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 ...
Hehehehehehehe!
You seem to think that Catholics worship the Pope. WE don't.
Certainly, we revere him. Certainly he is held in the highest of esteem, but "worship", no.
Worship is reserved for God and our Saviour Jesus Christ.
And Mary.
worship
noun1. The act of adoring, especially reverently.
2. Deep and ardent affection.verb
1. To regard with great awe and devotion.
2. To feel deep, devoted love for.
Devotion for Our Lady. Worship for Our Lord.
Funny I was listening to the John Batchelor Show on WABC radio today and Lawrence Kudlow a recent convert to Catholicism twice mentioned that he worshipped the late Pope. Not withstanding your statement I wonder how many other Catholics would make the same claim?
I can't answer that, but I can tell you if they do, they shouldn't.
OTOH, it may be a term of endearment, in much the same way we might "worship" a girlfriend, football team, or even a political figure.
Uhhhhh....1st Pea in the Pod didn't say that.
My apologies if I misread, but I took the strong inference.
Looks like you read something into it.
Amen to your post!
We are not talking about the religious wars, but those who the Church deemed heretics and killed.
That stated very early and didn't end until the religious wars put an end to Rome's reign of terror.
Pope John Paul II was responsible for all that?
Please, wait until at least next week before you dance on this great man's grave!
Amen!
I know you're a good person, AD, and I respect Catholics like you. Please bear with us Protestants here. The concept of pope is one many of us likely will never agree with, because, to cut to the chase and put it in simplest terms possible, Catholics and Protestants come from different belief systems.
While I don't consider John Paul II "my" pope, I recognize he was *the* pope, a title which carries deep meaning for folks all over the globe. And while I consider people like those I see in church every Sunday as being on an equal level with the pope in terms of relationship with the Father through Jesus Christ, I recognize many other people looked towards John Paul II as the literal and/or symbolic leader of Christendom.
So it doesn't have to be a bad thing to disagree over this, as long as we're willing to put aside personal pride.
You don't pray to her? (Hail Mary full of grace...)
She isn't considered the 'Queen of heaven'?
We do, and She is.
We pray that she will intercede with Her Son to grant our petition. No suggestion that She is God.
They don't consider Jesus sufficient. They feel they need another heavenly intercessor.
I certainly had no intention of entering a full-blown theological debate when I first posted.
I respect all Christians of good-will, I merely point out that I regard the Pope as Christ's representative on earth, but a human being all the same. I do not expect His Holiness to rise from the dead anytime soon. Why would he? He is already with his Lord.
You said you only worship God, yet you pray to Mary, which is itself act of worship that should only be directed to God Himself (1Tim.2:5)
Jesus loves His mother. We may stand a better chance if She puts in a good word on our behalf. It's a simple proposition.
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