Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger is now known as Pope Benedict XVI and he is quiet controversial.
This from Reuters:
As John Paul's doctrinal overseer, Ratzinger disciplined Latin American "liberation theology" theologians, denounced homosexuality and gay marriage and pressured Asian priests who saw non-Christian religions as part of God's plan for humanity.
In a document in 2000, he branded other Christian churches as deficient -- shocking Anglicans, Lutherans and other Protestants in ecumenical dialogue with Rome for years.
ReligiousTolernace.org website speaks more of his intolerant views:
The prayers and rituals of other religions may help or hinder their believers. Some practices may prepare their membership to absorb the Gospel. However, those rituals which "depend on superstitions or other errors... constitute an obstacle to salvation."
And,..
Members of other religions are "gravely deficient" relative to members of the Church of Christ who already have "the fullness of the means of salvation."
**GOI Comment: I hope that he changes his views on accepting other religions as valid. The last thing that we need in this modern world is more religious tension between the faiths. We already have a huge problem with Islamic and Christian extremism and I hope that this new Pope will not through more fuel on these fires.
Meanwhile, at least 12 people are dead in new violence and possible high casualties as one suicide bomber set off a bomb next to a U.S. convoy but I doubt that you'll hear any of this news on the cable channels in the next 24 hours at least.
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3 comments:
I'm curious as to what you mean by "valid." Part of the dogma of most religions is the fact that they are the only valid one. I don't think he needs to accept the validity of other religions, he just needs to be more openly tolerant and accepting of people with belief's and practices that conflict with his own.
By valid I mean acceptable. His comments on other religions make it sound as though he does not seem them as acceptable. As if they are inferior. Everyone has a right to believe whatever they believe. No one knows the "Truth" about issues of faith. That is why it is called, "faith."
One of the good things about JP was his tolerance for other religions. Visiting Mideast countries? Who was the last Pope to do that?
Frankly, I don't understand how anyone could believe that coincidence of birth controls your eternal fate.
Benedict's "acceptance speech" showed no signs of tolerance for anything but blind adherence to the doctrines of the Church. I only thank god that the Vatican no longer has control of vast armies.
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