1) Is Cardinal McCarrick trying to equate Jesus with Allah?
2) As faithful Catholic Christians we are called to evangelize and try and convert those who believe in other faiths so that people of other faiths may one day come back home to Jesus' Church, so how can Cardinal McCarrick really believe this? Or think that this is in line with Church Teaching?
3) Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. He is our creator and believing in Allah is not on par or the same as believing in Jesus Christ.
4) I am not saying Muslims (except the terrorists or those who sympathize with their cause) are bad people but stating Muslism are bad or immoral persons and saying that Muslims shouldn't embrace the Qu'ran is different but that they should embrace the Word of God and the Teachings of Jesus Christ is totally different.
As Catholics we say the Nicene Creed every Sunday:
We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is seen and unseen. We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, one in being with the Father. Through Him all things were made. For us men and our salvation He came down from heaven: by the power of the Holy Spirit, He was born of the Virgin Mary , and became man. For our sake He was crucified under Pontius Pilate; He suffered, died, and was buried. On the third day He rose again in fulfillment of the scriptures: He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end. We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son. With the Father and the Son, He is worshiped and glorified. He has spoken through the Prophets. We believe in one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church. We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.
I just don't see how we can believe in the One holy, catholic, and apostolic Church and also agree with what Cardinal McCarrick stated.
Here is the video of Cardinal McCarrick:
6 comments:
You are wading into tricky waters with this post - good for you! The discussion needs to be had. I've been involved in a few similar ones on mine, and others, blogs. The Vatican II council, especially with Nostra aetate and Unitatis redintegratio, really muddied up the waters with the language they employed. I'm painting with a broad stroke here, but basically the documents said that the Catholic Church maintains the fullness of truth, but there is truth in other Christian denominations and non-Christian religions and people may be saved through them. With that line of thinking as the starting point, it is not hard to understand why our bishops and cardinals have to make public statements like this.
The question, even before we get to Islam, is are other religions paths to salvation? The answer is that only Christ is the way to the Father. People, provided they do not come to a knowledge of the Gospel, will be judged according to the 'truths' they do possess in their respective faith traditions. The fullness of Truth is found in the Catholic Church, but it is possible they contain elements of such truth. St Thomas Aquinas showed how other religions are related in 'potencia' to the Catholic Church. The Church leaves open the possibility that other people might be saved by Christ, yet in a manner known only to Him. Remember, that the Sacraments are the ordinary forms of Grace, yet God is not bound by the Sacraments and therefore can freely operate outside of them. (It would not shock me to find out that Ghandi would be in Heaven...)
The issue with Islam, and the danger it proposes lies in the fact that it is completely contrary to the 'Natural Law' and thus to reason itself. As Christians, we do not need Faith to determine what is 'good.' Philosophy does just that, defining 'good' as 'that which is in accord with the nature of the thing.' In Islam, we have a suspension of reason as evidenced by such scholars as Averoes, or Al-Ghazali,.both concluded there were two 'truths,' one of Faith, and one of Reason. As Christians, we know this to be an impossibility, because God alone is Truth, God is one, therefore by deduction there can only be one Truth. Muslim scholars, the ones that wade into metaphysics will shy away from these errors, and when the contradiction comes up, they will conclude the Faith part. So in all fairness, should Allah decree violence, then in their logic, that would be 'good.'
Cardinal McCarrick, from what I've read about him in the past, seems to be a product of his time, and does not have the guts to come out, for fear of being labeled 'intolerant.' This generation of priests and bishops are what I thunder against on my blog, and therefore am not surprised by his confusing statements. The Church's teachings are clear, it's a shame he won't articulate them.
Good post Teresa, keep it up!
Christopher and Marco,
Thank you very much for your thoughtful responses. I will respond fully to both of your comments later tonight. God Bless!
Marco and Christopher,
I am so sorry for not responding to your comments in a timely manner. Unfortunately, I have had issues/arguments with neighbors ( who used to be my friends) both Today and last Friday. Plus, I traveled to the 9/12 March in DC so life's been kinda crazy for me lately. I am actually quite down in the dumps, as I was on Friday. These people only like one way of thinking and well.... They ask me questions and then don't like my answers because I disagree with their point of view.
Enough of my rambling..... Sorry....
Christopher,
I am in the process of reading more encyclicals and other noteworthy authors/philosphers and plan on reading both Nostra aetate and Unitatis redintegratio soon. But, as my husband informed me, he said your assessment is spot on. Hopefully, future documents will bring clarity to the muddied waters.
Marco,
"The Church leaves open the possibility that other people might be saved by Christ, yet in a manner known only to Him. Remember, that the Sacraments are the ordinary forms of Grace, yet God is not bound by the Sacraments and therefore can freely operate outside of them. (It would not shock me to find out that Ghandi would be in Heaven...)"
Most definitely. I can see Ghandi as being in Heaven.
I never thought of Islam as being contrary to 'Natural Law'. That is very interesting and logical.
"God Alone is Truth" Absolutely!
It is a shame that Cardinal McCarrick won't articulate the Church's Teachings due to the fear of being labeled "intolerant". You would think that a man of the cloth would trust in God moreso or put faith into practice.
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