I have a question: How are protestants doing without the Pope?

[pablope]

I don’t know what you’re driving at, but here is my response to who tells us what to believe: Christ and he trumps the Pope. Capisce?

I don’t understand this. Do want my equivalent to the Pope? As an Anglican it’s the Archbishop of Caterbury, Dr. Rowan Williams, first among equals.

With due respect…before you start denigrating the CC or the disrepecting the Pope…you should look and examine how the Episcopal or C of E started…with Henry VIII.

So when Henry trumped the pope…did he not trump Christ also with what he wanted to do with his wife?

Capisce!!

 

[JonNC]

I would like to elaborate on your point, Jon, for the sake of the original poster.

There seems to be a prevalent thought that Protestants should be seeking reunification with Rome. Work is being done are Protestants’ part for the sake of reunification and these organizations are doing the best they can while their opposition to certain Catholic doctrines are being investigated.

Protestant groups are seeking reunification with one another until these doctrinal disagreements with Rome can be reconciled.

It appears that you are a Missouri Synod Lutheran, Jon, but the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America and the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America celebrated 10 years of being in full communion with each other this year.

So it appears that these churches one might consider (for lack of a better term) close cousins to the Catholic Church are reconciling and seeking reunification with each other, and perhaps even preparing for a reunification with Rome. Although, I think it unlikely in my lifetime.

Hi Conor,
I was ELCA (born and raised by an ELCA pastor) when the CCM was agreed to. It is true that on a number of fronts, Anglicans and Lutherans have moved closer together, not only in the CCM, but also the Porvoo Churches in Europe. And its only natural, as doctrinally we probably have more in common with each other than each of us does with any others. I certainly think this is a good thing.
There has been remarkable progress in the last 60 years as well between Lutherans and Anglicans with the Catholic Church. I hope and pray that continues, though I must honestly say that both the TEC and the ELCA have put up new barriers in recent years, most notably regarding the priesthood/clergy. Sadly, the LCMS has done as much sitting on the sideline as participating in ecumenism, as witnessed by our unwillingness to sign on to the Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification, even with qualifications.

Jon

 

[Conor7]

With due respect…before you start denigrating the CC or the disrepecting the Pope…you should look and examine how the Episcopal or C of E started…with Henry VIII.

So when Henry trumped the pope…did he not trump Christ also with what he wanted to do with his wife?

Capisce!!

So my reply was flippant to say the least and stemmed from exasperation. Truly, not one of my proudest moments. Still, I would urge you to research the history of the Church of England; we hardly consider Henry the VIII our church father.

Furthermore, to expect me to account for Henry VIII, a mildly shameful, if not, almost irrelevant figure in my Communion’s history would be akin to requiring you to account for the Inquisition, child sex-abuse scandals, or the current Pope’s involvement with the Hitler youth movement. It’s irrelevant, shameful, and a crass attempt to discount one’s beliefs on the basis of a few less-than-exemplary moments.

 

[Eric_Hilbert]

(Please Note: This uploaded content is no longer available.)

Children…

 

[Izdaari]

Hmm, I wouldn’t actually say I don’t have the Pope. Benedict XVI is a pretty cool guy, as were his two immediate predecessors. Though I don’t swear fealty to them, I respect them greatly as Christian leaders, as wise men, and as symbols of St. Peter. I even read their books.

P.S.: Eric, I love your nun pic!

 

[sallybutler]

I also like the nun picture. However, none of the nuns that taught me did that. But God did invent silliness.