I suppose you would get alot more agreement, well maybe :), if you separated the two. That is to say; there are many many wonderful Christian Catholics. Are there not in your experience? I'm sure there are, yes?
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.
"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."
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Thanks for your kind comments and I will keep your insights in mind.
In going back and forth with an RC poster (a serious RC) yesterday I asked if questioning the RC Church was the same as attacking an RC's Faith. The poster replied to the effect that "since the RC Church was created by JESUS and is his church to attack the church would be attacking his works." In these threads I had suspected this to be the case, but had never had it confirmed. The point I'm getting to is that it had not occurred to me until recently that for RC's criticizing their church is the same as criticizing their faith. As a Baptist we look at these things differently.