Whew! I just read through all the posts, quite a task. After a while, it begins to look like beating the dead horse. The Romanists debate their side and are defeated over and over, hands down.
To me, its simple, all one has to do is pick up a NT and just read ir, one would have to have half a brain to imagine the RCC is the church you see there. Excuse my Enlish: it ain’t there! Where’s the Marioloaty? Priests, CELIBATE priests, Rosary beads, infant baptism, praying the dead out of purgatory, etc. and etc., the list is almost endless.
Once the Bible became available to the common man, the Romanist game was over. They’ve been de-fanged. Going up against people armed with their Bibles, the Romanists haven’t a leg to stand on.
So, you think the Bible is supposed to be an exhaustive source of all religious truth?
1. What you call "Mariolatry"
Luke 1:28-30 "And the angel being come in, said unto her: Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women. Who having heard, was troubled at his saying, and thought with herself what manner of salutation this should be. And the angel said to her: Fear not, Mary, for thou hast found grace with God."
Luke 1:41-43 "And it came to pass, that when Elizabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the infant leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost: And she cried out with a loud voice, and said: Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb. And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?"
Luke 1:48 "Because he hath regarded the humility of his handmaid; for behold from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed."
2. Priests
John 20:21-23 "He said therefore to them again: Peace be to you. As the Father hath sent me, I also send you. When he had said this, he breathed on them; and he said to them: Receive ye the Holy Ghost. Whose sins you shall forgive, they are forgiven them; and whose sins you shall retain, they are retained."
3. CELIBATE Priests
Matthew 19:12 "For there are eunuchs, who were born so from their mother's womb: and there are eunuchs, who were made so by men: and there are eunuchs, who have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven. He that can take, let him take it.
1 Corinthians 7:8 "But I say to the unmarried, and to the widows: It is good for them if they so continue, even as I."
1 Corinthians 7:32-33 "But I would have you to be without solicitude. He that is without a wife, is solicitous for the things that belong to the Lord, how he may please God. But he that is with a wife, is solicitous for the things of the world, how he may please his wife: and he is divided."
It's true that St. Peter and most of the Apostles were married. The celibacy rule could be changed. But we prefer for our priests to follow the example set by Jesus and St. Paul.
4. Rosary beads were, I believe, used by the Dominicans or the Franciscans beginning in the Middle Ages, but that has no bearing whatsoever on whether or not praying the Rosary is a worthy practice. It's like asking, "When did the Founding Fathers ever recite the Pledge of Allegiance?". Obviously, the Founding Fathers never recited the Pledge of Allegiance. The Pledge of Allegiance didn't exist until 1892. Does that mean the Pledge of Allegiance is un-American?
5. Infant baptism is suggested when St. Paul says he baptized the household of Stephanas in 1 Corinthians, but I know you won't accept that. We do have more solid documentation of infant baptism from St. Hippolytus of Rome and from Origen, both writing in the 3rd century, well before 311, which is the year you think "Constantine established the Catholic Church". (Not that you'd accept those writings, either.)
6. Praying the Dead Out of Purgatory
2 Timothy 1:16-18 "The Lord give mercy to the house of Onesiphorous: because he hath often refreshed me, and hath not been ashamed of my chain: But when he was come to Rome, he carefully sought me, and found me. The Lord grant unto him to find mercy of the Lord in that day: and in how many things he ministered unto me at Ephesus, thou very well knowest."
This was a prayer offered by St. Paul for his dead friend Onesiphorous.
Scott Hahn says hi.
There is some more , but that is why objectively searching the Scriptures for truth and to to validate what Rome teachers (rather than searching for "proof texts" to wrest support for her) is discouraged.
“All that we do [as must be patent enough now] is to submit our judgment and conform our beliefs to the authority Almighty God has set up on earth to teach us; this, and nothing else.”
“The Vicar of Christ is the Vicar of God; to us the voice of the Pope is the voice of God. This, too, is why Catholics would never dream of calling in question the utterance of a priest in expounding Christian doctrine according to the teaching of the Church..” ”—“Henry G. Graham, “What Faith Really Means”, (Nihil Obstat:C. SCHUT, S. T.D., Censor Deputatus, Imprimatur: EDM. CANONICUS SURMONT, D.D.,Vicarius Generalis. WESTMONASTERII, Die 30 Septembris, 1914 )]
First of all, thank God for the Catholic Church. Guided by the Holy Spirit, we compiled the Bible. With God‟s grace, we started hospitals to care for the sick. We establish orphanages, and help the poor. We are the largest charitable organization on the planet, bringing relief and comfort to those in need. We educate more children than any other scholarly or religious institution. We developed the scientific method. We founded the college (university) system. We defend the dignity of all human life, and uphold marriage and family. Ours is one family united in Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.
Earlier, I posed a question to several others on this thread but have not yet received a response. Perhaps you can provide it. Please show me what the Bible says about in-vitro fertilization, contraception and divorce ... what does it say about two people living together outside of marriage. What does your church teach on these topics and which biblical source do they use? Thank you!
How many hospitals has your church built? What ranking does your church old on the charitable organization list? How many schools has your church built? How does your church publicly defend the dignity of all human life, or uphold marriage and the family? I am seriously interested in learning more about your respective churches and their contributions to society.