I know a bit of Catholic theology, and I know that Cardinal Gibbons thinks in terms of Catholic theology. That helps me understand exactly what he is saying. If a person doesn't know Catholic theology, it will make is much easier to misunderstand what he is saying.
Ironically, that is exactly my point about Scripture. Trying to understand and interpret Scripture apart from the Church is a recipe for misunderstanding and misinterpretation.
I don't presume to speak with any *authority*, however. If you want *authoritative* Catholic answers, seek out a bishop.
-A8
Perhaps, but you have one major hurdle to overcome. Have you ever wondered why Catholics claim to have a monopoly on the scriptures? Seriously, every time non-Catholics argue from scripture, some Roman will pipe up and claim that we are using "their" Bible. This is the root of the matter here, and I believe a major component that you are missing here in the debate. The church at Rome believes is existed for 300 years prior to the Bible and thus, the Roman Church created the Bible, not the other way around. This is a very important idea for a Catholic to understand about his faith. The Church cannonized the scriptures. Therrefore, the Church does not have to adhere to the scriptures. Sure, it is nice when it happens, but in all actuality, the Church needs no Bible whatsoever because of Mat 16:18. You seem to think that everyting the Church teaches is Biblical, when nothing could be further from the truth. I have posted quotations from several leaders in this Church who plainly state that the Church is not bound by the scriptures, nay, not even by the God Breathed Commandment, yet you persist in this notion that Sunday is scriptural.
I want to make this perfectly clear. If Sunday is scriptural, then the men I quoted are liars. They specifically say that the scriptures show Saturday to be sanctified, not Sunday, and you alone are making the claim to the contrary.
"But the Protestant says: How can I receive the teachings of an apostate Church? How, we ask, have you managed to receive her teachings all your life, in direct opposition to your recognized teacher, the Bible, on the Sabbath question?" The Christian Sabbath (2nd ed.; Baltimore: The Catholic Mirror, 1893), p. 29, 30.
"The (Catholic) Church changed the observance of the Sabbath to Sunday by right of the divine, infallible authority given to her by her Founder, Jesus Christ. The Protestant, claiming the Bible to be the only guide of faith, has no warrant for observing Sunday. In this matter the Seventh Day Adventist is the only consistent Protestant." "The Question Box," The Catholic Universe Bulletin, 69 (August 14, 1942), 4.
"The Sabbath was Saturday, not Sunday. The Church altered the observance of the Sabbath to the observance of Sunday. Protestants must be rather puzzled by the keeping of Sunday when God distinctly said, 'Keep holy the Sabbath Day.' The word Sunday does not come anywhere in the Bible, so, without knowing it they are obeying the authority of the Catholic Church." Canon Cafferata, The Catechism Explained, p. 89.
Don't you understand that by claiming the Catholic Church teaches within scripture, you are actually denying the very power that said church claims to be its very basis? If Rome does not have the power to contradict scripture, and Sunday worship is scriptural, then what are these men talking about? Can you please point me to the scripture that commands the Christian to keep Sunday holy apart from any writ of the church at Rome?