[WVKayaker]

That is a photo of the three little children who saw a vision of the Virgin Mary, at Fatima.

That is a photo of the three little children who CLAIMED TO HAVE SEEN saw a vision of the Virgin Mary, at Fatima.

Fixed it. This exaggeration of mystic sitings of dead people borders on the ridiculous and shows ignorance of Scripture. God gave us Jesus as the only sign we need for spiritual awakening within. Jesus is the Truth. All else is vanity.

The idea that some orange peel with a brown spot or some weeping piece of stone or wood is a sign of God borders on the heretical. We live within God's world which displays His power in every leaf and body.

Of course, since it is from a group that worships gold icons and whose priests claim to be the sole arbiters of God's Word is tribute to the power of mysticism. Veneration of some people as special saints flies in the face of God's intention for all of us believers.

There is a list of things which God gave us for guidance... See #2

You shall not make for yourself any carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; you shall not bow down to them nor serve them. For I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate me, but showing mercy to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments.

Flame suit on! Responses will be ignored. I am a Christian, secure in God's path! I'm just appalled at posts such as yours.

[DJ MacWoW]

The point was that the picture was inappropriate as it was used by the poster. Your post is a side issue to the subject of the thread despite your good intentions.

[elcid1970]

Can’t even discuss some royal wedding somewhere in Europe without a FReeper ranting against the Catholic Church.

Why don’t you go handle serpents or speak in tongues or hurl darts at a Benedict XVI dartboard or whatever it is that you backwoods Biblethumpers do, or hand out Jack Chick tracts or something?

BTW, the apparition at Fatima in 1917 was real and well documented. And Martin Luther was fat. Laus Deo et Deo gratias!

;^)

[Cincinna]

This is not a religion thread. Many FReepers are Roman Catholics who take offense at the posting of the picture of these children on a thread about the wedding in Monaco. I am a Christian and find it offensive as well. Please respect the beliefs of others and keep your religious screeds on threads concerning religion.

[SuziQ]

God gave us Jesus as the only sign we need for spiritual awakening within. Jesus is the Truth. All else is vanity.

Hmmm. Peter, James and John, who were with Jesus at His Transfiguration, and saw him with Elijah and Moses, might have a bit of a disagreement with you. God can use signs of all kinds to call us to spiritual awakening.

[higgmeister]

No Flame, maybe just a little shame. Your sanctimonious pontification is really ugly, in spite of your obviously sincere belief.

I suspect you will not convince many Roman Catholics when you spew such burning scorn, let alone convert them.

Why don't you save that for the truly evil religion of Islam.

[Cincinna]

Thanks for posting the magnificent image if the artwork.