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You've discovered a very important point. This is the primary reason that I rarely engage in scriptural debates here any more. You can post a thousand prooftexts, as well as the 2000 year history of Christianity's interpretations of the texts, and even the interpretations of the very earliest Christians themselves, who were even taught by the apostles themselves, and it still won't make any difference to them.

As someone else pointed out - the Catholic church's idea of history is rather narrow in that it excludes anything it disagrees with. What you refer to by way of early interpretations is so jerry-mandered and lacking of authority that to bring it up to any educated person on the topic seems rather an insult. One can't discuss the truth of history with Catholics without being robustly accused of every foul thing in the book and every attempt under the sun to discredit and muddy the evidence - and I say that with particular deferrance to the Roman rite. I would actually associate my thoughts with the words of a scholar from the modern movie "the Mummy". Compared to the treatment I've been exposed to in debating certain catholics on facts, the plagues would have been a joy.

Some key facts that catholics regularly lie about is the notion that a disputed work presuming to be from ignatius actually doesn't use the word "Catholic" (note the large c) but rather small c as in the adjective from the Latin language from whence the term comes. I see this passage so widely mistated and knowingly so on a regular basis that one wonders if lying isn't a topic covered by the ten commandments. Reminding them the work is disputed by all (but them) is not generally recommended if the subject hasn't already been broached (yes it is). But even worse is dumping the fact on an open crowd that there are three differrent works containing different language that are diverse enough in content that one must admit that there are three rather unique candidates to be known as the work whether it is to be officially recognized as legitamate to begin with. Now add to that the fact that of the school of the most readily known works contending to be called works of ignatius - over half of the fifteen (by name - remember still multiple versions of many of these) have been proven Spurious - which is a kind way of saying FRAUDULENT. Putting Catholic and Fraudulent in the same statement are generally considered non-pc and bigoted by certain catholics who 'love' the 'truth' so long as the 'truth' is not the facts.

Another truism to be considered is there is no catholic claim of which I'm aware that is not considered factual by catholics even when the claim can be shown to have no foundation other than the claim itself. IE the famous claim that the Roman church was not responsible for the deaths of those put to death in abundance throughout the inquisitions. One can read said claim right from CE - then turn around and prove it false on it's face with their own decrees, bulls and the recorded laws of the time. The late Lateran councils document the Roman church pushing the issue of putting to death those the church deams heretical. And once it was wrung out of the civil authorities and the Constitution of Lombardy came about, history shows that the Popes of Rome twisted the arms of the other civil entities of the empire till they adopted the same. The authority on which the whole notion rested comes from the Decretals of Isidore (fraudulent writings) and there were 8 laws according to history that bore on that. This is all information that is readily viewable on the internet. It can be proven and has been within the Christian Chronicles. But it's truth. And the Lord help you if you bring it up.

They don't care about the Truth, only that which supports their anti-Catholic prejudices and bigotry.

A little prejudicial, no? LOL. Alright, let's test your love of truth. Answer the following simply with a yes or a no. Did the Roman Catholic church take control of the failing Roman empire by fraud? Yes or no.

For those of you who are not aware of such things, the answer in fact is Yes. Their reign was fraudulent. Think about the rammifications of that. If treason doth prosper, no one dares call it treason. And when it was exposed, though known true, the man who exposed it almost went before an inquisitional tribunal. That's a fact. The truth of the matter vindicated him and ultimately saved him and spelled the beginning of the end for Roman credibility and rule. Fact may be more strange than fiction; but, the fact is less harmful. Truth is always the best medicine. One need only look at the American economy and political system to see that.

People are free to believe what they want in terms of religion. God gave us that right. But to sit and call people who don't buy the story on it's face "bigoted" because they bother to research what's said and hold you to account for saying it is beneath contempt. The approach you employ is the same measure by which liberals judge free speach. It's free as long as they decide what gets said and who gets to say it. But it's racist, bigoted, narrow minded and evil if it opposes your opinion. And yes it is an opinion because the facts usually don't stand with you. I know some of you get picked on, I hear it all the time and I can't dismiss the notion that it happens. But it is not in the frequency you portray. The public with experience has tired of Jesse Jackson throwing the race card every time he doesn't get his way, is made to look bad or is discredited by the facts. I think it's safe to say that nobody buys the fact that every catholic in the world is a verbal martyr just because educated people not only won't agree with them; but, will actually have the audacity to greet false statements with real facts. Try a dose of your own medicine why don't you.

disclaimer: this is not a campaign add nor is it an advertisement for a particular church other than the Christian church. The views expressed herein are the views of the author. Whining will be met with silence. Intelligent adult conversation (which excludes epithets and slurs) always appreciated.