Posted on 03/15/2008 10:17:55 AM PDT by big'ol_freeper
More than once during these talks I referred to Luther and what always occurred to me as his destructive influence. I pointed out that even in such an admirable book as Rohan Butler's “The Roots of National Socialism” the spiritual origins of Nazism and Luther's influence had not been given the necessary importance. Then I was asked if I would be prepared to elaborate to them—about a dozen of the very senior boys, that is—my own views on Luther and Lutheranism. I agreed—with the proviso that they would be my own views and nothing else. Admittedly, I had read more on Luther and about Luther than on most other subjects. But I wanted to make it quite clear that I would not speak to them with the voice of a great authority, but would merely give them my own interpretation. I told them, moreover, that I should try to prove how dangerous it is to accept legends; and that the picture I had of Luther and his influence was thoroughly contradictory of the customary Luther of the legend.
(Excerpt) Read more at catholicapologetics.info ...
“I had kin fighting on both sides of that war.”
My sis will kill me if she reads this:
My dad worked for the US Government and my sister couldn’t understand what it was he did. She knew he worked on aircraft, so one day, she figured it all out.
She went around the neighborhood telling everyone very proudly that her daddy worked for the Luftwaffe.
It was right about that time that deutsch vas forbodden in der hausen!
Born, raised and practicing is the criteria for credibility...
Let’s see:
Rev. Jeremiah Wright Jr.
Jimmy Carter
Rev. Fred Phelps
Rev. Jesse Jackson
Rev. Al Sharpton
Just off the top of my head...not sure you would trust the accuracy of their pronouncements or interpretations of history.
It's nothing like it. Presbyterian and Methodist and Lutheran pastors are accountable to their congregations. Those congregations are then accountable to presbyteries and synods, and ultimately a general assembly.
but all those offices are elected by the congregations. There is a built-in system of checks and balances in this representative form of government that is unknown in Rome where every member of which is beholden to the edicts of the bishop of Rome.
That's why the American Revolution was called the "Presbyterian Rebellion." It's the same type of governing structure and it is straight from the Bible. It is not perfect. But it is optimal for preserving and disseminating the truth, and for keeping heresy in check.
Could he? Yes.
Has he already? I can pretty easily defend the proposition that a Catholic who votes for a pro-abort candidate because the candidate is pro-abort, or who votes for a pro-abort candidate when there is a perfectly reasonable pro-life candidate available, is committing a sin. If they understand that and do it anyway, it's a mortal sin.
Persons in mortal sin are not permitted to receive the Eucharist. The difference between such a person and one who is excommunicated is that the excommunicate may need to do more than just repent and go to confession to be back in the good graces of the church. (For example, he may need to make his repentance known to his bishop directly.)
Would it the excommunication you propose be a good idea?
That's a lot more tricky. Because of the different circumstances in different elections in different countries, it would probably have to be done on a case-by-case basis. And *that* would be seen as absolutely reprehensible interference by the Vatican in the internal politics of another country, and you would have the usual hue-and-cry from the usual suspects. Would it be a good idea?
I think arguments claiming Hitler comes from Luther also totally miss the forced Prussian Union between the Lutheran and Reformed churches. There’s no direct line between them without heterodoxy and the idiot modern belief ‘we all believe the same thing in the end’ creeping in, and especially doing so on behalf of the state.
Then where did the PCUSA come from?
Freep-mail me to get on or off my pro-life and Catholic List:
Please ping me to note-worthy Pro-Life or Catholic threads, or other threads of interest.
This is an extremely good point.
“860,000” is a number Rome plucked from thin air, and any reputable historian knows that.
“860,000” is a number Rome plucked from thin air.
So you would readily admit that the RCC didn't do enough to stop the Nazis, or to save the Jews, Gypsies, homosexuals, mentally retarded and political dissidents that were persecuted in Germany?
How about today in our fight against muslim terrorists in the WOT?
Now you deny the existence of 860,000 Jews, a level of audacity that would astonish Doktor Göbbels.
The amount of venom you expend on him belies that claim.
But I agree with your citation from St. Paul, our allegiance to the Vicar of Christ and Successor of St. Peter does set us apart from all of the various heretical assemblies.
St. Augustine had a tart comment or two on that topic, I believe.
“How about today in our fight against muslim terrorists in the WOT?”
Hunh? With what? Petards?
Spare me your foul lies.
You would have your words eliminate 860,000 Jews saved by the Pius XII.
That’s a level of anti-Semitism that would make Luther recoil (dropping his absinthe spoon to the floor).
The number is taken directly from the pages of a book written by an Israeli diplomat who was also a Jewish rabbi.
How "Rome" then "plucked" it from "thin air" is something you can explain. It should be amusing.
Do they share the same centralized hierarchy?
Pinchas Lapide - a Jewish historian - came to the conclusion that Pius XII saved 860,000 Jews.
Can’t you get anything right?
That you even ask that question is pathetic.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.