And now his Holiness . . .

Well, it's been said before, but he'll say it again. On Tuesday Pope Benedict approved a document be released that says other Christian communities are either defective or not true churches and Catholicisimprovides the only true path to salvation. This is the second move the Pope has made this past week that brings the Catholic Church back to a pre Vatican II. Earlier he revived the old Latin Mass. Benedict attended Vatican II as a young theologian where he critized the church for being to liberal. His moves have been celebrated by the more conservative Catholics, however it has many worried. Several Protestant leaders have been to question past and future ecumenical talks with the Vatican. For an article on the latest from the Pontiff click here

In my opinion this is just more of the same old stuff. The Pope is a conservative man, trying to bring the Roman Catholic Church back in time to more conservative practices - particularly pre Vatican II. However, I think that if continues to reverse Vatican II and bring back the old ways he will agrivate and alienate himself from the other Christian Churches - which doesn't seem to bother him much. However, I think he will loose many from his flock. These changes are, most likely, being celebrated by the conservatives but could very well be turning off the more moderate and liberal Roman Catholics. People who aren't really sure what Church they want to belong to may try the Catholic Church, and after this may leave. Only time will tell what this does for the Roman Catholic Church. But I have a feeling it will either strengthen it or kill it.