Posted on 05/17/2007 10:08:04 AM PDT by Gamecock
Reading Francis Beckwith's interview with David Neff in Christianity Today, reminded me of how idyllic the Roman church can seem in the minds of those who embrace it (Click here: Q&A: Francis Beckwith | Christianity Today | A Magazine of Evangelical Conviction).
But then this news report appeared today which gives a much different picture of the supposed glories of Romanism (Click here: Pope to canonize first Brazilian saint - Yahoo! News).
All discussion of justification, the authority of Scripture, and reciting the Creed aside, the Pope is heading to Brazil to canonize Antonio de Sant'Anna Galvao, a Franciscan monk who is credited with 5000 miraculous healings. Over 1 million people are expected to be in attendance. The healings supposedly come as a result of swallowing rice paper pills prepared by the monk over two hundred years ago. According to the AP news report . . .
"The Vatican has officially certified the medical cases of two Brazilian women as divinely inspired miracles that justify the sainthood of Galvao. Both of these women spoke of their faith with The Associated Press, claiming that their children would not be alive today were it not for the tiny rice-paper pills that Friar Galvao handed out two centuries ago.
Although the friar died in 1822, the tradition is carried on by Brazilian nuns who toil in the Sao Paulo monastery where Galvao is buried, preparing thousands of the Tic Tac-sized pills distributed free each day to people seeking cures for all manner of ailments. Each one is inscribed with a prayer in Latin: `After birth, the Virgin remained intact. Mother of God, intercede on our behalf.'
Sandra Grossi de Almeida, 37, is one such believer. She had a uterine malformation that should have made it impossible for her to carry a child for more than four months. But in 1999, after taking the pills, she gave birth to Enzo, now 7. `I have faith," Grossi said, pointing to her son. I believe in God, and the proof is right here.'
Nearly 10 years before that, Daniela Cristina da Silva, then 4 years old, entered a coma and suffered a heart attack after liver and kidney complications from hepatitis A. `The doctors told me to pray because only a miracle could save her,' Daniela's mother Jacyra said recently. `My sister sneaked into the intensive care unit and forced my daughter to swallow Friar Galvao's pills.'"
So, if you "return home" to Rome, you get the whole ball of wax, including the beatification of saints who give out Tic-Tac size rice-paper pills which supposedly heal. And Pope Benedict XVI will be there to bless it all.
By the way, confessional Protestants affirm the historical evangelical doctrine of justification by grace alone, through faith alone, on account of Christ alone, and the full authority of Scripture. And yes, we even recite the Creed every Lord's Day and we use a biblical-text based liturgy which is quite similar to that described by Justin Martyr in the second century.
Too bad Dr. Beckwith didn't consider a confessional Protestant church before embracing Romanism. Now he's stuck with Antonio de Sant'Anna Galvao and his rice-paper healing pills.
So many to choose from, but in keeping with this article, let's say the lie here is that 5000 people were magically healed by "rice paper pills prepared by the monk over two hundred years ago."
If you believe this you probably also believe Benny Hinn clears sinuses and cures cancer.
Good luck at your next physical exam.
Well they could rename themselves The House of Esau
Precisely. I was taught this in about fifth grade.
Now that you are a Dr., does that mean we have to make appointments to ping you?
I haven't seen a snake in our Presbyterian congregation since the choir director quit.
8~)
That's the buzz word these days. Talk about how homosexuality is wrong and you hate homosexuals. Talk about how illegal immigrants are wrong for coming into the country illegally and you hate them. Talk about people who shouldn't have abortions and you hate them. Everyone who don't agree with your moral and theological views are hateful. I was just talking about this on another post.
It's very nice for sound bites.
**rimshot**
Maybe they do, I wouldn’t know. If a Mormon tells me that the word Mormon is offensive to him, I’ll use something else. This isn’t a matter of PC, it is a matter of civility. If a man wants to be called Robert, I don’t address him as Bob. What ever happened to being civil? The good doctor asked me how old I am. I am old enough to remember when conservatives believed in traditional values. And civility is a traditional value. Maybe it isn’t with generation X.
I assumed that gamecock, in posting the piece that spoke of “Romanism”, was implicitly endorsing it. If I was mistaken, and gamecock actually does not approve of such usage, then I am very happy to apologize to him.
I am not quite sure why several Protestants here are all worked up. Someone posted an article mocking certain aspects of the Catholic Church. That is where this began. I pointed out that the thing being mocked has biblical precedent. I also noted that Calvin and Luther did no miracles. Maybe that was not so nice on my part, but at least it was a rational argument, and not just mockery. The argument was that authenticated miracles are, if anything, evidence for not against a religion. (Well, maybe the part about the sick cow was mockery, I admit to that. Mea culpa.) I can understand if someone might have been annoyed by my posting about Luther and Calvin. What I cannot understand is why anyone who indulges in mockery and incivility would be upset at being criticized for mockery and incivility. At one level, I am happy that some Protestants continue to use terms like papist and Romanist. It is a confession of intellectual bankruptcy on their part. And that works to the advantage of Catholicism. In spite of that, I regret it, because I think it gives a very bad witness to non-Christians.
I no despiser of Protestantism. I have been asked to speak on religious subjects at quite a few Protestant churches and colleges, including conservative and evangelical ones. I have several very conservative Protestant pastors and theologians (some of national reputation) as my good friends. These good men do not go around mocking Catholicism and using silly terms like papist. They are grown-ups. They realize that it hurts the cause of Christ.
((wink wink nudge nudge))
8~)
Even the article never says they were "magically" healed. It says he is credited with 5,000 "miraculous" healings.
How do you know it is a lie? Or do you simply presume that healing claims are "lies" until proven otherwise?
-A8
lol. And it would sure be fun to rhyme.
LOL!!! Whew!!! Fortunately I live under grace and not the law. :O)
I guess if Steve could be a pope, GC can be a doctor.
I wanna be a ballerina...with a CCW. 8~)
The last miracle recorded in Acts was by Paul and Barnabus. The city thought that the gods had come down and they wanted to worship them. They quickly corrected the people and then they people want to stone them because they were not gods.
Miracles don't go over very well.
I just want to be good looking, rich, and young forever :>)
I think you're missing the point. Gamecock was (probably) referring to the fact that Mormons now (as opposed to the past 150 years) want to call themselves (and have the world acknowledge them to be) "Christians."
However, the orthodox, historic, Scriptural understanding of the meaning of the word "Christian" implies a definite and proclaimed belief in the Trinity, which is shared among Protestants, Roman Catholics and the Orthodox, but certainly not among the Mormons who explicitly deny the Trinity.
Let’s all develop some thicker skins, hmmm?
We needn’t come across like eight year old girls whining in the schoolyard that somebody has said something nasty to them. We have to expect some name calling and some attitude. After all, when people are opposed to us and have very little real justification for it, vitriolic vehemence and a vigourous flurry of misdirection go a long way.
In a way, I do admire those Jehovah’s Witnesses that show up at the door sprightly and upbeat even after a hard day’s walking from door to door to experience a variety of delivery of abuse. Or the LDS missionaries (or come to think of it, just about every Mormon that I’ve ever met).
So, with a smile on our (online) faces and purpose in our hearts, onward and upward.
Now, if I can only take my own excellent advice...
It was Earnest Angley. Bad rug, cherubic face and just before the KAPOW, ran the refrain "Evil demon, COME OUT!"
One more and it can be St. Gamecock.
GC, what do you want to be the patron saint of?
You were the person who brought the word into the conversation in your post 15.
You owe him an apology since you wrongly accused him of using the word.
A "grown-up" would do as much.
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