Posted on 04/12/2002 1:40:46 PM PDT by aristeides
1) All the denominations --including the RCC -- went bankrupt and disappeared;
and
2) All of our church buildings were shuttered and sold?
What do you suppose would happen? I'll tell you:
a) Those who are real Christians, who take their faith seriously, would make the effort to find those among their neighbors who are also real Christians.
b) They would select from among themselves leaders of observable spiritual maturity and giftedness.
c) These people would start meeting in little neighborhood groups for teaching, fellowship, worship, and prayer.
And on this foundation, the church would be renewed and expand as never before.
I am firmly convinced that were this to happen, it would be the greatest thing in the history of the church since Pentecost.
Replacing the Catholic church is the anwwer.
Now, now. Don't jump to the
last page or you won't enjoy the book.
Celibicy is not the cause of homosexual rape of teenage men by priests, but elimination of the celibacy requrement of priests goes a long way towards the cure.
Presently, the Catholic Church has a system in place where a young man, with homosexual desires subtly nagging at him, growing up holy (usually a former alter boy), has an opportunity to deny his tendencies, by becoming "celibate" in a sanctioned, encouraged, manner. Become a priest, and you don't have to worry about those nagging itches. All sexual urges are suppressed equally.
The urges never go away, but the future homo is in a great place to hide them. It must be a great relief, for a troubled, holy man. Feel like doing another guy? Well, nothing to worry about, you are forbidden to do anyone.
Then once in a position of incredible power, surrounded in sanctioned secrecy, among alter boys (teenage men) who worship you, alone with you, with little chance for discovery, in hidden chambers that very few are allowed entrance to, the situation is completely different. It is now a situation where you can easily let those long suppressed urges come forward, with very little risk. A situation perfectly ripe for abuse.
"Lead us not into temptation..."
This is so ripe for abuse.
Now, open the church back up for married men (like it was for 50% of the Catholic Church's existance), and what will happen? They will get a huge influx of men, drawn to God, who are also drawn to women. The overall percentage of homosexual priests will fall dramatically, and the ones that remain unmarried, and who also show no interest in women, will stick out like a sore thumb. They will be watched more carefully.
(Interview question) "Are you attracted to women?"
(Answer) "Uhhhhh....."
Biology is biology. Normal men are strongly atracted to women, and have a very "hard" time not showing it. In an institution that discourages that attraction, and makes men feel guilty for it, you will drive off normal men, and attract troubled young men with homosexual tendencies.
Let's see the study that compares the percentage of homosexual priests in the Catholic Church to the percentage of homosexual priests in the Protestan Church. It has to be out there somewhere. Let's see it.
LOL!! I haven't heard THAT one!!
As usual, you remember incorrectly. Do yourself a favor and get a little education.
Don't link me with anything, just (in 3 sentences or less) tell me.
Luke 1:28 "And the angel being come in, said unto her: Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women."
Question : Prior to the fall, did Adam and Eve sin?
Since every sin dimishes grace, the Blessed Virgin Mary could not have been full of grace were she touched by sin. Her redemption was proactive, while ours, including that of your mother, is reactive. The fruit of Christ's redemption was applied to preserve Mary from sin. In contrast, for the rest of us, Christ's redemption cleanses us from sin.
That's already been tried 25,000 times.
You need to do some studying. Start with the Council of Elvira, 295-302 AD, Canons XXVII and XXXIII. When you're done let me know and I'll give you some more information to correct your ignorance. By the way, didn't those married men practice continence?
Let's see the study that compares the percentage of homosexual priests in the Catholic Church to the percentage of homosexual priests in the Protestan Church. It has to be out there somewhere. Let's see it.
Read 1) Priests and Pedophiles by Philip Jenkins
and for starters 2) Child Sexual Molestation by Protestant Clergy
By the way, those Protestants aren't bound by a vow of celibacy.
Well said! Sadly, many liberal-thinking catholics have been swept in through the doors of those "new age" church edifices, while devout catholics have left in droves, seeking shelter in the traditional mass.
As Christ once said: "I know my own and my own know me."
If you missed Matthew 19:12, 27-29 and 1 Corinthians 7:32-33, or people like Melchisedech, Elias, Paul, John the Baptist or Christ then your search wasn't very thorough. Ever hear of lex continentiae? It's been in effect for a lot longer than 1000 years. While you search your Bible again, take a look at John 21:25, 2 Thessalonians 2:14, 3:6, 1 Corinthians 11:2 and 2 Peter 3:15-16, amongst others. Did your search show where in Scripture the Apostles are described engaging in sexual relations with their wives?
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