How many Catholic FReepers who will rush to lay praises on him can say they agree with him on these things? How many will consider him a "closet Protestant" because of them?
There are few communities smaller and lonelier than that of inerrantist Catholics. And I should know, 'cause I used to be one.
There is only one true God. He took flesh and became man only once. When man, He founded only one religion and one Church, the Roman Catholic Religion and the Roman Catholic Church.That Church is the divinely appointed guardian of the writings divinely inspired by God, known as the Bible. This Holy Bible is like no other book, because no other book has God for its principal author.
Nevertheless the Bible is not the foundation of the Church, but the Church is the foundation of the Bible. That is why Catholics need Mother Church as the guardian and interpreter of the Bible.
...
by Richard Williamson, Bishop
Winona, MN August 16th, 1997
And from the same "Catechism"
Lesson 12:
The Bible And Science1. Is the Bible a book of science?
The Bible is not a book of science, and was never intended to answer the purpose of a book of science.
2. Does the Bible teach anything that has to do with science?
Yes, the Bible mentions many things that have to do with science.
3. Name one biblical account that touches on science.
The account of the Creation in the Book of Genesis touches on many branches of science.
4. Does not the Bible contain many things that science has proved false?
Since God is the author of the Bible and also, the foundation of true science, the Bible cannot err when it touches on science.
5. How, then, are we to account for the apparent contradictions between the Bible and science?
In many ways, for example: some so-called scientific findings are false; others are mere unsubstantiated theories (Evolution); while still others, when properly examined, do not contradict the biblical narrative.
6. Is not the Bible statement that the sun stood still in the heavens (Jos. 10, 13) an example of obvious error?
No, we must remember that the Bible was written in every-day language of the time, not in scientific terms. Even to this day, for example, we speak of sunset even though the sun is not setting anywhere and we know that the Earth is turning around the Sun and not vice-versa.
7. Can one be a great scientist and still be a firm believer in the Bible?
Yes, there have been and are now many great Catholic scientists, believing firmly in the Bible.
8. Name some scientists who, at the same time, believed firmly in the Bible.
Copernicus (a priest), Pascal, Gauss, Ampere, Pasteur, Marconi, to name just a few.
9. Does the Catholic Church discourage the study of science as being opposed to the Bible?
Nonsense; on the contrary, the Catholic Church has always encouraged science; some of her most eminent children have also been leaders in science.
10. Can science be of any help to Bible study?
True science can help Bible study in interpreting some difficult passages.
11. Is the Bible helpful in the study of science?
As a lighthouse helps a ship at sea, so does the Bible help scientists.
You wrote:
“How many Catholic FReepers who will rush to lay praises on him can say they agree with him on these things?”
More than you think.
“How many will consider him a “closet Protestant” because of them?”
None.
“There are few communities smaller and lonelier than that of inerrantist Catholics. And I should know, ‘cause I used to be one.”
I doubt it.
Count me in.
I agree with him. I hadn't "rush(ed) to lay praises on him," of course; I never rush.