Vatican condemns religious indifferentism

Briefing. This statement from the CDF simply reiterates the teaching of Dominus Iesus (another CDF document under Cardinal Ratzinger), that the Catholic Church is the true Church of Christ. Jesus Christ founded a Church, and only one Church, and that Church, which is both divine and a visible human organisation, is the Roman Catholic Church we can see today. The precise status of the Orthodox and of Protestant sects requires some technical language, but there is no question that if you want to join the Church Christ founded, you must join the Catholic Church. It it not a matter of indifference, or personal inclination, what denomination you happen to belong to. Dissenters take note.

From the Catholic Herald, in part: Relations between the Catholic Church and the Anglican communion threatened to reach a new low this week after the Vatican declared that Protestant denominations should be known simply as “ecclesial communities”.

A document authorised by Pope Benedict XVI said Protestant communions are not true churches and that their priests are not genuine ministers.

...It said that the Catholic Church was the “one true Church of Christ” and that although aspects of the truth of the Christian faith can be found in other churches they lacked “all the elements instituted by Christ in the Catholic Church”.