MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING

Oh dear Lord in heaven... you would think that the Apocalypse has come according to the media and various internet sites. I love some of the headlines:

Other Christian Denominations Aren't True Churches, Pope Says

Vatican Stresses Inferiority Of Protestants, which clicks to the headline Vatican: Non-Catholics 'wounded' by not recognizing pope (stupid CNN)

Pope: Other Christian Denominations Not True Churches (same AP release as above)

And just who are World Alliance of Reformed Churches to cry and moan? It'd mean more if it came from the Archbishop of Canterbury or someone like that. What do they care, especially an organization that is "deeply rooted in the Reformation heritage"? Certainly the Catholic Church isn't going to agree with Reformation discussion topics. It's just like the media to latch on to something with little credibility on the subject.

Good and sweet baby Jeebus, just RTFA (as the say rather colorfully on Fark)! Just Read It! The document states flatly that "The Second Vatican Council neither changed nor intended to change this doctrine, rather it developed, deepened and more fully explained it." There is nothing really new in this document, just clarifications and some hard truths: the Protestants do not enjoy Apostolic succession as of the years between 1517 and 1648; as big of a mistake that Martin Luther made, he's probably turning in his grave at the umpteen thousand splinters of the Protestant movement; no, the Orthodoxies can't have it, not theirs (although there is apostolic succession there, they do not prescribe to the primacy of Rome).

Notice this section: "It is possible, according to Catholic doctrine, to affirm correctly that the Church of Christ is present and operative in the churches and ecclesial Communities not yet fully in communion with the Catholic Church, on account of the elements of sanctification and truth that are present in them.[9] Nevertheless, the word "subsists" can only be attributed to the Catholic Church alone precisely because it refers to the mark of unity that we profess in the symbols of the faith (I believe... in the "one" Church); and this "one" Church subsists in the Catholic Church,[10] " The underlining is mine. Every news outlet and every outraged party has totally ignored this quiet little caveat.

They have also ignored this, from the Third Question: ""It follows that these separated churches and Communities, though we believe they suffer from defects, are deprived neither of significance nor importance in the mystery of salvation. In fact the Spirit of Christ has not refrained from using them as instruments of salvation, whose value derives from that fullness of grace and of truth which has been entrusted to the Catholic Church"[12]." Hmmm?

In terms of the Orthodoxies: " 'Because these Churches, although separated, have true sacraments and above all – because of the apostolic succession – the priesthood and the Eucharist, by means of which they remain linked to us by very close bonds"[13], they merit the title of "particular or local Churches"[14], and are called sister Churches of the particular Catholic Churches[15]. Is this really so hard to read and absorb?

One comment on a blog made me laugh: "Comedians around the world must envy the Roman Catholic Church's charism of being able to create shock without needing to invent new material."

There are good commentaries here and here. Hunt through the blogosphere for more.
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Here are what people are saying on various forums. Sadly, it's the orgy of misinformation that leads to backward and backstabbing comments like this (my commentary in red):

In America, and I can't speak for other countries, we Catholics don't pay a whole ton of attention to what the pope says. Cafeteria Catholic extraordinaire!!

go molest an altar boy boy cross dressing freak Um?

Aww, give the guy a break. He reached the top just as the whole charade is crumbling. Catholics are bailing in droves, church assets are being sold to pay off homo child rape lawsuits and guys like Dawkins and Hitchens keep bringing up pesky fundamentals flaws in the dogma. He's just trying to hold on to his fancy gold and jewelry, $500 Prada shoes, smokey purse, tax free real estate and giant opulent churches.. You know, all the things Jesus advocated. (what crack is he on????)


all Catholicism has ever given me is an all-encompassing guilt in ABSOLUTELY EVERYTHING I DO! I even get guilty crossing the road its that bad... I suspect that there is something more to this than the Catholic Church. The Guilt Express went out of service forty years ago, honey.

I'm a mellow Presbyterian, so here is my response to the Pope: Meh. It's exactly that "meh" that's causing strife in your brand of Protestantism as well as in the Episcopal.

I'm ashamed of my Pope. So, so ashamed. (oh no, this one believed the media! this one didn't go to the Vatican website and read it for themselves!)

I'm sorry but I don't listen to a buncha farkwads that spend all the money that goes to "charity" on shiney golden egg things and 100 foot Jeezuz statues. Not to mention they contradict or change thier own "gospel" whenever it inconviences them. The ignorance in this post is staggering.

Silly Catholics...shut up and worship your idols like good little heathens. More ignorance.

Apparently the Pope needs a Bible lesson. I think he's forgotten some parts of it... specifically that Christ's death provided a means of salvation so that we couldn't have to confess our sins to some priest in a closet in order to be forgiven. Eternal forgiveness is God's to give, not some man wearing a funny black suit. Sounds like this person did some self-absolving. Does this mean you can do anything because God will certainly forgive in the end? Interesting.

The only true church, eh? There are several reasons why it's not:The Crusades/The Inquasition/Burning people at the stake for owning a bible/Indulgances/Purgatory/Worship of the Saints/Use of idols/Very corrupt Popes of the past/The fact that the church was created by a Roman emporer so that he could unify his nation/ making all the pagans "Christians" too.The list goes on after that. I don't think that there is another religion, that calls itself Christian, that bears less resemblance to the the Christianity described in the Bible. This one has read too much of The DaVinci Code. Fiction, honey, fiction. And where's Fr. Z when I need snappy commentary?

It has already been said, but it is worth saying again, I suspect that most Catholics (myself included) do not approve of that kind of statement from the Pope. You do not know your Faith, you do not know your Catechism, and moreover you need to be reeducated, and then slapped with a missal. Do not assume to speak for all Catholics. Besides, if you didn't believe that the Roman Catholic Church was the path to salvation, why do you call yourself Catholic and then turn around and disavow it?

fark you, you farking Nazi. We all go to hell, but you, who helped push Jews into ovens get a free pass? Really? (this one made me so sad)

Brilliant. Years of ecumenical outreach down the drain. The majority of the Catholic and Protestant membership would like more unity, so PopeyMcPoperson says something incredibly divisive. Well done, Cardinals, you elected a real winner this time. You are a moron.

Pope Benedict is like the George W Bush of Catholicism. (Lord, forgive them...)

Wow. The church of pedophilia? Interesting. I'll... pray for you.

First and foremost, the Pope is the emperor of the Roman Empire, which today only extends as far as the walls of the Vatican. He's just shoring up his base by pandering to the fanatics. (Oh--My--Word!!)

One poster: Dear Pope Benny,Thanks for completely farking up the work of your predecessor. Please [drop dead]. Sincerely, The World (Former Catholic)
Subsequent poster: actually most people of the world care less what the pope says or does. He has no value or significance.
Then how come the entire world was tuned in at JPII's death and watched for the smoke for his predecessor? How come everyone knows who the Pope is? Why do heads of state come to visit? Insignificant, my shiny silver St Charles Borromeo medallion!

So the Catholic church has announced that only their religion is the correct one. So they are fundamentalists officially now. Fundamentalism is a problem around the world, a plague on humanity. False Logic. You poor, uneducated, generalizing, puffed up fool.

Admitting up front that I didnt read the other comments.....This is yet another attempt to scare ex-catholics back in to the Catholic church. Their membership has been bleeding for quite awhile now while other denominations have gained. (again, the crack this person's on?)

He's going to take catholicism back to the 1920s, and the only thing it's going to do is make people hate catholics more. More poorly thought out logic.

*sigh* Pope Benny keeps this shiat up and that whole prophecy about him being the second to last pope may come true. Hey, Madam Sophia is on the phone. She predicts that you might make a false and silly statement today... oh wait.

JESUS CHRIST WASN'T CATHOLIC! Well, no; he was a renegade Jew who founded a Church upon Simon Peter, who thence went to Rome and established the Church as we know it there. Read your history.

I think he was chosen because he's old and batshit insane. Then, like with our presidential election, the next pope will be more moderate and perhaps a bit younger. Benny is going to stroke out soon after they find the replacement that they actually want to have around for a while... People are amazing, aren't they?

The Pope is a figurehead, who is meaningless in purpose and existence. He should resign, or die. (nice... must be a real charmer in life. Incidentally, that's generally how Popes exit their pontificate. Now, look at a similar post above and that's how I feel about your hot air.)

From Hilter Youth to Pope...He has come a long way. A plague upon thee for your impertinence and your ignorance.

John Paul II tried not to quack it too much, but the fact is that Benedict XVI lacks the silver tongue of his predecessor. John Paul shared almost all of Benedict's opinions; he simply made it a point of trying not to alienate over four billion people. What a shame. Though there is truth in the first sentence, any Catholic who knows their stuff isn't going to be in a huff about this media-fed tempest in a teapot.

Apparently you really need some priests banging little boys in the *** to really qualify as the top church. Oh, and cover it up as well. Then you really have it right. fark the Pope. What nerve he has to put his organization with all the recent legal problems in any place higher than another church. I hate generalized statements.

In all seriousness, how does the Catholic Church support their own apostolic succession? If one were to go by the succession of Popes, one finds Popes that were not just unholy but murderous, incestuous drunkards that threw orgies and raised money by selling indulgences. I'm speechless. Just... speechless.

I love God, I love Jesus, but the Church needs to go [drop dead] with THIS douchebag of a Pope. Support your statement, child. Tell me why he's a douchebag again? Methinks you are speaking more of yourself than Papa here. See entries in comebacks under rubber, glue.

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And you know that the people who post this garbage proclaim peace, tolerance and unity in other posts. But the Catholic Church and the Catholics? Sound the hunting horn and let the games begin.

This is what the ignorant and the haters say. Wow. So sad.

The minority opinion speaketh:

Wow... I had no idea so many self appointed "intellectuals" had such a poor understanding of Catholicism. It's interesting to see how many people listen to popular media rather than doing the research of church history themselves. If they did... they wouldn't have said some of the things they did. This person got hounded and will probably never return to that particular forum. This is a dead-on statement.

Catholics believe they are a distinct religion with its own beliefs and vehicle to salvation. Their is nothing unusual or controversial about this when compared to centuries of Catholic teachings, everything ratty-boy said is completely consistent with what Catholics are supposed to believe. So go sit in the corner, you little media whorelets in training. You eat up everything the left wing talking heads feed you like its caviar and goose liver pate. I do not believe this poster is Catholic, but the point made is very valid in a rather shockingly funny way.

Now that Papa is off to his well deserved vacation, the hubbub might just die down, and the raging bigotry will subside for a little while.

Yes, I am praying for every single one of them tonight.