Posted on 01/30/2011 2:01:52 PM PST by Alex Murphy
The term is hierarchial. But every organization is that. Even the most egalitarian must at least accept the concept of first among equals. Yes, the Catholic Church is monarchical in a since, since we accept Christ as king. Christ is king, Mary is the queen mother, and the pope is his prime minister.
A statement one could make about every religious cult that ever existed.
Anyone that looks up the definition of "cult" in like Wiki, will gather that you are not sincere, or you are dim, in calling the 2000 year old Catholic Church a cult. Do yourself a favor and think before you label yourself.
Please show where I ever said the Catholic Church is a cult. A statement was made about the Catholilc Church and I said the same statement could apply to every cult that ever existed. Please do yourself a favor and attempt to acutally read and understand a post before you embarrass yourself again.
Pardon the misunderstanding, but what you wrote reads like I interpreted it:
"Fortunately the RCC is a monarchical institution that does not tolerate DIMocracy in the pews."
A statement one could make about every religious cult that ever existed.
Now, if that's not what you meant, then let me add that your comment makes no sense altogether, since no religious cults have ever been monarchical institutions.
then you will have to define "monarchical" in the context you are using it because I don't know of a cult hasn't been a monarchical institution.
From Wiki:
A monarchy is a form of government in which all political power is pased down to an individual,(usally handed down to generation to generation) known as a monarch (”single ruler”), or king (male), queen (female).
re: complete power residing in a single person at the top
That would also describe a one man dictatorship.
Yep. virtually all Monarchies (and cults) are a one man dictatorship, that’s for sure.
Are all monarchies and dictatorships bad to you?
All cults are.
I didn’t ask if all cults are bad, I asked “Are all monarchies and dictatorships bad to you?”
Ultimately yes, all human ones are bad to me. For every good Caesar there will be 10 bad ones.
Then you are saying that they are not all bad, but that like 10% have been good. Right. Can you name some good ones in the last 200 years?
Why the 200 year restriction? Even with it I can cite Lincoln. But any system which allows a good human despot will enable a dozen very evil despots and over time the evil despots will always win out. Thus the the autocratic system is ultimately bad despite the fact it may occasionally allow for a good season.
Australia's Herald Sun is reporting a local angle on this same story today, under the headline Pope Benedict wanted priests to have sex
Related 2008 thread:
Vatican plea to uncover Virgin Mary and show her breast-feeding baby Jesus
My parish priest mentioned to me, that as a young priest he did not think it was fair, but as time has gone by, he sees the wisdom of it.
It's certainly not a requirement to serve in the NT church. Marriage never disqualified men from serving.
As a matter of fact, Peter was married.
1 Timothy 3
1The saying is trustworthy: If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task. 2Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, 3not a drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. 4He must manage his own household well, with all dignity keeping his children submissive, 5for if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for God’s church? 6He must not be a recent convert, or he may become puffed up with conceit and fall into the condemnation of the devil. 7Moreover, he must be well thought of by outsiders, so that he may not fall into disgrace, into a snare of the devil.
8 Deacons likewise must be dignified, not double-tongued, not addicted to much wine, not greedy for dishonest gain. 9They must hold the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience. 10And let them also be tested first; then let them serve as deacons if they prove themselves blameless. 11 Their wives likewise must be dignified, not slanderers, but sober-minded, faithful in all things. 12Let deacons each be the husband of one wife, managing their children and their own households well. 13For those who serve well as deacons gain a good standing for themselves and also great confidence in the faith that is in Christ Jesus.
Titus 1:5-9 5 This is why I left you in Crete, so that you might put what remained into order, and appoint elders in every town as I directed you— 6 if anyone is above reproach, the husband of one wife, and his children are believers and not open to the charge of debauchery or insubordination. 7For an overseer, as God’s steward, must be above reproach. He must not be arrogant or quick-tempered or a drunkard or violent or greedy for gain, 8but hospitable, a lover of good, self-controlled, upright, holy, and disciplined. 9He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it.
Because married priests in Spain were leaving church property to their wives and children .
Plenty of non-Catholic men go into the ministry knowing that that is going to be part of the job.
Plenty of women marry them knowing that they are going to have to have that as part of their lives.
How is it any different from the doctor or volunteer firefighter who gets called out of bed to deal with an emergency at 3 AM?
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