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Rome, Italy
Roman Catholic Church declares itself only “true” church


The Roman Catholic Church reaffirmed its doctrine of being the only “true” church on Sept. 5 with the release of “Dominus Iesus, on the Unicity and Salvific Universality of Jesus Christ and the Church”. The document is reportedly aimed at fringe Roman Catholic theologians who believe in religious relativism – the belief that all religions offer equally valid paths to salvation. However, leaders of the world’s Protestant churches and denominations reacted with concern to the arguments contained in the document.

Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, director of the Vatican’s Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, released the 36-page document approved by Pope John Paul II, stating that Roman Catholic bishops and theologians who refer to Protestant churches as “sister churches” were causing ambiguity. Instead of referring to Protestant churches as “churches”, the document uses the term “ecclesial communities”.

“Dominus Iesus” affirms that Roman Catholicism is the only true church, arguing that other churches which lack “valid Episcopate and the genuine and integral substance of the Eucharistic mystery are not churches in the proper sense”. Whatever truth other denominations possess is derived from the Roman Catholic Church and its traditions, it says. The only other churches the document recognizes as keeping closely to the Roman Catholic Church are those in the Eastern Orthodox tradition.

The timing of the document is surprising in light of recent ecumenical overtures that the Roman Catholic Church has made to other denominations such as the Lutheran Church. Roman Catholics offered an olive branch to Lutherans in the form of the “Joint Declaration on Justification”, signed by representatives from both churches last year. Ecumenical talks were also held between Roman Catholic and Anglican representatives during the past two years.

While Christians in Germany – the birthplace of the Protestant Reformation – say “Dominus Iesus” will inhibit future ecumenical efforts, evangelical leaders reacted to the document with defensiveness.

Jerry Rankin, president of the Southern Baptist International Mission Board, said, “I think most Southern Baptists would strongly agree that the trend toward religious relativism and pluralism should be rejected. The way to salvation is a narrow path. We emphatically disagree with the Vatican, however, on the direction that path takes. Salvation comes by God’s grace through faith in Jesus Christ, and Christ alone – not through any institutional church body, be it Baptist, Catholic or otherwise.”

 – Evangelical Press News Service

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Last modified December 3, 2000.

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