www.byzcath.org Forums Faith & Christian Life The Christian East & West The Ratzinger Proposal: (a clarification by... Ratzinger)

Thanks for the link to the previous thread. I did not realize his book had been referenced here. Perhaps I've forgotten it over the last couple of years.

As to 'spinning objectivity and balance," I would submit that none of us really do so. We all have our perspectives and conclusions that we bring to these discussions and I'm sure he has his own as well -- as do you, I'm sure.

I may not have much time to post for a few days so I'll keep an eye on the discussion here when I can and may say more later.

I do not find that to be the thought of Ratzinger or many theologians in the Catholic Church. He repeatedly uses the term "precedes" or "prior to". That does not mean or even imply "over and above" as you seem to infer. The key word is communion. He does not equate the particular church of Rome with the Catholic Church although, I am sure, he cannot envision a fully Catholic communion without her, anymore than there could have been a full communion of the Apostles without their head, Peter. In the upper room at Pentecost the whole Catholic Church is present. It is ontologically and temporally prior to the establishment of particular churches and would be present in them in so far as they remain in this communion. If their communion is only creedal and sacramental,(as is the Catholic view of the Orthodox) they are true particular churches, but not fully Catholic. It is tough, nuanced thought and I am not sure that I completely comprehend it. On the other hand, I cannot help but feel that your disagreement is with a misunderstanding you have of it, but I do not anticipate your agreement with me.