Free Republic

The heart of being easily offended is pride.

Most people just don’t realize how isolating disabilities can be, and how hurtful it can be to exclude them from regular activities most of us take for granted.

Not all disabilities are so visible. I have my own issues to deal with that keep me from living life *normally* and keeps me from participating in regular activities that most people take for granted. It ain't easy but that's life. I just avoid those situations and move on.

Careful... There are apparently two sides posting here, the ladies who side with the hand-wringing, over-sensitive mother who saw a stinking class photo and took an imagined slight to the press, and those who find the whole thing an embarrassing and ludicrous curtsy to political correctness.

Well, there's a third side. Those who think too many people are too easily offended. It was a class photo that was poorly done. I wasn't in the center of any of my class photos. Should I have been offended because I wasn't in the middle of a big group hug?

You probably also didn't like it when the ladies on 'The View' sympathized with that poor, harried mother who drowned her own five kids in the bathtub, am I right?

*The View*? Never heard of it, but no, would not have sympathized with any harried mother who drowns her own children. I'm kind of callous that way.

I didn’t see bb name any names.

I think your over reaction and dragging other FReepers names into it speaks more volumes.

Something about projecting.

You have a guilty conscience or what?

Excellent job photoshopping.

There are benches but the photographer could have had the kids sit toward the end of the bench nearer the wheelchair and had the teacher stand on the other side of the wheelchair and everyone would have fit in just right.

That would have been the best solution.

I would expect a real professional photographer would have figured that out.

The one photo is hard to analyze. Could the wheelchair be closer? I can’t tell.

It looks like it's at the end of the bleachers.

The photo was a clear example of how set apart her son is from society. Instead of a big group hug photo with Miles at the center, and classmates and teachers all around, a fully inclusive image, he was stuffed off to the side, some 3 feet away. An after thought, it seems.

*big group hug with him in the middle*?

What about the whole rest of the class? Don't any of THEM deserve to be in the center as well?

Some of the worst offenders of this prohibition are the hard-core Calvinists who tolerate no deviation from what they have determined is truth.

And it's that harsh, condemning attitude which is such a turn off to Calvinism.

I had enough of that when I was a Catholic. What comes across is that the way God is portrayed by Calvinism is not a whole lot different that the one portrayed by Catholicism.

This is so true.

Thanks for posting this devotional series.

But yet if you find ancient gold the government will take it without compensation for the national “historic” record...

I've already decided that if I find anything of value on my land or in my house, it's mine.

Since there have been so many previous owners, no telling whose it is, and the last owner was such a gold digger, she'd likely lie about it anyway just to get it.

Nope, came with the property. I don't know anything.

Yup. That’s it alright.

Unfortunate that you have nothing of substance to offer.

*sigh* Try again.....

Now that's funny right there.

Seems that having no dialogue on threads one posts constitutes *No Substance*.

Unfortunate that you have nothing of substance to offer.

Now that's funny right there.

Seems that having on dialogue on threads one posts constitutes *No Substance*.

Actually, yeah, that’s probably far more accurate.

Based on this comment and how thinly it is tied to the article I just assumed you were one of those useless and graceless flame war "Christians" who are the reason most decent people stay away from the Religion Forum. But then I looked at your strange, strange posting history. You are some kind of weird Catholic Religion Forum article-posting seldom-commenting troll.

You noticed that, too, eh?

I never could understand why someone would want their hair to look like the underside of an old dustmop.

That is Calvinism. And it seems to go hand in hand with something called Lordship salvation wherein others, like Paul Washer, judge whether you really have made Jesus your Lord by your conduct, and if you are not up to Paul Washer’s specs, you are probably not getting in.

I guess they'd have problems with Lot being called *righteous Lot* in 2 Peter.

Salvation is by grace through faith in Christ and in that all agree and have their unity. A true Christian’s identity is being in Christ, not in labels or denominational affiliation.

There doesn’t need to be absolute unity of doctrine for people to be saved. Catholicism doesn’t have it between the Roman rite, the Ukrainian rite, the EO, and many of the other splinter Catholic groups. For that matter, Catholicism has not even been consistent throughout its own history within itself.

It’s hypocritical that Catholicism tolerates differences of opinion and interpretation amongst its own rites and condemns it in other Christian groups.

The body of Christ is an organism, not an organization. It’s all believers of the church age regardless of time and location and denominational affiliation.

Obviously Catholics do not understand what the church really is.

It’ll be merely a matter of time before he goes after private and homeschools in the US.

mm: ““When Catholics blow off the issue of a priest who has molested children with *We’re all sinners*, and *Sin in his life doesn’t affect his duties as a priest as long as the priests intent is right*. it’s easy enough to get that idea.”

vlad : “Except that has never happened. Ever. You’re just making it up out of thin air.”
************************************************************

For your reading pleasure.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/religion/3026316/posts?page=59#59

Here, particularly posts 20, 29,:

Gay activists with dirty hands at St. Patrick’s Cathedral are denied entry
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/religion/3017535/posts

Another thread...
Uganda priest ostracized for publicizing clergy sex abuse
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/religion/3016330/posts

The Church is - just not to your liking. Get used to it.

Oh really?

What about

1 Corinthians 5:9-13 I wrote to you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people— not at all meaning the people of this world who are immoral, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters. In that case you would have to leave this world. But now I am writing to you that you must not associate with anyone who claims to be a brother or sister but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or slanderer, a drunkard or swindler. Do not even eat with such people. 12 What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside? 13 God will judge those outside. “Expel the wicked person from among you.”

is so hard to understand?

Oh, wait a minute, let me guess.....

That's not how the allegedly infallible magisterium has interpreted the passage.

Do tell, then, just what is your allegedly infallible magisteriums interpretation of the passage that allows them to disobey the clear command and directive of Scripture?

If someone is baptized, then they are in the Church. They are in the Church Militant. They are not yet part of the Church Triumphant. That’s where there are no tares.

So they're part of the church but not part of the church.

riiiggghhhttt....

Boniface VIII actually asserted, “It is I who am Caesar; the Sovereign Pontiff is the only King of the Romans”, as he rode thru the city, carrying sword, globe and sceptre. (”Rome and its story”, p. 241, by Welbore St. Clair Baddeley, Lina Duff Gordon)

Acts 17:21-24

21 On the appointed day Herod, wearing his royal robes, sat on his throne and delivered a public address to the people. 22 They shouted, “This is the voice of a god, not of a man.” 23 Immediately, because Herod did not give praise to God, an angel of the Lord struck him down, and he was eaten by worms and died.

Seems that men don't learn from history..... 24 But the word of God continued to spread and flourish.

mm:“Have Catholics never read the Bible?”

Vlad:Yes, they have - and they understand it too.

Re: 1 Corinthians 5 which was posted above.

If Catholics read and understand the Bible, then why isn't it being followed? Why is the Catholic church not following the teaching of the Scripture they claim they wrote themselves?

Playing the martyr doesn’t wear well.

Please go back to post 53 where the question was first introduced and check the screen name of the person who first introduced it.

I seriously doubt that you can back up the idea that Catholics would have no problem with a priest who molested children then saying Mass.

When Catholics blow off the issue of a priest who has molested children with *We're all sinners*, and *Sin in his life doesn't affect his duties as a priest as long as the priests intent is right*. it's easy enough to get that idea.

When Catholics aren't demanding justice for those priests but instead accuse those molested of looking to win life's lottery by filing false accusations, then yes, it's easy to get that idea.

When Catholics don't take the issue seriously enough to demand action from their leadership but rather accuse any non-Catholic who points out such blatant hypocrisy with charges of lying, then it's easy to get the idea that priests who molest boys aren't a problem for most Catholics.

Catholics are humor challenged.

It appears to have been lost on the hearer.....

According to the most recent pope, there is a gay lobby. I’m not really sure what that means or why it is allowed to exist. If there is a dating homo site too, well there is house-cleaning to do - or Christ will do it.

The problem is the mentality of *Once a priest, always a priest*.

Based on the responses I get when I bring the issue up, not too many Catholics have a problem with hands that defiled boys and engaged in immorality to be lifted up as holy, in the mass, allegedly changing the host into the body and blood of Christ, and then serving communion to the parishioners.

"Crack open your Bible and you might learn something. Have you honestly never read the Bible?"

Have Catholics never read the Bible?

1 Corinthians 5

It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that is not tolerated even among pagans, for a man has his father's wife. 2 And you are arrogant! Ought you not rather to mourn? Let him who has done this be removed from among you.

3 For though absent in body, I am present in spirit; and as if present, I have already pronounced judgment on the one who did such a thing. 4 When you are assembled in the name of the Lord Jesus and my spirit is present, with the power of our Lord Jesus, 5 you are to deliver this man to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord.

6 Your boasting is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump? 7 Cleanse out the old leaven that you may be a new lump, as you really are unleavened. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed. 8 Let us therefore celebrate the festival, not with the old leaven, the leaven of malice and evil, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.

9 I wrote to you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people— 10 not at all meaning the sexually immoral of this world, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world.

11 But now I am writing to you not to associate with anyone who bears the name of brother if he is guilty of sexual immorality or greed, or is an idolater, reviler, drunkard, or swindler—not even to eat with such a one. 12 For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Is it not those inside the church whom you are to judge? 13 God judges those outside. “Purge the evil person from among you.”

Would *Ithaca area* work then? I know it’s a stretch.....

Yeah, I do know where Clyde is.

There used to be a natural/health food store up that way. Clear Eye.

Maybe there’s something in the water there.

They haven’t been to school? summer school?

School just got out this weekend for much of NY. I wouldn't be surprised if some kids still have to go.

Depends how much time they lost for snowdays during the winter.

I can’t believe the damage that was done to that house! Something is very wrong with young children who are capable of that kind of destruction of personal property. Fortunately with the internet the father of the children will soon be sorry he ever went on the news trying to get more charges against the victim of the vandalism. Nobody can look at those pictures and for a second think the owner is in the wrong with his actions.

It's Ithaca......

Sorry. It’s just that so many people think that merely saying the words is enough. If you don’t mean it, it’s not going to do any good.

Saying the words is not an incantation. If someone doesn't mean it, then it doesn't do any good. God sees the heart, not the outward appearance.

We are commanded to repent and confess. It's a change of heart. We are new creatures in Christ, not just cleaned up old ones.

When we are saved we are crucified with Christ and made new creatures, the old has gone and the new has come. If the flesh has been crucified with Christ, how can one not be saved?

Now wait a minute.

How can this be?

Haven't we been assured that the immorality within the priesthood has been addressed and things are changing?

Tell me it ain't so?

The Catholic Church is THE Church. Christ isn’t ever removing anything from the Catholic Church because it is His bride.

The TRUE church, the body of believers, is the Bride of Christ, not the organization filled with rampant immorality within its clergy.

So according to this pastor the saved Fornicators get to go to heaven where they get to continue to fornicate. That makes sense. I also love the Evangelical notion that after one dies, there is no more growth from a spiritual or emotional standpoint.

That's a new accusation against Evangelicalism for me. Where'd you hear that one?

your salvation can’t be taken away by anyone, but YOU can walk away from it and reject it. we still have free will. the atheist guy on this thread did exactly that.

That is presuming the guy was correct about being saved and was actually saved in the first place.

HEY! How are you doing?

Good to see you back!

It's not about *logic*.

It's about the promises of God to the believer.

John 5:24 Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.

John 10:25-30 25 Jesus answered them, “I told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father's name bear witness about me, 26 but you do not believe because you are not among my sheep. 27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand. 30 I and the Father are one.”

Ephesians 1:13-14 13 In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.

Ephesians 4:30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.

Colossians 1:13-14 He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

2 Corinthians 1:21-22 21 And it is God who establishes us with you in Christ, and has anointed us, 22 and who has also put his seal on us and given us his Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee.

2 Corinthians 5:4-8 4 For while we are still in this tent, we groan, being burdened—not that we would be unclothed, but that we would be further clothed, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. 5 He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who has given us the Spirit as a guarantee.6 So we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, 7 for we walk by faith, not by sight. 8 Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord.

In BB King’s autobiography, there’s a chapter called “Circumcision is no laughing matter.” He suffered from infections and was circumcised as an adult. It stopped the infections.

Maybe there’s some benefits, but he said he would have rather had it when he was an infant.

My mother told me her older brother had to be circumcised as a teen and was in agony for days from it. She and all her siblings were born at home so it was not cone.

A good friend told me that her father demanded that all the sons and grandsons be circumcised. It was not done in the old country and during the war (WW1 I think) the rate of infection and gangrene was unbelievable among the uncircumcised men.

That would be enough for me. Gangrene?!?! Eeewww!!

That’s an awful lot of passages stating the Paul is the apostle to the Gentiles.

It’s staggering the depth of deception which could cause someone to STILL deny it.

I mean, really.... The Holy Spirit breathed it out and some anonymous internet poster denies it and I have a choice of whom I am going to believe.

It’s really a no-brainer.

caww quoted Scripture that you countered with *Not Scripture*.

It most certainly was Scripture she posted. Read the Bible and try again.

It appears that you have a difficulty in distinguishing between being a Protestant and being a Christian.

The two are not synonymous.

One can be a Protestant and not be a Christian.

One can be a Christian and not a Protestant.

If you really understood what made one a Christian, you’d know that.

Protestants are no more in unity with them than Pope Francis is just another homosexual priest molesting altar boys.

Now, are those faggot priests who molested all those kids Catholics? or have they turned their back on God and the church they supposedly belonged to and excommunicated themselves?

So if you can tar all protestants with a faggot non-Christian, then you can be tarred with those faggot child molestors.

Never addressed by the recipient of your post, I see......

Excellent points. Thank you.

Ok, so all protestants aren’t in union with one another.

How does one determine which protestants are in union with one another?

Do I need a flowchart?

No, you need reading comprehension lessons.

Look at my example of Vicky Gene Robinson. He’s not Catholic. He’s an episcopalian.

So, when it's time to make Protestantism look bad, a Catholic will drag an episcopalian into the fray.

Is that the same Episcopalian denominations that the Catholic church is accepting priests from to become Catholic priests?

caww: (post 13) “The Unity most Protestants have is in the person of Jesus Christ.”

JCB:You said that all protestants are in union with one another.

Just wow....

What a stellar example of the deception of the enemy.

caww did not say that at all. You almost completely reworded what she said.

That’s what we see in Acts - the Apostles selected another.

And now we see a Catholic appealing to the authority of Scripture to justify the Roman Catholic church's actions.

The hypocrisy is staggering.