Part-2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BPXTZi2_LQE
Part-3 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PdlfV8M9TqA
The Vatican issued a document Tuesday restating its belief that the Catholic Church is the only true church of Jesus Christ.The 16-page document was prepared by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, a doctrinal watchdog that Pope Benedict used to head.
Pope Benedict XVI was elected Pope in April 2005.
(Plinio Lepri/Associated Press)
Formulated as five questions and answers, the document is titled "Responses to Some Questions Regarding Certain Aspects of the Doctrine on the Church."
It says although Orthodox churches are true churches, they are defective because they do not recognize the primacy of the Pope.
"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," it said.
The document adds that Protestant denominations — called Christian Communities born out of the Reformation — are not true churches, but ecclesial communities.
"These ecclesial communities which, specifically because of the absence of the sacramental priesthood … cannot, according to Catholic doctrine, be called 'churches' in the proper sense," it said.
The document is similar to one written in 2000 by the Pope — who was Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger at the time — that sparked an angry reaction from Protestant groups.
"I suspect there will be some reactions that are rather passionate," said Raphaela Schmid, director of the Becket Institute, a group that advocates religious freedom. "I hope they will not be angry because we all try to understand about each other."
The document is issued by Benedict's successor in doctrinal matters, Cardinal William Levada, and endorsed by the Pope, said Reuters.
The decree comes days after liberal Catholic and Jewish groups spoke out against the Pope's move to authorize the wider use of a traditional Latin mass.
The Tridentine mass includes a prayer for the conversion of Jews. Its use was restricted following the Second Vatican Council from 1962 to 1965.
Pope Benedict issued a decree last week authorizing its broader use in an effort to reconcile with followers of an ultratraditional excommunicated bishop.
The Jewish Anti-Defamation League in New York called it a "body blow to Catholic-Jewish relations."
What about Protestantism: One of the three major divisions (Catholicism,Orthodoxy, and Protestantism) within Christianity. It is a movement that began in northern Europe in the early 16th century as a reaction against medieval Roman Catholic doctrines and practices.
The doctrines of the various Protestant denominations and non-denominations vary, but most non-denominational doctrines includejustification by grace through faith and not through works, known asSola Fide, the priesthood of all believers, and the Bible as the ultimate authority in matters of faith and order, known as Sola Scriptura, which isLatin for 'by scripture alone'.
In the sixteenth century the followers of Martin Luther established the evangelical churches of Germany and Scandinavia. Reformed churchesin Switzerland were established by John Calvin and more radical reformers such as Huldrych Zwingli. Thomas Cranmer reformed theChurch of England and later John Knox established a more radicalCalvinist communion in the Church of Scotland.