Posted on 11/16/2006 9:54:57 AM PST by presidio9
For the record, I agree and I don't claim to be superior to anyone, spiritually speaking, Christian or not as a matter of fact. It's a different thing to claim that a Church as a WHOLE is the only "true Church", and to claim that I, MYSELF, am superior. Those are two entirely different concepts.
Unfortuantely, the Catholic Church has been the one that excommuncates those that disagree with it.
In actuality, it's individual actions that excommunicate oneself from the Church. The Council of Trent, and others that listed "...let him be anathema" lists were just that, lists of things one would do, that would make ONESSELF an anathema. BTW, this is a Biblical concept as St. Paul himself directed in Gal 1:8 that anyone who preaches another gospel, "let him be accursed", which is another way of saying "anathema". Was St. Paul being unreasonable there?
Luther did you guys a favor by challenging church authority. It was then that the Catholic Church tried to clean up its act. If it did not it would have faded into oblivion
I actually tend to agree with this assertion to a certain point. I believe that God may have used Luther, in the beginning, to bring much needed change to the Church at the time. However he over extended himself, by not only trying to fix some wrongs in the Church (which, by the way, weren't official Church teachings, simony never was or is; they were the sins of powerful leaders in the Church, thus personal sins by fallible people again), but then leaving the Church to start his own. Luther was quite egomaniacal, btw, I'm sure you knew that.
Apart from the reference to Peter's mother-in-law, what basis do you have for this?
Because there's sin in the world. It's really not that hard to see.
Exactly. They need an expensive study to figure this out?
The church is acting hypocritically when it accepts a married priest who converts to Catholicism.They only do that to subvert the protestant or orthodox wings of Christianity. Its another political move on their part.Did it ever occur to you that since you accept the fact that the Church is evolving that Christ is sending a message today which is , "Please clean up my church and bring in the women and the married men". The vineyard needs some new workers.
I have friends who went to Catholic schools too. You would think they would know their faith better than the next person, but they don't. If you don't understand the above, you have a lot to learn, and FR is not the best place to learn it.
Just that the phrase 'fall from grace' was used inaccurately.
The Bishops could buy and read Michael Rose's books and save themselves (and the parishioners who pick up the tab) the big expense of a "study".
One reason why I no longer donate to any "Bishops' Appeals".
You aren't a Catholic anymore, are you...
Beam me up!
"One robin don't make a Spring!"
That sums it up.
That's funny, I thought they did it because those men had a calling to the ministry and have no other way to support their families.
What do you call it when a married Protestant minister enters the Catholic church as a layman, because he wants to go where he's free to hear and believe the truth? I'm thinking specifically of former Episcopal priests who aren't willing to subscribe to calling homosexual acts anything but "sin", as they're being forced to do in the ECUSA.
Well, if it's some grand conspiracy to suck "good men" away from Orthodoxy and/or Protestantism, then it's failing miserably. Do you know how many married men are permitted to be priests in the Latin Church every year? Probably less than 1, on average. By the way, all this talk reminds me of the simple fact that it's not the "Catholic Church" that prohibits married priets, it's the "Latin Rite of the Catholic Church". There are approximately 20 rites in the Church, most (if not all) except for the Latin permit married priests. So, at worst, there's a "problem" with ONLY the Latin Rite; NOT with the Church as a whole.
Did it ever occur to you that since you accept the fact that the Church is evolving that Christ is sending a message today which is , "Please clean up my church and bring in the women and the married men". The vineyard needs some new workers.
I will admit it's possible; anything is possible with God. It's highly unlikely though, especially the part about "women priests" (assuming that's what you meant). That's about as possible as denying the Trinity. The discipline of celibacy might be changed, although that's highly unlikely.
Here is a FACT for you. Luther never wanted to leave the church. It was the Pope who excommunicated him and the Pope who did excommunicate him was a very flawed individual. Luther wanted to reform the church but the church was in no mood to listen to an upstart priest.The selling of indulgences and one way tickets to heaven for contributions was an example of how things got out of hand.Luther also got married. So thank God for Luther. He had his role to play.Have to go now but I enjoyed the exchange. God Bless You.
Evangelicals are spreading because they compromise with the culture? I'm not sure they would consider that a compliment!
Besides, we're not declining. Mainline Protestantism is declining. Catholicism is growing, especially in Africa and Asia.
I still maintain that ultimately it was Luther's choice to leave the Church. Ultimately he had a choice: To continue to stay to try to improve and/or reform from within, or go out and start his own church. I believe history showed he elected the latter. So, by his own actions, he excommunicated himself; the Pope may have formalized this in a statement, but Luther evidently didn't want to stay. Again, he was quite hotheaded and arrogant, as I believe some of his own writings show.
The last word is yours, if desired. I've enjoyed our exchange as well. God bless!
Do you know anyone who is a eunuch?
I try!!
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