your pets
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Credo Catholic
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| Joined: | Sat May 5th, 2007 |
| Location: | Greenville, South Carolina USA |
| Posts: | 1212 |
| First Name: | Marsha | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | Baptist, Catholic |
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Posted: Sun Aug 5th, 2007 05:31 pm |
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kimdyuma wrote: of course why would the press lie? This after comments FROM her on how the press lies.
They twist the truth and tell half-truths to sell newspapers and air time. To tell the full truth all the time wouldn't keep them in business. Sorry I sound so cynical but it's what I believe!Last edited on Sun Aug 5th, 2007 05:56 pm by Credo Catholic
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