Actually, this is to all the Protestants on the thread:
Some of you have expressed admiration for the Pope, even if you are not of the same fold, and for that I am grateful and touched, as are all Catholics.
Some of you think this is a good time to flog us publicly about our beliefs, and certainly it is your right to express your opinion. However, I think it is not the time to do it.
These are the things I have had to deal with as a lifelong Catholic:
We know that you think that we worship statues, saints, and Mary.
We know that you think we worship the Pope.
We know that you think we don't read the Bible.
We know that you think that we are mentally unhinged.
I could go on, but I don't have a lot of time.
What you don't know is my prayer life, how much I DO read the Bible, what I am saying in the prayers that I send up to God every day. Yes, I give reverence to the Mother of God, but God is at the forefront of my mind when I pray or in what I do.
I don't follow you all around from thread to thread mocking your beliefs, even though I don't agree with them. It doesn't accomplish much but driving wedges in between people and driving up blood pressures. Not to say debate and discussion isn't healthy, because it certainly can be, but to some it seems to be an obsession about going around and smearing others and tearing down others' beliefs. Maybe I am just naive (I have been called worse), but that's just the way I see it.
I expect mocking and persecution for my beliefs, and I deal with them the best I can--with rational debate and with prayer for a calm demeanor in doing so. When all else fails, I pray for those on the other side of the debate.
Right now we mourn the death of a wonderful holy man of God, and you don't have to be Catholic to see that. If you can't even wait until he is in the ground to start trashing him and the Church, I don't know what else to say but I'll pray for you.
amen
Well said.
Thank you for that.
Thank you. I noticed that the local Methodist Church has a sign out front saying: "Thank You John Paul II". I thought that was pretty nice.
I am appalled at some of my fellow Protestants on this thread (and others) who are taking this man's death as an opportunity to belittle their fellow Christians. It is sickening.