Posted on 09/30/2003 7:15:09 AM PDT by Dog
German Cardinal Says Pope 'In a Very Bad Way' Tue September 30, 2003 08:23 AM ET BERLIN (Reuters) - Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, the German head of the Vatican body which oversees doctrinal matters, was quoted on Tuesday as saying Pope John Paul was in very poor health and the faithful should pray for him. "He is in a very bad way," Ratzinger told Germany's Bunte magazine in an interview. "We should pray for the pope."
Ratzinger, who heads the Vatican's Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, told the magazine that the 83-year-old pope had taken on too much, but he was unable to stop him.
The increasingly frail pope was particularly weak earlier this month on a trip to Slovakia and needed help reading his sermons. Last week, he skipped his general audience because of what the Vatican said was an intestinal problem.
Ratzinger's private secretary, Georg Gaenswein, said it was amazing how the pope, who suffers from Parkinson's Disease, kept going.
"He can't walk and stand anymore but he is a hero for the faithful. The fact that he doesn't give up despite his illness makes him even more credible," Gaenswein told Bunte.
He said the pope would not give up traveling. "When he is no longer allowed to travel, then dear God will come for him," Gaenswein said.
The leader of the world's one billion Roman Catholics, who marks his 25th anniversary next month, appointed 31 new cardinals on Sunday, possibly putting his last stamp on the group that will one day choose his successor.
And?
Citation? The Church's position is clear. All are saved by Christ. Non-Christians can be saved by implicit faith in Christ.
1. He did not deny that Christ had saved him. The Pope sat with other leaders of Religions in a group conference and clearly said in effect, "My spiritual walk has lead me to Christ, others lead down different paths as my friends here have, and I honor other religions that seek God." Not a direct quote but you get the Ecumenical flavor. I know Jesus wouldn't have left that barn door open that wide.
Maybe he could have done more. Who's to say? He has less control over bishops than you might believe. And he's running a Church with 1 billion members. He's not omniscient.
2. He would know there was a problem. It was well documented.
He gave evolution more credence as a scientific theory than I would have liked. But his statement made clear that it's still a theory. And he repudiated the theory of materialistic evolution.
3. What you say is true, but as I said "giving room" leaves the door open for #1, 2, 4, 5.
4. You will acknowledge among many Catholic segments Mary is revered much to highly by constituents, to their detriment. Life is in Christ, not Mary. The Pope should make that crystal clear, and he hasn't. Mary was blessed by God not blessed by herself.
No offense brother/sister. My church is far from perfect as well. Your responses exhibit to me a true seeker of Christ, and for that I am humbled. Praise God we all have Jesus to lean on.
Mary is dead, no disrespect of course.
I stick with living friends that I know are listening to me at the time. Dead people don't recieve omniscience at death.
Well, if you feel the need for displays of ignorance, I guess that is your right. That JP II was the most important spiritual figure of the 20th century is beyond dispute. Does that annoy you?
I hope the RC church keeps up the Marianism. It is the biggest differentiating factor between bible based Christianity and Catholicism.
Actually, the biggest differentiating factor between Biblical Christianity and Catholicism is we still embrace the miracle of transubstantiation, but again senseless displays of ignorance are within your rights. Mary's role in Catholic theology pales in comparison to the emphasis placed on Holy Communion.
If the dead in Christ are dead, Christianity is a big waste of ink, blood, time and effort.
"Oh death, where is thy sting?" -- St. Paul
"Shut up -- you're dead!" -- bondserv
Uh, presidio, you walked into that one ... Biblical Christianity is Catholicism.
Correct. But then how should we refer to Biblewonk's unique brand of worship?
Yes
Could he pass through "the gate" if it were less than sinless?
Yes and don't be afraid to say vagina were mostly grown-ups here.
While you're at it, please explain the Holy Trinity and cite its occurrence in the Bible as a concept.
Why?
Once you're done with that, please also cite where the word "bible" appears in the Bible...
Why?
That would be BOPIOS, "Biblewonks Own Personal Interpretation of Scripture"
"Unique brand"? Hah. That's a good one. Biblical Christianity fits just fine, thanks. The RC system is about as Biblical as, say, Mormonism.
You're making that statement doesn't annoy me much more than your saying Mary was immaculately conceived.
Actually, the biggest differentiating factor between Biblical Christianity and Catholicism is we still embrace the miracle of transubstantiation, but again senseless displays of ignorance are within your rights. Mary's role in Catholic theology pales in comparison to the emphasis placed on Holy Communion.
Well atleast you see that these things are not biblical. Communionschmunion, it' Mary that makes you guys so "special". Your beliefs about her are the very face of how RC doctrines are invented.
"Oh death, where is thy sting?" -- St. Paul
"Shut up -- you're dead!" -- bondserv
HeHe! Very good. A correction was needed. Thank you.
However we can say that Mary is not omniscient, which is an attribute reserved for God. Omniscience would be required for her to hear all of the prayers sent her way. If ones prescence in heaven imputes omniscience, Satan would have a field day, every day.
1 Pet 3:12
12 For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers:
There is never any mention of Saints praying to anyone but God in the scriptures. I'll go along with that pattern, it seems safer and more time cost effective.
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