What difference does it make to the fidelity of YOPIS if it is only 3,000 or even 300? Where you have cause to disagree with other denomination on matters of interpretation, dogma or doctrine at least one of the denominations must be wrong. The only thing you seem to be able to agree on is a universal rejection ("protest") of all things Catholic.
I find it profoundly sad that not one of the anti-Catholics who dominate these threads can find it in themselves to even admit one good thing about anything Catholic. Even Mother Teresa is trashed.
NL:”What difference does it make to the fidelity of YOPIS if it is only 3,000 or even 300? Where you have cause to disagree with other denomination on matters of interpretation, dogma or doctrine at least one of the denominations must be wrong. The only thing you seem to be able to agree on is a universal rejection (”protest”) of all things Catholic. “
Fine. If the number of denominations is irrelevant to non-Catholic denominations, then it is equally irrelevant to the number of Catholic factions..... or *rites* if you prefer.
Nor is there unity within the Catholic church. For all the Catholic criticism of Protestantism for differing *interpretations* etc, Catholicism is no better.
There is no unity within Catholicism. Catholics are in no position to point fingers.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/religion/2678253/posts?page=357#357
“Catholics look on diocesan bishops (Catholic and Orthodox) as the successors of the apostles who founded the particular church of their locale. In this manner a person could be a member of the Church of Corinth, Rome, Constantinople, Alexandria, Tucson or Pittsburgh.
Those of us who prefer Roman Catholic (actually Latin Catholic) are emphasizing our connection with the Roman Pontiff rather than the (e.g.) Maronite or the Melkite Patriarch.
Emphasizing the connection with the particular church rather than the Roman Church is IME common among very liberal Catholics and liberal bishops, many of whom actually see Roman Catholic as a derogatory term.”
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Not to mention the different flavors of Catholicism such as.......
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sect
Sects
Roman Catholic sects
There are many groups outside the Roman Catholic Church which are regarded as Catholic sects, such as the Community of the Lady of All Nations, the Palmarian Catholic Church, the Philippine Independent Church, the Brazilian Catholic Apostolic Church, the Free Catholic Church, the Movement for the Restoration of the Ten Commandments of God, and others.
The Sodalitium Christianae Vitae started in Lima, Peru, has multiple cases of psychological abuses experienced by youth that were attracted to the movement.[16]
There is also Russian orthodox, Eastern Orthodox, Ukrainian Catholic, Greek Orthodox, Coptic (Egyptian) to name a few more.
They most certainly do not adhere to the doctrinal position established by Rome on a number of fronts which many FRoman Catholics consider critical to Catholic faith.
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There is hardly the unity in Catholicism or Catholic faith that Catholics like to put forth. Differences ranging from the doctrines concerning Mary to recognizing the primacy of the pope. Not insignificant differences.
For example.....
http://www.ukrainian-orthodoxy.org/questions/2010/intercommunion.php
Question:
What are issues that need to be discussed before a marriage should take place between a Roman Catholic and a Ukranian Orthodox Catholic? Is the Eucharist believed in the same way?
Response:
Dr. Alexander Roman alex.roman@unicorne.org
The theology of the Eucharist is the same in both the Roman Catholic and Ukrainian Orthodox Churches. But the Churches are not in communion with one another which means that Roman Catholics cannot receive Communion in any Orthodox Church as a result.
http://www.ukrainian-orthodoxy.org/questions/2007/appostolic.html
Question:
I’m a Roman Catholic considering conversion to the Orthodox Faith. I’ve read some articles on the internet and am confused as to whether I need to bere-baptized. Do you consider baptism in the Latin rite invalid?
I’m planing to attend my very first mass in your Faith and was wondering if I would be allowed to receive the Eucharist or do I need to go through some sort of training first?
Answer:
Very Reverend Ihor Kutash kutash@unicorne.org
The Church preserves unity in diversity. In the Orthodox Church there is no hierarch with universal jurisdiction since its One True Shepherd, our Lord Jesus, has never left His Church (Matthew 28:20). The Apostle Peter does not replace or substitute for Him. The Scriptures do indeed indicate that Peter exercises an important role as leader among the Apostles but his primacy is exercised in equality or collegiality (”primus inter pares”) as the Book of Acts clearly shows. The Rock upon which the Church is built is our Lord Himself as we proclaim during Matins: “The Stone which the builders rejected has become the Cornerstone; this is the Lord’s doing and it is marvelous in our eyes” (from Psalm 118:2 - also the most often repeated phrase from the Old in the New Testament: Matthew 21:42, Mark 12:10, Luke 20:17, Acts 4:11 and 1 Peter 2:7). Peter, a leader among the Apostles, was first to proclaim the Church’s faith in our Lord upon Whom it is built: “You are the the Christ (i.e. the Messiah, God’s Chosen and Annointed One - igk), the Son of the Living God” (Matthew 16:15). He did not see himself as that Rock. Such, at any rate, is the conviction of the Orthodox Church.
What difference does it make that there are dozens of "Catholic" denominations? Does the fact that the Eastern Orthodox - which your magesterium calls brethren - refuse to bow to the authority of the Pope of Rome or accept papal infallibility make any difference? Does the fact that all who name the name of Jesus Christ as Lord, Savior and as God in the flesh and are called the body of Christ regardless of denomination make a difference? When Jesus prayed for unity of the body, are you presuming he meant a human institution or was he speaking of a spiritual body united in the one faith and one Lord and one baptism? Do you think the "one faith" meant the Roman Catholic Church or the faith that actually saves which is Jesus Christ who died for our sins?
What I find profoundly sad is the amnesia that seems to come over some of you guys when you say such things as The only thing you seem to be able to agree on is a universal rejection ("protest") of all things Catholic, when you should know very well that is not a true statement. Do we "all" disagree about the major tenets of the Christian faith? The virgin birth, the incarnation of God the Son, the sacrificial death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ for our salvation, the necessity of saving faith and the work of the Holy Spirit with the life of each believer moving us to show our love and gratitude by being obedient to the commands of God. The inspiration of the Holy Scriptures, the community of the saints, the commission to go into all the world to preach the Gospel.
I do not see how you can make such a statement that not one of us find it in themselves to even admit one good thing about anything Catholic. Even Mother Teresa is trashed. I know that it may be difficult to hear that someone can refuse to accept what you are convinced is the one, true church and that your Magesterium is not held in the same awe by genuine Christians, but I sure try very hard to prove why I cannot accept some of what they have generated over the centuries and it is NOT because I hate anyone. If you could put yourself on the other side for once and read the condescending, insulting and hatefully snide comments that come from some on your side, you may get a glimpse of why these threads take a hostile turn at times. It is hardly all on one side. If you want respect, show respect. This is a forum of ideas and discussion of beliefs, participating on it requires the ability to not get personal nor take things personally. It also helps to rid oneself of feeling persecuted just because some may disagree. That is HARDLY cause for verbal wars. God's desire is for us to live peacefully with each other "as much as lieth in us". When we can't, maybe we need a time-out.