Posted on 04/05/2005 10:01:52 PM PDT by Coleus
For the last quarter of a century, this non-Catholic has had a pope. Now that John Paul II is gone, I am even more of an orphan than the Christians in the Roman church. For they will surely have another pope, but that one may not be mine, since I haven't converted.
I am sure I am reflecting the views of many Protestants. Who else but John Paul II gave voice to my faith and my values in 130 countries? Who else posited personal holiness and theological clarity against postmodern self-deception and egotism? Who else preached the gospel as tirelessly as this man?
What other clergyman played any comparable role in bringing down communism, a godless system? What other world leader—spiritual or secular—understood so profoundly how hollow and bankrupt the Soviet empire was, so much so that this tireless writer never bothered to pen an encyclical against Marxism-Leninism because he knew it was moribund?
Has there been a more powerful defender of the sanctity of life than this Pole, in whose pontificate nearly 40 million unborn babies wound up in trashcans and furnaces in the United States alone? What more fitting insight than John Paul II's definition of our culture as a culture of death—an insight that is now clearly sinking in, to wit the declining abortion rates in the United States?
In Europe some time ago, a debate occurred in Protestant churches: Should John Paul II be considered the world's spokesman for all of Christianity? This was an absurd question. Of course he spoke for all believers. Who else had such global appeal and credibility, even to non-Christians and non-believers?
Of course, there was the inveterate Billy Graham. There were many faithful Orthodox and Protestant bishops, pastors and evangelists.
(Excerpt) Read more at christianitytoday.com ...
If you notice in the Ave Maria, at the end we ask her to PRAY FOR US. That's the difference.
The best way I ever heard it explained, was if we can ask someone to pray for us in this life, and we are convinced there is a Holy Afterlife, why wouldn't we ask someone we were sure was there to pray for us?
ALSO, it is rarely noted that the Lords Prayer (Pater Noster) is prayed in every decade of the Holy Rosary)
Oh, another red herring. The Pope is only infallible on certain occasions when he declares a certain pronouncement to be. I'm not sure if this Pope EVER declared any of his teachings to be infallible, though he rested on the infallibility of previous teachings.
That's right. This started out as a thread of adoration, and about the inclusion of certain protestants who don't find the leadership he brought in the "do-it-yourself" protestant world. The attackers immediately started coming in over the walls. TF reminds me of the deathrats. Attack, attack, attack, and then attack the pubbies for defending.
Your first post attacked Mary, attacked the Pope, and attacked the Roman Catholic Church. Attack, attack, attack, then attack us for defending. Why don't you stop?
Ah, wehn all else fails, start a new line of attack. But we aren't supposed to defend, right? We're supposed to stop fighting and mourn.
Would you prefer the pope had called a crusade on Jews, Hindus, and Muslins?
Requiescat in Pacem, John Paul II.
Jesus allowed the perfume to be poured on his head and his body to be prepared for burial.
HE wore a seamless tunic, which the Romans cast lots for.
I think he was well dressed, at least on that occasion.
Dona eis Requiem, Dona nobis Pacem. Amen. Amen.
I fundamentally disagree with your statement that we "come from" different belief systems. I am a protestant - Episcoplian to be exact - "Catholic lite" as my RC friends refer to it. My children are being raised Catholic, as their mother is Catholic. So, I have explored this issue at depth for many, many years.
We do not come from different belief systems. There is only one relevant belief in this entire debate and that is the central belief that Christ is the Son of God, our Lord and Savior. This commonality is the core belief that unites all Christians, of whatever color, shape, size, etc.
What has divided us is not a difference in "belief," but a difference in dogma and liturgy. Liturgically, Episcopalians, or Anglican Catholics, are very similar to Roman Catholics - however, evolving dogma, influenced by politics and practice, over centuries of principled religious leadership in some instances and outright contortion in others to serve our human interests, not God's interests, has dictated a difference in approach (amongst Protestants themselves and then between Protestants generally and Catholics) concerning the "Church."
In other words, our divisions are of our creation, not God's creation. We choose to rationalize our often times irrational distinctions under the auspice that there is a difference in belief - borrowing a word from my father, that's poppycock.
If and when, we as Protestants and Catholics recognize that the core belief is the same and that our respective "spin" is what divides us, then there is real hope for Christian unity and real hope to do God's work here on Earth.
Protestants need to understand that the papacy is not the anti-Christ; it is not a seed of power devoid of connection to Jesus, but is the centuries old, traditional communicator of Christendom and Christian morals, ethic, etc. to the world. Protestants can learn a lot from Catholics about constant, unceasing devotion and faith.
Catholics need to understand that people yearn for a personal relationship with Christ, not a relationship with a Church. Protestantism grew from this innate desire to know God, not through the prism of a church often controlled by politics and division, but through a direct connection and understanding of how Christ impacts our daily lives. Catholics can learn a lot from Protestants about the sense of community and emotion that comes from having a personal relationship with Christ.
At this time of mourning, let's put down the arrows, let's downplay the division of our own creation and let's celebrate a life dedicated to Christ, no matter what the color, stripe or flavor.
John Paul II spoke to the largest crowd in history, seven million people in the Phillipines, on one of his world tours. Now it seems that his funeral will be the largest in history. More tears will flow for this man's death than can be calculated. He is much revered among all cultures and religions for his dedication to life and protection of the unborn and the disabled.
De nada.
Actually I liked the Pope very much and have nothing but nice thoughts about him.
I wasn't speaking of you personally. I hope you understood that.
SD
Jesus is not the Father. It's sad how those who rely upon their own personal inspiration fail the very basics of orthodox understanding of the Trinity.
SD
Oh, really...how deep you are. LOL.
Do you really think you have to be an American or Republican to support a just war? How infantile.
You use a lot of words to try to justify positions, but contradict yourself. "Holy Mary, mother of God, pray for us sinners." This prayer is NOT directed to God.
Again...you seem to have confusion about praying "to" and "with". You state one thing, and then backtrack.
You use a lot of words to try to justify positions, but contradict yourself. "Holy Mary, mother of God, pray for us sinners." This prayer is NOT directed to God.
When Catholics say things, we tend to be very particular about the language we use. TotusTuus used the words he did for a very particular reason. I suggest you study them, particulary the word "ultimately."
SD
Who told you it was a just war? What are the criteria involved and who is entrusted with the ultimate responsibility for making that judgment?
SD
Thank you, and thank you for standing up for common decency in this time of mourning for us.
If you interpret *direct quotes* as "attacks," that's your problem.
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