[Guardian Sebastian]

I get so weary of this Catholic vs Protestant crap. Can't you people realize that we all believe in Christ as our Redeemer and Savior and join together as brothers and sisters?

The heads of all of our churches are human and the heads of the protestant faiths have failed their churches as well (i.e. making homosexuality acceptable within their church).

Nothing makes Satan (yes he is real) happier than to see Christ's believers fighting among themselves.

[Obadiah]

Certainly not trying to create divisions, but if this is just an act of subduing the flesh, as it were, over a practice to help ensure salvation then it’s all good. I just get concened when it may appear to people that they have to do something, or could do something, to earn salvation apart from having faith in what Christ has already done.

[hellbender]

Although I am not Catholic and consider the RCC to be wrong on many issues, I can offer some partial defense of JP II. First, consider that he did the flagellation secretly and in private, so he was clearly not trying to impress mankind. Second, fasting, which is another form of self-denial, has been practiced by Christians of many denominations since the beginning.

On the other hand, the flagellation reminds me of Luther climbing the stairs in Rome on his bloody knees, before he became convinced of justification by faith alone.

[Cvengr]

We’re just flagellating ourselves as members of the same body. ;^(