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 ...
According to Holy Scripture, there is a visible Church, the one Paul wrote to. Did this disappear?
The older I get, the more I appreciate C.S. Lewis's response:
"Christ said, 'Take, eat.' not 'Take, understand.'"
If our religion is reducible to materialism, we have a science not a religion.
As opposed to Christ's Gospel. The real mystery is how you're going to sell Christians on the idea your teacher's 'rediscovered' of Christianity that deletes Christ Ministry.
Perhaps after it's more than 50 years old you can try to sell it more effectively.
"The preaching of Jesus Christ" is "deleting Christ's Ministry"? Or perhaps you just missed that part of the verse.
What is Christ's Gospel?
Very salient scripture...
according to MY GOSPEL, and the preaching of Jesus Christ
BUT NOW" is made manifest
You are correct. Fortunately, it will never be so reduced, as it can not.
boatbums is a true Christian of firm faith from what I have seen and read, as are most here - and such a blessing that is too.
Still, charges get thrown at all sides. You know the ones we get. You know the ones we dish out too. It is nice to discuss them civilly for once.
It is a handy way of shutting down the yappy militant atheists though! That is one of the things they always bring up. The same Father said that “The biggest compliment an true atheist can give you is to walk off in digust.”
That's where you don't get it...Paul was writing to the invisible church...As well as those who attended church services but were not membes in the invisible church...
When Paul wrote to the Corinthian church, the church he was referring to were those who were 'in Christ', spiritually...Not everyone who attended the church was the church...
No one knows who was actually the church at Corinth except God...They are invisible to all others...
There is both a visible and invisible Church. What you have lost, or rejected, is the visible Church.
Alright, I'll tell you what church I belong to. The church I belong to is much older than the RCC. It was started by the apostles.
Romans 16:5 Likewise greet the church that is in their house. Salute my well-beloved Epaenetus, who is the firstfruits of Achaia unto Christ.
Colossians 4:15 Salute the brethren which are in Laodicea, and Nymphas, and the church which is in his house.
Philemon 1:2 And to our beloved Apphia, and Archippus our fellowsoldier, and to the church in thy house:
We see the RCC which was established thousands of years later this way.
Romans 16:17 Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. 18 For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.
The self aggrandizing leadership in many organized religions today isn’t what God ordained.
1 Corinthians 1:27 But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; 28 And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: 29 That no flesh should glory in his presence. You see, our way is much, much older than the apostate RCC organization and survived despite the evil oppression and persecution of the RCC. We don’t set up idols or revere mere men.
2 Corinthians 4:5 For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake.
That’s the NT Church, my Church. It continues afterward.
Did your church disappear afterward?
No it’s not your church. The RCC venerates humans and builds great edifices it calls churches. The RCC glorifies men. The RCC rituals, doctrines and practices never once found in the New Testament church.
Not responsive. Dodging the question again.
I have answered that several times. No it didn’t disappear. It has been consistent and ever present. It’s members were one of the groups that the RCC persecuted and condemned then turned over to the rulers they had put in place as “secular” kings etc to be put to death. It has quietly persisted and spread world wide preaching the gospel in every continent. It predates the RCC and stands true to the doctrines taught by the apostles.
I have answered that several times. No it didn’t disappear. It has been consistent and ever present. It’s members were one of the groups that the RCC persecuted and condemned ...Really? Which particular heretical group are you claiming is THAT group? Or were every heretical sect part of THAT group? What are the basic beliefs and dogmas of this "consistent and ever present" Church that you claim has billions of members and that you claim as your own? Are they Trinitarian? Sunday as a day of Worship? Sacramental? Is Baptism practiced? If so, why and how? mIf I happen to be in Denver or Chicago or any large city, what name would this "consistent and ever present" Church that you claim has billions of members have on the front of their Church or listed in the phone book? How would a Catholic convert to this wondrous "consistent and ever present" Church that you claim has billions of members?
Who? What? Where? When? I'm just asking for one specific piece of the history of your church.
None of them.
>>What are the basic beliefs and dogmas of this "consistent and ever present" Church that you claim has billions of members and that you claim as your own?<<
Fully contained and explained in scripture. You can read it there.
>>Are they Trinitarian? Sunday as a day of Worship? Sacramental? Is Baptism practiced? If so, why and how?<<
All explained in scripture. You can find the whole explanation there.
>>If I happen to be in Denver or Chicago or any large city, what name would this "consistent and ever present" Church that you claim has billions of members have on the front of their Church or listed in the phone book?<<
Don’t call us the Holy Spirit will call you.
>>How would a Catholic convert to this wondrous "consistent and ever present" Church that you claim has billions of members?<<
Renounce the RCC and ask the Holy Spirit to enlighten you.
I heartily agree. We get the opportunity all too rarely on here, and the internet in general; I suppose that should make us appreciate it when it happens all the more.
thanks for your reply.
So you have no Church you can point anyone to, just renounce the bRCC? And what version of the Holy Writ should I use in my pursuit of your alleged billion member Church that has no name, no denomination and no apparent dogma? Well except you seem to scorn Easter, Christmas and Church on Sunday.
Why would there be that? We don’t glorify the church we glorify Christ. Jesus knows His own.
John10:14 I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.
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