Online anti-Catholicism rears its ugly head

OSV ^ | Tom Tracy

[netmilsmom]

Rosalie and Michael (not their real names) are a Catholic husband and wife from the Northeast who run an upscale hair salon in the South; they have long been what might be called "perpetual parish shoppers," ever looking for a church community that perfectly fits their spirituality.

Not long after Rosalie began attending an evangelical Christian mega-church whose spirituality emphasizes Biblical fundamentalism, church members directed her to a plethora of Internet sites aimed at revealing to Catholics the "truth" about the Catholic Church.

One example of the sort of misinformation present on such sites: The back of the pope’s chair in St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome is inscribed with an upside-down cross — proof that the pope is allied with Satan, right?

Perhaps a poorly catechized Catholic like Rosalie would fall for that explanation, but others will remember that St. Peter asked to be crucified upside-down because he did not feel worthy to die in the same way his Lord did.

[Quester]

My question to these people, and I love them, is: Where in the Bible does it say, The Bible is the ONLY truth you should believe. In 20 years I have not had an answer.

WD, I'm going another variation of your answer, if you'll allow ...

Jesus said these two things ... and they hold true today.

1. John 14:6 I am the WAY, the TRUTH, and the LIGHT, no one comes to the Father, except by me.

2. John 5:39 Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.

[topcat54]

If you're Catholic, you're Catholic for life.

That's what John Kerry's banking on ...

[StAthanasiustheGreat]

Defenders of the Faith ping list!!!

Thinks to be aware of.

[Desdemona]

That's what John Kerry's banking on ...

Man, is he in for a surprise.

[StAthanasiustheGreat]

Warlord David, I'm going to give you a chance to clarify yourself, before I go nuts.

"Instead of attacking protestant.
It seems to me the pedophile priest are doing a better job of recruiting catholic.
As sad as this may seem, their doing a better job of recruiting, than protestant could possible hope to ever do. I guess sin is an easy lurer for recruitment."

Please clarify that statement, if you are saying, what you are saying, you are no Christian. But, I think you probably just mistyped, so please clarify what the quoted passage means.

[StAthanasiustheGreat]

LOL!

Desdemona, we can pray that sometime in his life, that he repents of his ways and turns to back to Christ and His Church. We can pray that he accepts His Divine Mercy and trusts in that. (I'm not holding my breath)

[Warlord David]

I appologize if anyone was offended. It was a long night. And the articles just got under my skin.

The point that I am trying to clarify is the fact that the gays our gaining ground quickly in recruiting not just within the catholic church, but they are gaining ground and acceptance in the protestants churches also.

And if we continue to stick our heads in the sand on this issue. One day when we do pull our heads out of the sand it will be to late. The gays will have not only won acceptence by a corrupt society they will have won accepted by the clergy in the catholic and protestant churches, which they are infiltrating. I have already seen a report posted that has many has 30% upto 60% of the catholic priest are gay, not including those that are symathic to their cause. Which one can only think the worse under these present circumstances.

What is happening to the catholic church is what will happen soon in the protestant churches as well. In fact it already underway.

May say this will not divide the church, and if that is so, I will stand alone no matter what!!

[StAthanasiustheGreat]

I think you are very wrong, and here is why. The Protestant churches gave way to secularlism and liberal theology long ago, some would argue (myself included), that in began in the 1930s, when the Protestant Churches gradually accepted Birth-Control as acceptable. Today, the doctrine of most mainline Protestant Churches are pro-gay everything. That is not the case in the Catholic Church. While certainly there are gay priests within the Catholic Church trying to destroy her, they are not affecting doctrine, which continues to be as it has been. While a large percentage of gay priests might exist, they have not destroyed the fundamental teachings of the Church, which exist for anyone who wishes to find them (they only make it more difficult to properly catechize people).

The Catholic Church is protected by the Holy Spirit, while corrupt and evil individuals might gain sway in leadership positions, they will be unable to affect the Doctrine and Teachings of the Church (that is one of the miracles of the Renaissance, all those horrible wicked popes (Alexander VI), yet Church doctrine was not changed by these men to accept for their lifestyles).

The Gay priests are a dying breed as well, if one looks at polls, surveys and info on the priesthood, one finds that the younger generation is much more Orthodox. They (the bad guys) had their day, they came incredibly close and will continue to fight, but the fight has turned against them, and in the end they will lose (demographics). To add to it, Christ and the Holy Spirit will protect the Church, and their machinations will not come to fruition. We have Christ's promise to Peter, "and the gates of the netherworld will not prevail against it."

God Bless

[Warlord David]

2. John 5:39 Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.

You convenently forgot verse John 5:38: And ye have not his Word abiding in you. So therefore verse 39 would apply to those people, which you metion in your second statement.

[Warlord David]

As I always say: If the Lord does not reveal it, time will tell.

[Eisenhower]

I planned out in my mind a response to all of this, because I know both sides well, but then I got too lazy and now I'm not going to write it. Plus, there are others on this thread that are doing a good job of arguing my perspective, so I feel less inclined to keep defending it. I was born Protestant and lived in a pretty religious Baptist home for 18ish years. Now I am a Roman Catholic, and I feel so much closer to God now than I ever did growing up. Unlike some Catholics, I still believe that whoever truly believes in Christ and lives his/her life accordingly will most likely go to heaven. Of course, I'm a little biased and think that the Church is the best way to get there, but I am fairly certain that it is not impossible outside of the Church. Ok, that's enough of this.

[Warlord David]

Gay marriage? Did I miss a council? An encyclical?

Who need a council, encyclical or a pope.

When the preist can rule by proxy of the majority, on any issue.

If your fact, is that the church is not falling apart.

Then that is most troubling, considering the rule of proxy must be working better than I original thought.

[Warlord David]

For me it not so much what denomination, TO A DEGREE. But if you have truly givin your life to the Lord.

Some denomination are to far outside doctrine bibilical truths to preach the Word, but they keep tring.

The true church is that elect group, who have found the Lord. And we (the church) be spread out among the tares, until that faithful day. Matt 13:24-30

[Warlord David]

I agree and have posted it already. Again I apology.

[hardhead]

Satan: "Let us divide and conquer!"

[Warlord David]

Satan: "Let us divide and conquer!"

By the way, I like your saying about the muslums beside your name. Very well put.

But remember there is a different between divide and separation. Each has a different goal in mind.

On divide you aready stated the goal to conquer.

As for separation it is to remove oneself from evil and evil influences. So as not to be water down or compromise ones position.

[hardhead]

I was speaking metaphorically, of course. However, as a Catholic, I get kind of tired of hearing 'My Jesus can lick your Jesus!' I abhor scumbag priests who molest children as much as anyone else - but they are human beings who have fallen and will fall to the depths of hell. It always comes down to the molestation issue. You have absolutely no idea of the good that is done throughout the church. The sinners will be judged by He. When Jim Bakker bilked millions of dollars from his 'members', all I could think of was 'those poor souls'. Bakker was nothing more than a sinner and I hoped he would get his due, but I am not the Judge. Jimmy Swaggart - a sinner. Bill Clinton - a sinner. There is nothing you or anyone else can do to insure ANYONE goes to Heaven except yourself. I happen to believe that Jesus The Christ died for me, and for you, and for him, and for her. If the person (protestant or Catholic) does not accept and understand this one universal truth, there can be no hope for them. It seems to me that we should band together and fight the common enemy, satan, and his minions. They are everywhere! Not the Catholic church, not protestantism, but the evil souls who have infiltrated these parts of the Body of Christ, who are doing the bidding of the dark one.

[ninenot]

See how that the catholic church is falling apart over gay priest, gay marriages, and other internal conflicts.

Hey, Warrior: don't hold your breath until the Church "falls apart."

[ninenot]

if you're not Catholic, you're not part of Christ's Church.

As long as you ride a Harley, you're OK, even if you're NOT a RC.

[StAthanasiustheGreat]

You sadly have NO understanding of Roman Catholicism. Rather it appears you are steeped in the tradition of Jack Chick, which isn't something to be proud of. Really sad.