[The Sons of Liberty]

I suppose a Pope that will launch a new CRUSADE against the muzzies is too much to hope for?

[D-fendr]

Don’t we already have this, as much as possible, with recognition of trinitarian baptism, after Vat II?

[ex-snook]

‘that we all be one’ is a great goal.

[JCBreckenridge]

Xzins, the door is open for unity. :) If one believes that all christians ought to be unified, then it is left to one’s conscience to decide.

[C. Edmund Wright]

oh, can’t wait to get your take on this one....busy now...but will bookmark.

[aMorePerfectUnion]

I’d like to see a Pope that follows the truth fiercely enough to get rid of the homos/pedophiles, instead of rotating them around in good standing.

If this doesn’t happen, the lamp grows dimmer.

[yefragetuwrabrumuy]

I do think it would be of great value for there to be movement in the direction of Orthodox unity. Something like a permanent ‘Diet’, an assembly of clergy with several purposes: cultural exchange, mutual support of oppressed Orthodox Christians around the world, and unanimous consensus opinions (difficult, but not impossible).

Ecumenism with Protestants would be both tricky and limited, however, as it would demand they embrace the unified Orthodox consensus, which few of them would agree to.

[Servant of the Cross]

Gather At The River

[OKRA2012]

I bet the Cardinals do not count his vote.

[NYer]

Ping!

[livius]

I think that’s probably what we all want!

Well, among other things...the next Pope has got his work cut out for him. I only hope that gets more support from the rest of the Church than did BXVI. Poor Benedict; the entrenched powers hated him because he was shining a light on their behavior.

[Mrs. Don-o]

"I cannot escape that Jesus is saying that when the world sees the unity of Christians it will know that He was sent by the Father, and that the Father loves both the Son and the followers of the Son. This is seen so clearly in the reverse: when they see discord, disunity, disarray, then it easy for the world to dismiss us, the Father, and the Son. They say, "Those people are always fighting each other; who wants to be a part of that?"

This is a profound statement, xzins, and I love you for posting it.

To me, it's an if...then statement. Just like:

"If we forgive those who trespass against you, then Our Father will forgive us our trespasses",

He also says:

If the Church is in unity, then the world will know that You (the Father) sent Me."

That's how the Christians were defined in the beginning: "See these Christians, how they love one another."

The unity of Christians is either a "picture" of the unity of the Trinity, or, disunified, we are a "picture" of something else. Something menacing, disturbing, repellent and ugly.

Just a long way of saying... YOU ARE SO RIGHT ABOUT THAT!

[MestaMachine]

xzins, I pray you get your wish. I would much prefer to see the acceptance and unity of coreligionists than the increasing acceptance of islam which is anti-christian from its core.

[dartuser]

The first 16 verses of Ephesians 4 demonstrate that the basis of true Christian unity is correct doctrine.

With the ecumenical push to ignore doctrinal differences for the sake of unity ... that unity would be merely for show ... and I'm not sure exactly what those who are calling for it hope to attain.

Only the Lord Jesus can bring unity ... and like most things ... it won't happen until His return in glory.

[Greetings_Puny_Humans]

I have to disagree with the supposed “continuity” of the Catholic Church’s history. I’ve seen quotes from supposed early Popes denying the primacy of Peter and other important dogmas of the Catholic church, which allegedly had always existed without controversy. I also have a problem with the Catholics on their works-righteousness, and I’m always troubled to see the Pope standing side by side representatives of non-Christian religions.

[BlatherNaut]

Christian Unity: We lift our prayer to the Lord.

12. Before the whole world let all Christians confess their faith in the triune God, one and three in the incarnate Son of God, our Redeemer and Lord. United in their efforts, and with mutual respect, let them bear witness to our common hope which does not play us false.

DECREE ON ECUMENISM - UNITATIS REDINTEGRATIO

http://www.vatican.va/archive/hist_councils/ii_vatican_council/documents/vat-ii_decree_19641121_unitatis-redintegratio_en.html

[Doulos1]

I would like to see the pope buy a Bible.

[Salvation]

Thank you for this post.

[dangus]

I expect that the next pope will place a very high value on unity among the churches. However, with the radical left tilt to mainstream protestantism’s leaders despite chasing after them so hard for the last 40 years, the next popes will quite likely turn their emphasis to the Eastern churches. This might have some significant appeal to Anglicans and even several particular Lutheran churches (Church of Finland, for instance), but I expect it might feel to many Westerners, whether mainstream of evangelical, that the Catholic church is turning away from them.

Ecclesiastical Authority continuum:
<-———Evangelical———High Church Protestant———Orthodox-———Catholic-———>
BUT:
Liturgical style:
<————Evangelical-——High Church Protestant——Catholic———High Church Anglican-———Orthodox-——>
Theology:
<————Protestant-———High Church Anglican————Catholic———Orthodox——>
Culture:
<————Protestant-———High Church Protestant————Catholic———Orthodox——>

[Salvation]

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