Posted on 10/11/2006 9:29:49 AM PDT by Antioch
Before criticizing Pentecostal churches that draw Catholics as members, Catholic leaders should ask why their own parishes aren't meeting the needs of those who leave, the Vatican's top ecumenical representative said yesterday at Duquesne University. "Our response cannot be in the form of a polemical approach, leaving ourselves to condemn the activities of other groups," said Cardinal Walter Kasper, president of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity. Such an approach "is not constructive and could even be counter-productive," he said. While Cardinal Kasper is known for outreach to traditional Protestant and Orthodox churches, he said it is crucial to be engaged with a diverse global Pentecostal movement that now claims 600 million adherents. He spoke to an audience of about 225, including Bishop Paul Bradley, administrator of the Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh, Metropolitan Basil Schott of the Byzantine Catholic Archeparchy of Pittsburgh, Episcopal Bishop Robert Duncan of Pittsburgh and Metropolitan Nicholas of the Carpatho-Russian Orthodox Church of Johnstown.
(Excerpt) Read more at post-gazette.com ...
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I have been reading your comments and taking them to heart. But you must answer that question to square your credibility.
Speak the Truth and d@mn the consequences.
I don't know where you guys go to church; it must either be in the Bolivian rainforest or else an alternate dimension.
Here in This World Catholic apologists actually seize upon higher criticism and rejection of the facticity of the Biblical text (in the name of "science") as one of Catholicism's "selling points" vis a vis Fundamentalist Protestants. There are any number of sites out there ridiculing not only Fundamentalist Protestants but literalist Catholics as well. I saw one some time back made up of hypocrites who rejected the "J*sus Seminar" even while they swallowed the demytholigization of the "old testament" whole cloth.
Also in this world Catholic publications from across the spectrum frequently explicitly attack the literal inerrancy of the Bible even as they remain neutral on the sun dancing in Portugal in 1917.
What is it with liturgical religion and demytholigization? They seem to agree with Eliade.
Six years. I entered through the 1983-84 catechumenate class and left the Catholic Church the sunday before e*ster 1990, and left chr*stianity altogether that summer.
G-d bless you, wideawake. I don't know what I'd do without you.
LOL. Love it.
I think I was about 8 years old or some such . . . sitting on the front pew during a healing service time in the service or after the service. I think it was after the service had formally ended.
There was this rather stout but not huge woman . . . middle aged . . . Not layered in fat but one of the so called BIG BONED PEOPLE sort of persons.
My mother's father had started the church and in this new building had insisted on hardwood floors. For some reason, the healing line where this woman was, was to the side of the center asile carpeting.
I don't recall whether the pastor actually touched the woman's head lightly with oil first or just started to touch her head. But she fell over with a resounding WHAM
AND BOUNCED about an inch and a half off the hardwood floor at her head end. I still don't know why she bounced. Not sure of the physics of that. But to this kid at that age, it was a wonder to behold.
After lying there for 10 minutes or so, she got up and was none the worse for wear with no bump on her head.
I've wanted to be "slain in The Spirit" dozens of times as it seemed to be a state of being "shut-in with God" in an intense intimate dialogue and cleansing, teaching session very ONE ON ONE. Hasn't ever happened.
In the same church above when I was about 12-14, one time during a very intense service where the Power of God was heavily evident and the air rather electric with HIS PRESENCE, in the midst of worship I suddenly discovered that my knees no longer functioned--just like they turned to jello. I merely sat on the pew--actually, probably about the same spot as I was sitting at the 8 year old experience above.
I've been prayed for and over and had hands lain on me by some of the biggest names. People fell all around me. Sometimes, disgustingly, the praying person pushed me over and I obliged just to be gracious. But mostly, I hated such antics and typically resisted when some character would get pushy. God doesn't need antics. He's much better at antics than we are.
I don't know what the differences are. I've seen congregations where everyone in the first dozen rows or more say would slump or fall "under HS's power." I'm glad for them. They report it as a very sweet experience with God.
I've been plenty jealous. But I've come to believe that God gives all of us who truly seek HIM, what WE need. That may be markedly different from what virtually every other person alive needs, in some cases.
And, I'm keenly aware of SEEKING GOD, VS HIS GIFTS. SEEKING HIM AND HIS FACE IS BEST.
Well put.
Thanks.
Thanks big.
Would be happy to read your perspective and/or experience(s).
Sorry for asking that foot to go to fire...but what you saying?
Many people read these threads and you owe them the truth, IMO.
Please come clean!
What is "the HS?"
I repeat...what are you saying about your Catholic past and--did I read it incorrectly--you are not a Christian?
Not since the late summer of '90.
Sorry for asking that foot to go to fire...but what you saying?
What do you mean, what am I saying? I'm saying that authentic chr*stianity is lousy when it comes to accepting the Bible, that Fundamentalist Protestants get treated like dirt by their so-called "co-religionists," and that Fundamentalist Protestants should abandon chr*stianity for the Seven Noachide Laws.
Many people read these threads and you owe them the truth, IMO.
Please come clean!
I'm a well-known Noachide here at FR. What is there to "come clean" about? I'm defending the inerrancy of the Bible from the irreverences of chr*stianity, like I always do!
And thank you as well!!!
Well-known...I suspect a little hubris there. I don't know you and I read the religious threads religiously.
The thing I find strange though is...I have never known a person who has come face-to-face with the Holy Spirit ("the HS") or Yeshua...and just walk away.
Just curious...are you the first to just walk away?
Most Noachides in the United States are rural white Southerners from Fundamentalist Protestant backgrounds. We love and reverence the TaNa"KH (Bible). This gives us sort of a lead on everyone else.
There isn't a religion in the world that hasn't lost some of its people to another religion. No religion is immune.
Now what? You want to use FR to argue theology with me?
Well now you've done it.
Do you have your asbestos underwear on?
I don't argue...I am dead (in Him).
But your responses are curious. People like me are wondering what kind of witness says he is not a Chr*stian.
Argue...that's curious too.
For crying out loud, Quix! Didn't you get it? It's greater to prophesize than to speak with tongues!
That's plain Bible. As a shrink, I can understand folks not believing and practicing what the Bible says in that verse. As a Christian, I can't. I don't have a rubber Bible. Sorry for those who do.
As a shrink then you must also understand the dynamics of mass hysteria. Rubber Bible? I guess that depends on who is holding the Rubber Bible. Is it you or is it me?
Hmmm...very curious as I was once in the Bible belt and part of an extremely consersative parish.
Regardless of what you think, Zionist Conspirator, you would be welcomed back. Once a Catholic, always a Catholic.
If you want to FReep mail me, I can get you in touch with some parishes that might meet your needs. Ball is in your court, I will leave that up to you.
Theology is not an intellectual issue...or one of logic.
I cannot...but the Spirit within me would be delighted to argue this issue.
Okie dokey...bring it on.
Oh my, one has to wince...I keep reading things about the charismatic happenings at Steubenville. Thanks for the link.
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