Posted on 08/02/2011 8:54:35 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
However, in the 2000 years of Christian history, the bishop of Rome has broken the stalemate so to speak, numerous times: Pope Leo I on the two natures in Christ as did Pope Agatho in 680.
For any decision since 1800s, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith specifies if it is ex-cathedra or (as is mostly the case), not
two - it was not a heresy to make any translation -- there were quite a few sanctioned translations, what WAS prosecuted was making a distorted (either purposely or inadvertently) translation. Looking at the language, it is easy to make a mistake in translation and it is also easy (see the Jehovah's witness translation) to purposely change the words.
Lutherans hold to the Real presence in the Eucharist, to the sacrament of marriage, baptism and confession. They are close to orthodoxy.
I also hold that Luther started off as just aiming to remove corruption, but the idea of a rebellion against the holy Roman Emperor meant that petty north German princes took this up as a means to rebel against the Emperor and Luther got carried along
Where are you getting the idea that Lutherans are not charitable? . (As does my synagogue).
He was a virulent,Jew-hating SOB.
Benedict is known for his charity. Lutherans aren’t known for much of anything. Benedict, for instance, granted the Ordinariate. Lutherans granted....nothing.
He wanted the synagogues to be burnt down and the holy books set on fire.
Yes,because Lutherans don’t do a blessed thing for those in need. If my statement about the Pope is wrong,then I’m answering ignorance with ignorance. I’m no longer a Lutheran (I’m a convert to Judaism) but my grandparents are and the Lutherans do plenty to help those who are in need.Food banks,giving clothes to the needy,raising money for Lutheran charities,etc.I guess Lutherans don’t do a darn thing to help others.
Harvard could run five Vaticans every year and still have pocket change left over to run a great University. The Vatican’s assets - all it could sell - come to about $770 million. (The University of Notre Dame’s endowment is four and a half times greater.)
What Joseph Ratzinger (Pope Benedict) himself owns, as catalogued in the press, consists of this: many boxes of books (he is a scholar); personal clothing (fits one suitcase and a travel bag); breviary, rosary, sacramentary kit (also fits into that same travel bag); a grand piano (gift from his brother George); and a cat.
I didn’t think the Pope had trillions,but there are people catering to him left and right as if he were more than human. I have seen images of people kissing his ring. He has been lifted to a much higher status than a human should be.
Of course people kiss his ring. We also kiss bishops' rings. My mother had my brother and me kiss her wedding ring. We kiss each other at the "kiss of peace" at Mass(though most of us shake hands!) We kiss the Gospel book; the priest kisses the altar. We bow to the priest, and the priest bows to us. It is a custom of respect--- not giving a person "more than human" status.
It's easy enough for people who are not familiar with the customs of other cultures and faith communities to jump to unwarranted conclusions. It would show better judgment to find out, first. Like by asking someone "What does that mean?" You might sometimes be pleasantly surprised.
At any rate,you and I won’t agree because we both belong to different religions. There’s nothing wrong with that;it’s just the way it is. We could go back and forth for days about the Torah vs.the Christian Bible,but it would only cause animosity between you and I,which I don’t want. I don’t know any Catholics but if I meet one I will ask about Catholic traditions.
There's a great deal of aggressive and discourteous talk in the FR Religion Forum: it makes me disgusted and ashamed. But I think it's just a few people, a small but hyperactive swarm that likes to give offense and take offense. This is a waste of their own, and everybody else's time.
But you show yourself to be a person who values reasonable and amicable discussion. No matter what our religious differences might be, there is no reason why a discussion between you and me would end in animosity.
I hope we can converse more in the future. Grace and peace to you.
There really is no reason for people to insult each other,right? It does not do anyone a bit of good.
You wrote:
“So why is it the Pope lives in opulence while the nuns,priests and monks have to take vows of poverty?”
The Vatican - in some places - is rather opulent. It was made that way. The pope lives there. He doesn’t make it opulent.
“Sounds like hypocrisy to me.”
To those apparently ignorant about Christianity it might. This pope is a secular priest (i.e. he took no vows of poverty). Even if he were a monk who did take a vow of poverty that would have nothing to do with the Vatican because he doesn’t own it. He shows up with little or nothing, and he leaves with even less. It works much like the White House does for the President.
You wrote:
“Yes,because Lutherans don’t do a blessed thing for those in need.”
Historically they have not done all that much, that is true.
“If my statement about the Pope is wrong,then I’m answering ignorance with ignorance.”
No, I think your answer belongs entirely to you and has nothing to do with anyone else here.
“I’m no longer a Lutheran (I’m a convert to Judaism) but my grandparents are and the Lutherans do plenty to help those who are in need.Food banks,giving clothes to the needy,raising money for Lutheran charities,etc.I guess Lutherans don’t do a darn thing to help others.”
Historically they have not done much, no. I don’t doubt there are good Lutherans. I also don’t doubt that Lutheranism was founded on heresy, theft, and violence.
You can complain about the pope living in an opulent Vatican, but at least it belonged to the Vatican whom the pope serves and leads. Luther, on the other hand, spent a good portion of his life after starting the Protestant Revolution living in a stolen convent. He didn’t build it. He didn’t pay for it. Nor did he serve it. He just used the stolen property. Then again, when you consider that Lutheranism’s founding doctrine was invented by Luther while he sat on the cloaca, well, is that any surprise?
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