Posted on 02/09/2005 6:15:55 AM PST by sinkspur
Yes, I was given several Bibles to read by Catholic Priests, Nuns and lay people over the years. As an adult, I've probably spent more time reading technical manuals and books than I have reading the Bible but then perhaps God called me to my career.
Not all northeast Catholics are CINOs! Yes, of course they are the majority but I specifically mentioned "church going" Catholics in my post. Yes, there are hypocrites among us; some recognize that fact and are their because they know they are sinners.
I would say that Catholics from other parts of the country would find Catholic Mass in the northeast rather dour but that's the way I like it (I'm in my 30's by the way). It is humorous when recent converts of anything preach to the choir (so to speak). I don't doubt the sincerity of these southern lay missionaries and I'm sure some people could use their message.
The WORST are the masses in France, Spain, and Italy. For some strange reason, the Churches their tend to have alot of GUITAR masses. What is this, 1961? Get ye back to the Kingston Trio you beatniks!
I had TOO MUCH TO DRINK when I wrote that. I KNOW its "transubstantiation." ;-)
I have an MA and an MBA you snobbish Jebbie wannabe! The MA required me to master another language, and no, it wasn't Latin, a language that should be allowed to die.
Oh come now. You sound as bad as some Evangelicals.
Condemninmg our Protestant bretheren? I think not.
I get to frequently listen to Laura Ingraham on my local Clear Channel station. She makes a lot of comments regarding her Catholicism...and others' catholicism. Said she liked the quarterback for the New England Patriots, Tom Brady, because he a "good Catholic man". Mentioned the actor Mark Wahlberg requesting access to mass during filming in Canada. She has made numerous other comments regarding her faith and gives the overall impression that she is very excited to be a Catholic. As she should be, of course.:o)
That's a gloriously funny sentence. LOL
In novissimo tempore, filius meus primogenitus natus est. Loquor et doceo Latinem eo in omnibus diebus. Oramus (uxor mea et ego) in lingua Latina quando orantes Rosarii.
Non! Lingua Latina non morietur! Lingua Latina vivat semper!
Forte, alii personii in hoc "blog" adjuvabunt te ad intellegendum verba mea.
This has always been the teaching of the Roman Catholic Church (established 33AD) ... it is in no way a personal assertion.
"I don't doubt the sincerity of these southern lay missionaries and I'm sure some people could use their message."
As a former northern Catholic my entire life (Chicago, not the Northeast, Deo Gratias!), who lives in Greenville, SC, I thank God I moved to the Bible belt so I can rediscover true Catholicism (Hint: It begins by going to confession regularly, something I am certain most NE Catholics do not understand)and take part in this spiritual rebirth.
If not for the Evangelicals knocking at my door challenging my Faith. And I am NOT a convert. Although, every time we pray and partake of the sacraments, especially confession, we are converting.
And there are many more like me in their early 40s, 30s and 20s even. And it is gaining force and momentum.
"If you build it, they will come."
I was Catholic educated all through grade school & high school. I was an Aler Boy and an Ad Aitare Dei Medal boy scout. I never recall being taught that.
I do not now beleive that. Beilief in Christ's divinity & his sacrifice for our salvation are not the only aspects of Vhristianity, but they are the most important.
Uust because you were not taught that does not mean this is not what the Church believes.
In fact, the three quotes below show it to be infallible, De Fide teaching; in short, in order to call one's self "Catholic," one must adhere to this belief. Most "Catholics" of course, are as religiously indifferent as you are. Now at least you cannot claim you don't know what the Church teaches because here it is. The Church was instituted by Jesus Christ; therefore, to deny this De Fide Dogma, is a denial of Christ's Truth Himself.
"There is but one universal Church of the faithful, outside which no one at all is saved." (Pope Innocent III, Fourth Lateran Council, 1215.)
"We declare, say, define, and pronounce that it is absolutely necessary for the salvation of every human creature to be subject to the Roman Pontiff." (Pope Boniface VIII, the Bull Unam Sanctam, 1302.)
"The most Holy Roman Church firmly believes, professes and preaches that none of those existing outside the Catholic Church, not only pagans, but also Jews and heretics and schismatics, can have a share in life eternal; but that they will go into the eternal fire which was prepared for the devil and his angels, unless before death they are joined with Her; and that so important is the unity of this ecclesiastical body that only those remaining within this unity can profit by the sacraments of the Church unto salvation, and they alone can receive an eternal recompense for their fasts, their almsgivings, their other works of Christian piety and the duties of a Christian soldier. No one, let his almsgiving be as great as it may, no one, even if he pour out his blood for the Name of Christ, can be saved, unless he remain within the bosom and the unity of the Catholic Church." (Pope Eugene IV, the Bull Cantate Domino, 1441.)
Got anything more recent than 600 years ago?
Well, since defined DOGMA does not change, it really matters little. These are the three dogmatic statements the Church has made, and these have been reaffirmed over and over and over again. Not that it matters because you aren't going to submit your mind and will to any Church teaching on this matter anyway. But just for good measure, here are some more.
27. Some say they are not bound by the doctrine, explained in Our Encyclical Letter of a few years ago, and based on the sources of revelation, which teaches that the Mystical Body of Christ and the Roman Catholic Church are one and the same thing.[6] Some reduce to a meaningless formula the necessity of belonging to the true Church in order to gain eternal salvation. Others finally belittle the reasonable character of the credibility of Christian faith. Pius XII in Humani Generis, 1950
22. Actually only those are to be included as members of the Church who have been baptized and profess the true faith, and who have not been so unfortunate as to separate themselves from the unity of the Body, or been excluded by legitimate authority for grave faults committed. "For in one spirit" says the Apostle, "were we all baptized into one Body, whether Jews or Gentiles, whether bond or free." [17] As therefore in the true Christian community there is only one Body, one Spirit, one Lord, and one Baptism, so there can be only one faith. [18] And therefore if a man refuse to hear the Church let him be considered -- so the Lord commands -- as a heathen and a publican. [19] It follows that those are divided in faith or government cannot be living in the unity of such a Body, nor can they be living the life of its one Divine Spirit. Pius XII, 1943
BOTH of the following are infallible, and CONDEMNED propositions, which means they are FALSE and HERETICAL.
17. Good hope at least is to be entertained of the eternal salvation of all those who are not at all in the true Church of Christ. -- Encyclical "Quanto conficiamur," Aug. 10, 1863, etc.
18. Protestantism is nothing more than another form of the same true Christian religion, in which form it is given to please God equally as in the Catholic Church. -- Encyclical "Noscitis," Dec. 8, 1849.
Would you like more? Or does the Church have to pronounce on this EVERY YEAR for it to be true?
So your view (not what I was taught at all) is that all non- Catholics are condemned to hell?
For a more recent example of what the teaching of the Church is on other Christian denominations, read "Dominus Iesus", which was a document published in 2000.
Liberal Catholics who tell you that everybody is saved are lying to you about what the Church teaches....it seems these are the same people who educated you....this teaching scandalizes them in the same way people were scandalized when Jesus said "unless you eat my body and drink my blood....."
This document from 2000 is talking about a different church which does conform to what you were taught in high school. My apologies..I had not realized the extent to which the New Catholic Church (established 1963) rejectes the Traditional Catholic Church (established 33 AD).
According to New Rome you are good where you are at.
I have updated my tagline accordingly.
"I just read "Dominus Iesus" and it absolutely contradicts everything Mershon posted from the past 1800 years."
No it does not. Dogmas that are defined are always true in all times and circumstances. You have no idea what you are talking about.
"So your view (not what I was taught at all) is that all non- Catholics are condemned to hell?"
I affirm what the Church teaches regarding salvation. The sentence you affirm above is NOT Church teaching. Church teaching, as De Fide, of the Faith, is "Outside the Church, there is no salvation."
There is hope for everyone up until the point of their death, to convert their hearts to God, ask for forgiveness of their sins, and correspond to the grace He gives them. If they are NOT saved, it will be their fault, not God's.
"Outside the Church, there is no salvation" does not equate to "all non-Catholics are condemned to hell."
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