Are you sure that there is not another HarleyD writing posts? Who was it that posted that "...Catholics believe that no priest, as an individual man, however pious or learned, has power to forgive sins. This power belongs to God alone"? Wasn't that YOU? Wikipedia is wrong, as I have stated, and now, your alter ego agrees with me...
In fact, I don't see anything wrong with the EO position off hand.
Clearly, this is not the same HarleyD I know. HE refutes the Catholic/Orthodox idea of Sacraments. HE says that grace is not obtained through the Church's Sacrament of Penance.
With the RCC position, the Church is placing itself in authority of the one doing the forgiving
Funny. You agree with the "EO" position, then you refute it because the "RCC" adheres to it. I suppose if Rome has anything to do with something, it is tainted. Sort of like the Eucharist, right? Again, I repeat that the Church doesn't place ITSELF in authority! That is one of the first things the Church teaches us - it is the continuation of the Incarnation of Christ.
Historically if you pay a sum to the Roman Church you could save someone from hell.
Flatly contradicting Catholic theology seems to be your specialty today. Indulgences don't save ANYONE from hell. Even in the Medieval period, they merely "shortened" one's stay in Purgatory. Purgatory, as you may or may not know, is for the saved...
The Church absolves people from sin through the command of Christ. It has nothing to do with penance assigned or indulgences. All of your posts seem to be fraught with straw-man arguments. This is sad, because I realize that you are not an unintelligent person. I pray that you are not attempting to maliciously mislead people of good faith.
Regards
I'd have to ask myself.
Wikipedia is wrong, as I have stated, and now, your alter ego agrees with me...
Wikipedia is almost a direct quote from newadvent.org. If they are wrong then the Catholic dictionary is wrong.
Clearly, this is not the same HarleyD I know.
I think the EO interpretation is more true to scripture than the RC. That being said I think the Protestants interpretation is more true than the EO.
Even in the Medieval period, they merely "shortened" one's stay in Purgatory.
I stand corrected.
This is sad, because I realize that you are not an unintelligent person. I pray that you are not attempting to maliciously mislead people of good faith.
Dittos.
Sheesh! I come back from a mini-vacation and it's just as though I never left! ;-D
I, too, wonder about HD's sincerity sometimes. It's passing strange: the same person who is adept enough (in what he doubtless considers Catholic "arcania") that he can dig up all kinds of theological quotes from various Ecumenical Councils, and remonstrate with BOTH Catholics and Orthodox about the underpinnings of their Sacraments, is the SAME guy who evidently thinks that indulgences can spring a soul out of hell, or (in another recent thread)thinks we "worship" Mary! An odd inconsistency lurks about here!
For all of his delving into graduate-level Catholic theology, not too much seems to have sunk-in. Either he is a poster child for Invincible Ignorance, or he'll find out some day that he has too much of a background to qualify.