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Catholics should take more interest in the souls of others if they truly believe what they believe. I agree that going to Church on Sunday is not enough to live a Christ centered life. I used to be like that, just going through the motions, but in order to be a true follower of Christ I must live my faith.

At Mass we remember the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God who became the new Lamb at Passover, dying and rising from the dead for our sins. Masses are held at an altar, not a dinner table (or at least, they are supposed to be, but there has been liturgical abuse by those who do not “stick to the script”). The Eucharistic Prayer said at every mass includes the words of Christ at the Last Supper, although in one week we will remember specifically the day in which this took place.

What we do may be pomp and ceremony but the incense, the procession, all these things, are designed to show reverence to Jesus Christ as we believe in His True Presence in the Eucharist. I guess it all depends on your interpretation of John chapter 6, verses 22 through 71; and Luke chapter 22, verses 14 through 20. Although those who do not believe in transubstantiation will see it as pomp and ceremony. I guess it all depends on your perspective.

And yes, I suppose the Pope’s authority and the authority of all the bishops, etc. depends on whether or not you agree with apostolic succession. You may believe whatever you’d like to believe. You may, however, review Acts chapter 6.

And we are not just a Roman church. There are 22 Eastern rite Catholic churches in full communion with the Pope, including the Chaldean Catholic church in Iraq who just had an archbishop kidnapped and killed by terrorists.

I agree that we should all be filled with the Holy Spirit. The apostles (and Mary) were on the day of Pentecost in the upper room. However, as you recall in Acts chapter 8, they had accepted the Word of God, but had not received the Holy Spirit. Peter and John came to them, and prayed that it would be done, but it did not happen. These people had been baptised, but it was not enough. Peter and John laid their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit. This is why Catholics celebrate the sacrament of Confirmation, that we may all receive the Holy Spirit from the laying on of hands by the representatives of the apostles at this current time, the bishops (here is that apostolic succession thing again). So I agree, we should all receive the Holy Spirit and take the message of Christ to all who are not enlightened.

And we should all live with Christ at the center of our lives. As Jesus says:

“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart,
with all your soul,
with all your mind,
and with all your strength.”

And: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”

If we are not doing these things, we are not living as Christians. As a Catholic I am obligated to attend Mass every Sunday and on non-Sundays such as Christmas, but that is the bare minimum; it is not enough. We should be living for Christ, each and every day, with all our hearts-, minds, and strength.

Your references to the early chapters of Acts ignores the fact that from chapters 1-7 the entire audience is made up of Jews or proselytes to Judaism. It is a Jewish Church. The message is Messianic, promising the return of Christ in their day if Israel would repent of their murder of Christ (Acts 3:19-21).

There is nothing in existence in any church on earth today that is like what was happening when 12 Jewish ministers to the Jews were charging Israel, as a nation, for their Crimes against their Messiah, and preaching for that nation to repent.

Please be honest to your church councils, and admit that the RCC believes that salvation is only through the Church of Rome. Nobody can be saved or enjoy Heaven unless they subjugate themselves to the RCC’s authority and system.

When any church or religious society on Earth deems itself the only true church and holding an unbroken succession to the Apostles, that is a religious society I stay away from.

I know many churches and denominations which believe they have biblical interpretation correct, but would NEVER state that adherence to their order is necessary for salvation. There are about a half dozen organizations operating in the States, however, that each believe their particular church and their particular sacramental and liturgical system are the means of grace or the means of salvation. From those we stay away.