http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/davies/chapter3/
Were the Celtic churches Protestant?
When the Protestants break with Rome in the sixteenth century, they consider the Celtic churches to be early examples of Protestantism, free of the errors of the Romish Church. That view is a mistaken one. All the central doctrines of the Celtic churches, above the role of the mass in worship, are those of Catholicism. If the Pope's presence does not loom large, it is not because the Celts feel themselves separated from the universal Church. It is rather because of geographical distance and the fact that papal claims to sovereignty are not yet fully developed.
When the Protestants break with Rome in the sixteenth century, they consider the Celtic churches to be early examples of Protestantism, free of the errors of the Romish Church. That view is a mistaken one. All the central doctrines of the Celtic churches, above the role of the mass in worship, are those of Catholicism. If the Pope's presence does not loom large, it is not because the Celts feel themselves separated from the universal Church. It is rather because of geographical distance and the fact that papal claims to sovereignty are not yet fully developed.This is a Roman Catholic belief?
"Ye are saved by grace through faith, not through works through faith, that is, not through works; and, lest any careless one should arrogate to himself salvation by his faith, the apostle has added, "and that not of yourselves, because faith is not from ourselves, but from Him who hath called us."
This is a Roman Catholic belief?
"Man, by making an ill use of his Free-will, lost both himself and it. For, like a man who kills himself, is able, of course, to kill himself, because he lives, but by killing himself becomes unable to live, neither can raise himself again from the dead after he has killed himself; so when sin was committed by means of free-will, then, sin being the conqueror, free-will itself also was lost, for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he also brought into bondage."
This is a Roman Catholic belief?
"The apostle says, 'God has chosen us in Christ before the foundation of the world," that is, by his eternal predestination, his free calling, and his grace which was due to none.'' They teach the sovereignty not less than the eternity of God's purposes. "God," says Sedulius, " Hath mercy with great goodness, and hardeneth without any iniquity; so that neither can he who is saved glory of his own merits, nor he that is lost complain but of his own merits.
And these are Roman Catholic beliefs?
OF BAPTISM: "But if one first, dies not to sin, he cannot be buried with Christ, for no one is ever buried while yet living. Die thou first to sin that thou mayest be able to be buried with Christ, seeing that it is to the dead only we give sepulture."
OF THE EUCHARIST: "The Sacraments of the Altar are not the real Body and Blood of Christ, but only the commemoration of his Body and Blood."
Then HURRAH! HUZZAH! HALLELUJAH!! For if Rome believes these Celtic Orthodox beliefs, Rome has coverted to Presbyterianism!!
For that is what these beliefs describe.
With all due respect, the Protestants are known to twist history to justify their new found creed. For example, many Protestants like historian Gibbon's praise of the heretical Paulicians because they saw in then an ealry Protestantisim.
Except that if you actually quote the Paulicians, they don't come off looking quite so Protestant (or orthodox Christian at all, for that matter).
But when you actually quote the Celtic Orthodox Fathers...
Well, look. READ my #31. Cross-reference with the full quotations given above.
- Do you find ANYTHING therein which contradicts Calvin's Institutes? YES, or NO??
- However, has the Eastern Orthodox Church recently started teaching that "so when sin was committed by means of free-will, then, sin being the conqueror, free-will itself also was lost," and "The Sacraments of the Altar are not the real Body and Blood of Christ, but only the commemoration of his Body and Blood."? YES, or NO??
Lemme illustrate -- Suppose that these Celtic Orthodox Father had taught:
- "So when sin is committed by means of free-will, then, free-will itself is NOT lost"... OR
- "The Sacraments of the Altar ARE the real Body and Blood of Christ"...
Then you'd certainly be citing these as evidences of Eastern Orthodox Theology in the Celtic Church, wouldn't you? And you'd have an honest right to do so.
By the same token, then, Intellectual Honesty compels you to acknowledge what the Celtic Orthodox Fathers actually did teach:
- "When sin was committed by means of free-will, then, sin being the conqueror, free-will itself also was lost."
- "The Sacraments of the Altar are not the real Body and Blood of Christ, but only the commemoration of his Body and Blood."
For their own words testify, to the sermons they preached to their flocks.