Novaseminary (talk | contribs) no change to text - last edit summary should have pointed to Talk:Separated brethren#Rejection_statement |
no valid reason to remove that whole paragraph as it is important to make the point that not all groups accept or recognize the "Separated brethren" designation, whether you like that fact or not |
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The Catholic Church therefore recognizes Eastern Orthodox baptism as already-valid, and holds the view as "separated brethren" for ecclesiastical communion.<ref name="Christian Odyssey - Vatican II and the Future of Church Unity"/> And that is also how their view is towards most Protestant churches.<ref name="Christian Odyssey - Vatican II and the Future of Church Unity" /> Roman Catholicism considers Eastern Orthodoxy and most of Protestantism as still part of their fold, albeit extended or separated. |
The Catholic Church therefore recognizes Eastern Orthodox baptism as already-valid, and holds the view as "separated brethren" for ecclesiastical communion.<ref name="Christian Odyssey - Vatican II and the Future of Church Unity"/> And that is also how their view is towards most Protestant churches.<ref name="Christian Odyssey - Vatican II and the Future of Church Unity" /> Roman Catholicism considers Eastern Orthodoxy and most of Protestantism as still part of their fold, albeit extended or separated. |
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But a number{{Citation needed|date=June 2010}}{{Weasel-inline|date=June 2010}} of professed Christian groups, especially [[Anti-Catholicism|anti-Catholics]] and [[Fundamentalism#History|fundamentalists]], generally reject the notion of "separated brethren" as having any [[Biblical]] validity or importance, and don't generally recognize or accept the designation.<ref>[http://www.rapidnet.com/~jbeard/bdm/Cults/Catholicism/general.htm BDM] - Roman Catholicism - General Notes{{Verify credibility|date=May 2010}}</ref>{{Or|date=May 2010}} |
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==See also== |
==See also== |
Revision as of 12:16, 15 June 2010
Separated brethren is the term used by the Roman Catholic Church for non-Catholic professed Christians, mainly Protestant and Eastern Orthodox. It is applied to professed Christians who are baptized and believe in Christ but are not professed Catholics. More commonly the term is applied to Protestants.[1]
History of term
Contrary to the view of some,[by whom?] the term "separated brethren" did not originate in the Second Vatican Council, but rather was a term that was in use prior to that, by a number of American bishops, but was highlighted and made more official in Vatican 2, in 1965, and put to the fore with the ecumenical movement.[2]
Whereas in the past, Protestants and other non-Catholic professed Christians, per the pronouncements of the Council of Trent, were essentially viewed by the Roman Catholic Church officially as "heretics", or as not having hope of salvation, outside of the "Church of Rome".[3] That officially changed with the Second Vatican Council.[4]
Usage and application
According to official Catholic teaching, only Trinitarian Baptism (as defined by the Councils of Nicea and Chalcedon) is considered valid in order for a church or group, such as with mainstream Protestantism and Eastern Orthodoxy, to be considered "separated brethren."[5] Therefore, groups such as Mormons have historically not been considered "separated brethren" by the Roman Catholic Church, as Mormons are considered officially by Catholics to be nontrinitarian and polytheist.[6]
So the Roman Catholic position is that not all groups who profess Christianity, according to them, are necessarily their "brothers in Christ." [6] But only those who follow and confess certain things such as the Nicean formula, and who hold to certain creedal positions, would be officially considered as such.[7]
While some Eastern Orthodox Churches commonly re-baptize converts from the Catholic Church,[8] thereby refusing to recognize the baptism that the converts previously received from Roman Catholic priests, the Catholic Church has always accepted the validity of all the sacraments administered by the Eastern Orthodox and Oriental Orthodox Churches.[5]
The Catholic Church therefore recognizes Eastern Orthodox baptism as already-valid, and holds the view as "separated brethren" for ecclesiastical communion.[5] And that is also how their view is towards most Protestant churches.[5] Roman Catholicism considers Eastern Orthodoxy and most of Protestantism as still part of their fold, albeit extended or separated.
But a number[citation needed][weasel words] of professed Christian groups, especially anti-Catholics and fundamentalists, generally reject the notion of "separated brethren" as having any Biblical validity or importance, and don't generally recognize or accept the designation.[9][original research?]
See also
References
- ^ Catholic Culture - Dictionary - SEPARATED BRETHREN - from Fr. John Hardon's Modern Catholic Dictionary, © Eternal Life.
- ^ William Joseph Whalen - Separated Brethren, 1958 and 1966, Bruce Publishing Co., Preface, pg 9.
- ^ Catholic Apologetics The Popes and Saints On: The Catholic Doctrine of No Salvation Outside the Church, Council of Trent, St. Alphonsus Maria Liguori - by Raymond Taouk, retrieved May 14, 2010.[unreliable source?]
- ^ First Things Are Protestants Heretics? - Dec 19, 2007, Edward T. Oakes, S.J.
- ^ a b c d Christian Odyssey - Vatican II and the Future of Church Unity Inside Vatican II & Great and Present Divide - Copyright 2007 - retrieved May 15, 2010.
- ^ a b Catholic Answers - Q&A - Mormons [unreliable source?]
- ^ Catholic, Evangelical and Charismatic A New Witness to the Ancient Way Catholic Evangelicalism, by Joel Scandrett on August 8, 2009 at Nyack College, NYC for the Alexander Men conference in 2009.
- ^ Orthodox Information Center - Orthodox Baptism - From Orthodox Tradition, Vol. XIII, No. 1, pp. 2-6.
- ^ BDM - Roman Catholicism - General Notes[unreliable source?]