Sure, a pastor could do that, but that would just make him an apostate. He would only have the backing of other apostates. There's nothing to stop a priest from doing exactly the same thing. He just couldn't call it a Roman Catholic Church. I'm sure it has happened.
By the way, I had a scripture-only discussion with someone who maintained that our stance on homosexuality is overstating the scripture. His view was that every time (or at least in most striking passages form St. Paul) homosexuality is condemned it is "lying with a man as if with a woman" is condemned, and he interpreted it as bi-sexuality, not as someone who is 100% gay and does not pretend otherwise. Ridiculous? Yes. But he made a solid case from scripture. I was amazed.
That's interesting. I'd like to see that. I can't imagine a (wrong but) plausible scriptural argument for homosexuality. I wonder what Biblical "sexual perversion" would be to a homosexual. Maybe I shouldn't ask. :)
FK: "You told me yourself that there is nothing necessarily eternal about "eternal life"."
What?
The Catholic view is that there is nothing eternal about eternal life until one faces final judgment. During physical life, "eternal life" only lasts until the next mortal sin. That isn't eternal, that is temporary. One comparison might be to time itself. Outside of God, a scientist might say that time is eternal. If that scientist had the power to literally stop time in its tracks, then he would not make such a statement. For a thing to be eternal it must be assured.
[From "Saints Praying for Us on Earth":] If we need Biblical proof of saints in Heaven praying for us on earth, we need only look to the book of Revelation, which was written by John, the beloved disciple of Jesus. The martyred called out to the Lord for justice on earth (Rev. 6.9-11).
Thanks for the article, but this part is not persuasive. This is talking about the end times, and there will be MANY first and only time occurrences. I don't think this can be fairly used to say it has been happening all along.
[Ibid.] ..."(Heb. 12:1-2) Who are the witnesses surrounding us to whom the writer refers? If we look at the context from the previous chapter of Hebrews, the witnesses referred to are the faithful! ...... These people comprise the cloud of witnesses that surrounds us. ...... And these saints, along with all those who pass from this earthly life to the fullness of life in Heaven in Christ, intercede for us constantly until the day when Jesus returns ...
What? This is talking about the memory of their examples, not that they were literally floating around them right there. If they were literally "surrounded" then that would mean they were in the earthly presence of spirits. Does Catholicism teach that? In addition, there is no connection made between the "surrounding" and that they intercede for us constantly during life. Where does that come from?
Man, am I glad I KNOW I will have eternal life--eternally!
Sure, a pastor could [preach for sexual impropriety, for example], but that would just make him an apostate. [...] There's nothing to stop a priest from doing exactly the same thing. He just couldn't call it a Roman Catholic Church
The difference is, that church would still be commonly known as "protestant", perhaps with the adjective like unaffiliated, non-credal, or what have you. This is perhaps the liability that comes with being called "protestant", meaning "anything not Catholic". I would agree that the situation is exactly symmetrical for credal Protestant churches, such as Presbyterian or Lutheran, or Anglican. You understand what I am driving at? There is a general toothpaste-out-of-tube situation here, once personal interpretation of the scripture becomes sufficient reason to teach others in a church setting.
I wonder what Biblical "sexual perversion" would be to a homosexual.
It is on a forum that makes searches difficult, so I cannot show it, but the general line was that the most forceful condemnations of homosexuality we both could find were in terms of "lying with man as with women" and he argued, that condemned bi-sexuality only. Silly, I agree.
During physical life, "eternal life" only lasts until the next mortal sin.
Well, sure. This is like saying that a Honda runs forever unless you wreck it. It is a valid statement about an undestructible (hyperbolically, in that case) motor, is it not? Christ used the term in the same conditional sense, e.g when He said "Except you eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, you shall not have life in you" (John 6:54), right when he devotes several passages to eternal life.
This is talking about the end times, and there will be MANY first and only time occurrences. I don't think this can be fairly used to say it has been happening all along.
The delivery of the prayers of the saints (Apoc. 5:8, 8:3-4) might be at the end of time, but what makes you conclude the subjects of these prayers are unrelated to the present events? It is the present being judged, after all.
This is talking about the memory of their examples, not that they were literally floating around them right there. If they were literally "surrounded" then that would mean they were in the earthly presence of spirits
This is the passage. It is about the present struggle of the faithful, and it speaks of the "witnesses" that relieve our sin constantly; yes, the Church teaches that we are in their presence all the time:
1 And therefore we also having so great a cloud of witnesses over our head, laying aside every weight and sin which surrounds us, let us run by patience to the fight proposed to us: 2 Looking on Jesus, the author and finisher of faith, who having joy set before him, endured the cross, despising the shame, and now sitteth on the right hand of the throne of God. 3 For think diligently upon him that endured such opposition from sinners against himself; that you be not wearied, fainting in your minds. 4 For you have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin: 5 And you have forgotten the consolation, which speaketh to you, as unto children, saying: My son, neglect not the discipline of the Lord; neither be thou wearied whilst thou art rebuked by him. 6 For whom the Lord loveth, he chastiseth; and he scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. 7 Persevere under discipline(Hebrews 12)