Catholic view on modern heretics

[Theo]

[mjmann]

[mjmann]

[Kanakaberaka]

[VixenMage]

[AllanS]

[ijohn_patmos]

[Authur]

[mjmann]

Author,

There are so many Protestant churches in the world that I would doubt that the Catholic Church sends delegations to each and every one. She might send people to whatever (if any) umbrella group oversees particular groups of churches, but I don't know for sure (this is not an area about which I have much knowledge, unfortunately). Perhaps someone coming from a low church tradition might be able to help you with this question.

MJM

[sehoy]

I was faithfully Protestant/Baptist for twenty years, and returned to the Catholic Church specifically because of Dominus Jesus, written by then Cardinal Ratzinger, now Pope Benedict the 16th, specifically because he wrote that Protestants were separated brethren and not heretics.

I could not have returned to the Catholic Church if Prostestants were considered heretics, because I knew that was not true, from personal experience.

My return to the Catholic Church was my small way of trying to do my part to repair the horrible gaping wound in the Body of Christ caused by the Protestant/Catholic split.

I thought I was giving up a great deal and humbling myself. I found, instead that I stepped into an amazingly beautiful world teeming with LIFE.

[Pete]

[mjmann]

Pete,

That's fair enough. I never saw that thread. Not that it really matters, I suppose, if Adam was joking.

Anyhow, what you say inspires two thoughts.

On the one hand, it is good that you aren't bothered by what others say about you.

On the other, however, do you think that Jesus speaks to you, say, only through your reading and hearing of the Scriptures and in your own awareness of Him? I think He speaks to us through other Christians. This may mean individuals, groups as well as the Magisterium. Hence, I would not be so dismissive of anyone who called me a heretic or, as would be more likely, said that I was just wrong in some point of theology. I may disagree with them, but I would not be inclined to say "it's about me and Jesus and no body else."

With the exception of the Magisterium, I reckon you probably agree with me here, but what I wanted to 'flag up' was the impression of your post - it seemed that you were advocating a thoroughly individualistic understanding of the Christian life.

MJM

[jo]

Malcolm, not that I am a Christian so my opinion might be a bit off here but I've always thought that if there was a God then God DOES use other people, Christian or otherwise, to get His message through.

[Adam]

[Karen]