Posted on 06/24/2007 12:58:20 PM PDT by Alex Murphy
What, we're back up to 33,000 denominations again? Just last month, we were down to 30,000 denominations, from an earlier high of over one million that we hit just three months ago!
It was odd how Paxil kept the evil spirits away. Maybe Paxil is holy...
>> So Cardinal Mahoney was protestant? <<
Well, he sure as Hell ain’t much of a Catholic! HAR!
Probably both.
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Mood stabilizers don’t “cure” depression or bipolar personalities. They allow the person to manage until they can work stuff out, get cured through therapy or whatever. Holding demons at bay is not ridding oneself of them.
Most people make the mistake of believing the only effect of evil spirits is demonic possession. Demonic effects are rarely supernatural. In fact, all temptation to sin and all spiritually harmful thought is demonic. So, mental illness is typically influenced by demons, but that doesn’t make one who is mentally ill more evil than any other sinner, since sin lies in obeying demons, not struggling against them; most psychologically healthy people regularly give in to demonic suggestion, and some psychologically ill people have heroically battled demons.
I thought we had pretty well cleansed mental health of demonology. Evidently not.
I found what I was looking for:
Forms of Demonic effects include:
Demonic Oppression (illness caused by demons, as suffered by Job and St. Paul. The sufferer is in no way sinful for suffering so.), Diabolic infestation, Diabolic obsession, Diabolic subjugation, Demonic possession, Ordinary demonic activity.
The last category includes all temptation.
>> I thought we had pretty well cleansed mental health of demonology. Evidently not. <<
Let me be careful to say that chemical imbalances are real, and are not demonic. The thoughts which sufferers of such imbalances bear are not rational thoughts, nor are they good thoughts. Suffering from demonic influences does not make one evil, and they are not caused by sin, nor do they cause sin.
What you are saying when you say that is merely that mental health is typically described through an alternate paradigm than through demonology.
So, from what I understand through your last comment, Hitler didn't sin, because he was tempted and commanded by demons to kill the Jews, Germans and the Roma? Or did I miss something?
>> So, from what I understand through your last comment, Hitler didn’t sin, because he was tempted and commanded by demons to kill the Jews, Germans and the Roma? <<
WHAT??? Like I said, to sin is to yield to demonic temptation. So, yes, Hitler sinned horribly. I can’t for the life of me fathom how you pulled such a bizarre, warped statement out of what I said.
Thanks for the clarification. Your earlier statement seemed to imply the confusion.
While those who give scandal are guilty of the spiritual equivalent of murder, those who take scandal- who allow scandals to destroy faith- are guilty of spiritual suicide. — St. Francis de Sales
I have been attending a Traditional Latin Mass for the past year. Every Sunday, there is a long line waiting to go to confession. It does my heart good to see it. I haven’t read further than the article (and not even most of that), so I don’t know what comments have been made.. I just had to comment on what I have seen myself.
LOL!!! The number of Protestant denominations are tied to the Consumer Price Index, don't cha know?
As the poster of this thread is not Catholic, it is unlikely that the motivation for offering this thread was spiritual edification and righteous admonishment of Catholics. Rather, one guesses that the airing of this subject matter is a “gotcha!” aimed at Catholics and meant as evidence of the immanent collapse of the Faith.
Further evidence of controvertialist motivations can be found in post 81, where the thread originator (for the umpteenth time) creates an artificial argument about allegations concerning the number of Protestant denominations in this country. The often cited 33,000 figure was used by someone, and he then makes a big deal out of “variations” on that number in earlier threads, apparently unable to distinguish rounding (”30,000”) and hyperbole (”a million”) in the examples he cites.
This type of continued intra-Christian sniping is outstanding witness to the many seekers wading through these threads, I’m sure! It’s one thing to disagree on theological particulars within a thread; it’s something else again to *initiate* threads whose purpose is to denigrate particular brands of Christianity that differ from the thread poster’s. That’s childish.
You can watch shows like Jerry Springer, Oprah and Dr. Phil and see confessions everyday. There is no thrill when confessing to a priest.
And David said to Nathan: I have sinned against the Lord. And Nathan said to David: The Lord also hath taken away thy sin: thou shalt not die. (2 Samuel 12.13)
And again he entered into Capharnaum after some days. And it was heard that he was in the house, and many came together, so that there was no room; no, not even at the door; and he spoke to them the word. And they came to him, bringing one sick of the palsy, who was carried by four. And when they could not offer him unto him for the multitude, they uncovered the roof where he was; and opening it, they let down the bed wherein the man sick of the palsy lay. And when Jesus had seen their faith, he saith to the sick of the palsy: Son, thy sins are forgiven thee. And there were some of the scribes sitting there, and thinking in their hearts: Why doth this man speak thus? he blasphemeth. Who can forgive sins, but God only? Which Jesus presently knowing in his spirit, that they so thought within themselves, saith to them: Why think you these things in your hearts? Which is easier, to say to the sick of the palsy: Thy sins are forgiven thee; or to say: Arise, take up thy bed, and walk? But that you may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (he saith to the sick of the palsy,) I say to thee: Arise, take up thy bed, and go into thy house. And immediately he arose; and taking up his bed, went his way in the sight of all; so that all wondered and glorified God, saying: We never saw the like. (St. Mark 2.1-12)
He said therefore to them again: Peace be to you. As the Father hath sent me, I also send you. When he had said this, he breathed on them; and he said to them: Receive ye the Holy Ghost. Whose sins you shall forgive, they are forgiven them; and whose sins you shall retain, they are retained. (St. John 20.21-23)
And many of them that believed, came confessing and declaring their deeds. (Acts 19.18)
And to whom you have pardoned any thing, I also. For, what I have pardoned, if I have pardoned any thing, for your sakes have I done it in the person of Christ. (2 Corinthians 2.10)
But all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Christ; and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation. For God indeed was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, not imputing to them their sins; and he hath placed in us the word of reconciliation. For Christ therefore we are ambassadors, God as it were exhorting by us. For Christ, we beseech you, be reconciled to God. (2 Corinthians 5.18-20)
Is any man sick among you? Let him bring in the priests of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith shall save the sick man: and the Lord shall raise him up: and if he be in sins, they shall be forgiven him. Confess therefore your sins one to another: and pray one for another, that you may be saved. For the continual prayer of a just man availeth much. (St. James 5.14-16)
The Bible is full of verses showing that confession was made orally to a priest both in the Old and New Testament, and St. Paul quite clearly claims the power to forgive sins and the possession of such a ministry from God.
Only 33,000? No wonder my portfolio stinks.
I would be surprised if there was an Adoration Chapel in my entire diocese. I have to leave the state to find the nearest one.
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