Posted on 03/02/2013 9:41:30 AM PST by NKP_Vet
If we wish to locate the Church founded by Jesus, we need to locate the one that has the four chief marks or qualities of his Church. The Church we seek must be one, holy, catholic, and apostolic.
The Church Is One (Rom. 12:5, 1 Cor. 10:17, 12:13, CCC 813–822) Jesus established only one Church, not a collection of differing churches (Lutheran, Baptist, Anglican, and so on). The Bible says the Church is the bride of Christ (Eph. 5:23–32). Jesus can have but one spouse, and his spouse is the Catholic Church.
His Church also teaches just one set of doctrines, which must be the same as those taught by the apostles (Jude 3). This is the unity of belief to which Scripture calls us (Phil. 1:27, 2:2).
Although some Catholics dissent from officially-taught doctrines, the Church’s official teachers—the pope and the bishops united with him—have never changed any doctrine. Over the centuries, as doctrines are examined more fully, the Church comes to understand them more deeply (John 16:12–13), but it never understands them to mean the opposite of what they once meant.
The Church Is Holy (Eph. 5:25–27, Rev. 19:7–8, CCC 823–829) By his grace Jesus makes the Church holy, just as he is holy. This doesn’t mean that each member is always holy. Jesus said there would be both good and bad members in the Church (John 6:70), and not all the members would go to heaven (Matt. 7:21–23).
(Excerpt) Read more at catholic.com ...
What Pope has embraced homosexuality?
The Catholic Church has been the one and only Church that has stood against
Homosexuality,
contraception,
abortion,
euthanasia,
embryonic stem cell research.
Where do you ge your false information? From a pastor who hates the Catholic Church? From comics? From pamplets?
Sexual Abuse of Children by Protestant Ministers
Report: Protestant Church Insurers Handle 260 Sex Abuse Cases a Year
Abuse by Protestant Ministers of Every Denomination
Child Sexual Molestation by Various Protestant Clergy
"Yeshiva" of Brooklyn also Guilty of Child Abuse
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Teachers and Pedophilia - In YOUR Backyard
Washington Post -- D.C. school officials reported 220 abuse allegations against teachers
Sex Abuse by Teachers Said Worse Than Catholic Church
WHEN BOYS ARE MOLESTED BY TEACHERS AND OTHERS IN POSITIONS OF AUTHORITY
Forgotten Study: Abuse in School 100 Times Worse than by Priests
Your point being?
I can't imagine that happening. Yet it has in *some* other church settings, bringing serious problems...with acceptance of contraception being the singularly most widespread.
If there is any good news along those lines, the information is spreading among those whom that care to look, that much of the time the "preventative" purpose or idea of birth control pills often is missed, with the egg not being prevented from attaching in the first place, but is instead loosed and lost AFTER conception has in fact occured, resulting in the common pill becoming an abortificant.
As to another aspect you mention;
There is clear enough evidence there was a concentration of RC homo-priest "teachers" in one school in Minnesota, having been somewhat cultivated while also hidden, yet steps have been taken to correct that...even as much of the rest of the culture we are living in is running headlong towards not only acceptance of gay fagginess, but it's being forced upon the rest of us.
Which is worse? Hidden sin, or sin run amuck, sin openly flaunting itself with no shame whatsoever?
Going back in the OT, we can see homo activity earning the death penalty. Yet so was adultry, ordered to be punished with death by stoning. In the NT, Christ spoke of a man, if looking upon a woman (not his wife?) as to having carnal relations with her, then that man has commited adultry within his own heart...
Woe is us. I don't know where I can go when the time comes that the stones will begin falling from the sky. Perhaps I'll miss that particular phase, not living long enough to see that.
Still, the Lord Himself revealed to me directly, in no uncertain terms, that I myself will be forcefully taken into His presence, by His own power. That there was a strong sense of restrained fury in Him when He did so, isn't exactly totally comforting towards my own fleshly preference of taking it easy, or being lackadaisical in regards to my own life in general.
There will be a reckoning for us all.
For those that have been sought after by Christ, know that we have been bought and paid for with a price.
How can we plead the blood if we reject it? And no, I'm not talking about questions as towards the cup as in RC communion ceremony, which in many instance is drank from only by the priests (some of them queer as 3-dollar Joseph Smith funny money).
If the shed blood of Christ be the only pleading we have, what value shall we ourselves place upon the blood?
It is freely given. After baptism (both of water and of Spirit, John 3:5), we simpy must partake of it. It is the only hope we have of overcoming the sin that lives within. Romans 7.
Please forgive me, if I'm preaching to the choir, for I'm not saying here anything new, that's for sure!
I also have been reciting a short prayer for the election of the pope — not nearly as elegant as yours — as I assume many Catholics have.
Is this impression I get, true?
Then why not keep it objective? Why personalize it by mocking attire with a "funny hat" remark? Do you criticize Jews for wearing a skull cap similar in appearance to that worn by the pope and Catholic bishops? Or othodox headwear such as the mitre which can look similar to Catholic mitres? I've often seen Martin Luther depicted with a "funny hat." Is he fair game for ridicule too?
Do you criticize nonCatholic clergy whose attire resembles that of Catholic clergy? I'm thinking specifically of the stole. Whether it is of Roman or other origin, it became a sign of Catholic holy orders (ordination to the priesthood or diaconate). The nondenominational pastor I listen to every Sunday wears a stole. So did the pastor in the congregation in which I was raised. So do a huge number of other protestant pastors. Do you criticize their attire too?
Peace be with you.
They are the One True Church for one.
Peter was the first Pope for another.
The selling of indulgences overshadows the money changers in the Temple whom Jesus ran out.
I could go on . . . but to what purpose?
Not usually, no. I have other problems with them that bother me more.
Apparently all of them as well as all Catholics...It's pretty well proven you have queers at all levels of your clergy even within the cardinal hierarchy...
Either your popes are against queers in your cardinaldom or he isn't...Silence on the matter doesn't count...You are either for or against...
Mat 12:30 He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad.
If Catholics do not speak out about their queer priests and cardinals who are still priests and cardinals, you are for them...There is no in between...
Mat 12:34 O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.
When it comes to queers, there is no in between with Jesus...And there isn't any with you guys...
Really??? Then why are there queer cardinals??? Maybe some of the apostles were queers too???
Most Catholics I know don’t read the bible. What’s up with that?
Good observation. IMHO, we have a foot that is upset that the hand isn't a foot like themselves, and has set it upon themselves to declare the hand is anti-foot!
1Cor 12:10-28
Folks, when we have people who want to slit our throats and Christians are being persecuted as we speak, it seems childish for Christians to be bashing each other in a “my church vs your church” manner. We all have our differences but have more similarities than differences. The Catholic Church has been here for 2k years and isn’t going anywhere. Protestant denominations have some Godly attributes, and the bottom line is this: any man or woman who believes in the Trinity is probably all right with God. It is a symptom of the dynamism of Christianity that we can disagree without resorting to bashing.
Well said, thank you. Peace be with you.
I’ve seen some pretty Bible ignorant Protestants as well. Instead of painting Catholics as Bible illiterate (some are well read), I find it more conducive to good conversation to target the tenets of their religion I find most out of character for Christs Church. I hope the Catholic Church reforms itself to the betterment for its members. You should as well.
Regarding targeting RC doctrines that I find to be anti biblical, I've spend dozens of hours on FR doing that. Ultimately, I just wish "Christians" would read the bible a lot more.
They sure do in New England. I have asked a couple of Catholics who have their head screwed on straight why that is true...they shrug and say "Got me..."
You can't blame an institution for individuals that stray. Jesus associated with prostitutes, tax collectors and thieves. As far as Catholics voting Democrat, not all do. That's too wide of brush you're painting with. With that said a local Catholic Church has a network of services for illegal aliens. I'm sure they think they are doing the right thing. I think the point I'm trying to make is we are individuals. We will be judged as individuals, not by denomination. There won't be a Catholic section and a Protestant section in Heaven. The One True Church won't be on the internet touting itself as just a little better than the other guys.
On historical note, in response to the comment about the next pope condoning contraception...up until the 1930’s...there was no Christian denomination on the planet that didn’t teach that contraception was wrong. The episcipalians caved first...then they all did...and still the Church held its 2000 year old position.
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