Posted on 02/14/2007 8:30:18 AM PST by Diago
All those liberal Catholics should just formally break away, since they don't believe in the Pope's authority, anyway. Then they will be free to run a church exactly the way they want it, and we'll see which church is better off in a few years.
It is kind of ironic, and certainly tragic, that Regina Brett spoke at a Jesuit Retreat House fundraiser a cople of years ago:
Legal Abortion Advocate to Speak at Jesuit Retreat House Fundraiser
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/religion/829431/posts
http://www.georgetown.edu/centers/woodstock/ignatius/letter34.htm
From the Selected Letters of St. Ignatius:
Seeing the progress that the heretics have made in so short a time, spreading the poison of their evil teaching throughout so many countries and peoples, and making use of the verse of the Apostle to describe their progress, and their speech will eat its way like gangrene [2 Tim. 2:17], it would seem that our Society, having been accepted by Divine Providence among the efficacious means to repair such great damage, should not only be solicitous in preparing the proper remedies but should be ready to apply them, exerting itself to the utmost of its powers to preserve what is still sound and to restore what has fallen sick of the plague of heresy, especially in the northern countries.
The heretics have made their false theology popular and presented it in a way that is within the capacity of the common people. They preach it to the people and teach it in the schools, and scatter pamphlets that can be bought and understood by many; they influence people by their writings when they cannot reach them by preaching. Their success is largely due to the negligence of those who should have shown some interest, and the bad example and the ignorance of Catholics, especially the clergy, have made such ravages in the vineyard of the Lord. Hence it would seem that our Society should use the following means to end and cure the evils which the Church has suffered through these heretics.
MEA CULPA! I misread the article. I thought it was a Jesuit arguing for more liberalism in the Church. Sorry!
Women priests.
Married priests.
End of shortage.
*************
"End of shortage"? No. End of Church, Regina.
"It is not okay to say that someone is IGNORANT of facts?" -Suzy Quzy
I may be ignorant of the final outcoume of the discussion, but I believe it is acceptable to heap abuse on Catholics just as long is it isn't against an individual Catholic (although each Catholic is a part of the Body of Christ, and an attack on the Body is an attack on each of us). Disclaimer - the word "ignorant" isn't abusive, IMHO.
Wow, I hope I don't get reprimanded for using the term "ignorant" in reference to myself, because that is making it personal.
As a chaplain in the military, it was clear to us from our personnel data that "baptistic" types of Christians were the largest denomination in the country.
For that reason, they had by the largest numbers of chaplains representing their faith groups. The Catholics would have had the 2d largest number of chaplains, but they have serious issues providing chaplains to the military due to the unwillingness of Catholic Americans to become priests....the priest shortage. When I retired, the number of priests in the Army had dropped below 100.
That is not enough Catholics to have one per installation, much less one per brigade-level organization. Protestants of various stripes have more than enough to have one chaplain per battalion and a few per installation. A battalion is about a 10th of a brigade.
You are almost correct - it is completely acceptable to heap abuse on Catholics, just as long is it isn't against an individual/group of FReepers (Catholic or no).
Conversely, it is not acceptable to heap abuse on Catholics, personal or no, within any "Caucus"- or "Devotional"labeled thread, regardless of which group posts the thread. You would be completely within your rights to call out such abuse on a "Caucus"- or "Devotional"labeled thread, and I believe you would find the Mods sympathetic to your pleas if you did.
That said, you need to understand that those same rules apply for all groups/individuals within the Religion Forum. Catholics can (and some do) heap abuse deep and wide upon Protestantism, Judaism, Mormonism, Orthodoxy, etc etc etc all they want. Anyone going after an individual FReeper is a no-no, regardless of the religious persuasion of the attacking or receiving parties.
...each Catholic is a part of the Body of Christ, and an attack on the Body is an attack on each of us...
While I understand the argument, you won't find the Mods in agreement. The rules are against "making it personal", but there is no protection if you are "taking it personal". Just because your particular religious persuasion is called out, does not equate the comments to an attack upon you personally, nor should you take it as such.
FWIW, I don't find the epithet "ignorant" offensive myself. Others do (including the Religion Moderator), and you should therefore avoid attaching the label to individual FReepers.
You are almost correct - you should therefore avoid attaching the label to an individual/group of FReepers (Catholic or no).
While I understand the argument, you won't find the Mods in agreement. The rules are against "making it personal", but there is no protection if you are "taking it personal". Just because your particular religious persuasion is called out, does not equate the comments to an attack upon you personally
I added the "Body of Christ" comment as a personal aside to help illuminate why Catholics are offended when the Communion of Saints is attacked and/or denigrated. Yes, the rules are the rules, even though they may be slanted not to not account for the Body of Christ.
nor should you take it as such.
Well, that is not for you to say. If the Body of Christ is insulted, I will take it personally, as will most Catholics because of our understanding of the Communion of Saints.
As will many other Christians, for similar reasons. But one can take it personally without reacting in a unGodly way. "Be angry, and yet do not sin" (Ephesians 4:26). Likewise, “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; If he is thirsty, give him a drink; For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head.” (Romans 12:20). There are different ways to react; some are acceptable to the Mods, some are not.
"A dog barks when his master is attacked. I would be a coward if I saw that God's truth is attacked and yet would remain silent."
- John Calvin
Yes, unfortunately (for the moderators and for us) the moderators are god here, and decide what is an "unGodly way" and what is not.
A poster who takes things personally can and should stay on the closed (devotional, prayer and caucus) threads where he will not be offended. By wandering onto the Open threads with a chip on his shoulder, he is baiting a flame war.
Also, the poster of a Relifion Forum article - even a news item - can assure reverence by including the caucus label in the header.
I have no sympathy for Religion Forum posters who throw temper tantrums or wallow in self-pity when they have been informed of this protection and do not use it.
I have my doubts that it is "many", as I have seen here on FR. Maybe a few, but not many. Rarely have I seen anyone other than Catholics (and that term includes the Orthodox) come to the defense when something vile has been posted here about the BVM or any other saint.
Thanks for posting that the many times you have. We are just having a discussion, here. No need to get worked up.
That's because the veneration of the BVM is exceptionally unique - if not outright defining - of Catholicism. Are Catholics known to come to the defense when something vile has been posted here about Joseph Smith or Alexander Campbell?
Why would we?? I'm ignorant of who Campbell even IS?
Regina is a TWIT!
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