Posted on 05/30/2008 10:21:34 AM PDT by Ultra Sonic 007
I think it’s safe to say that bowing and prostration mean different things to different people, and should not be placed as stumbling blocks to the weak. To him to whom it is divine worship, he should not bow nor be required to bow, and to him to whom it is not it should be permitted if felt necessary.
I think St. Paul wrote at length on these sorts of scandals.
I think your points are wise and accurate.
I was happy to bow on greeting and leaving in China. Had no hint of worship, for me nor for anyone watching me do so.
God has blessed the Roman Catholic Church as being the largest branch of Christianity (although we don't consider ourselves "a branch of Christianity") - there are over 1.086 billion baptised members around the globe. Our traditions as a people are both religious and cultural. I can't vouch for the traditions of all those people around the world
Although a Catholic teaching may not be plainly stated in the Bible, like "The Trinity", nothing that the Catholic Church teaches contradicts the Bible. There are however many so-called teachings that others attribute to the Catholic church that are false.
“I was happy to bow on greeting and leaving in China.”
I think that’s an excellent analogy, considering how the rites controversy and the kowtowing issues so completely obstructed evangelisation of the Chinese for so long.
What a pleasure it is to agree.
***************
No kidding? Well. If you say so.
Are you under the impression the Catholic Church is growing and thriving? Well, it isn't.
While those Americans who are unaffiliated with any particular religion have seen the greatest growth in numbers as a result of changes in affiliation, Catholicism has experienced the greatest net losses as a result of affiliation changes. While nearly one-in-three Americans (31%) were raised in the Catholic faith, today fewer than one-in-four (24%) describe themselves as Catholic. These losses would have been even more pronounced were it not for the offsetting impact of immigration. The Landscape Survey finds that among the foreign-born adult population, Catholics outnumber Protestants by nearly a two-to-one margin (46% Catholic vs. 24% Protestant); among native-born Americans, on the other hand, the statistics show that Protestants outnumber Catholics by an even larger margin (55% Protestant vs. 21% Catholic). Immigrants are also disproportionately represented among several world religions in the U.S., including Islam, Hinduism and Buddhism.
The Pew Forum 2008
Do Priests leave? You bet!
Researcher studies why priests quit.
Catholic priests - Why do some feel it necessary to give up their religion to follow Christ?
Why I left the Roman Catholic Faith.
DID I REALLY LEAVE THE HOLY CATHOLIC CHURCH?
While I'm not a great fan of Vonnegut, I think you would be well served by his story "Mother Night."
http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/new.php?n=8620
Roman Catholicism in the United States has grown dramatically over the country's history, from being a tiny minority faith during the time of the Thirteen Colonies to being the country's largest profession of faith today.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_Catholicism_in_the_United_States
February 25, 2008
"The Landscape Survey confirms that the United States is on the verge of becoming a minority Protestant country; the number of Americans who report that they are members of Protestant denominations now stands at barely 51%. Moreover, the Protestant population is characterized by significant internal diversity and fragmentation, encompassing hundreds of different denominations loosely grouped around three fairly distinct religious traditions -- evangelical Protestant churches (26.3% of the overall adult population), mainline Protestant churches (18.1%) and historically black Protestant churches (6.9%)."
Please define "authentic magisterium" using an OFFICIAL Catholic source.
I’m sure you can find it without my help.
These statistics are (not) born out by the Pew Report.
The Pew Forum
Words are one thing. Action is another.
I would expect you to provide some reliable information before calling me a liar.
How is this? You have no idea what you are talking about.
You can attend Mass for 100 years and never hear the entire Bible.
How much of the Bible is included in the Lectionary for Mass?
Not as much as you might think, yet far more than was included in the Roman Missal before the Second Vatican Council!
Lectionary Statistics
If one includes all the Masses for weekdays, rituals, votives, the propers and commons of saints, and special needs and occasions, the Lectionary for Mass now covers much of the NT (about 90% of the Gospels, 55% of the rest: Acts, Epistles, Revelation), but still very little of the OT (slightly over 13%), but this is understandable, given how much longer the OT is.
An Introduction to the Lectionary for Mass
I await your proof that what I say is untrue.
No, neither is the other Mary.
Are you prepared to prove that all your "rich" tradition came from Scripture and/or an Apostle?
If you are unable to answer this question simply ignore it. It isn't necessary for you to blow smoke in my direction.
The Blessed Virgin Mary is not my mother?
I agree completely. She is not my mother.
She had only one child, Jesus Christ.
Always good to find a basic, rock-solid agreement! Fixed point in turning world sort of thing.
No .. you can't hold priests responsible for proper catechesis of all their parishioners. Give credit to a society and psychologists that place greater strain on the individual to enjoy life. Let's face it, most Catholics are poorly catechized. In my diocese, the bishop has now made religious education optional, except when the child has chosen to receive a Sacrament. In that case, the onus is on the parents to pick up the prescribed books and educate the child at home. Yes, you read that correctly.
Since our parish does not fall under his guidance, we have taken a very strong approach to religious education for our children. Even so, I have to call the families each week to remind them about classes. The parents are also ignorant of their faith - something I am now pursuing in terms of adult education. Our priest uses his homilies to educate but unfortunately, those in the pews oftentimes tune out what they don't want to hear. And they don't want to hear about marriage vs living together, no artificial contraception, no gay marriage, the need to attend Mass weekly, etc.
As I said in my previous post, it is so much easier to leave the Catholic Church and adhere to some protestant sect that elevates the Bible and allows for artificial contraception. The majority of converts to the Catholic Church are theologians who have studied the bible and read the Early Church Fathers. They make up the great influx into the Church of Jesus Christ vs the simple individual who wants to be his own pope.
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