The Inside Story of How the Vatican Really Thinks

[Antonio_B]

Dear friends,

Recently I bought a book entitled “The Inside Story of How the Vatican Really Thinks: All the Pope’s Men” by John Allen.

The book is fascinating and I’m learning lots about how the Vatican works. From time to time I shall quote from this book to elicit responses and to allow others the opportunity to learn from this distinguished Catholic.

I have been told before that I am dead wrong in refusing to call other Christian groups “churches,” therefore I was pleasantly surprised when I read this statement on page 20: “The Roman Catholic Church carries on a formal dialogue with almost every organized Christian denomination, and there are desk officers in the Vatican whose job is to liaison with these other Christian groups. (The Vatican hesitates to call all these bodies “churches” for theological reasons. A “church” has to have valid ministers and sacraments, which, in the Catholic view, many Western Protestant bodies do not”

Well, any reactions?

Antonio

 

[Jermosh]

Actaully I think that it is a correct term not to call another denomination a Church. I honeslty think there is only one Church and that is all of Christodom, protostents included just they are ignorant of the fact. See you thought I was a softy…

But to protostents church mostly means the building not the Body. So its a differant meaning to them.

 

[Catholic2003]

The Eastern Orthodox Churches are properly called Churches.

 

[Antonio_B]

Jermosh:

Actaully I think that it is a correct term not to call another denomination a Church. I honeslty think there is only one Church and that is all of Christodom, protostents included just they are ignorant of the fact. See you thought I was a softy…

Now Jermosh, you are getting into dangerous territory when you begin to agree with me.

But to Protestants church mostly means the building not the Body. So its a differant meaning to them.

I do know that to Protestants the “church” means mostly a community, not an organized body of Christians with an organized structure like Catholicism.

Antonio

 

[Antonio_B]

Catholic2003:

The Eastern Orthodox Churches are properly called Churches.

I presume so since indeed they fulfilled the criteria described by Allan in his book.

Antonio

 

[Catholic2003]

Antonio B:

I presume so since indeed they fulfilled the criteria described by Allan in his book.

Antonio

Wow, we agree on something! I never would have thought it possible.

P.S. Canon law refers to the Protestant denominations as “ecclesial communities”.

 

[Jermosh]

Wow, we agree on something! I never would have thought it possible.

P.S. Canon law refers to the Protestant denominations as “ecclesial communities”.

Actually Antonio agrees with me allot, he is just confused most of the time .

Peace with you
Big Jon

 

[Antonio_B]

Catholic2003:

Wow, we agree on something! I never would have thought it possible.

P.S. Canon law refers to the Protestant denominations as “ecclesial communities”.

See. Miracles do happen!

Antonio