[Mrs. Don-o]

I've never written anything about the Orthodox Presbyterian Church and its practices and beliefs. I am too ignorant to do so. But if I were to write on this topic, I guarantee you I would get my information from some Orthodox Presbyterian source: a website, a book, a pastor --- not some source as ignorant as myself, but one authorized by the OP church.

I would recommend that you follow the same course when writing or reprintng articles which make reference to Catholicism. A good place to start would be to fact check what you write about the RC's with the Catechism of the Catholic Church (Searchable Link)

This will give you two advantages:

• it will cause any Catholic reading your article to exclaim, "Whatever else you say about good ol' Gamecock, he sure understands Catholicism." And
• you will avoid triggering the kind of geezing and facepalming which would make it difficult for your reader to take even the good points of your article, as a whole, seriously.

[boatbums]

I would recommend that you follow the same course when writing or reprintng articles which make reference to Catholicism. A good place to start would be to fact check what you write about the RC's

Yet, even when we quote directly from the catechism, criticism still is found to follow. The catechism, in many places, must be "interpreted" or put into simpler words. Many euphemisms and "code words" are utilized throughout and even Catholics must use their own understanding to explain the various doctrines to themselves and to others.

Case in point is the oft-argued Eucharist and the Liturgy of the Mass. Words such as "transubstantiated" and "made present" have to be parsed out and further explained. Catholics may say that the sacrifice of the Mass is a "re-presentation" of the same sacrifice of Christ on the cross of Calvary or that the Mass carries the sacrifice forward into all time, making it effective for salvation, but it needs further expounding. VOLUMES of men's thoughts and opinions have been written to explain it all.

There is also an "order" by which Catholics make themselves ready for participating in the Eucharist that involves a recent confession and penance and only then can they righteously receive the body of Christ. The Mass and the reception of the sacrament of communion are said to be, in themselves, propitiatory for the satisfaction of sins. Catholicism makes the regular attendance at Mass and the reception of communion necessary for salvation.

I believe Scripture tells us that it is believing on Christ, having faith in him to save us from our sins, is what brings us salvation. The participating in the Lord's Supper observance is thereby done as Jesus said it was to be done - in remembrance of him, showing his death until he returns.