so much for diversity...

Many of my Pagan friends consider themselves "recovering ex-Catholics," those who were raised in the faith but walked away from it for one reason or another. From my point of view, Catholicism never came into play -- I was raised attending the (Greek) Orthodox and Methodist (what a combo!) churchs, favoring the Orthodox church for the incredible ritual that was mass. I enjoyed ritual from a very young age!

Earlier this week I wrote about religious diversity and how important it is to overcome differences and speak from our heart, where our true spirituality and commonalities reside. It seems a sensible thing to me as we are far more alike, you and I, than we are different.

Yesterday Pope Benedict XVI endorsed a Catholic church document which states that Orthodox churches are "damaged" and that other Christian denominations are not "true churches." In addition, earlier this week he instituted a return to the Latin mass. Shades of the dark ages... Pope Benedict says the non-Catholic churches are ecclesial communities rather than true churces and, thus, do not offer "true" salvation. The key to being a true church? The ability to trace apostolic succession as the Catholic church can; the ability to trace their bishops back to the original apostles. The Orthodox churches do have apostolic succession but the "damage" is their refusal to recognize the leadership of the Pope.

Frankly, I'd love to see the documentation on apostolic succession which the church must have in order to make this broad claim. Perhaps it is hidden deep within the Vatican's archives. However, it is my feeling that the Bible is mythology and that, rather than the word of God, it is the word of those architects who wanted to create a new religion and place of power over others, thus the one "true" church, the Catholic church.

While there are people in leadership positions like the Pope, and those others who claim they are speaking the word of their God, can we really find a place where we will be accepting of religious diversity? Although there may be voices within various religious institutions which echo mine, I don't expect it to happen in my life time. Religious leaders have too much power, particularly over those who blindly follow their words as true gospel.

We need more independent thinkers -- maybe another Martin Luther with a more neutral sensibility.