Who are the Catholics: The Orthodox or The Romanists, or both?

Me

[the_conscience]

I just witnessed a couple of Orthodox posters get kicked off a "Catholic Caucus" thread. I thought, despite their differences, they had a mutual understanding that each sect was considered "Catholic". Are not the Orthodox considered Catholic? Why do the Romanists get to monopolize the term "Catholic"?

I consider myself to be Catholic being a part of the universal church of Christ. Why should one sect be able to use a universal concept to identify themselves in a caucus thread while other Christian denominations need to use specific qualifiers to identify themselves in a caucus thread?

[MarkBsnr]

Yes, I have some problems with these characters as well. Although I give them a little space since all do preach Christ

At times I would dispute that. Their understanding of Christ varies from the Biblical understanding of Christ just a little too much.

But people do “feel good” about themselves I understand, after hearing these guys. Which is what a lot of people look for now.

Not for me, not my style,...too little meat. Too much fluff. Candy Men might say it best. Not nutritional.

Not nutritional. Very apt. Jesus is the Bread of Life. These guys serve up wood chips.

[MarkBsnr]

I doubt even he could see it through the cloud that covered it, but he did the prescribed ceremony for the atonement.

What activities did he do in front of the cherubim?

[Iscool]

It seemed to me then that they indeed saw the church and their Priests as their salvation thru other conversations which followed. Mass and Lent was the extent of their conversations..so I inquired of these...they couldn't explain except that is what they do.

Good points...And you'll notice that all the debate on their side comes from former Protestants who apparenty have at one time spent time in the scriptures, before they switched to the Catholic Catechism and their so-called church fathers...

I just can't imagine anyone who has already experienced salvation as a Protestant becoming a Catholic...Just me, I guess...

[Iscool]

It seemed to me then that they indeed saw the church and their Priests as their salvation thru other conversations which followed. Mass and Lent was the extent of their conversations..so I inquired of these...they couldn't explain except that is what they do.

Good points...And you'll notice that all the debate on their side comes from former Protestants who apparenty have at one time spent time in the scriptures, before they switched to the Catholic Catechism and their so-called church fathers...

I just can't imagine anyone who has already experienced salvation as a Protestant becoming a Catholic...Just me, I guess...

[caww]

(St. Luke wrote the first icon of Mary)...???? Hummm, How so?

As I have not seen Mary represented by Luke as an icon in the way the catholic church presents her. Though of course her song was quite beautiful extolling God for the great things He had done. She mentions His name frequently and His great acts toward man.

I also enjoyed the exchange between Elizabeth and Mary prior to Mary’s song. I think that encounter set the stage for Marys song, as it reminded me of the joy woman have together who discover they are with child...the scene must have been an emotionally charged one for the “secret” Mary had at that moment...yet Elizabeth knew..How sweet was that!

[Quix]

True. True.

Glad to hear it.

[NoGrayZone]

Really? Okay, you have exhausted me. Anyone else following along see’s the scripture I have posted.

If you don’t, I really don’t know what to say. To those out there following, see who has backed up their claims with scripture and those who haven’t, and come to your own conculsions.

[NoGrayZone]

*conclusions.

[Iscool]

But your claims were that Antioch is now in Syria.

You are mistaken again...My initial claim was and still is that people were first called Christians in Antioch, Syria...And they were...And I posted ancient maps to prove it...

And you He-Hawed that all over the place...

You then went on to say I was wrong because Antioch is in Turkey...And I've been re-iterating sense that at the time of the Apostles, THAT Antioch (there were two of them) was in Syria...

Now you're trying to change what I have been saying right along from the beginning apparently to save face...

If anyone's been following these posts, they know what's accurate...

[Quix]

INDEED.

[Petronski]

And I posted ancient maps to prove it...

They did not prove it.

[Iscool]

It seemed to me then that they indeed saw the church and their Priests as their salvation thru other conversations which followed. Mass and Lent was the extent of their conversations..so I inquired of these...they couldn't explain except that is what they do.

You may notice that most if not all Catholic posters here are former Protestants...

[Iscool]

There certainly are. Exodus and Numbers tell us how God has instructed us to create graven images that are not idols. Furthmore, Exodus 25 and 26 tells us how to create an Ark for Him and what materials to create it out of.

Things that are different, are not the same...

It's one thing to build things for God's temple at His instruction and it's quite another to build things which God has condemned and told us not to build...

God created all the birds...You going to create some birds too???

[Iscool]

The essential point is that even if it were authored by one errant priest, which is in doubt, it does NOT represent the position of the Catholic Church or the vast majority of catholics and Catholic laity. To suggest or represent otherwise is literally bearing false witness.

So you say...But we don't know that because you won't post the actual position of your church on the issue...

[Iscool]

There is a process for the ordinary person who wants to explore Catholic beliefs and practices. See a priest to get involved, if you really want to. If you simply want to debate YOUR points against THEIR points, see if anybody on FR will bother with you. If you want to learn, it’s easy enough; the only requirement is to be teachable.

Kinda like the FreeMasons, eh??? We can't tell you anything until you join our organization...

[Forest Keeper]

The Tradition and Catechism of the Catholic Church is not a product of man. Through Apostolic Succession and the every present Holy Spirit it is the word of God by the same authority and same process as compiled the Bible.

The Catechism .......... is the word .......... of God .......... just like .......... the Bible .......... is.

Ummmmm. I only have one question and it is directed to my most honorable, and respected brothers and sisters in Christ of the Catholic faith. And it is this: Should we, your ever-faithful, ever-respectful, ever-kind, ever-loving, and ever-loyal opposition proceed forth with this understanding of the Catholic faith?

[Iscool]

ahh...your very own personal tradition...

I see you don't do scripture...

[Iscool]

If you are serious, I'm sure some of us can hook you up with a teacher. I know a coupel of good people at Duke U - lay Dominicans, one in the Theology dept.

No, I'm not serious...But to have to go to a University in another State just to learn what your church teaches must mean it's a far more complex organization than I'd be interested in...

[NoGrayZone]

"Ummmmm. I only have one question"

I have another. If we have the Bible, why the need for the catechism ?

[Judith Anne]

So you say...But we don't know that because you won't post the actual position of your church on the issue...

Anyone who wants the actual position of the Catholic Church on anything is welcome to look it up in the Catechism. Do you want it? Go for it, look it up.