Catholic Biblical Apologetics; Christ...instituted an obligatory hierarchical society for all.

*8Whew! Antipapists are out in numbers today, huh?**

I’m protected by the ashes on my forehead — LOL and joking, of course. They just remind me of my humanity and tendency to sin, and then the need to seek the Sacrament of Reconciliation.

It’s not a business deal — the Holy Spirit is involved here. No one walked away.

Even Christ told the apostles that he would be with them always.

Where are you getting this “walked away” idea?

I was using it as an example of why the church has an authority or hierarchy, not that Jesus would walk away. Please read what I wrote. The church has been led by the Holy Spirit for 2000 years, but if we didn't have an authority the church would fall into any one of the other 25,000 denominations who claim the truth. Who would claim the Holy Spirit? Who would be right? God can not contradict Himself. Not all Christian churches can claim at once to be the one true church.

I am sorry if you didn't understand what I was trying to say, maybe I didn't explain my thoughts very well.

“There is only one Holy Spirit and only one truth. Look at the 25,000 other denominations who believe they have the truth because they are following the spirit, it just makes you wonder what spirit it is and where does it come from.”

The Holy Spirit is omnipotent and omnipresent. He has The Truth. No man has The Truth. All men are fallible. All who make up church hierachy are men. In all church groups, denominations etc. There are NO exceptions. Jesus said, “My sheep know My voice”. I know His voice. The Holy Spirit confirms that the voice I hear is His voice. I trust the voice of my Lord and Savior. I trust the witness of the Holy Spirit. Nothing else is trustable.

I think I owe YOU an apology. Agree with what you are saying about the authority. There’s a link in that series about authority, I believe.

The Holy Spirit is omnipotent and omnipresent. He has The Truth. No man has The Truth. All men are fallible. All who make up church hierachy are men. In all church groups, denominations etc. There are NO exceptions. Jesus said, “My sheep know My voice”. I know His voice. The Holy Spirit confirms that the voice I hear is His voice. I trust the voice of my Lord and Savior. I trust the witness of the Holy Spirit. Nothing else is trustable.

What you say is true. You are probably like me and can fill stirred when we hear something that is against the teachings of Jesus, we know when something is not right. But there are many who are sheep and just follow any voice that sounds right. That is why there is a need for an authority, a place to turn for answers. 2000 years of prayer led by the Holy Spirit has guided the Church and its teachings, the doctrines are sound truth, not just me with my bible trying to make sense of it all.

So many Catholics are lost today, look at the election of Barack Obama. This should not have ever happened with Catholics following the true teachings of Jesus Christ. This is what I mean by some thinking they are following the spirit of Christ, but we know that spirit is a false one. The devil is doing a excellent job of pulling people away from the truth with his false spirit, mingling false and true teachings just enough to confuse people. But after he has turned everything in to turmoil and caused all of his confusion, we need some where to go to find out what is the truth on matters of faith. To sort out what is true or not. Left to ourselves we would be lost. Sure, the Holy Spirit would help us sort it out, but I know I can turn to the authority of Christ's teachings, the doctrines of faith and find the real truth.