[Gamecock]

FRoman Catholics!

Follow your doctrine!

Can. 831 §1. Except for a just and reasonable cause, the Christian faithful are not to write anything for newspapers, magazines, or periodicals which are accustomed to attack openly the Catholic religion or good morals; clerics and members of religious institutes, however, are to do so only with the permission of the local ordinary.

___________________________________________

Don't respond! You are violating church law if you do so!

[cloudmountain]

Some time ago I recall a Protestant minister saying that the name "Protestant" isn't relevant anymore as "we aren't protesting anything any more."

Sorry, I forgot who it was.

[Campion]

Empirical fact: The Papacy as an authoritative institution was not there in the early centuries.

That "empirical fact" is not a fact at all, but is open to dispute. Clement's letter to the Corinthians commands their obedience, to him. And the parties in the Quartodeciman controversy turned to Rome to settle it. By the time you get to Chalcedon, the Papacy clearly has some sort of unique authority. The main question is whether that authority is ordinary, or only exercised in extraordinary circumstances.

As for his other "empirical facts," they all sidestep the only question that ought to matter: was the office of the Roman Pontiff instituted and intended by Christ? If it was, what difference does it make that it was occupied by corrupt men at some point in history?

The office of the High Priest was unquestionably instituted by God through Moses. Were all the Jewish High Priests good and righteous men? Hardly, but that didn't invalidate the office at all.

But as Lurking notes, we clearly live rent-free in your head. I'll keep praying for you.

[strider44]

Good thing we have another Freeper Catholic v Protestant thread. What better way to promote the cause of Conservatism?

[Zionist Conspirator]

Yet for all of its brilliance, the book does not demonstrate its central thesis, that Protestantism must shoulder most of the responsibility for the various things which Dr. Gregory dislikes about modern Western society, from its exaltation of the scientific paradigm to its consumerism to its secular view of knowledge

How does he explain the fact that the Catholic Church worships science and even the mystical Eastern churches feel they have to accept it to prove they aren't Protestants?

[goodwithagun]

So I prove how un-Christianlike a Bible thumper is and my my proof is deleted? Why wasn’t the proof of un-Christianlike comments deleted from the thread I linked?! Bashing Catholics (again I’m Protestant) is okay, but supplying proof of un-Christianlike conduct is not?

[1010RD]

Empirical fact: The Papacy as an authoritative institution was not there in the early centuries.

That's a bit misleading. The "Papacy" wasn't established, but authority was. There were no early Church without authority.

[daniel1212]

A good read.

[boatbums]

Thank you for the interesting article and review. It's certainly curious how there very rarely can be found unbiased and objective written “history” in the light of the truism that it is usually written by the victors.

[Elsie]

I am sympathetic with many of Dr. Gregory's gripes about the world of today; but in naming Protestantism as the primary culprit he engages in a rather arbitrary blame game.

It's GOTTA be them; for Catholics are perfect!

[Alex Murphy]

The thread’s back open, folks!