Replies

"Protestants are fellow Christians, our brothers and sisters in Christ, and the Church is very clear on that."

Since when?

The blood of thousands of martyred Protestants begs to differ.

Ah, so the human mistakes of the past must be brought forward every time you even consider modern Catholicism and Protestantism. I believe that is known as ‘gunny-sacking’ in marriage counseling. ... And it is irrational to practice it in that venue, also.

“Since when?”

Since always.

“The blood of thousands of martyred Protestants begs to differ.”

Nope. None were martyred.

“Protestants are fellow Christians, our brothers and sisters in Christ, and the Church is very clear on that.”

“Since when? “

I think one of the popes in the last couple of hundred years may have said something like that and I think there are Protestants who believe in that.

It is time to put the 200 years of the Protestant-Catholic political-religious wars after Martin Luther posted his 95 theses behind us and focus on what unites us.

For this Protestant, I totally agree with the statement: “Protestants are fellow Christians, our brothers and sisters in Christ, and the Church is very clear on that.” and consider that Catholics are fellow Christians.

And don’t forget that there were similarly thousands of martyred Catholics (under Henry VIII & Elizabeth I)

Our focus needs to be on the unity of all Christians, especially in light of the threat of radical Islamists like Al Quaeda, ISIS & Boko Harum.

"Protestants are fellow Christians, our brothers and sisters in Christ, and the Church is very clear on that." Since when?

The blood of thousands of martyred Protestants begs to differ. "

This comment is a textbook example of an argument that "proves too much".

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Proving_too_much

For if the atrocious behavior of Catholics to Protest and the atrocious behavior of Protestants to Catholics five hundred years ago proves that we are NOT brothers and sisters in Christ with those who are baptised and who believe in him, then the blood of Joan boacher, George van Paris, Jan Wielmacke, Hendrik Ter Woort, Matthew Hamont, John Lewes, Peter Cole, Francis Kett, Marmaduke Stephenson, William Robinson, Mary Dyer, William Leddra and thousands of other radical protestants executed by other less radical protestants would therefore suggest that Protestants today are not brothers and sisters in Christ with other Protestants today, which would be illogical.

"Protestants are fellow Christians, our brothers and sisters in Christ, and the Church is very clear on that."

Mark 9:38 John said to him, “Teacher, we saw someone driving out demons in your name, and we tried to prevent him because he does not follow us.” 39 Jesus replied, “Do not prevent him. There is no one who performs a mighty deed in my name who can at the same time speak ill of me. 40 For whoever is not against us is for us. 41 Anyone who gives you a cup of water to drink because you belong to Christ, amen, I say to you, will surely not lose his reward.

As a Catholic, we are with John in the Apostolic Succession. However, no one who professes the name of Jesus is my enemy.

"Protestants are fellow Christians, our brothers and sisters in Christ, and the Church is very clear on that."

Nope..

"CANON 9: "If any one saith, that by faith alone the impious is justified; in such wise as to mean, that nothing else is required to co-operate in order to the obtaining the grace of Justification, and that it is not in any way necessary, that he be prepared and disposed by the movement of his own will; let him be anathema."

"Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin." (Rom. 3:20).
"Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus;" (Rom. 3:24).
"Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law." (Rom. 3:28).
"For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness." (Rom. 4:3).
"Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ," (Rom. 5:1).
"For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God;" (Eph. 2:8).
"Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost," (Titus 3:5).

CANON 12: "If any one shall say that justifying faith is nothing else than confidence in the divine mercy pardoning sins for Christ's sake, or that it is that confidence alone by which we are justified . . . let him be accursed"
1. "But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name," (John 1:12).
2. "Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law." (Rom. 3:28).
3. 'For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness." (Rom. 4:3).
4. "Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them. ²⁶For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens; ²⁷Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the peoples: for this he did once, when he offered up himself." (Heb. 7:25-27).
5. "For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day." (2 Tim. 1:12).
Canon 14: "If any one saith, that man is truly absolved from his sins and justified, because that he assuredly believed himself absolved and justified; or, that no one is truly justified but he who believes himself justified; and that, by this faith alone, absolution and justification are effected; let him be anathema."
1. "For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness." (Rom. 4:3).
2. "Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ," (Rom. 5:1).
Canon 23: "lf any one saith, that a man once justified can sin no more, nor lose grace, and that therefore he that falls and sins was never truly justified; or, on the other hand, that he is able, during his whole life, to avoid all sins, even those that are venial,--except by a special privilege from God, as the Church holds in regard of the Blessed Virgin; let him be anathema."
1. "He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him." (John 3:36).
2. "And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day." (John 6:40).
3. "And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand." (John 10:28).
4. "That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord." (Rom. 5:21).
5. "They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us." (1 John 2:19).
6. "These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God," (1 John 5:13).
Canon 24: "If any one saith, that the justice received is not preserved and also increased before God through good works; but that the said works are merely the fruits and signs of Justification obtained, but not a cause of the increase thereof; let him be anathema."
1. "O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you? ²This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? ³Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?" (Gal. 3:1-3).
2. "Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage. ²Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing. ³For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law." (Gal. 5:1-3).
Canon 30: "If any one saith, that, after the grace of Justification has been received, to every penitent sinner the guilt is remitted, and the debt of eternal punishment is blotted out in such wise, that there remains not any debt of temporal punishment to be discharged either in this world, or in the next in Purgatory, before the entrance to the kingdom of heaven can be opened (to him); let him be anathema."
1. "Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ," (Rom. 5:1).
2. "And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; ¹⁴Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross." (Col. 2:13-14).
Canon 33: "If any one saith, that, by the Catholic doctrine touching Justification, by this holy Synod inset forth in this present decree, the glory of God, or the merits of our Lord Jesus Christ are in any way derogated from, and not rather that the truth of our faith, and the glory in fine of God and of Jesus Christ are rendered (more) illustrious; let him be anathema.
1. This council declares that if anyone disagrees with it, they are damned.

And what about all the Catholics that were killed by Protestants — even in one country — England?