Vatican Official Foresees "Pruning" at Catholic Colleges

Nov. 02 (CWNews.com) - A Vatican official has predicted that Pope Benedict XVI might favor "evangelical pruning" of Catholic colleges that are not upholding the faith, the Cardinal Newman Society reports. Archbishop Michael Miller, the secretary of the Congregation for Catholic Education, told an audience at the University of Notre Dame that "the measure of an institution can be judged by its Catholic integrity." He suggested that if a school has lost contact with its Catholic heritage, "it might be a matter of truth and justice that such an institution is no longer upheld."

The archbishop said that in light of what Pope Benedict has said and written, it is clear that the Pontiff expects Catholic institutions to promote the faith. He said the Pope believes that "it might be better for the Church not to expend its resources trying to preserve institutions if their Catholic identity has been seriously compromised."

Once a school loses its Catholic identity, the archbishop continued, "the burden of proof falls on the university" to demonstrate a commitment to the faith. The recovery of a true Catholic identity, he said, would require "making positive changes" rather than simply maintaining existing policies. Patrick J. Reilly, the president of the Cardinal Newman Society, wertelcomed the archbishop's predictions, citing the need for "truth in advertising" in American Catholic institutions. He said that the "disunity and dissent" prevalent in many Catholic institutions of higher learning has had "diastrous consequences for Catholic students and their families."

The Cardinal Newman Society is a national organization to strengthen and renew Catholic identity at US Catholic colleges and universities.

Galatians 1:1 Paul, an Apostle, (not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ, and God the Father, Who raised Him from the dead;) (This means Paul did not submit the authority of his Apostleship to men, neither was it conferred on him by man)

Good news!= GOSPEL

(Truth is not determined by a majority vote -- Pope Benedict XVI)

he is absolutly correct

The Word of God determined by God is the only Truth humanity has

"Therefore brothers, stand firm and hold fast to the traditions that you were taught, either by an oral statement or by a letter of ours." 2Thessalonians 2:15.

Start at the beginning of the chapter

2Thessalonians 2:1 Now we beseech you, Bretheren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ (refers to both the Rapture and the Second Coming) and by our gathering together with Him (the phrase refers strictly to the Rapture),

2Thessalonians 2:2 That you be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled (false doctrine does this), neither by spirit (messages in tongues and interpretation, which purport to be of the Lord, but really were not), nor by letter as from us (someone had written a letter claiming certain prophetic things, and evidently had signed Paul's name to it, which means it was a forgery), as that the Day of Christ is at hand (should have been translated, "the Day of the Lord," because this is how the best manuscripts read; the "Day of the Lord" refers to all events after the Rapture; some were claiming, even in Paul's day, that the Second Coming was about to take place, which of course was wrong),

2Thessalonians 2:3 Let no man deceive you by any means (in other words, don't listen to that which is Scripturally incorrect), : for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first (should have been translated, "for that day shall not come, except there come a departure first"; this speaks of the Rapture, which in essense says the Second Coming cannot take place until certain things happen), and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition, (this speaks of the Antichrist, who must come upon the world scene before the Second Coming)

2Thessalonians 2:4 Who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God (pertains to his declaration of himself as Deity), , or that is worshipped (the Antichrist will put down all religions, at least in the area which he controls, making himself alone the object of worship), so that he as God sits in the Temple of God (refers to the Jewish Temple, which will be rebuilt in Jerusalem; the Antichrist will take over the Temple, making it his religious headquarters)), , showing himself that he is God. (this proclaims his announcement of Deity as it regards himself.)

2Thessalonians 2:5 Don't you remember, that when I was yet with you, I told you these things? (So, there was no excuse for the Thessalonians to be drawn away by false doctrine.)

2Thessalonians 2:6 And now you know what witholds (speaks of the Church) that he might be revealed in his time. (This speaks of the Antichrist who will be revealed or made known after the Rapture of the Church.)

2Thessalonians 2:7 For the mystery of iniquity does already work. (concerns false teaching by false teachers) only he. (the Church) who now lets (who now hinders evil) will let (will continue to hinder) , until he (the Church) be taken out of the way. (The pronoun "he" confuses some people. In Verses 4 and 6, the pronoun "he" refers to the Antichrist, while in Verse 7 "he" refers to the Church.)

2Thessalonians 2:8 And then (after the Rapture of the Church) shall that Wicked (the Antichrist) be revealed (proving conclusively that the Rapture takes place before the Great Tribulation [Mat. 24:21]) whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of His Mouth (should have been translated, "the Breath of His Mouth" [Isaiah 11:4]) and shall destroy with the brightness of His Coming (both phrases refer to the Second Coming):

2Thessalonians 2:9 Even him (the Antichrist) whose coming is after the working of Satan (means Satan is the sponsor of the Antichrist) with all power and signs and lying wonders (proclaims the fact that the Antichrist's rise to power, at least in the beginning will be very religious),

2Thessalonians 2:10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them who perish (refers to the fact that "all lying powers and lying signs and lying wonders" will be used to deceive the world) because they received not the love of the Truth, that they might be saved (they rejected Christ and the Cross)

2Thessalonians 2:11 And for this cause (the rejection of Christ and the Cross) God shall send them strong delusion (if one doesn't want "the Truth," God will see to it that one receives a "delusion") , that they should believe a lie (should have been translated, "that they should believe the lie"; the Greek Text has the definite article "the lie", which refers to a specific lie, that "lie" pertains to anything that leads a person away from the Cross)

2Thessalonians 2:12 That they all might be damned who believe not the Truth (who would not accept the Cross) but had pleasure in unrighteousness. (The Greek has the definite article, which actually says "the unrighteousness," it is really referring to the results of rejection of the Cross of Christ.)

2Thessalonians 2:13 But we are bound to give thanks always to God for you (refers to those who did not succumb to the lies of false teachers) , Brethren beloved of the Lord, because God has from the beginning chosen you to Salvation through Sanctification of the Spirit (Holy Spirit) and belief of the Truth (concerns itself not with the "who" of Salvation [in other words, who will be saved], but rather the "manner" of Salvation and Sanctification; People are saved by trusting Christ and the Cross; the "Cross" is the means of all things pertaining to God, as it relates to humanity)

2Thessalonians 2:14 Whereunto He (God) called you by our Gospel (Jesus Christ and Him Crucified [1Cor. 1:17-18, 21; 2:2]) , to the obtaining of the Glory of our Lord Jesus Christ (This pertains to the wonder that comes with Salvation, and all because of what Christ did at the Cross.)

2Thessalonians 2:15 Therefore, Brethren, stand fast (refers to standing fast in the Gospel Paul had Preached unto them) , and hold the traditions which you have been taught (refers to what Paul had taught them, which was the Truth) , whether by word, or our Epistle. (This is what he had preached to them when he was personally with them, and as well the Epistle he had already sent them, and the second one he is now writing.)

The words of the LORD are pure words, As silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times. Thou shalt keep them, O LORD, Thou shalt preserve them from this generation forever. [Psalm 12:6,7]

Heaven and earth shall pass away, But my words shall not pass away. [Matthew 24:35]

II Corinthians 2:17 - "For we are not as many, which corrupt the word of God..." II Corinthians 11:13 - "For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ."

Galatians 2:4 - "And that because of false brethren unawares brought in, who came in privily to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage..."

Acts 20:29-30 - "For I know that after my departure shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them."

Galatians 1:6 I marvel that you are so soon removed from Him (the Holy Spirit) Who called you into the Grace of Christ (made possible by the Cross) unto another Gospel (anything which doesn't have the Cross as its object of Faith)

Galatians 1:7 Which is not another (presents the fact that Satan's aim is not so much to deny the Gospel, which he can little do, as to corrupt it) but there be some who trouble you, and would pervert the Gospel of Christ (once again, to make the object of Faith something other than the Cross)

Galatians 1:8 But though we (Paul and his associates) or an Angel from Heaven, Preach any other Gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you (Jesus Christ and Him Crucified) let him be accursed (eternally condemned; the Holy Spirit speaks this through Paul, making this very serious)

Galatians 1:9 As we said before, so say I now again (at sometime past, he had said the same thing to them, making their defection even more serious) , If any man Preach any other Gospel unto you (anything other than the Cross) than that you have received (which saved your souls) , let him be accursed ("eternally condemned", which means the loss of the soul)

Galatians 1:10 For do I now persuade men, or God? (In essence, Paul is saying, "do I Preach man's doctrine, or God's?) or do I seek to please men? (this is what false apostles do.) for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the Servant of Christ (one cannot please both men and God at the same time).

Blessings to you all brothers and sisters in Christ

By the Holy Spirit which teacheth all things and dwells within me and others who love the Truth.

1 Corinthians 2:9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.

1 Corinthians 2:10 But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.

1 Corinthians 2:11 For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.

1 Corinthians 2:12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.

1 Corinthians 2:13 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.

1 Corinthians 2:14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

1 Corinthians 2:15 But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man.

1 Corinthians 2:16 For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.

John 15:26 But when the Comforter is come (the Holy Spirit) Whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of Truth (concerns the veracity of the Word of God; the Holy Spirit superintended its writing all the way from Moses, who began with Genesis, to the closing as given to John on the Isle of Patmos) , which proceeds from the Father (proclaims the Father sending the Holy Spirit in the Name of Jesus and by the Authority of Jesus), He shall testify of Me (Who Christ is [God] and what Christ has done, the Cross)

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