Just when I was starting to like the Pope...

The Vatican has released, and the Pope has approved, a document that states that other denominations that are not Roman Catholic are not actually churches. This is really not helpful to the ecumenical movement nor does it shed a positive light on the catholic church which, has been suffering from less than positive press as of late. Of course I think this is rediculous, primarily because they are again falling on the argument of apostolic succession to which their own claim is really thin and based primarily on hearsay. It's too bad they felt it necessary to release this document, because I was really starting to like the catholic hierarchy.

On a side note I think it's funny how the article continually says

Protestants, Lutherans and other Christian denominations

As if Lutherans aren't protestants. Well...it's funny to me at least.

The Pope Makes Waves

Although I haven't followed Pope Benedict XVI much, every once in a while a story pops up that makes me impressed with him. In a time when "morality is relative" and "all ways lead to heaven" the Pope has continued to take a stand. Roman Catholic officials in Mexico have excommunicated government officials who recently voted to legalize abortion in Mexico City. The Pope firmly stands behind them reasoning, "... (T)he excommunication was not an arbitrary one, but is allowed under Canon Law which says the killing of an innocent child is incompatible with receiving communion, which is receiving the body of Christ," (as quoted in the article)