If Catholics believe that Scripture is inspired and the Catholic Church is built on it, why do they appeal to the church fathers so much to back up their teachings instead of the Bible they claim the Catholic church is responsible for?
“”If Catholics believe that Scripture is inspired and the Catholic Church is built on it, why do they appeal to the church fathers so much to back up their teachings””
Try reading their lives and love they had for Christ and you might understand why..
Start with Saint Ignatius
http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=677
Excerpt
In his pastoral letters he regularly thanked his brother and sister Christians for their concern for his well being but insisted on following through in his final witness of fidelity: “I know what is to my advantage. At last I am becom¬ing his disciple. May nothing entice me till I happily make my way to Jesus Christ! Fire, cross, struggles with wild beasts, wrenching of bones, mangling of limbs-let them come to me, provided only I make my way to Jesus Christ. I would rather die and come to Jesus Christ than be king over the entire earth. Him I seek who died for us; him I love who rose again because of us.”
Bishop Ignatius was not afraid of death. He knew that it had been defeated by the Master. He followed the Lord Jesus into his Passion, knowing that he would rise with Him in his Resurrection. He wrote to the disciples in Rome: “Permit me to imitate my suffering God ... I am God’s wheat and I shall be ground by the teeth of beasts,
One would have to have a hardened heart NOT to think Saint Ignatius was not of Christ
Good Night, I wish you a Blessed Evening!
If Catholics believe that Scripture is inspired and the Catholic Church is built on it, why do they appeal to the church fathers so much to back up their teachings instead of the Bible they claim the Catholic church is responsible for?
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GREAT QUESTION.