Posted on 01/31/2011 1:06:52 PM PST by NYer
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January 31
Eben Emerson |
OK! Here it goes.
Ever since I became a Christian I have grown increasingly tired of the subjective nature of Christianity.
I am now a Catholic. I know how this sounds because I once, like many of you, thought that the church of Christ or other protestant churches were the true church. But what they have become is a den where opinion rules and that we determine where the church will head by our feelings about what God believes rules. Those of you who know me the best know this is not a flippant decision. This has been a four year process in which I have studied, prayed and examined all the facets of the Christian faith I know. I come to one undeniable conclusion...there has only been one church to exist since Acts 2, the Catholic church. I did not want to believe this but at the same time I could not honestly deny it's truth. I just have a couple of questions.
1. What one church has existed since the first century, according to history and not a false interpretation of history?
2. In light of the direction of protestant faith is it possible that it would be better to have an anchor to the faith?
3. What do you think about this?
Oh boy, this was written rather quickly but there it is. I have to say that as I write this I am scared and don't want to lose friends but if that is what it cost oh well.
Love,
Eben
Welcome home, Eben!
So much for the lie of the disappearing Catholic Church.
Kenneth C Jones, the author of Index of Leading Catholic Indicators: The Church since Vatican II, cites the following;
The Olympics is really my favorite sporting event, although I think I have a problem with that silver medal. I think if I was an Olympic athlete, I would rather come in last than win the silver, if you think about it. You know, you win the gold - you feel good. You win the bronze - you think, "well, at least I got something".But when you win that silver, it's like "Congratulations! You almost won. Of all the losers, you came in first of that group. You're the "number one" loser. No one lost ahead of you."
-- Jerry Seinfeld, I'm Telling You For The Last Time
Related threads:
Mass exodus
Catholic tradition fading in US (Evangelical Protestants now outnumber Catholics)
When It Comes to Church Membership Numbers, the Devil's in the Details
Fewer receive sacraments
Are Catholics Losing the Faith?
Church-Going Among U.S. Catholics Slides to Tie Protestants
Roman Catholics total 64 million in U.S. ["counting Catholics is really more art than science"]
The Incredible Shrinking Catholic Church [Kenneth C. Jones, 2003]
The Incredible Shrinking Catholic Church [Paul Gorell, 2009]
US conversions to Catholicism plummet 9% in 2008
Vatican City, Feb 20, 2010 / 10:53 pm (CNA).- The number of Catholics worldwide rose by 19 million from 2007 to 2008, according to the Vatican almanac presented to the Pope on Saturday morning. The 2010 "Annuario Pontifico," or Pontifical Yearbook, which offers a variety of other statistics concerning religious and lay faithful in the Universal Church, also reports an increase in seminarians.
Universal Church sees increase in seminarians, reports Pontifical Yearbook
Let us know when you stop beating your wife.
The antics of protestants on the FR Religion Forum have amply demonstrated this truth.
If I may be so bold as to add a bit of anecdotal stuff, the FSSP parish I frequent has numerous families as large as mine (5 kids), and quite a few that are larger. Also, aren’t the more traditionally-minded/conservative religious orders having MORE vocations? I read that somewhere, though I do not recall the source. Either way, welcome home, Eben Emerson.
Absolutely!! I work in a private, catholic school that goes from pre-K through grade 12. It was once run by an order of nuns. In fact, my office is in the cell of a former nun. It is very small with built in drawers and a wardrobe for the sister's clothing. Once these sisters abandoned the habit, their ranks diminished; hence, the opportunity to use one of their cells for an office. Some of the older sisters still work at the school but dress in lay clothing and live off premises, often in private apartments.
Meanwhile, as you noted, other religious orders that have either retained or adopted the habit, are in rapid growth. Among these is the Dominican Sisters in Michigan who have witnessed a growth of 1400% (Yes! That is 1400% growth). That statistic earned them a visit from Oprah Winfrey who could not understand the attraction. ref
The bottom line is that those young women who choose to give their life to Christ, want to be visibly recognized. They are not embarrassed by their habits.
Just as soon as you let us know when you stop cutting eye holes in your pillow cases.
Discuss the issues all you want, but do not make it personal.
Yea, I’ll believe it when I see it.
Let us know when you stop beating the wrong dead horse.
Numbers don't make the Catholic Church, I doubt that 1% of Catholics today really LIVE the faith, just considering the soul killing mortal sin of contraceptive use, and without considering all the just DEEDS which Catholics today do not practice. By their deeds you shall know them. It does not take much to call oneself a baptized Catholic, only your parents baptizing you as an infant.
On the other hand, not one outside of the Church at death will be saved. Therefore, all the Protestants will perish with the 99%+ Catholics, so, what is there for Protestants to brag about?
Among adults there are few saved because of the sins of the flesh....With exception of those who die in childhood, most men will be damned. (St. Remigius of Rheims)
If you only knew the women who will go to Hell because they did not bring into the world the children they should have given to it. ( St. John Vianney)
The Ark, which in the midst of the Flood was the symbol of the Church, was wide below and narrow above, .... It was wide where the animals were, narrow where men lived; for the Holy Church is indeed wide in number of those who are carnal minded, narrow in the number of those who are spiritual.
( Pope St. Gregory the Great)
I do not speak rashly, but how I feel and think. I do not think that many priests are saved, but that those who perish are more numerous. ( St. John Chrysostom)
No matter how praiseworthy his actions might seem, he who is separated from the Catholic Church will never enjoy eternal life (Pope Gregory XVI)
O ye atheists who do not believe in God, what fools you are! But if you do believe there is a God, you must also believe there is a true religion. And if not the Roman Catholic, which is it? Perhaps that of the pagans who admit many gods, thus they deny them all. Perhaps that of Mohammed, a religion invented by an impostor and framed for beasts rather than humans. Perhaps that of the Jews who had the true faith at one time but, because they rejected their redeemer, lost their faith, their country, their everything. Perhaps that of the heretics who, separating themselves from our Church, have confused all revealed dogmas in such a way that the belief of one heretic is contrary to that of his neighbor. O holy faith! Enlighten all those poor blind creatures who run to eternal perdition! (St. Alphonsus Liguori)
They who are enlightened to walk in the way of perfection, and through lukewarmness wish to tread the ordinary paths, shall be abandoned. (Bl. Angela of Foligno)
They who are to be saved as Saints, and wish to be saved as imperfect souls, shall not be saved. (Pope St. Gregory the Great)
St. Teresa.... had she not risen from the state of lukewarmness in which she lived, she would in the end have lost the grace of God and been damned. ( St. Alphonsus Liguori)
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