Christ also promised that the Church as a whole will not fail (Mt 16:18), and that Peter in the end will not fail (Lk 22:32). Mat 16:18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
What does this have to do with the Catholic church failing or not failing? If men that run the church fail the church fails.
Besides, why use Peter? Because it is the only passage that could possibly, remotely lend credence to the church's claims of authority, and it does not. Peter brought the Gospel to the Israelites. Paul brought the Gospel to the non-Israelites. Is the church filled with Israelites?
Luk 22:32 But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.
This was a comfort of Jesus given to Peter. I fail to see how it has anything to do with the Catholic church, since Peter's work was for the Israelites. Or to do with the church at all, under any interpretation.
As I mentioned before, the church makes a lot of soup from such a small stone.
The Timothy passages were Paul expounding on the character that illustrated those that depart from the Gospel. Any council of of mere men can be, and was most likely was, considering the character of men the church tolerates now, on such councils that determined extra-scriptual policy.
That is the problem with men making policy that departs from the scriptures. for, being corrupted, their policy is corrupt.
OK, show me any passage that condones praying to human beings, living or dead. Since such a act directly impact the relationship of God with men, you should have a direct passage, not one that implies through a line of peripheral interpretations.
Intercessory prayer to saints is not expressly approved or disproved in the scripture, because the practice was established after the canonical books were written.
Rom 16:17 ¶ Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.
Rom 16:18 For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.
Notice the phrase "contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned"? This covers "the practice was established after the canonical books were written".
Chapter and verse, please.
2Ti 3:16 All scripture [is] given by inspiration of God, and [is] profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
Church fathers do no write scripture.
It means that one guilty of mortal sin cannot present himself for the Eucharist.
Where does the Corinthians passage I posted say "mortal sin", and "mortal sin" has been used in the scriptures, so it is a phrase that would have been used.
And, I have no doubt, what with the composition of the church these days, there would have been men who created such offenses in those days. Any doctrine that comes from man, Catholic or Protestant, is suspect, and I'll call it false. You don't have to agree, only God.
If men that run the church fail the church fails This is not what the scripture in Mt 16 says. Peter fails right in the next passage (by urging Christ to take on tempory powers without the Cross), yet the promise is there.
Because it is the only passage that could possibly, remotely lend credence to the church's claims of authority
The promise to uphold in heaven decisions of faith made on earth is a striking one. You cannot ignore it. But Peter's special role is apparent throughout the gospel: he receives the Keys alone, he is renamed in the tradition of the Old Testament patriarchs, he is charged to feed the sheep personally, and it is Peter who like Christ raises the dead (Acts 9) and who, -- contrary to your mistaken belief, -- converts the first gentile (Acts 11).
This [Luke 22:32] was a comfort of Jesus given to Peter. I fail to see how it has anything to do with the Catholic church, since Peter's work was for the Israelites
Christ's promise to Peter, on whom the Church was built, that he does not fail and confirm his brethren, i.e. the rest fo the Chruch, has everything to do with the Church. The notion that Peter had a ministry exclusive to the Jews is a counterscriptural fantasy, common to protestants who would not study the scripture.
show me any passage that condones praying to human beings, living or dead
There are many cases of intercession of living poople: the raising of Jayrus's daughter and of Lazarus come immediately to mind, and the miracle at Cana. This is all a prayer to saints is: the faithful asks a saint to pray for him to Christ.
Notice the phrase "contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned"?
Yes. Learned from whom? We learned our prayers from the Church.
Church fathers do no write scripture
Human authoriship of the gospel of Luke and John, the Apocalypse, and of most epistles is acknowledged in them. The passage in 2 Timothy calls the scripture known to Timothy since his childhood (that would include the books Luther banned) inspired by God (but not written by God) and "profitable". It also mentions that the profit accrues to "the man of God", i.e. member of the clergy, perhaps a bishop, which Timothy was. No Sole Scriptura there. Chapter and verse for the Sola Scriptura, please.
Where does the Corinthians passage I posted say "mortal sin"
It does not, but it speaks of worthiness to receive. The teaching of the Church explains that passage in the way I did to you: those burdened by mortal sin should come to confession and have the mortal sin absolved before they receive.
There no mention of a church anywhere in it, except that a "church" properly defined is simply a group of those who agree in their belief
The church is mentioned (please -- can't you read?) and two or three mentioned elsewhere, hence the "church" is there in the institutional, not contrived, sense of the word.