[NYer]

So this community is a spiritual family.

Pope Benedict XVI speaks at the opening session of the Italian bishops conference at the Vatican, Monday, May 30, 2005. The pontiff endorsed efforts by Italian bishops to restrict assisted fertility treatments, contending that an Italian referendum scheduled for June 12-13 to scrap parts of a law posed threats to life and the family. (AP Photo/Domenico Stinellis)

[Aquinasfan]

In Isaiah 22, we see the existence of the historical office of the vice-regent (vice-king) of the kingdom of David. In the king's absence, the vice-regent held full plenary authority. As a sign of his authority, the vice-regent wore a pouch around his neck which contained a key --the key to the kingdom.

In the passage from Isaiah, we see this office being transferred from Shebna to Eliakim:

Isaiah 22:20-23

"In that day I will summon my servant, Eliakim son of Hilkiah. I will clothe him with your robe and fasten your sash around him and hand your authority over to him. He will be a father to those who live in Jerusalem and to the house of Judah. I will place on his shoulder the key to the house of David; what he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open. I will drive him like a peg into a firm place; he will be a seat of honor for the house of his father.

Jesus is the eternal king of the House of David who is the power behind the keys.

Revelation 3:7

These are the words of him who is holy and true [Jesus], who holds the key of David. What he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open.

When Jesus gives Peter the "keys to the kingdom," he is placing Peter in the office of vice-regent of the eternal House of David, Christ's Church:

Matthew 16:18-19

I tell you that you are Rock (Peter), and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”

[Pat79thST]

Very intelligent post. Now, wait until the folks with 1/4" foreheads start railling against the Scarlet Woman.

[TaxachusettsMan]

Thank you so much for this posting! I have dinner this evening with some young Mormons who were shocked when I told them, "Oh, I don't think I could ever submit myself to a teaching authority as absolute as your Prophet's!"

"WHAT DO YOU MEAN????!!!!" they exclaimed, "WHAT ABOUT THE POPE?????!!!!!"

I replied, "Oh, the Pope is nowhere near as powerful as your Prophet!" :-)

I intend to print up this article and give them each a copy tonight over veal cacciatore at one of our town's nicest little family-run Italian restaurants.

And I shall make the supreme sacrifice - for the intention of their conversion! - of having only club soda with lime instead of the excellent Chianti Riservo I would ordinarily have! :-)

[Conservative til I die]

Anti-Catholics of bygone years have repudiated “popery” and railed against the “papists.”

Bygone years? I expect them to crawl out from under their slimy rocks any minute now!

[annalex]

F.Y.I.