In a homily delivered on the observance of this "feast," the Roman Pontiff, Pope Benedict XVI, reaffirmed the papal claims that Peter and his successors are the rock of authority to which all professing Christians are subject with regard to infallible teaching and divine guidance. Speaking about this "chair" feast, Benedict XVI stated: "It is the symbol of the Bishop's authority, especially in his magisterium [teaching] on the gospel that he as a successor of the apostles, is called to defend and hand on to the Christian community."

The pope declared that "The chair of the Bishop of Rome [the Pope] represents, therefore, not only his service to the community of Rome, but also his mission of guiding the entire People of God." He further alleged that "the chair of St. Peter…I know is the rock upon which the church is built." He further stated that "the see of Rome [The R.C. papacy] was the recipient of the obligation that Christ entrusted to Peter to serve all local churches in order to build up and unite the entire People of God."

In a related action, Bishop Brian Farrell, who represented the "Holy See" at the recent 9^th Assembly of the World Council of Churches, made it plain that full unity, which is the R.C. goal, depends on the recognition of the primacy of the Bishop of Rome.

Farrell said: "It is certainly necessary that Christians speak and collaborate in only one language…. The division that exists at present in the Church must be surmounted." When queried as to how this could be achieved, Farrell replied, "I am referring to the way of exercising the primacy of the Bishop of Rome.." Farrell then quoted Pope John II's Papal Encyclical Ut Unum Sint where the former Pope invited "Orthodox Churches, Catholic theologians and all in general to think of the way in which this primacy could be exercised in an acceptable manner for them, in the service of unity and love."

Bishop Farrell concluded by saying that "For us the aim of ecumenism is the full and visible unity of all the disciples, of all of Christ's followers." Ed: It is obviously clear from the above statements that for the Catholic magisterium, papal primacy in direction and eventual papal supremacy in doctrine are twin pillars upon which the Catholic ecumenical structure is formulated.

Resources utilized: National Catholic Register, Mar. 12-18, 2006, p 5; Mar. 19-25, p. 4.

Brian McLaren, a prominent Emergent Christian theologian stated, "We have common ground on so many levels…I'm thrilled with the possibility of developing friendship and collaboration in ways that help God's dreams come true for our synagogues, churches and world." S3K Senior [Jewish] Fellow Lawrence A. Hoffman declared that the new developing alliance was "nothing short of a genuine spiritual awakening…a chance for Jews and Christians to do God's work together…in shared witness of our two respective faiths."

U. S. National Emergent Coordinator Tony Jones declared that the "emerging Christian leaders have been pushing through the polarities of left and right in an effort to find a new, third way. We've been desperate to find partners for that quest. It's with great joy and promise that we partner with the leaders of S3K to talk about the future and God's kingdom."

Speakers for the forum included "Dr. Ryan Bolger, Fuller Theological Seminary, Dr. Steven M. Cohen, Hebrew Union College, and Dr. Clark Roof, University of California."

Editor: The only ground where Christians and Jews can meet is at the cross (I Cor. 1:18); first, both as repentant sinners (Luke 24:47), where they each place their faith in Christ (Eph. 2:8-9). Upon spiritual regeneration via the new birth (John 3:3), they both become a part of God's genuine family (Gal. 3:26). Then, as saints in Christ (Eph. 1:1), via the fellowship of a N. T. local church (Acts 16:5) they can labor unitedly together as Gentile Christians and Jewish Christians for the furtherance of the Great Commission (Matt. 28:18-20). Judaism today is a false religion that teaches salvation by human works (Rom. 10:3). Like all false religious systems, it must be rejected by genuine believers (II John 7-11).

Resource utilized: The Christian Post, Jan. 5, 2006

While Dr. Yong-Gi Hong, "a Pentecostal scholar and senior mission executive of the Yoido Full Gospel Church," in Korea, [the world's largest church with supposedly 750,000 members] manifested some reservations about immediately joining the WCC, he declared, "I think there will be a time when my church may join the World Council of Churches." Hong indicated that his church was already a full member of the [regional WCC] council in Korea."

The Pentecostalist-WCC dialogue received further impetus at the WCC's 9^th International Assembly in Pofto Allegre, Brazil in Feb. 2006. At the Brazil assembly, the WCC recognized the shifts that had been occurring in organized Christianity and decided to begin "serious dialogue with Pentecostal and Evangelical groups" that had priory distanced themselves from the ecumenical body.

For the first time, "in an effort to expand its reach," the WCC assembly was "open to those who adhere to Pentecostal, Charismatic and Evangelical tradition[s]." According to a news report, "dozens of Evangelical and Pentecostal leaders" attended the WCC assembly as "observers." WCC officials were hopeful that the "dialogue and cooperation" with these groups will mark a turning point in the WCC's existence, since the organization has been rapidly losing members to these fast growing religious groups.

Editor: The WCC may seek to put on an "evangelical face," but it is still blasphemously apostate at its core. See the following article for validation!

In a report to the WCC assembly, Aram I, an Armenian Catholic, claimed that the church was "called to discern the signs of the 'hidden Christ and the presence of the Holy Spirit in other religions.’" Aram declared that the church had to be "liberated from its self-captivity" of "dogmatic" and "theological" walls. Aram stated that "inter-religious dialogue" could "help believers get away from an exclusivist" and "self-centered" view of "our faith."

In an "unofficial [WCC] workshop," Erlinda Senturias, a Filipino member of the WCC's "'International Reference Group' to guide the council's conversations regarding human sexuality, "declared that "any sexual act that is done with an attitude of love and respect is morally legitimate, regardless of whether it occurs in marriage." Senturias stated: "A sexual experience is a spiritual experience. If it is done in a spirit of mutual respect and love, it is very beautiful experience—whether you are married or not."

Editor: One outside conservative WCC observer rightly called the WCC "a boutique of paganism in Christian garb!" II Peter chapter two and the book of Jude aptly describe the WCC's ungodly and wicked apostasy,

Resources utilized for above articles: The National Catholic Register, Mar. 12-18, 2006, p. 5; Mar. 19-25, p. 4; The Christian Post, 1-5, 2006, 5-14-2005, 2-13-2006, Baptist Press, 2-28-2006.