"The Christianity of history is not Protestantism. If ever there were a safe truth it is this, and Protestantism has ever felt it so; to be deep in history is to cease to be a Protestant." (-John Henry Newman, An Essay on the Development of Christian Doctrine).

"Where the bishop is, there let the people gather; just as where ever Jesus Christ is, there is the Catholic Church". -St. Ignatius of Antioch (ca 110 AD)a martyr later thrown to the lions, wrote to a church in Asia Minor. Antioch was also where the term "Christian" was first used.

“But if I should be delayed, you should know how to behave in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of truth.” 1 Timothy 3:15

"This is the sole Church of Christ, which in the Creed we profess to be one, holy, catholic and apostolic." -CCC 811

Sunday, February 7, 2010

Catholic Church Is Guide for Many Faiths

True, among many other faiths in the world today, the Catholic Church played a significant role in uniting people from different faiths dealing them with respect and tolerance. The Bishop of Rome, the Leader of the 1.4 billion Christian Catholics in the world, the Vicar of Christ, the Successor of St. Peter as our First Pope has bridged the gap between conflicts and bring them back to dialogue. The Holy Father has always been the animating agent to heal brokenness and appease hatred existing among religions in the world.

We must all praise God for our great faith that through our dialogue with other faiths, the face of Christ may shine upon them and blessings be bestowed upon them.
(Photo Credit: journeytorome)
Cardinal: Catholic Church Is Guide for Many Faiths
Says Other Religions Are Welcoming Pope's Scotland Visit

VATICAN CITY, FEB. 5, 2010 (
Zenit.org).- The president of the Scottish bishops' conference is affirming that people of other faiths look to the Catholic Church for leadership on current issues, and are anticipating Benedict XVI's visit.

Cardinal Keith O'Brien, archbishop of St. Andrew's and Edinburgh, stated this in an address today upon being received in audience by Benedict XVI.

The meeting was attended by 11 bishops from Scotland who are in Rome for their five-yearly visit, which will end Wednesday.

The cardinal told the Pope, "Your Holiness has let it be known that you will visit Great Britain in the autumn, and we are thrilled that your visit will include Scotland."

He continued: "We are certain that the Scottish people will give Your Holiness a heartfelt welcome.

"We hope that your visit to Scotland later this year will bring us renewed encouragement, vigor and joy as we seek to serve Christ in the circumstances of the present day."

"We have been inspired and enriched by the transparency and the profundity of your teaching," the prelate told the Pontiff, "which has in turn inspired us in our duty as teachers of the faith."

Leadership

He noted that "many people of other Christian denominations and representatives of other faith traditions in our country actually look to our Church for leadership in the great religious, moral and ethical issues of the time."
"They too welcome the prospect of a visit to our land from Your Holiness in the hope that they may gain a deeper appreciation of Jesus Christ and of the way in which faith and reason come together to shed God's light on the questions which both fascinate and trouble the human spirit," Cardinal O'Brien stated.

He listed some of these questions: "What does it mean to be a human person who is open to the transcendent mystery of God?

"How is this transcendence mediated definitively by Jesus Christ? How is human transcendence expressed in the moral and ethical choices we make about how we live and how we die?"

The cardinal concluded by stating, "With respectful anticipation we await your message, hoping for your guidance for our ministry as bishops."

Benedict XVI next addressed the bishops, underlining his joy at his scheduled visit to Scotland and encouraging them in their ministry. He gave each prelate a pectoral cross as a personal gift.

Scotland's total population of 5 million is around 65% Christian. Some 17% of the citizens are Catholics.

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