By Erin Kingrey
erin@newsroom.byu.edu
Responses are mixed to Tuesday's Papal 'Dominus Iesus' declaration which asserts the Catholic Church as the single body of Christ.
The 36-page document details the Vatican's position that the Catholic Church is the single Church of Christ.
It abolishes the notion of religious relativism and boldly pronounces Jesus Christ as God incarnate.
Father William Flegge of the St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Orem, praised the declaration.
'The Pope is taking a stance. He is letting the world know that the Roman Catholic Church is the revealed church of God, and he wants all his children to be combined under one Christian truth,' Flegge said.
Keith Lane, a BYU part-time faculty member for church history and doctrine, was also pleased with the stance taken by the Catholic Church.
Lane explained that the Catholic doctrine of only one true church is nothing new.
'It is a good thing to see someone strongly reaffirming their beliefs,' Lane said.
Latter-day Saints can relate to the declaration, Lane expounded, because they make a similar affirmation.
He felt that a religion is lessened if it does not claim to be the true church.
Amy Ketcheson, 23, a senior from Albuquerque, NM, majoring in dietetics, also commended the Catholic position. 'It's good that they're not being vague. It shows more integrity than just saying what other people want to hear,' Ketcheson said.
Pastor Michael Minch from the Orem Community Church disagreed. Although he felt that the declaration would not largely affect his Protestant parishioners, he found it disappointing.
He said the Catholic Church seems to be taking on a superior position to other churches.
'All religions are part of the same family; no one religion is less true,' Minch said.
In spite of varied reactions by other religions, Flegge was optimistic. He said he hoped the new declaration would not affect relations between Catholics and non-Catholics.
Flegge commented that Catholics don't want to put people down.
'What we need to understand is God loves every human being, but we believe the Catholic Church as revealed, is the true church of God,' Flegge said.
In terms of inter-religious dialogue, Lane felt the Papal stance would not be a hindrance.
'You can still get along with people, even if you disagree,' Lane said.
See related story:
Ministers say unity is the goal 09/07/2000