Posted on 08/14/2002 6:48:27 AM PDT by narses
A Reflection on Apostasy
by Brian Mershon
As a Father of four who struggles continually to try to raise his children in a Catholic culture by homeschooling them who surrounds ourselves with other friends of like mind in this anti-culture of death, I was shocked to received a phone call from a friend in Boston yesterday on a business trip. Just for some short background, he and I as well as a couple of other friends have been discussing the prudence and actual applications of Bishops and even the Pope regarding ecumenical ventures and inter-religious dialogue, especially in comparison to what is actually authorized by Vatican II. This conversation that we have struggled with, and continue to struggle with, entails each of us trying to keep each other on the straight and narrow path of obedience to in faith and morals to the Magisterium. We have read the Vatican II documents on the topic and they appear to be much more measured and "conservative" if you will in their applications than any of the practical gatherings that our U.S. Bishops, the Pope at the two Assissi events, and even Cardinal Arinze with the Buddhists and Hindus, have managed to undertake.
Please understand we are dealing with complex problems, and aside from one of us who is completing his master's in theology, we are mere laymen who have read a lot, and are formed in our faith through reading, prayer and the sacraments, perhaps in a deeper stage than most 20 or 30-something year-old Catholic men in the U.S. today. In other words, our lifestyles and interests are not typical of today's Catholic man.
With that being said, we struggle with obedience to the magisterium of the Church and in wanting to not to exercise private judgment, however, when Cardinal Kasper, who has had his theological bouts with Cardinal Ratzinger, is appointed a cardinal by the Pope and put in charge of "Christian Unity," and further has stated (paraphrased) that the return of confessional Christians to Catholicism is "an outdated concept" and not in keeping with the theology of Vatican II, even those Catholics who are not of the "traditionalist" mindset should have cause for concern to at least question what it is exactly Cardinal Kasper (whom the Pope appointed) has in mind. Now, back to the story of my friend in Boston.
He called me from the airport and had the Boston Globe in his hand, and sputtered, "Did you read this in the Boston Globe today?!!" Being the person who ordinarily sends out articles on topics of the Church to a rather large e-mail list, I assumed he had wandered upon another Priestly scandal story.
"No. What is it?" I enquired. We got cut off, and while he was calling me back, I quickly pulled up the Boston Globe on the web, and there it was staring me in the face with the headline... "Catholics Reject Evangelization of Jews." Well, being a former reporter myself who nows deals with the media professionally, I decided to read the article and figure out what kind of misrepresentation on Church teaching the Globe was printing today. After reading the story, it appeared the headline was accurate, so quickly I went to the U.S. Bishops' website and pulled up the "commentary" on the reflection on some dialogue that had apparently been taking place between some Catholic Bishops (particularly Cardinal Keeler, whom certain homeschooling organizations have relied upon over the years as their representative to Rome--YIKES!) and prominent Jewish leaders in the U.S.
Sure enough, there it was, from our "bishops" the second paragraph states: "Citing the growing respect for the Jewish tradition that has unfolded since the Second Vatican Council, and the deepening Catholic appreciation of the eternal covenant between God and the Jewish people," the Catholic portion of the Reflections says that "campaigns that target Jews for conversion to Christianity are no longer theologically acceptable in the Catholic Church." http://www.usccb.org/comm/archives/2002/02-154.htm . Lots of footnotes, selectively pulled from writings of John Paul II, Vatican II, and of course, Cardinal Kasper. Now, without getting into the history of the claims of individuals within the Church of allegedly forcibly coercing Jews against their will, could this story really be true? My friend called back and we read parts of the article and reflection aloud.
"Steve," I said. "This is the evidence of the apostasy. Our bishops, (at least those who are in accord with this document) have said that Jesus Christ came to earth, was crucified by Jews through a gentile (Roman) political court and leader, and now, it really doesn't matter if the Jews become Catholic because, according to the document, both Jews and Christians are equal in God's eyes." In other words, Jesus Christ came and died on the cross, but did not redeem Israel because Israel did not need redeeming! "Tell that to the Israelites destroyed in the Temple!" said another friend of mine.
Rabbi Gilbert Rosenthal, Executive Director of the National Council of Synagogues, said: "The joint Catholic-Jewish statement on mission is yet another step in turning a new page in the often stormy relationship between the Jewish people and the Roman Catholic Church. Neither faith group believes that we should missionize among the other in order to save souls via conversion. Quite the contrary: we believe both faith groups are beloved of God and assured of His grace. The joint mission statement has articulated a new goal, namely the healing of a sick world and the imperative to repair the damage we humans have caused to God's creations. We believe we are partners in bringing blessings to all humankind for this is god's will."
Steve, on the other end of the phone, was dumbfounded. "I guess this means this battle that faithful lay Catholics face is going to get quite ugly and more difficult if this is what our bishops really think," he said. Silence on both ends...
Ladies and gentlemen, the statement agreed upon by the U.S. Bishops committee and certain Jewish organizations is nothing short of denial of Jesus Christ for salvation and the necessity of his Church as the mediator of salvation. The statement by the Rabbi above, as wonderfully ecumenical and politically correct and harmless as it sounds, is nothing by reformulated Freemasonic principles, condemned multiple times by the Church. This battle for our true Faith has crossed the boundaries of sanity, and it is my hope and belief that the differences between technique and understanding that exists between "traditionalist" and "conservative" Catholics of the Steubenville variety will be resolved and overlooked so that the laymen can collectively struggle protect the Faith itself as at the times of the Arian crisis, along with those Priests and Bishops who still believe in the Great Commission and of the Church's necessity for salvation, and bond together to point out these errors, these heresies... this apostasy to the Bishops themselves.
While many even "traditionalist" Catholics did not like nor appreciate the "We Resist You to Your Face" manifesto that came from some prominent layment directed toward Rome a year or so ago, we lay Catholics must defend our Faith, the entire deposit, against Bishops who no longer believe it is our duty as baptized Catholics to become saints ourselves, and just as importantly, to lead others to holiness through the Church that only the Apostolic Roman Church can provide through the sacraments and prayer. Cardinal Keeler and any other bishops who believe we must no longer evangelize non-Christians must be publicly rebuked by the faithful flock. It is our duty!
Sister Lucia and the apparitions of Fatima warned of this apostasy. It is time for good-hearted laymen to rise up and call for a restoration of traditional Catholicism to all corners and parishes throughout the world!
"Neither faith group believes that we should missionize among the other in order to save souls via conversion. Quite the contrary: we believe both faith groups are beloved of God and assured of His grace." You have got to be kidding me. Forcible conversions against someone's will? Of course not! The Church has never taught in its magisterial capacity that this was acceptable practice. But, "both faith froups are beloved of God and assured of His grace?" What about the prayers at every single Mass in the pre-Vatican II rite that were specifically for the conversions of the Jewish people? Were we really wrong all those years? Were we? Or perhaps are the Bishops wrong now?
Finally, as depressing and "negative" as this may be, it may be time to take Pope Paul VI's warning to heart:
"The tail of the devil is functioning in the disintegration of the Catholic world. The darkness of Satan has entered and spread throughout the Catholic Church even to its summit. Apostasy, the loss of the faith, is spreading throughout the world and into the highest levels within the Church." Pope Paul VI, October 13, 1977, Address on the Sixtieth Anniversary of the Fatima Apparitions.
posted by Brian Barcaro 8/14/2002 01:06:45 PM
All I know is the thief on the cross admitted his sin and was forgiven and still had to die for it. God could have brought him down from that cross and did not do it.
But you asked for scripture to back up punishment for sin (consequences), and I posted some. No heat, no animosity - just an answer to a question. David was no minor-league player. He was a "man after God's own heart", but he paid dearly for at least some of his sins, and he humbly, though painfully accepted it.
In the bible, people went and did certain things (actions - possibly penitential actions) and were healed, like bathing in rivers, pools, etc. Certain actions do indeed have power in the spiritual sense. Who am I to say that walking through the door doesn't do any good? I wasn't there and I didn't do it. I'm saying I don't KNOW if the door is efficacious or not but that I DO KNOW WHY people walk through the door and it is not for the reason you stated.
I don't understand everything about scripture, will never understand everything in there, revere it, but must walk by faith and trust that God will not call me to account for what I do not understand.
Many things protestants say do interest me and make sense, but the minute they start bashing the catholic church with lies (because they don't seem to care enough to read up about certain of her teachings) (there are websites all over the place like that).
I'll give you an example. There is an Ian Paisley who has a website. He hates the catholic church. Some of his objections might carry weight, but he says lots of things about the catholic church that simply are not true. He talks about apparitions that the church has not approved, he talks about Mary being a co-redeemer (not approved by the church as of this date), things like that. Why should I believe anything else he says when I know he is not being truthful about things I DO know?
In other words, he TWISTS truth which can be objectively proven (unlike scripture) to suit his own agenda. I don't like that because he is placing himself in the category of a liar (about certain things) due to his blind hatred.
You are preaching at me about something I will never be fully certain about in this life. You are trying to impose your beliefs on me. That is what is bothering me.
Now you have irritated me and I will have to find it in my heart to forgive you and it isn't going to be easy and it will take time.
It would be much easier to forgive you if you could be more honest about the door. But that is my problem now, not yours.
Please be more specific about this "indulgence" - what does it entail? Again, does the act of walking thru a door have any power to do anything? Or is Christ alone who gives favor. God does not make deals. His blessings are gifts - you can't earn them or deserve them.
Jesus healed the man and simply used the pool as a vehicle. The pool itself has no power. Actions in and of themselves have no power in the spiritual sense. This presupposes merit by works. Merit from God is a free gift that cannot be earned. Ro. 4:5
I hate anything that that removes Christ as the center of salvation and attention. I do not hate catholics. But I will expose lies from any quarter whence they come - I will expose them to the light of truth. Many things the catholic church teaches are simply wrong - and some of these things have been exposed on this thread. Their view of muslims, jews, evolution, etc. There are many heresies in protestant churches as well and I expose them equally. As I mentioned earlier, I belive that most people who call themselves Christians are deceived by lies. Salvation comes only thru faith in Christ alone. Faith in Allah (a false god) won't save; rejection of Christ leads straight to Hell. As Peter said, "there is no other name under heaven by which we must be saved." Jesus is the ONLY way - period. There is no saving power in belonging to any church or going to any building, or walking thru any door, or following the Pope. You must trust in Jesus Christ and His finished work on the cross. He paid the penalty for all sins and forgiveness is available to all who put their trust in Him (and strop trusting themselves or their own actions). Indulgences are a lie from hell.
I am not trying to impose my beliefs on you. There is only ONE TRUTH. It is found in scripture. Anytime you have men proclaiming new truths outside of scripture, it creates a big problem becuase all men are fallible and sinful. I want to encourage you to read scripture. SCRIPTURE CAN BE TRUSTED - JESUS SAYS SO. Rest on the solid truths of scripture. If your beliefs are false or contradict what scripture says, would you not want to know this? Why not be a seeker of truth? You don't have to believe what others tell you - believe what God tells you through His Word.
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