Posted on 11/21/2012 9:28:21 AM PST by marshmallow
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Richmond has told the nation's only blended Catholic and Episcopal parish it must change its worship services so Catholics and non-Catholics meet in separate rooms for Holy Communion.
The parish, Church of the Holy Apostles, is led by Catholic and Episcopal co-pastors and has worshipped together for more than 30 years.
It's an arrangement, parishioners say, that over the years has allowed families in mixed marriages to worship side by side and has helped build bonds that transcend denominational boundaries.
In an emotionally charged meeting Monday with parish leaders, representatives of the Catholic diocese voiced support for the ecumenical congregation, said the Rev. Michael Ferguson, the parishs Episcopal pastor.
But the officials made it clear the current worship practice using a combined liturgy in which the priests move to separate altars in the same room to say the Eucharistic prayers was unacceptable, Ferguson said.
They instructed the parish to come up with a plan that provides for separate liturgies in separate rooms, Ferguson said.
What was left in our laps was to develop a way to be together in those parts of the service where it would be acceptable to the diocese for us to be together and then to separate
without making it disjointed, Ferguson said.
(Excerpt) Read more at hamptonroads.com ...
Purgatory is as man-imagined as that partition between so-called believers that we read about on this thread.
Of course the Bible talks about separating the wheat from the chaff and the sheep from the goats, but in neither case are both of those groups believers, but rather those whom the Lord knows vs. those He does not.
And it’s not your job or my job to make that decision for Him.
I didn’t say “just”. But the doctrine of transubstantiation was (and is) a very big deal. Bigger then, I suppose, because of its implications for the place of, and power of, the Church in men’s lives.
I dunno. C.S. Lewis thought that purgatory was rather like taking a bath before one visits the Queen.
You omitted the caveat "in my unlearned opinion".
And its not your job or my job to make that decision for Him.
Stop digging before that hole you're in gets any deeper.
"And we charge you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you withdraw yourselves from every brother walking disorderly, and not according to the tradition which they have received of us." 2 Thessalonians 3:6
You might want to look up the myriad of passages on unity and how the Lord feels about dissension within the brotherhood. Not to mention the “do not judge” scriptures and Jesus’ prayer in John 17 “that they be one, as we are one, so the world may know that thou hast sent me.”
Over the river and through the woods, off to Grandmother’s house I go. Happy Thanksgiving.
"Think ye, that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, no; but separation." Luke 12:51
"And why even of yourselves, do you not judge that which is just?" Luke 12:57
“And its not your job or my job to make that decision for Him.”
Why did you say that? Is it “judgemental” to separate the Catholics from the non-catholics?
It is OUR decision to separate people. We don’t make the decision to separate for Him - we separate people because He tells us to. He founded a Church - the Catholic Church. And to have joint services causes scandal because it creates a false equivalence between the Real Body of Christ (i.e. the Catholic Eucharist) and the lie that is the Episcopal “Eucharist”.
Don’t tell me about the “do not judge” scriptures.
The Bible COMMANDS us to judge the actions of others. “Do not judge” refers to judging the eternal location of someone’s soul. That is God’s job.
What religion are you anyway?
The parish, Church of the Holy Apostles, is led by Catholic and Episcopal co-pastors and has worshipped together for more than 30 years.
Ping for later
Well, no Purgatory is the teaching of the Catholic Church. You disagree. If you are right, then it is man-made. if we are right, it is true doctrine. You have registered your vote. I vote the other way.
I am not a Catholic, and do not even pretend to know what
God has in store for the believers. I read a piece on here
a few weeks back that made a good case for a place like
purgatory. Lord knows I need cleaned up and how He does it
does not matter to me. There’s this also, someone on here
has a good tagline that if we differ, then God will make it
clear when we get to Heaven.
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It is all about unity in Him -unity that comes from being aligned with Him. It is not about some moral relative peace through compromise. There are differences between the Catholic and Episcopal and THIS is where the conflict is rooted. Your peace on earth fantasy ignores the reality of division and what division truly represents for those with eyes open.
"Do you think that I have come to establish peace on the earth? No, I tell you, but rather division."
-- Luke 12:51
I watched that as a teen, and had nightmares for weeks. I’m afraid to watch it again. :)
Why? It is a very good film.
maybe a new parish is the remedy for you (and a different diocese in the same town you live in): http://www.ak-byz-cath.org/
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