Not Calvin!
Posted on 03/16/2006 7:42:26 AM PST by Gamecock
Whoops... I try going to neutral sources but end up repeating misleading statements...
Turns out "soon to be dashed" means within days... the Pope had been misled as to the events of St. Bartholomew's massacre, and by September 2 was already denounding the horrors of that day.
Makes me wonder who with any shred of decency would assert papal approval by reprinting the coin when they know the coin was immediately withdrawn and apologized for. Misleading to the point of deception. Shame on you Dr. Eckleburg! Shame on you Gamecock!
(And shame on me for falling for trying to meet a devil half-way!)
It can be no other way than a "by their fruit" kind of thing. Catholic missions and charities do much to alleviate this world's suffering and blight, do they not? That's good fruit.
I'm sorry I'm late to the thread. I have appreciated your comments. At times, I think the 'institution-directed criticism' (whether rightly or wrongly deserved) too often spills over into personal venom.
Not a very good testament to Christian behavior from either side. As for the (self) justification of 'setting the record straight'; Knowledge....it shall pass away.
As I've mentioned I grew up in a predominantly Anglo/Protestant town. And that to know these people was to witness first hand what 'you shall know them by their fruits' means. The Presbyterian Church there is a landmark. My Mom from time to time will mention that the attitude of those in ecclesial power during the time she grew up, as it relates to Protestantism, was one of total intolerance. Almost as if, should you approach a clergyman, and remark that you had a choice between attending a Protestant church and a brothel, he'd advise you to frequent the latter. Those are my words, not my Mother's. I use them because of the look that comes over her face when she describes the attitude prevalent at the time. Now she sees Protestant ministers receiving Communion.
About 10 years ago my Mom attended the funeral of a friend at that landmark Presbyterian Church. She came back from the Service, edified and invigorated by the Sermon delivered by its Pastor. She had never heard anything even close to that in her own Church, in her entire life. It didn't make her think Catholicism was illegitimate, it made her see what Protestantism was mainly about.
I'm not sure she ever believed the Catholics are in heaven alone fiction, but the terror tactics of the Church at the time sure made the Protestants into pariahs.
I also understand why Protestants felt they had to overturn everything, but I'm not sure that was the best route to take. Surely, Luther and Calvin did not want or intend for the Church they left behind to be as fragmented as it is today. It is scandalous that one has to church shop, and this crosses all denominations, including Catholicism.
I turned 50 yesterday, most of those years I spent as a catholic. There is a part of me that will always be catholic.
Several weeks past I spoke with my godmother in Italy and inquired about my Baptism, which took place in Italy, in '56. She described the event, and was delighted to relay it to me. After pouring water over my head and anointing my forehead with oil (all being done with the Priest confessing, I Baptize thee in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost) the Priest put a bit of salt in my ears and on my lips, symbolizing la sapienza di Dio, that is, the knowledge and wisdom of God, based on the Scriptural references to the salt that are part of the Old and New Testaments. I find that incredibly beautiful, and no passage of time, or place of refuge will change that.
I was never much of a self-conscious Catholic, and I really don't want to become a self-conscious ex-Catholic. I shed copious tears over this decision, and it has left a permanent wound.
What a beautiful post.
God Bless
Not Calvin!
Yes, well.....then once beset with that realization, you will tread those waters with much greater care and love, eh? God Bless you....and
Albion, whew....truly a heart-softening post, my ether-arms around you, sister.
You can come back sooner than it took you to leave, because it is Christ Who will be leading you.
The Irish daughter had not been home for over 5 years. Upon her return, her father cussed her: "Where have you been all this time, you ingrate! Why didn't you write us, not even a line to let us know how you were doing? Why didn't you call? Don't you know what you put your Mum through??!!" The girl, crying, replied, "Sniff, sniff... Dad... I became a prostitute..." "WHAT!!? Out of here, you shameless harlot! Sinner! You're a disgrace to this family - I don't ever want to see you again!" "OK, Dad - as you wish. I just came back to give Mom this luxury fur coat, title deeds to a ten bed-roomed mansion, plus a savings account certificate for EURO 1 million. For my little brother, this gold Rolex, and for you, Daddy, the spanking new Mercedes limited edition convertible that's parked outside, plus a lifetime membership to the Country Club...(takes a breath)...and an invitation for you all to spend New Year's Eve on board my new yacht in the Riviera, and...." "Now, what was it you said you had become?" Girl, crying again, "Sniff, sniff... A prostitute, Dad... Sniff, sniff." "Oh! Bay Jesus! - you scared me half to death, girl! I thought you said 'a Protestant'. Come here and give your old man a hug!"
idolator
Do you even know the definition of the word?
Perhaps you mean heretic?
Let me see, you have a statue of Calvin... that makes you an idolator.
However, if you have a statue of Mary... that's ok.
I am going home to Corned beef and cabbage. Might even have a Guinness. Ah, the luck of the Irish.
Why not both? :-D I thought you said Calvinists could take a joke.
read later placemark
Name calling is a joke? Only when you add a smiley :>)
Sorry, dude. I'll add the smiley in the future. Enjoy your Guinness.
Cheers to ya:>)
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