You wrote:
“Just a slight historical correction. Sir Thomas More, a Catholic and “saint”, was the author of Utopia which deals the idea that the world would be best ruled by a few rather than the masses.”
More is not a “saint”. He is a saint. Period.
“This philosophy wasn’t anything new in the Church for the Holy Roman Church which sought to expand itself.”
The Church does not seek to expand itself. It preaches the gospel. If the Church sought to expand itself it would do a much better job!
“He only vocalized it and Utopia planted the seeds for socialism.”
You’re not making any sense. Hierarchy, which More accepted and beieved in both as a concept and a reality in daily life, is a perfectly natural and Christian thing.
“The whole philosophy behind the “infallibility of the Pope” doctrine, devised in the early 20th century was to consolidate decisions and authority with one man. And one could go on and on.”
You could indeed go on and on...making mistakes as you did above. Papal infallibility was defined as a doctrine in the 19th century, not the 20th. Also, the philosophy of it was already largely worked out in the 13th and 14th centuries. Apparently this is news to you.
“Compare this to Protestantism that preaches every man is their own priest and individualism;”
Uh, gee, I hate to enter facts into your little dream world here, but Catholics also HAVE ALWAYS believed all baptized persons are priests. We got that from our religious forefathers - the Jews - who believed in both a priestly nation and a select priesthod. That’s what we have in the Church. After all we know and believe 1 Peter 2:9 “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people of his own, so that you may proclaim the virtues of the one who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.”
Here is how the Catechism of the Catholic Church puts it:
1546 Christ, high priest and unique mediator, has made of the Church “a kingdom, priests for his God and Father.”20 The whole community of believers is, as such, priestly. The faithful exercise their baptismal priesthood through their participation, each according to his own vocation, in Christ’s mission as priest, prophet, and king. Through the sacraments of Baptism and Confirmation the faithful are “consecrated to be . . . a holy priesthood.”21 1547 The ministerial or hierarchical priesthood of bishops and priests, and the common priesthood of all the faithful participate, “each in its own proper way, in the one priesthood of Christ.” While being “ordered one to another,” they differ essentially.22 In what sense? While the common priesthood of the faithful is exercised by the unfolding of baptismal grace —a life of faith, hope, and charity, a life according to the Spirit—, the ministerial priesthood is at the service of the common priesthood. It is directed at the unfolding of the baptismal grace of all Christians. The ministerial priesthood is a means by which Christ unceasingly builds up and leads his Church. For this reason it is transmitted by its own sacrament, the sacrament of Holy Orders.
Look here: http://www.crossroadsinitiative.com/library_article/625/Priesthood_of_Believers.html
Also, the idea that Protestants invented individualism is just bizarre and completely ahistorical. Individualism is a product of the Middle Ages. That’s incredibly clear if you read The Idea of Natural Rights by Brian Tierney. Read especially starting at page 208.
“and I think it’s a bit of a stretch to claim that Protestantism is Marxist.”
It would be. And of course I never said it was. It would help if you actually got what I said right.
“It seems to me the evidence is the other way around. That is unless, of course, Marxism and Socialism have been redefined.”
Nope, but clearly you’re not above making up things I never said.
“Please note that what the Pope is preaching IS Socialist in nature.”
Nope. Charity and concern are not socialist. If Benedict is a socialist than all the early Christians were too. And Jesus? You must think He was a raging COMMUNIST. Clothe the naked? Feed the poor? Wow, how Marxist of God.
“You will not find a Calvinist on this board (or I would gather in the world) that would agree with the Pope on this.”
Yeah, actually I would:
http://www.calvin.edu/henry/ISSRC/Conferences/Papers/monsma06.pdf
I think you don’t know nearly as much as you think you do. And that is so often what becomes clear when talking to Protestants about even their own religion. How sad.
It’s amazing the shocking
. . . awarenesses . . .
some folks are scheduling themselves for.