RE MY WAY OR THE HIGHWAY

The bishops [Bishops of the American Roman Catholic Church] specifically criticized Phan for arguing that that non-Christian religions offer an "autonomous" path to salvation.

see http://www.ethicsdaily.com/article_detail.cfm?AID=9819

Joel mentions in his comment that he has …always admired their steadfastness to doctrine that is their hallmark.....

Now, with all respect, I need to point out that there is and always has been a fine line between well-founded firmness and delusionary [is that a word?] narrow mindedness.

The Roman Catholic Church appears to declare non-Roman denominations defective, unable to deliver the way to salvation. The Roman Church appears to criticize those who suggest that there are ‘autonomous’ paths to glory.

The Vatican is not speaking ecumenically when it claims uniqueness in the sense of exclusivity.

It is not admitting to the very arguable point that its claims to infallibility fail in that in matters of faith we believe on faith. We have faith. We believe. We have not been there. We can say we know. We do not. We are on safest ground when we admit that we believe what we believe for very good reasons…but we do not really know enough to say that the other guy is defective.

The Roman Church admits that even in the worldly realm we do not know all the answers. It likely admits that we do not even know all the questions.

But in the Heavenly Realm?????? Give me a break!!!!!!!

Over and over again we reinterpret; we revise our thinking; we adjust. We really do not know for sure.

So, when any belief system goes infallible, take what it says with a grain of salt.

Having said that, I must share concern with Joel regarding the American Episcopal Church as it …crumbles under popular opinion and the "Dogma DuJour" that has become the American Episcopal Church.

Again, here is the problem of the fine line between false claims of infallibility and excessive ‘flexibility’ of doctrine.

The Roman Church is suffering from the former.

The Episcopal Church is suffering in some respects from the latter.