Posted on 08/21/2013 8:05:05 AM PDT by Vermont Lt
The former pope Benedict has claimed that his resignation in February was prompted by God, who told him to do it during a "mystical experience".
Breaking his silence for the first time since he became the first pope to step down in 600 years, the 86-year-old reportedly said: "God told me to" when asked what had pushed him to retire to a secluded residence in the Vatican gardens.
(Excerpt) Read more at theguardian.com ...
Thanks for proving the points of multiple posts upthread.
May God Bless you too, and enlighten you to the Truth.
There’s lots of evils. And anti-Catholicism is one of the worst.
I agree, but having said that, this is one of my personal failings too. Ahhh, the human condition...
Yeah, it tops murder, rape, child molestation, human trafficking, arson and whole host of other felonies. When Jesus railed against the Pharisees, He was seen as the worst threat also.
The poster was talking about evils on this forum. I’m not aware of murderers, rapists, child molesters etc. on this forum. But maybe you know something I don’t.
I don't see a on-this-forum in this statement.
The topic was also the Anti-Catholicism. One would naturally want to know the cause of this. And if a person were to rank Anti-Catholicism topping murder, rapes and pedophilia then that might be a cause of these conflicts.
If you are unable to follow a conversation in a thread, you should refrain from commenting on that thread.
To: pgyankeAnd if a person were to rank Anti-Catholicism topping murder, rapes and pedophilia then that might be a cause of these conflicts.When evil is daily tolerated on a forum (the way anti-Catholicism is here), it overtakes it and chokes out the good. FR is a shadow of its former self.
Is it just the anti Catholic sentiment that is evil? Or is it evil when Catholics dismiss Protestantism (as is daily done here on this forum)?
There’s lots of evils. And anti-Catholicism is one of the worst.
If a person were to deliberately take something out of context and try to use it to advance their anti-Catholic bigotry, what else would be new on FR?
If Obama said he was directed by a higher power to attack Syria, the folks around here would be up in arms.
This guy found himself heading a corrupt organization. He did not have the intestinal fortitude to deal with that. I respect that.
Saying that he was otherwise directed is a cop out.
I would believe him... except his higher power is quite a bit lower than the Pope's. Just sayin'...
This guy found himself heading a corrupt organization. He did not have the intestinal fortitude to deal with that. I respect that.
Coming right out and admitting your anti-Catholic bias. I appreciate that. It saves a lot of back and forth arguing whether or not you're a bigot.
Saying that he was otherwise directed is a cop out.
Gee, a man whose only job is communion with God and administering His Church takes what he believes to be God's direction... clearly, we must look for another reason.
Oh FRiend, based on John 6:45 we know that all who come to Christ have been taught by God. My eyes were opened and I was enlightened to the Truth of Christ way back in 1977. That’s when I was saved by His glorious grace, and His grace alone.
I’m sorry Catholics don’t like it when others express themselves regarding the papacy and the Roman Catholic system of religion. I suppose that’s understandable and I don’t mean to be hurtful. However, it should likewise be understandable that many of us are equally offended by Rome. It should be understandable that those of us who live under the explicit anathemas of Rome, those whose spiritual ancestors were slaughtered for centuries by Rome, cannot now pretend that the Roman church is just another Christian denomination that happens to do things a little differently. I can’t in good conscience pretend the popes are anything but wicked men. And based on the Bible I can’t pretend the Roman religion is anything but apostate.
To keep the peace, perhaps all things Catholic should be limited to caucus threads so Catholics aren’t offended by all the hurtful responses from those of us bound by conscience to speak against the pope’s system and to speak for the gospel of His free and sovereign grace.
To be clear, my issue is with the Roman Catholic system— her institutions, doctrines, and leadership—and not her people. Based on Revelation 18:4, I am hopeful there is a remnant of regenerate believers to be found among the Catholic laity. I suspect that once men are truly saved they will grow uncomfortable and eventually leave the Catholic system. I know many Catholics, to include a good number of my own relatives, and most are ignorant of both Catholic and Christian doctrine, and I feel sorry for them. What they need more than anything in the world is for people like me to care enough to sound the alarm and tell them the TRUTH.
“And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.” (Revelation 18:4)
Everything a Calvinist says or does is an attack on the Master! I cannot be quiet while Calvinist spread their soul-destroying propaganda. Repent!
So does that mean you have accepted Pope Francis' teaching to "not marginalize homosexuals but integrate them into society," in your mind, heart, words and actions?
Or is your treatment of this papal teaching more casual than that?
They are the ones that excerpt their own blogs.
Easy to spot.
“The old truth that Calvin preached, that Augustine preached, that Paul preached, is the truth that I must preach to-day, or else be false to my conscience and my God. I cannot shape the truth; I know of no such thing as paring off the rough edges of a doctrine. John Knox’s gospel is my gospel. That which thundered through Scotland must thunder through England again.”—C. H. Spurgeon
I stand with the Apostle Paul, Augustine, John Knox and Charles Spurgeon! Calvinism is New Testament Christianity, nothing more, nothing less.
While I am concerned about eternal souls, you’re posting cartoons? Clown all you want, these aren’t trivial matters to me.
As to the substance of your cartoon, I know what I know and I know WHO I know. My faith is in Christ alone, the Christ Jesus of the Bible. Your faith is in the unbiblical rituals of religion and an old fool most Catholics had never heard of before this year. Don’t let the joke be on you.
“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9)
I cannot disagree. God can indeed speak to those who want to listen to Him. In a way that is unmistakable. If someone doubts that, he’s an atheist.
If Christians, instead of attacking each other (what comes to mind especially is the vicious hatred towards Catholicism, I remember one incident when a statue of Mother Mary fell while in a procession in some South American country, and the glee that caused among some Catholic haters), but preached to atheists, what a different world it would be.
There are millions and billions of people with either no faith in God at all, or messed up faith in something they may think is “God” but is a creation of their own minds, or a wretched misunderstanding. For instance, thinking that “God” will be pleased by torturing and killing people for “Him”, etc.
The attacks in particular against the Catholic path disgust me because they are so extreme. If people used their energy to convince atheists of God’s existence, instead of attacking others who also worship God and accept the teachings and person of Jesus Christ - imagine how different things would be.
That is my position. I can see not one single good reason for such attacks and hatred, whether against Catholics or Protestants. Defending oneself is a different matter; if one’s faith is blasphemed, then it is a sacred duty to speak the truth. But since FR (and I guess other places, I don’t know or go to such places) has hammer and tongs hatefests in the religion forum, maybe if the people whose faith is being attacked just didn’t show up on the thread, the attacks would stop.
Just an idea.
Some posts are so ridiculous, all one can do is post cartoons in response.
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