It was when I started reading the Bible, accepting it as the fundamental moral authority (and that not blindly, mind you) that I discovered volumes of discrepancies between Biblical Christianity and Romanism. I spent much time with more than one trained priest attempting to find some way to reconcile the differences. It is an impossible task.
We all have to choose our ultimate authority. I chose God and His Scriptural revelation. Those who attempt to accept Church doctrine AND the Bible either have little understanding of one and/or the other, OR they are intentionally skirting the irreconcilable differences. (This goes for ANY Church, not just the Roman Catholic one).
As to your passages, I am willing to take some time in the coming days to address them if you wish. However, I would like to know, in advance, if you are willing to accept the Bible as the authoritative Word of God, above all other competing, would be, moral authorities. If you're willing to accept the Bible as the final authority, I'd be pleased to commit my time to addressing these verses. What d'ya say?!
Dear prj12345:
Thank you for your kind reply.
I was actually brought up Presbyterian and eventually converted to the Catholic Church precisely for the opposite reason. I absolutely believe the Scriptures are the inspired Word of God, and had done many, many Bible studies, but there were still many passages in Scripture which did not make any sense at all until I studied the Catechism of the Catholic Church and it all finally fell into place as a cohesive whole.
The reason I picked those Scripture verses is because I already know what Protestants, and particularly Presbyterians, think of them. They are never discussed, or if they are, they are explained away as meaning something different from the clear words as written. There are many other examples besides these.
I am very sorry that you did not have your questions answered satisfactorily. Perhaps you were not able to find a priest who was willing to find the time to help you. I have found Scott Hahn's books and programs to be very helpful. He is a former Presbyterian minister, now a Catholic professor, author, and speaker. He has had a continuing series of programs on EWTN which explain in detail the Biblical basis for Catholic doctines in general and Catholic Sacraments in particular. As a former Presbyterian minister, he had several degrees in Scripture and Theology, and uses that to very good advantage in explaining the Scriptural basis for Catholic doctrine. As a former Protestant he is able to explain for Protestants the Catholic faith. He "speaks their language."
Also very helpful is Marcus Grodi, also a former Presbyterian minister, who now has a live call-in show on EWTN called "The Journey Home," in which he has as his guests former Protestants and lapsed Catholics who explain why they came or returned to the Church. Callers can call in to ask the guests questions about their journey. You can find Scott Hahn's and Marcus Grodi's books at the EWTN Religious Catalogue website, as well as many other books about or by people who have converted or returned.
I guess what I am saying is that the answers are out there. I will be happy to help you find the resources to answer all your questions and help you make sense of it. You don't mention your age, but the tools today are very different from what was available 30-40 years ago. For one thing, there have been so many Protestants who have converted and who have written their conversion stories, as well as former Protestants who have written apologetics books, that there is a huge amount of information which would not have been available before the Internet age. I will pray that you will try again and that you will be successful this time.
nan c
Are you saying what it sounds like in there? That you'd be willing to talk about Catholic ideas on those passages, but ONLY if the other person first says your arguement is the correct one? What would be the point in discussing those passages if the person already says they'll agree with your opinion?