The pope wrote a remarkable letter earlier this month that illustrates the defining issue separating Protestants & Catholics. It all boils down to apostolic succession.
Here is the Associated Press story on Pope Benedicts letter.
Every single issue that divides Catholics & Protestants hinges on the Catholic claim of apostolic succession. It’s the trump card the Catholic Church uses after exhausting all scriptural & historical based rational defending its traditions and scriptural interpretations.
Apostolic succession is the notion that Jesus made Peter his earthy successor, and gave him authority to establish a “church” that continues this chain of successors to help govern religion.
The Catholic Church stakes out this claim with controversial interpretations of scripture, along with letters issued by the early leaders of the Christian community in Rome. Protestants argue that early Christian history and scripture supports the idea that Jesus did not intend to create a religious institution, and instead of passing down a hierarchy of popes, he passed down his way of life as a guide to live – a life of love and forgiveness.
And there you have it in a nutshell.
Related Articles:
Ethan Cole - Christianity Today
Gerald Hunter - South Lyon Herald
Martin Marty - Newsweek
Carl Rollberg - Chicago Tribune
Bishop Vasa - Catholic Sentinel
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