Shopping around for an alternative to the Roman 'Catholic' Church?
Why, I wouldn't blame a person one bit for doing that.
Being that it is plain enough that that one is not all that much, very 'holy' (holy is a thing which does need sufficient entirety), not apostolic for it has departed from the Way, while at the same time was from around the 12th century onwards (at least that far back) something of a squatter (with a mouth full of lies) in regards to the word -- catholic -- claiming that strictly for their own ecclesiastical community over and above any and all others.
That "they" used to murder dissenters by the cartload proves the points, well enough.
"They" did not slaughter Waldo straight off --- a pope even entertained the man in audience once -- but later Roman Catholics under direction of popes DID attempt to kill off those who recognized the truth to some of that man's insights...
Later came the Lollards. They were persecuted, chiefly for their opposition to 'popery'. Oh, and having different ideas, ones which by-passed the sacerdotalism of the so-called 'priesthood' of the Romish Church.
That was Rome's last chance, in a sense. For after that came the the much larger and widely sweeping Reformation. The rest is history -- and a history which the RCC cannot CONTROL. The truth still gets out (much to their chagrin)
Many (not all) of the RCC seem like they still haven't gotten over it. Despite their own historians finally (in the last half-century or so) becoming a bit more honest about how things really went.
Still, for those who do find Him among or amid that ecclesiastical community -- then may they ever more do so.
Meanwhile...fortunately enough for all the rest, He does condescend to men of humility who do earnestly and diligently seek Him, Himself pouring His own Spirit out upon them, wherever He finds them to be.
So much for the 12th century claim of squatter's rights:
Let no man do anything connected with the Church without the bishop. Let that be deemed a proper Eucharist, which is [administered] either by the bishop, or by one to whom he has entrusted it. Wherever the bishop shall appear, there let the multitude [of the people] also be; even as, wherever Jesus Christ is, there is the Catholic Church. It is not lawful without the bishop either to baptize or to celebrate a love-feast; but whatsoever he shall approve of, that is also pleasing to God, so that everything that is done may be secure and valid. ~ St. Ignatius of Antioch 110AD. [1]
That "they" used to murder dissenters by the cartload proves the points, well enough.
To put down rebellion is not murder.
Which leads us to Waldo and his merry band of outlaws damning souls to Hell with their dualist semi-pelagian heresy who had no authority from the bishops to preach. So they rebelled which protestants are wont to do. And so today we have protestant holding them up as some sort of shining example of proto-protestant. Even Waldo came back to the Catholic Church. If its the ascetic nature that is appealing then the protestant would do well to emulate St. Francis.
Later came the Lollards. They were persecuted, chiefly for their opposition to 'popery'. Oh, and having different ideas, ones which by-passed the sacerdotalism of the so-called 'priesthood' of the Romish Church.
More criminal heresiarchs. But of course speculative theology was welcomed and protected in the schools of the time. It's only when Wycliffe's acolytes used lollardy as a casus belli for rebellion against authority that they needed to be put down and rightly so.
That was Rome's last chance, in a sense. For after that came the the much larger and widely sweeping Reformation. The rest is history -- and a history which the RCC cannot CONTROL. The truth still gets out (much to their chagrin)
A history of relativism, materialism and self-deification which has led to the downfall of western civilization: "London isn't burning. It's burnt." Some truth. I'm more interested in the future. A future, which I suspect the generations that come after us, will reject the post-modern rationalism which prizes the supremacy of that which is preferred over that which is true. And like the rest of the heresies, Protestantism will be consigned to the dustbin of history. A future where the Catholic Church will remain for those who wish to return.
[1]Ignatius of Antioch. (1885). The Epistle of Ignatius to the Smyrnæans. In A. Roberts, J. Donaldson, & A. C. Coxe (Eds.), The Apostolic Fathers with Justin Martyr and Irenaeus (Vol. 1, pp. 89–90). Buffalo, NY: Christian Literature Company.
Now don't be blaming Notre Dame...
http://www.indystar.com/story/news/education/2014/10/17/bishop-objects-notre-dame-gay-marriage-policy/17432987/