Posted on 02/05/2012 2:58:27 PM PST by marshmallow
Fidel Castro will be received back into the communion of the Roman Catholic Church during Pope Benedict XVI’s visit to the island in March, the Italian press is reporting. If true, this is a remarkable story — and one that has yet to catch the attention of editors this side of the Atlantic.
On 1 Feb 2012, La Republicca — [Italy’s second largest circulation daily newspaper, La Republicca follows a center-left political line and is strongly anti-clerical; not anti-Catholic per se but a critic of the institutional church] — reported that as death approaches, the octogenarian communist has turned to God for solace.
ABC’s Global Note news blog is the only U.S. general interest publication I have found that has reported this story. It referenced the La Republicca story and said that Castro’s
daughter Alina is quoted as saying “During this last period, Fidel has come closer to religion: he has rediscovered Jesus at the end of his life. It doesn’t surprise me because dad was raised by Jesuits.” The article quotes an unidentified high prelate in the Vatican who is working on the Pope’s Cuba trip: “Fidel is at the end of his strength. Nearly at the end of his life. His exhortations in the party paper Granma, are increasingly less frequent. We know that in this last period he has come closer to religion and God.”
Some Italian websites have even speculated as to when Fidel will make his confession and credo — setting the date as 27 March 2012 at 17:30 when the two ottantacinquenni, Pope Benedict XVI and Castro, will meet at the Palacio de la Revolución when the pope makes his official visit to the head of state, Raul Castro.
During Pope John Paul II’s 1998 visit to Cuba, Castro attended mass, but did...........
(Excerpt) Read more at geoconger.wordpress.com ...
God knows all!
Huh? I guess I mistakenly assumed you would understand the question and perhaps what a strawman was.
In any case, I was thinking the answer to the question: "What would you do without the strawman church you’ve invented for yourself?" would be closer to:
"Find something else to hate in order to define my 'religion.' "
Acts 15:8 And God, who knows the heart, bore witness by granting them the holy Spirit just as he did us. 9 He made no distinction between us and them, for by faith he purified their hearts.
No faith, no pure heart. It’s pure blasphemy to attribute what is Christ’s to the RCC.
The prodigal son was not about fear of death, but God’s infinite forgiveness when contritefully sought.
Not if he were to gain a plenary indulgence.
http://www.catholic.org/clife/prayers/indulgc.php
God's Mercy is infinite. The value of Jesus’ act of redemption is infinite, and therefore, the treasury of the Church is infinite.
And how does YOUR church fulfill these Biblical words of Christ?
We guard against the cultish practices and beliefs of the RCC. Those who accept the gospel of salvation are forgiven and those who reject it are not forgiven of their sins. God alone can forgive sins. It is the mark of the anti Christ to presume to be able to forgive sins.
Lauren BaRecall asked “And how does YOUR church fulfill these Biblical words of Christ?”
“His Church”?
He has the odd view that Catholics are idolaters, that those who celebrate Easter and Christmas are pagans and claims that the idea of church on Sunday is a man made tradition and apparently not either Christian or Biblical.
Given that this is the point of view from which CynicalBear appears to see the world, why should anyone pay attention to his odd, often incomplete and often incoherent screeds?
I’ve challenged you often to find where Christ or the apostles instituted or celebrated either of those. You have never shown any. I have shown God’s condemnation of many of the traditions included in each of them and even calls them abominations. My challenge remains. Find where either of those were instituted by Christ or the apostles. So come on narses. Let's see scriptural proof of those two. Surely if Christ or the apostles instituted them or celebrated them you could show the proof.
>> Sunday is a man made tradition and apparently not either Christian or Biblical.<<
I’m not sure why you keep lying about that one. Here is what I have consistently posted in regards to that.
Romans 14:5 One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind. 6 He that regardeth the day, regardeth it unto the Lord; and he that regardeth not the day, to the Lord he doth not regard it.
Worship on whatever day you choose.
The 'Old Commie' finally found his Foxhole.
Sounds like The Way International.
It’ The Way CynicalBear.
A church of one.
Communist Hugo Chavez has not figured this out yet and remains in denial (not a river in Egypt). Whether Fidel or Hugo goes first or second, the world (and Cuba and Venezuela) will benefit from their departure.
The key point will be what sort of PENANCE Pope Benedict XVI assigns Castro for a Papal Absolution of all sins.
If the penitent fails to complete the penance assigned by the priest, then the absolution is of no merit and is null and void.
For example, a murderer goes to confession and seeks absolution from the priest for the sin of murder. What penance should the priest assign? Answer: Turn yourself in to the civil authorities and accept the civil consequences for the crime of murder.
Put your faith in the person of Jesus Christ who shed His blood for the forgiveness of your sins or you die with them still on your personal account. There isn't a Church on earth that can save you. Church is a place the saved go to worship God their Savior.
I ask you to honestly answer this question. Do you believe that "God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but hath everlasting life"? Or do you believe, as it seems to many of us so called Catholic haters, that God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in The Catholic Church will not perish but have everlasting life?
Now don't give a knee jerk reaction. Search your hearts and see which version of this ultimately important statement you believe. Your eternity is depending on what you really, truly believe about how you must be saved.
No, he means the strawman idea of the Catholic Church you’ve invented for yourself.
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