The Second Vatican Council, in its Decree on Ecumenism (Unitatis Redintegratio) No. 3, had this to say about other ecclesial communities:
"Even in the beginnings of this one and only Church of God there arose certain rifts, which the Apostle strongly condemned. But in subsequent centuries much more serious dissensions made their appearance and quite large communities came to be separated from full communion with the Catholic Church-for which, often enough, men of both sides were to blame. The children who are born into these Communities and who grow up believing in Christ cannot be accused of the sin involved in the separation, and the Catholic Church embraces upon them as brothers, with respect and affection. For men who believe in Christ and have been truly baptized are in communion with the Catholic Church even though this communion is imperfect. The differences that exist in varying degrees between them and the Catholic Church-whether in doctrine and sometimes in discipline, or concerning the structure of the Church-do indeed create many obstacles, sometimes serious ones, to full ecclesiastical communion. The ecumenical movement is striving to overcome these obstacles. But even in spite of them it remains true that all who have been justified by faith in Baptism are members of Christ's body, and have a right to be called Christian, and so are correctly accepted as brothers by the children of the Catholic Church.
Moreover, some and even very many of the significant elements and endowments which together go to build up and give life to the Church itself, can exist outside the visible boundaries of the Catholic Church: the written word of God; the life of grace; faith, hope and charity, with the other interior gifts of the Holy Spirit, and visible elements too. All of these, which come from Christ and lead back to Christ, belong by right to the one Church of Christ."
This is the Church's autoritative teaching regarding other ecclesial communities and what our attitude as Roman Catholics should be toward those who belong to them. We are called to accept members of the Protestant churches as our brothers and sisters. Therefore, the following blog post: http://sbcwatch.blogspot.com/2007/09/who-was-hosea-ballou-and-what-does-sbc.html highlights the rather unfortunate attitude of an SBC member toward our Protestant brethren.
Which of the two is truly aberrant: Christians of good will who belong to other ecclesial communities and who strive to follow Christ according to the dictates of their own conscience or an organization which preaches anti-Semitism while referring to the Jewish People as the Synagogue of Satan?
I think we all know the answer to that one.
Paul.
That's the SBC. They hate anybody who doesn't think just like them.
ReplyDeleteThat's why Mr. De Lalla has called for homosexuals to be thrown into jail and for non-believers who teach in the public schools to be thrown out. The SBC Cult is determined to take total control of Richmond and will attack anyone who opposes their agenda.
ReplyDeletePaul Andrew quoted the following Scripture when responding to Sarah: "But let your speech be yea, yea: no, no: and that which is over and above these, is of evil. Mt 5:37."
ReplyDeleteBut this is precisely what the SBC cult refuses to do. When pressed, for example, for an explanation as to how Louis Villarrubia may be considered an ordained Deacon without the Church's canonical permission, SBC types remain quiet on the issue. When asked if they are in communion with the Catholic Church, they state that they are. But at the same time, they refer to themselves as an "independent monastery" (Mrs. Villarrubia) and acknowledge that Rome hasn't ever responded to their request for canonical status. Nor do they acknowledge the statement from the Manchester Diocese that they have no affiliation whatsoever with the Roman Catholic Church. They claim to be "tolerant" of others viewpoints but one prominent member called for homosexuals to be thrown into jail and "atheists and agnostics" to be purged from the Public Education System while another referred to the Jews as the "synagogue of Satan" and yet another (Louis Villarrubia himself) stated that the Jews "undermine public morals." They say they are tolerant but refer to SBC opponents as "anti-Catholics," "lemmings," "zoophiles," and "local belligerents."
Using Paul Andrew's own Scripture as a guide, it seems that the SBC is engaged in speech which is "evil."
What Mrs. Villarubia is attempting to do is re-write history to suit herself and her son's followers. Along with everything else they do to get what they want, this too, is wrong!
ReplyDeleteThey need to stop embarrassing Roman Catholics, the very thing they claim to be, but are not!
Gabriel Marcel would have referred to such tactics as the techniques of degradation. A sorry state of affairs in Richmond, New Hampshire to be sure.
ReplyDeleteCarrie, know that I pray every day for those of you who are actively opposing this hate group.