[Buckeye McFrog]

If I were Catholic I would consider this a sign to convert.

Have to admit I am thinking about it. That Encyclical was not the work of a well-intentioned clergyman who has been led astray by fake science. It is as hard-core a political document as I've ever read. Could easily have come out of an OWS encampment. The Pope is entitled to his political opinions, but he is not entitled to put the imprimatur of the Gospels or official Church teaching on them.

[bajabaja]

I hear ya.

[Calpublican]

Well, come on over. The water’s fine.

[NELSON111]

>>>Have to admit I am thinking about it.

Here is where I, as a Baptist preacher, have an issue with the Pope...especially this Pope: As ministers of the Gospel...our job is to PREACH the gospel. Period. Christ and Him crucified (1 Cor 2:2). We will disagree with the authority of the Pope...and I know you know that...but the problem I really have is this: If one is the vicar of Christ...then one should do as Christ did...and Christ had one mission: The salvation of mankind by preaching "repent and believe." Everything else is fluff and manmade foolishness.

Now...please do not get me wrong...I see the same problems in my protestant and evangelical brethren. They've filled their churches with programs to catch fish instead of throwing out the fishing line of the Gospel of Christ. They stand condemned as well and I do my fair share of letting them know it.

But here is what really puzzles me: The church authority issue, as believed by Catholics. How can San Fran Nan stand up and say she is a mainstream Catholic (and she is right if you look at the stats of American Catholics...their worship (mass) attendance, how they vote...their support of same-sex marriage and abortion rights...etc)...how can ANY catholic stand up and say that and disagree with two fundamental stances of the Catholic Church: Anti-Abortion and ant-homosexuality? How can Bishops get away with disagreeing with that? How can Cardinals disagree with that and let their congregants violate it?

Why won't the first thing Pope Francis does in the US in September be pointing his finger at all the pro-choice Catholics in congress and telling them to repent or be excommunicated? That's what a leader does.

So, I guess it boils down to this: I think Catholics believe in Papal authority in theory...but in practice it means squat...because if it actually meant something, Ted Kennedy would have been out a long time ago...and Nancy Pelosi and her ilk would be excommunicated and publically condemned long ago. Any Bishop or cardinal that strayed from Catholic doctrine would be gone. So, from an outsiders point of view....he really has no power if following the vicar of Christ is one's choice without consequence. If it's a choice, then its really not authority.

As a member of the armed forces, I have no choices. Well, that's not true...I can either follow an unlawful order or leave...and leave is just what I am prepared to do the second someone asks me to violate my oath.

[MHGinTN]

One thing you can do immediately and see how God speaks to your spirit. Stop taking the catholic Eucharist believing you drink the loiteral blood of The Savior. His blood was for the Mercy Seat, not catholic bellies. His blood covered the law of sin and death so that now ANYONE who believes Jesus is Savior and Lord, puts their faith in That proclamation from God, can have God’s Life in their spirit. The Life of Christ was in His blood. That blood was the perfect covering for the law of sin and death so that now the holy of holies is clean and the believer can enter freely into God’s presence as a born from above child of God’s family, to be raised up in the Way that they should go BY THE INDWELLING HOLY SPIRIT OF PROMISE.