By C. Eldon McNabb

An Associated Press article appeared in the Union News (Springfield, MA) on September 6, 2000. "Asserting the primacy of the Roman Catholic Church, the Vatican issued a declaration yesterday rejecting what it said are growing attempts to depict all religions as equal."

The article quoted the Vatican’s guardian of orthodoxy, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, as saying "If it is true that the followers of other religions can receive divine grace, it is also certain that, objectively speaking, they are in a gravely deficient situation in comparison with those who, in the church, have the fulness of the means of salvation."

The AP further quoted the document concerning other Christian denominations, which said, "They (Non Catholic Christians) derive their efficacy from the very fullness of grace and truth entrusted to the Roman Catholic Church." "The document made clear that for the Vatican, equality refers to the "personal dignity" of individuals and not to religious doctrine."

Is it possible that the ‘powers that be,’ in the Roman Catholic church perceived that they had achieved such great success with the Protestants at their Celebrate Jesus 2000 meeting, that they were emboldened to make their position perfectly clear?

If you were inclined to believe that the church of Rome considered you as one of them, it must be apparent to you now that they believe that your salvation and relationship with God are figments of your imagination. They "know" that salvation and grace are entrusted to them only. It you want it, you must come under their tutelage and control. Apparently Roman Catholicism is the epitome of the exclusivity which seems to be abhorred by so many who are promoting Christian unity and interaction among us in recent years.

Oh well, so much for religious unity. I guess we will have to settle for coming "in the unity of the faith" instead. That can, and will, happen to a group of people before Jesus Comes. And His coming will be in the very near future. Let’s go for it!