Some Protestant leaders feel uneasy, Orlando Sentinel, 3/26/2000 page A-6
They fear the pontiff is suggesting all churches should be united under a Roman Catholic umbrella.
WASHINGTON POST
As Pope John Paul II made his historic journey through the Holy Land last week, "following the footsteps of Jesus" in lands known today as Jordan, Israel and Palestinian-controlled territories of the West Bank he spoke and behalf of the world's 1 billion Catholics.
But "Christian" not "Catholic" was the word the pope most often used when making an appeal for peace or urging reconciliation among followers of Judaism, Christianity and Islam.
"I earnestly hope that my visit will strengthen the already fruitful Christian-Muslim dialogue [here]," the pontiff said in Amman, Jordan.
"With newfound openness toward one another, Christians and Jews together must make courageous efforts to open an era of dialogue," he said in Israel.
What do the world's non-Catholic Christians, who number 1 billion or more, think of the pontiff's use of the word "Christian?" Was he being presumptuous and overstepping his authority in seeming to speak for all of Christianity?
The Rev. Billy Graham, an international religious leader in his own right, believes not. "Just as he does on the issues of morality and social justice, the pope speaks for Christians around the world when he expresses the urgent need for peace in Israel and the entire region," the evangelist said in a statement.
"His apology to Jewish people on behalf of the Catholic Church may help to foster more positive relationships, especially through the Middle East. I think it could start a healing process."
Leaders of major U.S. denominations offered different views on the pope's trip and his role as a spokesman for the Christian community. "He does not speak for all Christians. He doesn't speak for me at all" said Rev. Paige Patterson, the president of the 15.7 million-member Southern Baptist Convention, the country's largest Protestant organization. "His decision to visit the Holy Land is one he is free to do . . . Anything he would say or do there, I would not endorse."
That applies particularly, Patterson said, to the pope's efforts to reunify all Christians under one umbrella, a major theme in John Paul's 21 year reign and especially in Jubilee Year 2000.
"I don't have an ecumenical bone in my body," he said. "An ecumenical movement of any kind always involves compromise. You can compromise on political issues but not on truth." That truth, he said, is found in the Gospel of John: "I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me."
Patterson said he is not persuaded Catholics believe salvation comes through grace, not works or sacraments, despite last fall's historic agreement by Catholics and Lutherans on the meaning of "justification" - being saved through grace and expressing one's faith through good works; "I don't think he's there in his mind representing [only] the Roman Catholic Church," said the Rev. Robert C. Morgan, bishop of Louisville, Ky., and president of the council of bishops of the 8.4 million-member United Methodist Church. "Certainly we respect him because he does, in a sense, represent the whole Christian world."
Morgan called the pope "a fine example of Christian living" and applauded his visit to the Dheisheh Refugee Camp, where the pontiff affirmed his support for the creation of a Palestinian homeland. United Methodists have joined other denominations in supplying food, clothing and medicine to the estimated 3.6 million Palestinians forced from their homes during Israel's 1948 War of Independence.
On the other hand, Morgan said, "we don't look on the bishop of Rome as the final word. Our final word is Scripture and experience."
Other Protestants welcome the pope's efforts to unify all Christian groups - they just don't agree it should be under the Catholic Church.
"In many, many ways, he [the pope] represents the future hope for the church when he speaks clearly on justice and peace," said the Rev. David W Perry, deputy for ecumenical relations for the 2.4 million-member Episcopal Church.
"We have deep respect for him as a leader. We are all part of one church ... one body of Christ," said the Rev. Clifton Kirkpatrick, top official of the 3.6-million-member Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). "Of course, we have a different understanding of the papacy."
