Posted on 03/22/2009 5:16:39 PM PDT by Titanites
When Steve Olmstead served as a Presbyterian minister in Juneau, he would often finish his duties on Sunday, close up the church and head to Mass with his devout Catholic wife and their children.
I had a place to worship, which a lot of pastors dont, Olmstead said in an interview with the Anchor. It was nice to go to a place and worship where I wasnt the minister.
The Anchorage Archdioceses newest seminarian grew up in a Presbyterian home and always had a strong spiritual life. When Olmstead entered adulthood, he felt called to serve as a youth minister, and was later ordained a minister in the Presbyterian Church.
Throughout his life, he said he had many positive contacts with people who were strong in the practice of their Catholic faith, including his wife of 22 years, Janet.
I married the most devout and most amazing Christian Ive ever met in my life, Olmstead said, crediting her with his conversion to Catholicism. Before the two wed, he agreed to raise the children in the Catholic faith. Steve and Janet Olmstead were married in Juneau by then Bishop Michael Kenny.
He continued to serve in a Presbyterian church in Juneau, but over the years grew enamored with Catholicism.
I love the devotional practices of the Catholic church, its prayers and devotions, Olmstead said.
He says he was especially drawn to some core beliefs that are often points of contention between Protestants and Catholics; matters of faith like belief in the true presence of Jesus in the Eucharist and devotion to Mary.
Ultimately those core beliefs created this tug that led me to the (Catholic) Church so that I would be more congruent with myself, Olmstead said.
His familys faith helped with that tug. In addition to Janets steady faith, the Olmsteads seven children, ages 2-18 years, helped play a part.
The Olmsteads have three older biological children, another three they adopted, and one foster child, which they hope to adopt soon.
My older kids started asking me questions (like), How come you believe this, but you arent teaching it, Olmstead recalled. I had this inner conflict and I had to make that decision.
Ultimately he did, and left his position at the local Presbyterian church in Juneau to officially enter the Catholic Church in 2006, a decision that brought Olmstead much peace.
A huge thing for me is mystery, he said. I really need mystery and mystery in my faith. The Catholic Church (allows) me to have that mystery Christ held that for me.
Having served as full-time Protestant minister, Olmstead still felt a strong call to a minsterial or religious vocation.
Last year he participated in a 30-day Ignatian Spiritual Exercises retreat to investigate how God wanted him to serve in his new church, and he felt called to serve as a priest.
At the end of that retreat, I realized that this is where God was calling me, he said.
While celibacy is the rule for Latin rite Catholic priests, there are approximately 100 married former Protestant clergymen in the United States who have joined the Catholic Church and received Vatican permission to become priests.
Gibberish.
There are plenty of RC indoctrination centers.
Again with the misquoting. You're comparing the Catholic Church to Maoist indoctrination centers.
Jesus founded the Catholic Church, FRiend.
Yep.
You may belong to a sect, called the ROMAN catholic church.
I do not.
But, Jesus died for "all", not some, according to Scripture.
Congratulations, you agree with the Catholic Church.
Peter was a follower, but denied Christ.
Yet Christ made him Pope anyway, as a testament to the incredible power of the Holy Spirit.
Peter died.
Correct.
The "Great Commission" was given to "all".
So you've been told.
Paul, a Jew, was blinded, and brought to the Light. He preached Christ crucified. He preached to all the church. He also wrote letters to explain what that crucifixion meant. Only one went to Rome, and it wasn't addresses to Peter.
Congratulations, you agree with the Catholic Church.
Your meaning was lost.
...and even resort to changing my statements with capitalization.
Corrections are free.
...will you continue to slur me?
Can't continue because I never started.
The anti-Catholic hate drips from your little cartoon though.
Thanks for validating my point so forcefully.
Rat poison is 99% food, and 1% chemical. The rat is attracted to it, and eats it's fill. But, death surely follows! The same applies to religions. Roman Catholicism has indeed helped us with our history. But, it has a little too much bitterness. Sitting in a pew doesn't make you a Christian, just as liturgy is not worship!
Mt 6: 1"Be careful not to do your 'acts of righteousness' before men, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.
2"So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. 3But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
5"And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. 6But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. 7And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. 8Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.
Just say it: the Catholic Church.
It's easy.
Since you insist on lying and obfuscation, say no more to me... You're not cute, just another Roman Catholic bigot...
This kitten reminds me of you, but it IS cute!
False.
But then you say this:
...say no more to me...
And then, without a hint of irony, post this photo:
That's what the kitty is saying: "...say no more to me..."
Just like you.
Luke 8:16”No one lights a lamp and hides it in a jar or puts it under a bed. Instead, he puts it on a stand, so that those who come in can see the light. 17For there is nothing hidden that will not be disclosed, and nothing concealed that will not be known or brought out into the open. 18Therefore consider carefully how you listen. Whoever has will be given more; whoever does not have, even what he thinks he has will be taken from him.”
Jesus’ Mother and Brothers
19Now Jesus’ mother and brothers came to see him, but they were not able to get near him because of the crowd. 20Someone told him, “Your mother and brothers are standing outside, wanting to see you.”
21He replied, “My mother and brothers are those who hear God’s word and put it into practice.”..
********
Jesus is risen!
No, there’s no hatred in comparing the Catholic faith to rat poison.
That’s pure love right there: the Catholic Church is a Maoist indoctrination center administering rat poison.
Gotcha.
I do not hate catholics, I do hate Roman doctrines which aren't necessarily Scripturally based, but are most often based on some interpretation, and place a believer back under bondage. Jesus died to set us free. I know you are not allowed to think for yourself. You are most likely a product of Roman Catholic schools. You speak/think nothing but the party line, and you're not allowed, upon punishment of excommunication, to differ.
There's another old saying. Opinions are like ... Everybody's got one!
Cya later, alligator. I gotta shake some dust off...!
Beautiful. Continue to prove my point and I can just sit back and watch.
Terms such as "false" "untrue" "incomplete" would not be making it personal.
Discuss the issues all you want, but do not make it personal.
I have already signed off the thread, so they can continue.
Lesson learned. I need to sharpen my tactics, or political affiliations...
I'm just sayin'.
Yeah, I guess only one side gets that privilege...
I have a great idea!
Let’s get that anti-Catholic bigot Kayaker from West Virginia (where - based on the number, length, and bloviation-quotient of his postings - there is clearly NOT enough water, and have him take Alex Murphy for a kayaking vacation - in the Bermuda Triangle!
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