I have long believed that the ultimate test for profession of faith in the Roman Church is the belief that the office of the Papacy, the Bishop of Rome infallible and possessive of an universal and immediate jurisdiction, is a supernatural reality, a divinely-revealed and governed institution given directly by God and necessary to the salvation of all Christians. Father Francis J. Hall describes such a belief in a divinely-given Papacy as 'Vaticanism.' Dr Edward Pusey simplifies the matter by saying, to paraphrase, 'the Roman system reduces the Creed to one statement, Credo Papam, I believe in the Pope.'
Such a test has been requisite for authentic fidelity to the Roman See since the I Vatican Council of 1870.
Recently Father Alvin Kimel has proposed this 'Sacrament of the Papacy' as the true test of catholic faith, identity and practice:
'...Coleman Fannin has written a thoughtful piece on why he is attracted to [Roman] Catholicism and why he, at least for the moment, has decided to remain within the American Baptist Church. Fannin is particularly attracted to the transnational witness of the [Roman] Catholic Church and its ability to resist the all-encompassing demand for allegiance of the modern state(s) and its culture(s). He does not attempt to explain the freedom of the [Roman] Catholic Church over against culture and state; but I think the answer is clear - the divinely-created institution of the papacy.' Emphasis added.
http://catholica.pontifications.net/?p=1948
Indeed, Vaticanism is where the rubber proverbially meets the road. If one believes in the divine Papacy, then one must profess faith in the Roman Catholic system. If one cannot, one is bound to remain a loyal Catholic in another Apostolic communion. As I see it, 1870 remains the insurmountable and indefatigable barrier to genuine catholic ecumenism and rapprochement. On side stand the Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox, Anglicans, Old Catholics, Assyrians, and Swedish Lutherans, the bodies which descend from the Apostolic Tradition, and on the other, isolated, stands Rome alone. Let us pray for the return of all Catholic communions to the fullness of the Faith as lived and expressed in the Great Tradition of the Undivided Church and the Seven Holy Councils. Only on the basis of the doctrine and practice of the First Millennium Church can the Christian world once again be reunited... or can it?
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3 comments:
"Credo Papam . . . ." LOL!
To state the position is to refute it.
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What would happen to Vaticanism were B16 do pronounce, ex cathedra and under his "extraordinary magestirum," that "Non Cerdo Papam" is no infallible doctrine for RCs?
I was reading a book about Thomas Cranmer the other day where it said Cranmer believed more in the divine right of kings than he did the papacy (of course) because the former was more Biblical and the latter was not. Food for thought.... St. Paul and the Old Testament are very clear that "secular" authority is annointed by God, but unclear as to the primacy among bishops. How come all the supposedly "Papist" fathers of the Council of Nicea were summoned by the Emporer Constantine and not by a bishop, not even the Pope?
This is not to mention the supposed "Ceasaro-Papism" of the Byzantine Church. (The emporer received Communion by going through the Royal Doors, directly from the altar like a bishop.) In this sense, is the Pope merely usurping the "secular" power as well, attempting to fill the vacuum left by the new liberal democratic polity? And in what way would this be remotely Scriptural or Patristic?
Another excellent post! Right on the money, Fr. Chad.
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