Anger after pope condemns gay-friendly laws

I suspect the Holy Father is of the same opinion as Fr Corapi.

"I love ya all dearly, but I ain't going to hell for ya."

We must all be very careful about who we follow. Big hair is often a clue...

ArrogantBustard: Think on this. One person makes an insulting comment on an aspect of catholic theology, and your response is an even more insulting one directed at all protestantism. Do you really believe all protestants are pagans? Are you seriously denying that all of them are outside of God's grace?

In fact the only thing more insulting is your attempt to defend your slander by implying I have a double-standard on these matters. Well just for the record, I unreservedly condemn anyone who accuses Catholics of paganism. And if you want some pings, see post 49 on this thread. and posts 17, 18 and 39 on http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2433722/posts (the last one addressed to your good self, incidentally).

By the time I came to this thread the poster had already cancelled her account, so there seemed little point in posting to her, particularly as others seemed to be refuting her arguments so well. But you are right, I didn't directly challenge her statement, for which I apologise.

1) Thank you for post #19 on the referenced thread. Sane comments of that sort, from the protestant side, are few and far between. I would like to see much more of that.

2) Do you really believe all protestants are pagans? No. Do the likes of the poster to whom I responded believe all Catholics are pagans? There's inarguably a strain of thought within "greater protestantism" which holds to that proposition in all seriousness. Were you aware of their existence? I see a great deal of their garbage on this forum, and it appears to be considered an acceptable opinion here. OTOH, I think it falls in the same category as "The Protocols of the Elders of Zion".

3) There's a time and place for exaggeration, inflammatory rhetoric, and sarcasm. I believed (and continue to believe) I used such in an appropriate time and place. My use of such seems to have burned you severely. Perhaps it should give you (and any protestant lurkers reading this) pause to think about how intemperate rhetoric and ignorant comments from protestants are perceived by Catholics ... and what they lead Catholics to think of protestantism.

1) Thank you for your comments. I presume you were referring to post #39, not #19? 2) Oh yes, I'm very aware of the existence of THAT strand of thought (although I've usually heard it expressed as 'Catholicism is a heresy' rather than 'Catholicism is paganism'). The experiences that God has graciously shown me over the last few years convince me that Protestants are not so much against Catholicism per se, but against what they think Catholicism is, which itself is based on what they've been told by certain, shall we say 'immoderate' preachers. Actually, if what these folk said was correct, YOU'D be against Catholicism too!

The "Catholic" Church they attack is nothing you would recognise. That's because its a distorted image of what the Catholic Church sort of was four-five hundred years ago. They dont seem to grasp that theologically, culturally and practically things have moved on a bit, and when they conveniantly miss out all the caveats to Catholic practice, its no wonder it sounds awful. That screed in the thread I appended is a prime example of this kind of thing. Notice its nearly two centuries old.

3) It's not a question of being "burned", its pointing out something I think is wrong. What you said offends me as much as an assertion that "Catholicism is pagan" does to you. Perhaps the lesson is that we should all pause to think first before pressing the flame button.

How many people do you know of ascended to heaven (We Catholics believe Mary did Ascend)? What son whom loved his mother would not weight her request with high value?
Catholics do not consider Mary a God, but rather one whom has the ear of God and our Lord Jesus (one in the same, along with the holy spirit).
Just as the various visions of heaven spoke of in the bible God has many at his table do you not believe those by his side are not the saints and prophets?
Catholics ask for their intersession and assistance in prayers not to pledge a misguided allegiance to them as though they were God, but rather conduits to their special God given graces.

1CR 12:28 And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.

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