Matthew 16:18 “You are Peter and on this rock I will build my church.”
If you got a problem with the Church I guess you’ll have to take that up with Christ.
And Peter wrote down what that 'rock' was the church would be built upon... the keys of Peter were placed into writing!!!! It was not a locksmith operation given to Peter wherein every generation or so got the authority from Christ to cut new keys.
With all due respect, dupree, I'm Roman Catholic, like Santorum and Gingrich, but that doesn't mean that my Church has to be the only true Church for everyone else, even though I might so think and believe.
Our Founders made certain to make Freedom of Religion the First Admendment in Our Bill of Rights.
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
“If you got a problem with the Church I guess you’ll have to take that up with Christ.”
I’ll take it up with Peter himself:
Acts 4
8Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said unto them, Ye rulers of the people, and elders of Israel,
9If we this day be examined of the good deed done to the impotent man, by what means he is made whole;
10Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole.
11This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner.
Peter’s confession that Jesus is the Christ is what is referenced to. Christ Himself is the rock, the foundation and the head of the real Church. The gifts of wisdom, discernment, the “keys of the kingdom of heaven”, were given to all the Apostles, who were given the Holy Spirit to bind whom they will and free whom they will.
But actually, I just realized this wasn’t the religious thread I was debating on in a different area. I brought it up here only because it was used in a political way, as if Saint Rick was the new Pope, given the keys of heaven by Peter.
Gingrich is a Catholic, and I have no reason to think that he is an inferior Catholic. The difference is that Newt is running on an actual platform. Whereas Saint Rick has to embrace these emotional arguments.