[ameribbean expat]

Yes there was a time when the church was "one holy catholic and apostolic". But the canon of Holy Scripture was set by council, a method of dispute resolution which seemed to work quite well until the filioque controversy-- and then who blew the bridge in 1054?

So far all I see is "armed" and "Catholic", and yes, that was many a European Protestant's nightmare for a couple of centuries. But please do thank the Pope for kicking my ancestors asses, because the ones who survived came to New Amsterdam. Nice to see so many of Catholics acknowledge the superiority of Protestant social order by voting with your feet and immigrating here even though it must grieve you terribly to have to live amongst heretics.

[Truelove]

Yes, indeed it does grieve me terribly to live amongst heretics, but since I was born here and even born heretical, it was beyond my control. However, "Why seek ye rest when ye were born to labor".

Heretics are everywhere, keeps life interesting. The filioque dispute was only one of many speed bumps in the life of a 2,000 year old organization. The Lord only promised that the gates of hell would not prevail, and they have not. He didn't promise a rose garden, that's the Methodists. ;-)

[rwfromkansas]

Do you know the history of Maryland? Hint: MARY land....this shows the Catholics true colors, who settled Maryland. Instead of calling it "Jesusland," they go out and give Mary top billing.

It speaks volumes.

Anyway, the Puritans started coming into Maryland in droves and actually ended up becoming more powerful than the original Catholic settlers. Pretty cool.