The only problem with that is he's right. The RCs (warts and all) are indeed the One True Church of Jesus based on the premise of Apostolic Succession. The Orthodoxers are less of an issue because they only have the mechanics of their Succession wrong. The Prods, on the other hand, are just plain heretics, basically Jesus cultists. I'm sure Benedict thinks many Prods are nice, but being nice is not enough to save you from eternal damnation, I'm afraid.

Yet the heresy you describe is as a deviation from Catholism leaving it self-fulfilling and somewhat meaningless.

Yeah. Ain't religion great!

So the Bishop of Rome is still Catholic... What else is he supposed to say? The schismatic Lutherans had a point? Everybody turn in your rosaries and crowd into the local Protestant joint? The only people he's supposed to be pals with are his fellow adherents. The rest of us are free to consider it all Babylonian Scarlet Womanry and not be pals.

Why, then, Benny's focus on isolation? Add this to the revisiting of statements on Muslims and Jews and there is a plan and a change. Or is it like the Red Sox, just Benny being Benny?

I am hoping he (or somebody at the Vatican) realised that the care and feeding of the world's Catholic flock is his bailiwick, not trying to make Catholicism more appealing to people who've chosen another religion.

There is just that wall of "judge not, lest ye be judged" that the whole things rams headfirst into, though.

I think we will have to agree to disagree on that one. =)

I do not see Matthew 7:1-6 as an injunction to avoid all judgment, but (in the context of the rest of the chapter) a warning to avoid hypocrisy. It is apparent (to me) that Jesus is taking aim at persons who are quick to point out the faults of others without mercy, and at the same time turn a blind eye to their own sins.

If the meaning was that no one ever had the right to confront others about their wrongdoing (because all men are sinners), then clearly Jehovah would never have sent prophets to tell people to repent. The Old Testament would be a starkly different collection of documents.

Is the Roman church hypocritical with respect to heresy? I don't really know; or more properly, I don't care enough to spend the time. I don't think Rome should adopt an all-things-to-all-people approach like Canterbury has, though.

I do not want to engage in a specific debate on the text either but there is a certain Catch-22 at play, especially for the Protestant. One rarely hears consideration of the meaning of Protestantism any more but it is in large part to protest the authority of Rome. If that then is the case, I can hardly blame Rome for doing the same thing in return. I would be falling into the trap of the hypocrite. Yet, if I do not and if I do not care, I am not continuing "the protest" and falling into yet another trap by failing to recall that I am to treat those in the hierarchy of Rome as my spiritual equals (as are all others) which is something of a requirement, too, given that our earlthly differences are nothings in themselves compared to the everlasting - well, what am I? <p>Good thing God has a sense of humour.

Sigh. Not "full churches" = "heathens", as is implied. Follow the links from . Yes, I know this violates protocol here but I'm not willing to summarize the argument at the link, as my brain doesn't need more theological junk in it. Hans' interpretation is wrong.

Note that the Catholic Church _is_ to blame for any confusion here; they could f-ing word this in a more clear way.

Sorry about the link. here it is.

I thought that was smooth - taunting me for not reading a link...that wasn't there. [Ed.: <i>think Twilight Zone music.</i>] <p>Having read it, I have to give it to to any blogger who can write "what Rome means..." with a straight face. I know that Benny means well or at least something near well. If only he means we are in imperfect Union with the Church (being Rome), of course, we are as it is the core principle of Protestantism that Rome's centrality is a diversion. <p>BTW - I don't have the guts to say Hans is wrong...ever...

Which part of my interpretation is wrong? I said "heretics" not "heathens". Do you know the difference, David?*

*Just being snotty because you said I was wrong but did not elaborate plus I had to maintain the heft of bravado Al is ascribing to me. I'm nuch tougher in cyberspace than in real life.

P.S. I am supposed to believe some guy over at blogspot vs. my own understanding because....?

Because he is a blogger and you are a blog comment maker. That was so cleared up back in 2002.

Right. What was I thinking. Sorry. Carry on then. If only I had the chutzpah to blog myself, then I'd have some authority from which to speak.

Crom cares not for the affairs of men, including the priests who claim to work in his name

What I've forgotten about Catholism is more than you guys will ever know ;-) Heretic is worse than Heathen.

Anything I knew about Catholicism, I didn't learn in church.

I say the Pope saying that Catholicism rocks and all others wear smelly socks is not anything extraordinary. Didn't we once have an expression/rhetorical question, "Is the Pope Catholic?"

I do think that Catholicism is a retrograde religion that is at the root of many bad things (though individual Popes have done things I like), and that if I ever become a Christian, I sure as shooting won't be looking to Rome for guidance.

But I don't think that Benedict is wrong to be acting as he is -- he's the Pope, and he defends Catholicism. That's his job. And yes, if that involves picking fights with Protestants, Orthodox folks, and others, so be it.

But what if he is tactless? Why is it required by this Pope at this time? I do agree with what you say but there has been a hard swing with this one away from eccumenicalism or at least outreach. But, as you say, ultimately I do not care either as I am entrely exterior to his sphere of influence and find it amusing - except for the hurtful bits.

Putting his markers out there, maybe? There was a lot of noise from cafeteria Catholics about how bad his becoming Pope was. Perhaps after hearing all that, he wishes to make it more clear what being a Catholic entails?