Free Republic
Browse · Search
Religion
Topics · Post Article

To: Bishop_Malachi
Your view of "the Gates of Hell" "prevailing" against the Roman Leadership needs to be reconsidered.

What you have here is not a failure of doctrine, but of discipline; of pastoral practice; of corrupt, confused, or cowardly churchmen. This is a failure based on human weakness and sinfulness, and has been a constant, waxing and waning, in Christ's Church since Our Lord hung on a cross.

Yes, Peter denied Him and Judas betrayed Him, and the rest of them --- with the exception of John --- ran sweating and quaking toward the tall grass. These are the picked men, the select men, for whom Jesus Himself prayed, just hours before, that they should have faith, unity, and strength. (John 17).

The Church is not defeated by the faults of men, even if those faults are grave and nearly unanimous.

I recommend the reading of Catholic history. Once the shock passes, it steadies one.

All we're promised --- and it's a limited promise, but an essential one --- is that in the midst of all the vagaries of foolish or wicked churchmen, error will not finally prevail. In the practical sense, this means that their errors will never be formally promulgated as doctrines to be accepted de fide by all the faithful.

I'd go on, but I have to go to a parish meeting in about 10 minutes. Let me leave you with this 2-minute video. It's humorous --- it may make you laugh, in an ouchy sort of way --- but it makes a valid point:

Infallibility (YouTube)

The tagline quote is from Oscar Wilde.

14 posted on 07/13/2016 1:56:36 PM PDT by Mrs. Don-o ("The Catholic Church is for saints and sinners alone. For respectable people, Anglicanism will do.")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies ]


To: Mrs. Don-o

Post #14 ~ Re: tagline ~ Oscar Wilde (although during most of his life he lived as a demented and unrepentant homosexual) eventually believed in; and asked for, Divine Mercy ~ was above all else a brilliant poet.

My favorite quote of his was this, “Women are meant to be loved, not understood.” I’ll bet Mr. Don-o will agree!

May you and yours have a blessed day...


35 posted on 07/16/2016 6:09:20 PM PDT by heterosupremacist ("Resistance to tyrants is obedience to God." Thomas Jefferson)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 14 | View Replies ]

Free Republic
Browse · Search
Religion
Topics · Post Article


FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson