No. I do not believe that, in fact, I don't believe a lot of things the pope says. It is not, after all, what the Bible says.

They should triple the amount of 7% alcohol wine in the Priests Chalice they drink and claim is the Blood of Christ at Sunday Mass." Consume Vast Quantities ".Also, They should elect a woman as Pope. She could do a better job. And its a woman who rides the beast. I dont think Jesus can come back till they have a woman pope.

I wonder what God thinks about that statement.

I was brought up to be a Catholic and quit because I disagreed with most of their tenants. Do you think some ossified 80 year old virgin is going to tell me what to do. The main reason I quit was because I believed it was very wrong to ban priests from marrying. This is more proof why I think that statement has as much importance as anything that escapes Bush's mouth in as a quasi-articulate utterance.

According to my parents, I was born a Catholic and I will die a Catholic; so, I guess I'm covered either way. lol

I will agree with him on one thing. Out of all of the different churches out there, only one of them can be correct. This is just simple logic. Since we all disagree on various doctrines, since we all contradict each other on this tenant or that tenant, we can't all be right. So, only one of our religions is correct. However, I do disagree with him as to which religion that is. I respect his right to believe as he wishes, but I don't agree with him on many of the doctrines and practices of the church.

Nope.

makes me what to see that Harlot's destruction come with more anticipation

No church offers salvation, the salvation of man kind is in no other then in the name of Jesus Christ. Those that do get “saved”, they know it, and they become The Church that The Bible talks about.

No. It does make me want to laugh, cry, or throw up, though. Statements like that only turn people away from God. God - and salvation - are free and uncomplicated. You don't need a church, a religion - and you sure as heck don't need another human being.

No cant say that it does.

No. However it never ceases to amaze me how some people can disregard the rule book that they're suppose to hold as holy (the Bible) and make such and incredibly stupid statement!

No, because God “hath ordained for you that religion which He commended unto Noah, and that which We inspire in thee (Muhammad), and that which We commended unto Abraham and Moses and Jesus, saying: 'Establish the religion, and be not divided therein' Dreadful for the idolaters is that unto which thou callest them. God chooseth for Himself whom He will, and guideth unto Himself him who turneth (toward Him).” That is according to Mr Pickthall’s translation of Holy Qur’an (HQ) 42:13 from the original text. HQ 18:110 instructs Mohammed to “Say: I am only a mortal like you. My Lord inspireth in me that your God is only One God. And whoever hopeth for the meeting with his Lord, let him do righteous work, and make none sharer of the worship due unto his Lord.”

No, it actually reaffirms my decision to quit attending the Catholic Church I was raised in for a more liberal, understanding and accepting church.

Then I guess it means I am headed to hell.I hope they reserve my spot.

No thank you, I am not Catholic now or ever will be one.

it's statements like that that made me leave.

it's statements like that that made me leave.

it's statements like that that made me leave.

it's statements like that that made me leave.

Nope :)

No, I don't seek salvation.

NO!

I am a Catholic and it makes me want to quit. God should be the judge and jury on that point.

Nope. Considering the $660 million settlement against the Los Angeles Archdiocese re a small % of victims (~500) by holy church members....and only after they realized they couldn't avoid testifying in court under oath...I'm amazed that there are any devout Catholics left.

Heck yeah, who wouldn't want to belong to the one true church!?

No. His beliefs don't matter to me.

Nope, makes me laugh at the old guy with alzheimer's.

PLEASE for God sakes get your information from the actual source. Everyone reads the newspaper and takes their interpretation of what the Pope said. The pope NEVER said that their is no salvation outside the church. In fact, he stated that their was salvation outside the Catholic Church and that all the protestant churches stem from the Catholic church. God to this website for yourself and READ THE DOCUMENT before making assumptions about what he said. http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/cfaith/documents/rc_con_cfaith_doc_20070629_responsa-quaestiones_en.html

No. His false doctrine does not affect me.

If I finally decide to give up and surrender, it won't be to the stinkin' Catholics until they believe in: separation of church and state, rights to birth control, acceptance of other beliefs, acceptance of masturbation, and etc...

No because I believe the Bible which teaches that there is no salvation outside of Jesus Christ. -In the service of the Master. Thank you and God bless you!

No. My Rabbi would get really mad at me!

I think the pope drank too much wine and is confused. Maybe he is reading from the Bible he has written, not the Holy Bible most of us know.

Not at all...I dont have to confess anything to a man...He's not going to get through to God for me, only Jesus is the way to the Father, not a man behind some screen or curtain...

No. But this is nothing new. The catholic church has always taught that salvation was in the "mother church" and it came by way of Infant Baptism. There is no salvation in any church, not even the right one (which I would submit the Catholic Church is not). Salvation comes by repenting of your unbelief. Unbelief in what? Unbelief that you are sinner. Unbelief that you are going to hell when you die. Unbelief that Christ paid the debt of your sins, and suffered in your place. Unbelief that he rose from the dead. Unbelief that He will save your soul from Hell if you would simply ask. But you would need to repent of your unbelief to do that.

No it doesn't, I don't believe only people of certain churches will go to Heaven, I tend to stir clear of churches like that. I believe some people from all churches and even those who are trying that aren't in a church will be saved.

That is as he understands salvation but why not judge by considering what the bile says on the subject!

No. I must think about "the old joke about the Catholic who dies and goes to heaven to find a high wall. When he asks why there is a wall, he is told it is because on the other side are the Catholics who think they are the only ones here." Source and further information: No Salvation Outside the Catholic Church? Pope Benedict http://www.paulluvera.com/weblog/2007/07/ive-commented-b.html Further information: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Extra_Ecclesiam_nulla_salus http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dominus_Iesus http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%22Subsistit_in%22_in_Lumen_Gentium Pope Benedict: Catholic Church Only True Church? http://www.skepticalchristian.com/pope-benedict-catholic-church-only-true-church Can it be true? The Pope declares Catholic Church the Only True Church http://forbiddengospels.blogspot.com/2007/07/can-it-be-true-pope-declares-catholic.html

Good Heavens, no! NOTHING would make me want to join the Catholic Church. They practice so many ridiculous customs that are not Biblical. Their religion is too formal, and it's sad to watch the way they make people jump through hoops to come to God.

No..it makes me want to join even less. I think I'll take God's word over his any day of the week. It is not his place to say who is and is not worthy of salvation.

I am a Catholic and would like to clarify what he said. It is true that he said "there is no salvation outside the Catholic Church" This means that if you are saved you are part of the Catholic Church, although some of you might not know it yet. As Glenn and Sheanmcox said, we believe that we have the fullness of truth handed down by Jesus Christ and preserved by the Apostles and their successors, the bishops in an unbroken line from the beginning. All other Christian religions broke away from Catholicism (this is history, not my opinion), and draw everything good that they have from Catholicism. Therefore, they have a part of the truth. We also believe that the Apostles and the Pope and Bishops after them are protected by the Holy Spirit from error under certain circumstances. (Take a look at Acts 15:1-31, especially verse 28). Check out the sites I've posted later on for more on this. If, through no fault of your own, you don't know about or understand Catholicism, God will of course not hold it against you if you follow the best that you know. But, if you are shown and recognise the truth and then reject it, you are rejecting God. I would recomend that you look into some of the doctrines and practices of the Church. Here's some good websites: http://www.vatican.va/archive/catechism/ccc_toc.htm http://www.catholic.com/ http://www.fisheaters.com/index.html Not very many Churches make the kind of claims the Catholic church does. Not very many claim to have the fullness of truth, or to have existed in an unbroken line from the time of Jesus and to have been founded by him and his apostles. I encourage you to look into what the Catholic Church believes. If we're right, you will have the fullness of truth. If we're wrong, you can refute us better. It's win-win!

My gosh, yes.

No, in fact it's absolutely horrible that the Catholic church could even think of making a statement like that. It just shows how out of touch with reality they really are. The TRUE Christian Church is INVISIBLE, (as the great Protestant Reformer Martin Luther said many centuries ago), which means as long as you live a Christian life and have God in your heart, then salvation will come. You most certainly DON'T need the Catholic Church with their scandals, cover-ups, out-of-date rules and twisted perception on religion for that. I was brought up a Catholic, but after studying the history of the Church and learning exactly how UN-religious they really were and are, I left as fast as I could. I thank God for the Protestant Reformation - which enabled people to be free to follow their Christianity, the love of God and Jesus, that they feel in their hearts and souls.

If he puts a period after the word "salvation," I'm in! "Salvation" implies: a. Somebody needs saving B. Begs the question, "for what" It's a theory invented by humans. I know tons of Catholics and none of them are into the salvation game. They are into soccer games, basket ball games, volley ball games, football games, drinking games -- all the stuff that folks have been into, in some form or other, since long before the bible-writers. You wanna see a puzzled look? Ask a Catholic, "Have you been saved?" They also view the pope as kind of a world leader, as it is hard to relate to him any other way. Ditto his functionary bishops. If I was comfortable with organized religion, I'd join a Catholic parish in a second.

maybe the catholic church at one time held the key to salvation who knows, but honestly think about it: what religion has honestly never changed. everything has been reshaped by man. he shouldn't have made that statement. [raised catholic, i'm probably going to have to go to confession now for saying something "against the church,"] lol

LMAO! Those old geezers never give up with their psuedo guilt trips do they?

absolutly not! How arrogent is it to think the catholic way is the only way. I worship Shiva, Kali, and Heckate, two different religions, and they dont spout off they are the best. If anything it makes me more againt Christianity even more.

Again, the ignorance amazes and saddens me. The Pope did not say that! The Roman Catholic Chirstian Community ahs preserved all the elements of Jesus' Life and teaching intact, and acknowledges that other Bodies have kept many or some of them, the closest being the Orthodox, who claim that only the have not base it on superficial matetrs of doctrine that are not teh real reason. Dialogue is going on all the time between and within the Church to restore the Unity jesus prayed form in John 17 and Paul insited on and the Church has since its foudnation. Having the fullness does not mean that every individual Catholic is automatically "in line"- nor does it eman that ther is no sin in Cathlcvis ro that the Popes deny the sin, or that some Catholics have does not have false ideas, nor does it mean that the holy Spirit is not active within Protestants, or Jews of Hindus for that matter. The Bible has never been, nor does it claim to be the sole sourse of TRUTH, despite silly claims and ignorant comments here and everywhere that Protestants use to try to undermine the Catholic Christian Faith and many say worse things about Catholics than the Pope or the Catholic Church says about them! Read THE CATECHISM OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH, it is official, and see how distorted so many of you are about its teaching and its legitimacy.

Truth be told one must understand what is meant by Catholic. One must recognize that the church catholic is the worldwide community of those who believe in Christ Jesus. Was this statment accurately reported? Perhaps anyone upset by it should first look into that. Could the Pope have better clarified the meaning of His statement, possibly. A lot of elements play into this discussion, but people who want the Pope to be a bad guy who condemns people to hell will look into this statement no more that people who want to believe that whatever he says or does is perfect.

I understand here that the pope has been misquoted. Even so, Christs body is HIS church. It is not a sect,denominition or building. When we Accept Jesus as Savior, Repent, Baptized and Follow HIM we JOIN , become a member of HIS church (body). ONLY HE can accept us and only HE can throw us out...........there is only ONE church, Jesus Christ....

Actually I think you'll find the Pope did NOT say there was no salvation outside the Catholic church. In fact, his statement includes the words 'separated churches and Communities, though we believe they suffer from defects, are deprived neither of significance nor importance in the mystery of salvation. In fact the Spirit of Christ has not refrained from using them as instruments of salvation'. Look at it for yourself; http://www.vatican.va/.../...aestiones_en.html

I believe that almost every religion says this. Someone's got to be wrong. I wouldn't want to be a Catholic.

No LOL

The Catholic Church is outdated and corrupt! It refuses to accept change, or to change to meet with the needs of it's parishioners! And people ask me why I left the church and became a pagan! Because at least in my faith, the Gods aren't afraid of change! They adapt to the times! I would never again become a member of the church, or a blind follower of it's god! They are both wrong on so many levels, I can't even begin to tell you!

Well, I am a member, but in light of the Pope's comments, it's made me really think about my position with the church. It's getting so that I may have to find another church... to not attend on a regular basis.

Become a member of the man-made denomination of catholicism? uh, no thank you.

It makes me want to save him...... and all those who support his theories.

im sure thats not his exact wording but if it is hes ridiculous because 50% of the catholic church members dont even own a bible or read it especially dont live their lives according to it. dont you think you should go to church and be able to understand what they are talking about and shouldnt your priest talk to you about what you shuold or shouldnt be doing because of what the bible says people sit outside of their catholic churches taking cigarette breaks HIPOCRITICAL, Ive been to so many catholic churches because i was raised in that church and not once did i leave mass thinking wow that was a great sermon he made some good points, i yawned the whole time as he rambled in latin speaking of irrelevant things.

Makes me wanna sign up for "Extra Points" by becoming an "Altered Boy"!!! John

No, because if you are outside the Catholic Church you don't believe the Pope's statements have any authority. At the bottom, the popes statement is worth no more than a little boy saying "If you don't join in my game you're a loser".

To the person who posted this question: Please be kind enough as to provide your source regarding to the Pope's supposed words in your question. You have either been wrongly informed or have been given a biased link to read, the Pope never said such a silly thing. If you wish to know the truth on what the Pope said please be kind enough to read the enclosed links which are official sites. http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/document.php?n=162 http://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/__P29.HTM Regards.

Blaycock will fly in the face of the PROMISE that JESUS said he was EMMANUEL, God with you always atht end of Matthew's Gospel, His Name at his birth, then 'forgot' His promise, and the Church went into a Great Apostasy, and was Reastored by a Harry Potter-Indiana Jones story that a former crook arresed for finding gold in the ground, actually dug up some gold plates, gave us a concoction which partially quotes, selectively edits the ACTUAL NEW TESTAMENT and gave us stuff that is totally contradictory of the actual slowly developed teaching and writing of the OT and NT. Flatly contradicting Jesus and Moses, he "restores' Old Testament polygamy (a horrible embarrassment to LDS). Give me Revelation and Reason any day as exhibited by the post-Reformation and modern Popes and their 2000- year Tradition from Paul, Augustine, Aquinas, to JP11 and B XV1 and day. Belief is protected by the bill of Rights, Forest Gump tells us what stupid is!

Nope..although I am not sure that is what he stated :)

Not today or ever...I'm surely not gonna run up and confess my sins to a man in a robe with a funky hat, and I'm not gonna kiss his ring or anything else..I confess straight to Jesus and He hears me...thats all I need...

Let me add a little clarification: Become a member of the man-made denomination of ___________ (you fill in the blank)? Uh, no thank you.

Um, no. No it doesn't.

It makes me want to protest in front of my neighborhood Catholic Church. It's what being Protestant is all about anyway, not recognizing the Pope as anyone special.

No, I was lucky enough to be born Catholic, so my salvation is all but in the bag. Sorry about the rest of you though.

Actually, many Christian churches can all be correct: Catholic, Protestant, Mormon, Lutheran, Baptist, Pentacostal, Jehova's Witness, etc., etc. All that matters is that they teach and believe that salvation is granted by Christ Jesus. Accept Jesus as your Savior; confess your sins to Him; and ask for forgiveness--that's all that matters. All the other differences in ideology don't mean squat.

Nope, my salvation depends on my belief in Jesus Christ, not the Catholic church.

No. It makes me more upset than anything. Good, intelligent people have been lied to for over 1700 years. They have access to Bibles. They have no excuse for not knowing the plan of Salvation for themselves. Anyone who says "There is no Salvation outside our church." is a liar. Remember what God said about Satan? He is the father of lies.

I have never wanted to join the catholic church..they have enough money without adding mine.

not join really... but overwhelmingly i have many signs that smack me in the face with things that could not be possible outside of religious/higher power influence... most of them being catholic but many of them relating to other religions by strange coincidence... for example i came up with the name technios based off of my belief that there is a deity... dios en espanol and i thank him mostly for letting us create electronic technology... my friend said that he looked up my stage name and found out that it meant some prayer in another language... it did not surprise me much though, everything that happens is so coincidental it almost has to be planned by someone/thing

Has he really? Thats rather... unchristian of him. The only way to salvation is through Jesus Christ, and anyone through him can be saved, so I'd like to read more about this statement of his, or find us a new pope.

He never said that the Catholic Church was the only way o salvation. He just said that the Catholic Church is the only true church. It makes me kind of sad that he would estrange Christians from each other, but I'll be remaining Presbyterian thanks. :p

Absolutely not!! I am not a christian but I believe that catholicism is the most evil of all christian denominations.

Nobody can send a person to hell but God. Therefore, if the pope said it - we had better listen. He is speaking from his OFFICE, which is the same as God speaking to us. Remember that Jesus gave the keys to the kingdom to Peter - the FIRST pope. I don't believe that God is going to send the many loving and faithful protestants to hell. I believe there may be different levels of heaven. That's not Biblical, but remember that God also gave us reason, and my reason sees our heavenly father as more loving that that. It is we who KNOW and do not DO who are in trouble. Catholic Church - I am coming home!

Well, as long as he didn't say Roman Catholic, I'm actually fine with it. Catholic means universal. All who profess the belief that Christ died for our sins would be Catholic by that definition. Now, if he meant the Roman Catholic Church, then I would strongly disagree.

Thank you, barjacob. I look forward to reading more of your comments. I did recognize your education because of your amazing writing.

Pope benedict is not the first pope to make this claim it has been a belief held by the catholic church, for centuries. And has caused the persecution of many different christian groups through out history. It is also interesting to note that the first sign of a false religon is it says only the members of its church can have salvation ie; mormons,jehovas witnesses,muslims. I dont know if it will make people join, because its faith in the Lord Jesus Christ that brings salvation to anyone. And not a church membership,"You are saved by faith through grace,and not of your selfs it is a gift of God.not of works lest any man should boast". Eph.2:7,8. Hope that helps.

Galooly, that depends on what you mean by being born Catholic. Nobody is born Catholic. You become Catholic by understanding, study and confirmation. You may have been born into a Catholic family, as I was, but that doesn't make you Catholic. Baptism at a Catholic Church doesn't make you Catholic either. It brings you into the church as a whole. Denomination must be determined by your choice and careful study and consideration.

I would humbly point out that the founder of Anglicanism (Henry VIII) was created "Defender of the Faith" by none other than the Pope himself.

I know that I am saved. I was there when it happened. I put more stock in what Jesus said. When did the thief on the cross join the Roman Catholic Church?

I've been joined since birth. I don't think anyone who thinks for themselves would choose something so personal as a religion and way of life simply on the words of another no matter who that person is. Only a fool would be so blind.

Thanks for all of the interesting answers, everyone. It often helps to just talk things out. It has given me a lot to think about.

like hell, i wouldnt touch anything to do with that with a thousand foot bargepole putting it extremely mildly

Did Jesus bow down to man-made Idols? Did he say? "I am the way",Not the Pope. Was Peter the first Pope? HELL NO. He never was in Rome. Why pray to a human? Mary, Who isn't the mother of God. He had no mother, If God was before he created man-kind,how could Mary create that which already was? Some Bull I say. On and on........On.

An old german dude said something?? Uh oh I better listen right quick.

What did Jesus teach about the Pope being our "holy father"? Matthew 23:9 Call no one on earth your father; you have but one Father in heaven.

can you show proof of this?

Parrot? Termites? LOLOLOL! Barjacob, you teach so well and are so funny too. I love sarcastic humor.

no. Jesus was the one who died on the cross not the catholic church.

NO, ABSOLUTELY NOT, ESPECIALLY THIS PERSON WHO USED TO SHOOT DOWN B-17'S DURING WORLD WAR 2, CHANGED HIS NAME 4 TIMES TO BE FREE OF PERSICUTION. THIS INFORMATION CAME OUT JUST AFTER WE FOUND OUT ABOUT THE PEOPLE THAT WERE TRACKING DOWN THE NAZI'S

Does a bear in the woods wear a funny hat? ;-)

There is only one way and that way is through Jesus Christ.

I'd rather sell my kids than become a catholic. I find the majority of catholic views old fashioned and above all appalling. No thanks!

lol..of course not...it just makes me wonder more if he realizes what he will answer to...and how he could possibly get this from Scripture....Old or New Testament...

Why would I take the Pope seriously in view of the history of the Roman church which has hardly stood on the side of humanity.

Makes me want to join less.