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Protestants angered by Vatican’s hard line

The Vatican has angered other Christian denominations by describing them as not full churches. Christian Orthodox and in particular Protestant churches were singled out in a 16-page document from the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, headed until his election by Pope Benedict.

It said these churches suffered from a "wound" because they did not recognise the primacy of the pope, and in Protestant churches, it said "the wound was more profound".

It stated: "It is difficult to see how the title of church could possibly be attributed to them."

Protestant church leaders in Europe said the document downgraded other churches. They feared ecumenical relations would become more difficult.

The Rev Bill Brown, ecumenical relations convener for the Church of Scotland, said: "This is a restatement of their position, which comes as no surprise. However, we have been encouraged in Scotland and with a visit to the Vatican by positive discussions about Christian identity and Christian unity."

Wilfred Weale, chairman of the religion and morals committee of the Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland, said: "We would take the opposite view, that any church that recognises the primacy of the pope is not a true church. Jesus Christ is the head of the church."

The Vatican text, which restates the controversial document Dominus Iesus issued by the pope, then Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, in 2000, said the church wanted to stress this point because some Catholic theologians continued to misunderstand it.

The document refers to Protestants and Anglicans as "ecclesial communities originating from the Reformation".

Ian Wilson, grand master of the Grand Orange Lodge of Scotland, said: "I find it ironic at a time when I am being portrayed as a progressive Grand Master trying to move the Orange Order away from its anti-Roman Catholic statements and position, here is the church itself stating its hardline stance towards churches of the reformation."

Full story at The Herald.