World needs common witness of Baptists and Catholics to Christ, says the Pope

News Resources Tools Columns Documents ACI Group

Contenidos del sub-menu

Comments: 17

Message of the Holy Father Benedict XVI to the Young People of the World on the Occasion of the XXIII World Youth Day, 2008
Meeting with benefactors and organizers of the 23rd World Youth Day at the Reception Hall of Cathedral House and in the Chapter Hall of St. Mary's Cathedral
Brady, Sean Baptist*
Through church, Jesus ministers to all who are sick in the world

Vatican City, Dec 6, 2007 / 10:55 am (CNA).- Baptists leaders from around the world met with Pope Benedict XVI this morning at the Vatican as the second round of Baptist-Catholic talks continued. Saying that the lack of unity among Christians contradicts Christ’s will, Benedict XVI told the Baptist delegation that the world needs “our common witness to Christ and to the hope brought by the Gospel.”

This meeting in Rome is the second round of ongoing discussions that Members of the Baptist World Alliance are holding with the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity. The theme for this meeting is: "The Word of God in the Life of the Church: Scripture, Tradition and Koinonia."

That theme, the Pope told the delegates, "offers a promising context for the examination of such historically disputed issues as the relationship between Scripture and Tradition, the understanding of Baptism and the Sacraments, the place of Mary in the communion of the Church, and the nature of ... primacy in the Church's ministerial structure.”

In an approach that seems to be characteristic of all Benedict XVI’s efforts to promote dialogue, he said, "[i]f our hope for reconciliation and greater fellowship between Baptists and Catholics is to be realized," he added, "issues such as these need to be faced together, in a spirit of openness, mutual respect and fidelity to the liberating truth and saving power of the Gospel of Jesus Christ."

"Today, as ever, the world needs our common witness to Christ and to the hope brought by the Gospel," Pope Benedict concluded. "Obedience to the Lord's will should constantly spur us, then, to strive for that unity so movingly expressed in His priestly prayer: 'that they may all be one. so that the world may believe.' For the lack of unity between Christians 'openly contradicts the will of Christ, provides a stumbling block to the world, and harms the most holy cause of proclaiming the good news to every creature'."

Comments: 17

Subscriber comments:

Published by: Jane
HI 12/21/2007 02:31 AM EST

I think you are being unfair to Baptist, if you would read the book of Hebrews you would find that Christ is the high priest. I do appreciate the popes sentiments as I think there is alot of false testimony thrown around. Both Baptists and catholics need to speak in love and truth of where they differ. The catholic church is invaluble to church history, however they participated in the sale of indulgences in the fifteenth century. Baptists belive that Christ's work accomplised the ful forgivenessof sins, therefore the sacrements are rendered symblic and not as a means of grace. This is where they differ.

Published by: Joan Albert
Cocoa, FL 12/14/2007 07:25 PM EST

Jesus doesn't need the help of the pope, or baptists or any group to forward His Kingdom. He, and He alone,(without any further assistance from any human agent) is Lord of Lords and King of Kings.

Published by: Kenny
Miami 12/12/2007 10:09 PM EST

I am concerned for those involved in Catholicism but I am also very concerned with Protestants who have forgotten what the Reformation was all about.

The just shall live by faith. Romans1:17

Do not add anything to the requirements for salvation. It is an offense to God.

Published by: Ray Hallental
Philadelphia PA 12/10/2007 09:38 PM EST

Ecumenical talks (Vatican II invention)
Great! After decades of pretending, the show must go on!

Published by: rajinikanth
nalgonda/ap/india 12/07/2007 11:45 AM EST

there is one god,one son,one spirit and one mother.it's time we are all united for the christ who will come again.amen.

Published by: Nick S.
Forest City/Iowa/USA 12/07/2007 11:29 AM EST

Oh how I wish the Christian Church were ONE. I'm a Christian but don't know where to plant my roots of faith, everyone has differing views on Everything, so it cant all be true. I'm born and raised Lutheran, but am now considering the claims of the Catholic Church. May the Lord bless all seekers and place them in His Holy hands. I don't like the idea of Praying to Mary, weather a perpetual virgin or not, we are to pray to God only! Right? The seperation og the Church is a HUGE stumbling block to me and many other Americans. I truely want to serve the Lord but WHO are HIS people?!?!

Published by: Jack
USA 12/07/2007 10:26 AM EST

Baptists love Christ as well. Look, only God is the judge and knows who will be going heaven, not us human beings.

Published by: Brian Kelly
Ayer, MA USA 12/07/2007 09:28 AM EST

How can Catholics "witness" in common to Christ with Baptists? What fellowship hath light with darkness. How can one witness to Christ in common with those who snub His mother, those who are not part of the Mystical Body of Christ? We have to evangelize them, challenge them in charity to convert, not enable them by ignoring the diseased false religion. The act of Faith is integral, by its very nature this light cannot be embraced cafeteria style. The whole issue boils down to authority. Either you accept the authority of the pope or you don't. He that heareth you, heareth me. Heresy is a grave sin, as is schism. What has happened to our Church when the highest authority seems not to believe that that authority is over not only Catholics, but all the baptized?

Published by: Lance Patrick
Columbus, GA USA 12/07/2007 08:46 AM EST

I agree. Concentrate on orthodoxy and faithfulness to the magisterium. Talking to Protestants as equals legitimizes them in their minds. Same goes for the Evangelicals and Methodists. Leave the door cracked and have something sacred inside for them to see. You always clean your own house before inviting others in. That means taking out the garbage too.

Published by: Steve Likens
Senatobia, MS, USA 12/06/2007 09:47 PM EST

Angela - I grew up protestant and entered into full communion with the Church as a Catholic over 20 years ago because I found Truth in the Eucharist and Sacraments. The protestants of the 20th and 21th century are not the protestants of the 15th century. I am one of the first to defend the truth of catholicism, but I don't think throwing around words like heresy when Baptist leaders are willing to meet with the Pope does anyone any good. I was a protestant and chose to become Catholic not because people called me names, but because kind-heartened catholics spent time teaching me the Truth with love. From my pre-catholic experience, I don't think today's protestants have a real understanding of what Catholics believe and don't believe. What I do know is that protestants preach the gospel. While they may not enjoy the fullness of what Christ has to offer his children, let's try to bring them back into the flock rather than driving them away. In terms of the time it takes an their receptiveness, as Mother Teresa used to say, when you reach out in love you might get pushed away, but do it away.

Published by: Suzanne L
Michigan 12/06/2007 09:39 PM EST

kudos to the peacemaker--the kingdom of heaven shall be theirs. This man is proving more and more that he is the true Vicar of Christ on the earth.

Published by: Aaron Croteau
Willimantic, CT 12/06/2007 09:09 PM EST

Whatever our disagreements with them may be theologically, they are still our brothers and sisters in Christ and they should be given more respect than what the first two commenters have given.

Published by: Athos
Northern Va 12/06/2007 07:10 PM EST

Many besides myself can well remember when Baptist Christians would no sooner meet at the Vatican with the Holy Father than cozy up with Nikita Kreuschev at the Kremlin -- and for similar reasons in their addled pates.

May this serve as one of many signs of the power of Our Lord to bring unity, peace, and brotherhood among all who, as Benedict XVI stated, lean upon the "liberating truth and saving power of the Gospel of Jesus Christ."

Published by: Dennis
Fort Worth, TX 12/06/2007 04:51 PM EST

All well and good, but...don't get your hopes up, fellow Catholics.
Unity won't happen because Catholics won't come down on some of their views; likewise for Protestants. We both are starting from different points, so it won't happen.
They won't accept the Pope as Christ's vicar on Earth; we don't accept sola scriptura--so, it ain't going nowhere fast.

Published by: D McIntosh
Kansas City MO USA 12/06/2007 01:37 PM EST

The Holy Father is exactly right. I converted as a young adult to Catholicism and am faithful to the Magisterium. I grew up Baptist - and it was they that taught and modeled for me great love for Jesus and how to pray from the heart on my knees I know that what seperates us is in reality small to what we have in common. The Holy Father is exactly right.

Published by: Ian Delaney
Buffalo NY 12/06/2007 11:31 AM EST

Talk..talk...talk..ecumenism of forty years that's going nowhere!
Pope Benedict, please!
Save your remaining days as pope for your flock!

Published by: Angela Bertucci
New York 12/06/2007 11:25 AM EST

Baptists? You mean the group that doesn't think infant baptism is right, and their worship amounts to no more than talk and choir singing?
Leave heresy to heresy!

ADD A COMMENT (Your e-mail will NOT be published):


NAME:
CITY/STATE/COUNTRY:
EMAIL:
COMMENT:

PLEASE ENTER THE SECURITY CODE DISPLAYED ABOVE:
Chars:

* Thanks for your comments. The number of messages that can be online is limited. Length should not exceed 1500 characters. CNA reserves the right to edit messages for content and tone. Comments and opinions expressed by users do not necessarily reflect the opinions or beliefs of CNA. CNA will not publish comments with abusive language, insults or links to other pages.

ADVERTISING
CNA does not necessarily endorse these advertisers. Please proceed with discretion. If you feel that a website announced has inappropriate or offensive content, please send it by e-mail to catholicna@catholicna.com