Posted on 03/30/2010 10:38:29 AM PDT by NYer
WASHINGTON, D.C., MARCH 29, 2010 (Zenit.org).- This Easter, thousands are planning to become Catholic, including a man who almost lost his life five times.
The U.S. bishops' conference shared the story of Jeremy Feldbusch, 30, from Blairsville, Pennsylvania, who is among the thousands preparing to enter the Church Saturday evening.
Feldbusch was in the armed services in Iraq, and on April 3, 2003, he was wounded with shrapnel from the conflict, which resulted in blindness in both eyes and traumatic brain injury.
He was expected to die shortly after, or if he lived, to sustain extensive brain damage. Doctors put him into a coma with a ventilator for six weeks in order to reduce brain swelling.
The medical professionals attempted to remove the ventilator five times, but on each attempt, Feldbusch "died" and had to be resuscitated. On the sixth try, he finally regained consciousness.
The patient, who had been baptized a Methodist, asked his father, "Why did God take my eyesight?"
His father replied with a different question, "Why did God let you live?"
The bishops' conference reported that through the process of rehabilitation, Feldbusch "began to think that things happen for a reason and resolved to spend his life helping other wounded service members."
He decided to enter the Catholic Church, and will be received on Saturday, the 7th anniversary of his life-changing injury in Iraq.
Growth
The conference press release noted that thousands more will join Feldbusch, with especially high numbers of new Catholics expected in the South and Southwest regions of the United States.
The Diocese of Dallas, Texas, is preparing to receive 3,000 new Catholics. Of these, 700 are catechumens (never before baptized) and 2,300 are candidates (already validly baptized into the Christian faith, but seeking full communion with the Church).
Also in Texas, the Archdiocese of San Antonio is reporting that 1,112 people will enter the Church. A good number of these are young people, who have already reached the age of reason, including 214 child catechumens and 124 candidates.
The Diocese of Forth Worth in that same state will welcome around the same number of new Catholics.
The Archdiocese of Atlanta is preparing for 1,800 new Church members, which is the largest group ever recorded for that region, the press release reported.
On the West Coast, the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, which is the largest diocese nationwide, will receive 2,400 new members.
In Seattle, 682 people will be baptized into the Church, and 479 welcomed into full communion.
The Archdiocese of Portland, Oregon, will welcome 842 new Catholics.
Other dioceses who are expecting over a thousand new members are: Detroit, Michigan (1,225); Cincinnati, Ohio (1,049); Denver, Colorado (1,102); Arlington, Virginia (1,100); Washington, D.C. (1,150).
In the Archdiocese of Washington, 18 of those preparing to enter the Church are students from St. Augustine School, the oldest African American school in the nation's capital.
The conference communiqué noted that the Catholic Church, which is the largest denomination in the United States, with over 68 million members, has shown a 1.5% increase in membership numbers this past year.
Repent, heretic!
Repent, heretic!
fish hawk:
No it is just we recognize, as G.K. Chesterton did, that “Tradition means giving votes to the most obscure of all classes, our ancestors. It is the democracy of the dead. Tradition refuses to submit to the small and arrogant oligarchy of those who merely happen to be walking about.”
Thus, the Tradition of the Church, as understood down through the centuries as expressed via the Councils, Creeds and consensus of the Patristic Tradition, who were closer to the Apostles and thus Christ than you and me, means I will trust the faith defined and understood down through the centuries and not think that I can read it for myself and make interpretations that are orthodox.
Ultimately, rather you will admit it or not, that mindset is nothing but “theological relativism” and in that sense no different from individual secularist who argue that “I can decide what is right and wrong” apart from Tradition and objective truth.
And for the record, the Church takes the Scripture very seriously which is why so much of it is read at the Liturgy of the Church.
1And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain, and when he was set down, his disciples came unto him. 2And opening his mouth, he taught them, saying: 3Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 4Blessed are the meek: for they shall possess the land. 5Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted. 6Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after justice: for they shall have their fill. 7Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. 8Blessed are the clean of heart: for they shall see God. 9Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called children of God. 10Blessed are they that suffer persecution for justice' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11Blessed are ye when they shall revile you, and persecute you, and speak all that is evil against you, untruly, for my sake: 12Be glad and rejoice, for your reward is very great in heaven. For so they persecuted the prophets that were before you. 13You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt lose its savour, wherewith shall it be salted? It is good for nothing any more but to be cast out, and to be trodden on by men. 14You are the light of the world. A city seated on a mountain cannot be hid. 15Neither do men light a candle and put it under a bushel, but upon a candlestick, that it may shine to all that are in the house. 16So let your light shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven. 17Do not think that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets. I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill. 18For amen I say unto you, till heaven and earth pass, one jot, or one tittle shall not pass of the law, till all be fulfilled. 19He therefore that shall break one of these least commandments, and shall so teach men, shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven. But he that shall do and teach, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20For I tell you, that unless your justice abound more than that of the scribes and Pharisees, you shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. 21You have heard that it was said to them of old: Thou shalt not kill. And whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment. 22But I say to you, that whosoever is angry with his brother, shall be in danger of the judgment. And whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council. And whosoever shall say, Thou Fool, shall be in danger of hell fire. 23If therefore thou offer thy gift at the altar, and there thou remember that thy brother hath any thing against thee; 24Leave there thy offering before the altar, and go first to be reconciled to thy brother: and then coming thou shalt offer thy gift. 25Be at agreement with thy adversary betimes, whilst thou art in the way with him: lest perhaps the adversary deliver thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and thou be cast into prison. 26Amen I say to thee, thou shalt not go out from thence till thou repay the last farthing. 27You have heard that it was said to them of old: Thou shalt not commit adultery. 28But I say to you, that whosoever shall look on a woman to lust after her, hath already committed adultery with her in his heart. 29And if thy right eye scandalize thee, pluck it out and cast it from thee. For it is expedient for thee that one of thy members should perish, rather than that thy whole body be cast into hell. 30And if thy right hand scandalize thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee: for it is expedient for thee that one of thy members should perish, rather than that thy whole body be cast into hell. 31And it hath been said, Whoseoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a bill of divorce. 32But I say to you, that whosoever shall put away his wife, excepting for the cause of fornication, maketh her to commit adultery: and he that shall marry her that is put away, committeth adultery. 33Again you have heard that it was said to them of old, Thou shalt not forswear thyself: but thou shalt perform thy oaths to the Lord. 34But I say to you not to swear at all, neither by heaven, for it is the throne of God: 35Nor by the earth, for it is his footstool: nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great king: 36Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, because thou canst not make one hair white or black. 37But let your speech be yea, yea: no, no: and that which is over and above these, is of evil. 38You have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth. 39But I say to you not to resist evil: but if one strike thee on thy right cheek, turn to him also the other: 40And if a man will contend with thee in judgment, and take away thy coat, let go thy cloak also unto him. 41And whosoever will force thee one mile, go with him other two, 42Give to him that asketh of thee and from him that would borrow of thee turn not away. 43You have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbor, and hate thy enemy. 44But I say to you, Love your enemies: do good to them that hate you: and pray for them that persecute and calumniate you: 45That you may be the children of your Father who is in heaven, who maketh his sun to rise upon the good, and bad, and raineth upon the just and the unjust. 46For if you love them that love you, what reward shall you have? do not even the publicans this? 47And if you salute your brethren only, what do you more? do not also the heathens this? 48Be you therefore perfect, as also your heavenly Father is perfect.
Peace be with you my FRiend.
I’ll agree; having been dead does kinda change the way you view life.
Several years ago we had a great leader and teacher who has passed on now but was the Chaplain of the Hospital, Prison, and two old folks homes here. We had great Bible studies as he taught right out of the scriptures. There was a Nun that came to all our studies and when we asked her why she came to us she said she just was not getting the teaching and spirituality at her Catholic church. She asked us to please keep it quiet about her coming as she didn’t think her church would like it. I don’t think they would have excommunicated her as they wont even do that to a pervert priest.
Sorry but you don’t have the power like you did in the dark ages to burn people at the stake. Just read your Bible for yourself and discover all the crap you have been doing to get to heaven is nothing but filthy rags to the Lord. Yes, it actually says that in the Bible.
I’m sure the Church takes the scriptures seriously except that important part that says not to add or detract from them. (purgatory, calling priest “father’, confession to a mere man, etc. etc.)
i am praying for you this Holy Week. Clearly, you are in dire need.
Did you baptize yourself?"
This is the kind of error that is rampant throughout the RCC. Wherein does the idea arise that a man can confer grace to another through baptism? Shall we understand that John the Baptist conferred grace to Jesus through baptizing Him? No wonder the believing world calls Rome heretical.
Thank you, but according to the Scriptures, I have peace with God through the grace granted from Christ. The war is over, I have been transferred from enemy status to adopted son. I would hope you have been found as well, my FRiend.
Well, we might see when this is over that it was others who were in dire need. Those who rest upon the assurances of that dark cult of Rome, rather than the safety of Christ alone. But, go do the rosary, go say the words, go perform the rites, go listen to the men in bathrobes...and then wonder if you have been chosen by God or are lost. Clearly, you may in dire need.
When Jesus came to John to be baptized, John asked the same question. Why should he, a sinful man, baptize the Messiah? He tried to prevent Jesus from being baptized saying “I need to be baptized by You and You are coming to me?” (Matthew 3:14). The baptisms that John performed symbolized repentance, and he saw this as inappropriate for the One he knew to be the spotless Lamb of God. Jesus replied that it should be done because “it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness” (Matthew 3:15). Christ was here identifying Himself with sinners. He will ultimately bear their sins; His perfect righteousness will be imputed to them (2 Corinthians 5:21). Therefore, this act of baptism was a necessary part of the righteousness He secured for sinners. His was a perfect righteousness in that He fulfilled all the requirements of the Law which we, for whose sin He would exchange His righteousness, are not capable of fulfilling. He is our perfect substitute.
Translation. She is not listening at daily Mass where she is hearing the readings from EVERY book of the Bible. What she is really saying is that one does not have the opportunity to challenge scripture or ask questions at Mass. If it was that important to her, she could have asked a priest to organize a biblical studies program at the motherhouse. And you fell for this nonsense, hook, line and sinker.
By their fruits shall you know them. My fruits speak for me, i am afraid your’s speak for you as well. Pray that you might be a better representative of Christ. That’s my prayer for you.
Sure they would have. Look at the angry responses to the challenge made to the cult's theology right here. Someone saying Rome is inadequate gets a lot more firepower than a pervert priest or pope.
And, if we review those years of the pornocracy (1200s-) and notice the rampant sexual predation from the papal crowd, watch the adherents defend the indefensible. They will stand up for these men, but excommunicate someone noticing they cannot find life in the RCC. Just watch.
It's worse than that.
This is a (supposed) NUN that we're talking about. Isn't she reading her Office? Whassup with that?
I wonder: Does this person actually exist?
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