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To: metmom
--- "...molest children, as Catholicism does. What good is *unity* when it enables sin in the camp?"

We are seduced into group think. I much prefer looking at the individual or a small group when operating together. Catholicism does not molest, some few Catholics do. This holds true for Protestants but the the aggregate Protestant denominations per se though the schisms we are seeing in real time demonstrate why such schisms are happening.

The word, "unity," is interesting, as in a theological sense it so often refers to God, not groups of men. "Unity" when wielded by men usually means "do as I say" while trying to camouflage that with echoes of the vocabulary usually used for God.

I rather like your use of the word "camp." It denotes the smaller "congregation" -- as in, people congregating for some purpose -- and within a camp, assuredly "sin" should be contested and driven out.

This aligns with my notion that group names cannot fully describe "two or three gathered together." I remain skeptical of group names, especially when someone purporting to speak and act for a group goes on about "unity." As do politicians.

11 posted on 09/18/2023 4:51:36 AM PDT by Worldtraveler once upon a time (Degrow government)
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To: Worldtraveler once upon a time

The Catholic hierarchy is complicit in the molestation in that it knew about it and instead of dealing with it appropriately, including removing the offenders from their clergy and turning them over to secular authorities for proper justice to be done, they moved them around and protected them by hushing the whole thing up.

So while Catholics like to criticize Prots for splintering over issues like homosexuality in the clergy, Catholics have no option but to continue to submit to them as spiritual authority in their lives. They have no out because their church doctrine does not allow it. They must stay or risk their eternal destiny.

Splintering is not always a bad thing. When the hierarchy refuses to deal with sin, it is the only reasonable option and people should be commended for not tolerating sin in their midst.

Nor is it like Catholicism is any stranger to schism. Rome and the EO split about 1,000 years ago and are still in schism today. So Catholics are in no position to finger point and condemn there, either.

As far as the use of the word *camp*, it does not by default exclude very large groups. The Israelites were referred to as a camp and were several million strong.

And sin should be contested and driven out no matter what the size of the assembly.


13 posted on 09/18/2023 6:26:13 AM PDT by metmom (He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.)
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