[Life is Sacred]

"But when that tradition contradicts the bible then scripture has to win out otherwise we're stuck with the opinions of a bunch of men who may or may not have the guidance of the holy spirit.

Unless those men happen to be successors of the apostles, who have been called together to address such things. But yes, I agree with you if "those men" you speak of reside outside of the true Church and therefore have no legitimate right to interpret scripture.

[DouglasKC]

Unless those men happen to be successors of the apostles, who have been called together to address such things.

I think that anyone who has God's spirit is a successor of the apostles.

But yes, I agree with you if "those men" you speak of reside outside of the true Church and therefore have no legitimate right to interpret scripture.

I would agree with that if by "true Church" you mean those who have the spirit of God and make up the body of Christ. :-)

[Goreknowshowtocheat]

Since John was the last Apostle and held the keys of the Kingdom, it is certainly fruitless to claim that Peter could ordain someone higher than John. If the church was to continue with divine authority it would have been John who would have continued it. There was little divine about the Catholic Church in the dark ages.