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C794
Guest
Would it be uncharitable to discuss why the Protestant argument for unity by citing essentials is wrong? It seems very pertinent since it’s a common rebuttal when the numerous denominations are mentioned.
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Della
Guest
The topic has been discussed often on CAF, so it wouldn’t be wrong.
It’s fine that many Protestants agree on some essentials, but there are many essentials that they disagree about, thus making the argument a rather poor one. It always seemed like trying to see the divisions in Protestantism with rosy-colored glasses instead of facing reality.
And it’s fine to see that holiness is not limited to those who claim to have the fullness of truth, as does the Church, but then since the Church never claimed that no one outside full union with it could not be holy. Again it’s a diversion that has real no meaning when discussing what is true/good theology and what isn’t.
It’s fine that many Protestants agree on some essentials, but there are many essentials that they disagree about, thus making the argument a rather poor one. It always seemed like trying to see the divisions in Protestantism with rosy-colored glasses instead of facing reality.
And it’s fine to see that holiness is not limited to those who claim to have the fullness of truth, as does the Church, but then since the Church never claimed that no one outside full union with it could not be holy. Again it’s a diversion that has real no meaning when discussing what is true/good theology and what isn’t.
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ronyodish
Guest
C794,Would it be uncharitable to discuss why the Protestant argument for unity by citing essentials is wrong?
The argument for unity on the essentials only works with Apostolic Christians. It doesn’t work with Protestants, because they have lost Apostolic Succession, and have thus been fragmented on the essential matters of Faith, like Baptism for example, or the Eucharist.
There is nothing wrong with the argument itself, Vatican II actually uses it: “All in the Church must preserve unity in essentials” (Decree on Ecumenism, Sec. 4, Par. 7).
God bless,
Rony
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C794
Guest
Thanks for the replies.
The thing is that Protestants still make the claim. So while it doesn’t work, it’s still tried.C794,
The argument for unity on the essentials only works with Apostolic Christians. It doesn’t work with Protestants, because they have lost Apostolic Succession, and have thus been fragmented on the essential matters of Faith, like Baptism for example, or the Eucharist.
There is nothing wrong with the argument itself, Vatican II actually uses it: “All in the Church must preserve unity in essentials” (Decree on Ecumenism, Sec. 4, Par. 7).
God bless,
Rony
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pocohombre
Guest
Would it be uncharitable to say Catholic are as divided within themselves as Protestants are between themselves?
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ronyodish
Guest
pocohombre,Would it be uncharitable to say Catholic are as divided within themselves as Protestants are between themselves?
Catholics are not officially divided amongst themselves, but there are dissidents inside the Church who reject the teachings of the Church. This is different from Protestants, because Protestants are officially divided amongst each other.
If a Catholic disagrees, then he becomes a dissident/schismatic/heretic, but if a Protestant disagrees, then he just becomes another kind of Protestant.
Everyone knows that if you want the official Catholic teachings, then the highest you could go is the Pope of Rome and the Bishops in full communion with him, but with Protestants, it’s different, because there is no visible center of unity, what we call the “magisterium” that you could go to for the official Protestant teachings.
God bless,
Rony
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