No more church I guess…
Well - I guess that’s it, folks. The infallible Pope Benedict XVI recently decreed (regarding Christian communities borne out of the 16th century reformation):
According to Catholic doctrine, these Communities do not enjoy apostolic succession in the sacrament of Orders, and are, therefore, deprived of a constitutive element of the Church. These ecclesial Communities which, specifically because of the absence of the sacramental priesthood, have not preserved the genuine and integral substance of the Eucharistic Mystery cannot, according to Catholic doctrine, be called “Churches” in the proper sense.
(link)
Brilliant!
Seriously, though. The publication of this statement, in one swift blow, will serve to decimate the Catholic-Protestant relations that Pope JPII strove so diligently to improve. What good could this possibly do for the Catholic church? Does he think that due to his edict, people will flock to Catholic churches around the world cause they desire to go to a “real” church? I think not. Exclusionist doctrines like this (no matter what denomination/religion/group they’re set forth by) only serve to create further discord among the earth’s populace.