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To: daniel1212
Assuming they're accurate to begin with, all these assertions prove is that modern catholics often do not agree with the tenets of their faith or apply it across the board in their lives. This country is in better shape than most in that regard, but, even here, what knowledgeably Catholic would deny the trend?

This compilation of assertions proves nothing whatsoever regarding the truths of Catholicism, though. If anything, I'm surprised that, rather than try to wedge this into a "proof" that Catholicism is false, more Evangelicals don't point to these sorts of things as yet another sign of The End they're forever predicting for our own generation. After all, one day, Christianity (presumably the "authentic" kind, however one wishes to define that) will in fact, undergo a general apostasy. Scripture is quite plain on this point. So, without any lack of Scriptural consistency, I could use all of your statistics and demonstrate that Catholicism is "the true Christian faith" because it is undergoing at least the beginnings of the very apostasy foretold! After all, one has to be a real believer before one can apostatize! Same thing with a homogeneous body of believers.

I'm not at all sure that we are that close to the End really, though I often wonder if we are at the "beginning of sorrows" Jesus spoke of in Matthew 24:8. But your stats, again, might provide evidence not only that we are near the End, but that Catholicism is, in fact, entirely true, insofar as an apostasy is blooming within it at this very time. So the inferences we are supposed to make from your posting of this compilation of data fall through. In fact, even if this current falling away is reversed, and we enter another Golden Age lasting 10,000 years, I would expect another apostasy out of Catholicism, truly leading to The End. The fullness of the Deposit of Faith mill be mirrored by the fullness of darkness, and it only makes sense that people will embrace the latter by undertaking a nearly universal falling away from the former.

51 posted on 12/11/2009 11:51:57 AM PST by magisterium
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To: magisterium

Besides doctrinal issues, IF Rome formally disfellowshipped those who manifestly are heretical, or immoral, then that could help you to have a case for Rome, but there is little of that, as having lost its unlawful temporal power, it seeks to play both sides, allowing most any manner of Catholic to be called such, as we saw in Teddy K. For her the real message is, as long as you die in the arms of Rome then she will get into Heaven.


62 posted on 12/11/2009 7:29:30 PM PST by daniel1212 (Hear the word of the gospel, and believe", (Acts 15:7) + flee from those who hold another as supreme)
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