Testimony of a Former Irish Priest

BereanBeacon.Org ^ | Richard Peter Bennett

[wmfights]

Catholics in Europe and Asia tend to be a lot more knowledgeable while those from S.America tend not to be very (again, all of this is my personal experience)

My personal experience in the good old USA in a large city dominated by RC's is RC's don't read Scripture. My MIL (RC) was stunned the first time she came to our house and saw my Bible, with highlighter marking passages, sitting in the kitchen.

She asked, "what's this" (yes she recognized it).

I told her, "it's my Bible. I like to read in the morning with my coffee."

Her response was, "well we don't need that we go to church."

Unfortunately, she passed away before being saved.

Her reaction is not atypical here. I know lots of RC's some of my relatives still are RC. None of them study Scripture. None are interested in discussions about TULIP, or the 5 Solas. They are the walking dead. They have placed their faith in their church and they can't even present The Gospel when asked.

[Mad Dawg]

"... as the encyclical states." That's it! That's all the proof needed. No Scripture? No matter! We have the "infallible" word of a man and that is all we need.

Well, um, actually, yeah. We've been saying that for as long as I've been on this forum. This is the first time you heard it?

I note that the controversial aspects of Acts 15 are glossed over hereabouts. I don't have to show (good thing, 'cause I can't) that my interpretation is correct. I think it suffices if I show it's plausible, and I think I've done that.

We could be wrong about the authority of the Church in Council, but I don't think we're as off the wall as some like to suggest.

Further, it is perfectly appropriate and dispositive to cite the encyclical when some of the brethren and sistren say we teach Mary did not need a redeemer.

[small voice in the wilderness]

...so she was conceived sinless, or make that saved BEFORE she was Immaculately conceived, and born sinless and grew up sinless. No, that’s not right..she was saved before she was conceived, and grew up with pre-forgiven sin, so that she might be the “ark” for Jesus’s Immaculate Conception? Is this right? Did Jesus know that his mother Mary was Immaculately Conceived? What does the encyclical say about this? Or does it say anything about it?

[Mad Dawg]

Facts, good.

Interpretation, explicit or implied, not so much.

Knowing the difference, priceless.

[Natural Law]

"Unfortunately, she passed away before being saved."

How on earth can you conclude this?

[Deo volente]

"... as the encyclical states." That's it! That's all the proof needed. No Scripture? No matter! We have the "infallible" word of a man and that is all we need.

That's right! We have Tradition as well as Scripture, or didn't you know that?
That's pretty basic stuff. Jesus never told his apostles to write down a single word. He did, however, command them to TEACH all nations. St. Paul tells his readers to hold fast to the truths of the faith handed down, whether received by written word or by preaching.

[Natural Law]

"Unfortunately, she passed away before being saved."

How on earth can you conclude this?

[Natural Law]

"Unfortunately, she passed away before being saved."

How on earth can you conclude this?

[metmom]

But, but, but, but......

That’s NOT what the Catholic church “really” teaches, dontcha know?

And just to provide a source so that no one can accuse you of making that up, here’s the vatican.va link.

http://www.vatican.va/archive/catechism/p1s2c2.htm

424 Moved by the grace of the Holy Spirit and drawn by the Father, we believe in Jesus and confess: ‘You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.’8 On the rock of this faith confessed by St. Peter, Christ built his Church.9

Good work....

[Deo volente]

According to the CCC (Infallible-Yes?) the Church was built on the rock of the faith confessed by Peter never upon Peter himself.

You must not have read the entire excerpt you posted from the Catechism. Peter IS the rock upon which Christ built His Church. It's right there in front of you, plain as day.

"Christ, the 'living Stone',[1 Pet 2:4.] thus assures his Church, built on Peter, of victory over the powers of death. Because of the faith he confessed Peter will remain the unshakable rock of the Church."

Yes, it was because of his unshakable faith that Peter was chosen, but the Lord clearly made him the rock on which the Church was built. Simon's name was changed by Jesus to Peter, which in Aramaic means "rock". "Petros" is the Greek transliteration.

[metmom]

OK. Provide us skeptics with a good non-Catholic source for an unbiased look at the Inquisition.

And BTW, doing a google search on *tools of the inquisition* will interfere with the soundness of your sleep.

The biggest atrocity of the whole Inquisition was that it was done in the name of Christ and the purity of the Catholic church.

No matter how you slice it, the Inquisition is a major black mark in the history of the Catholic church and Catholics would get further with non-Catholics by simply admitting it instead of trying to dismiss it, downplay it, or blameshift.

[Mad Dawg]

Consult the source!

Ineffabilis Deus, 1854.

Get ready for a lot of super lush super formal lingo.

[OLD REGGIE]

Instead you DEMONstrate your facility with porn lingo:

“There’s the money shot, right there.....”

Porn lingo. Fitting.

And all these years I had associated "money shot" with sports, predominately with Basketball.

I guarantee you I am no angel but I learned something new today

But then, those with filthy minds see filth in everything, no matter how innocent.

[trisham]

No matter how you slice it, the Inquisition is a major black mark in the history of the Catholic church and Catholics would get further with non-Catholics by simply admitting it instead of trying to dismiss it, downplay it, or blameshift.

******************************

How often and how many times should we do that? Whenever another Protestant decides it's time to demand another apology? Into infinity? Even though none of us was involved in the Inquisition?

Can there ever be any end to it?

[OLD REGGIE]

Porn lingo. Fitting.

No. Pool/Billiards lingo. Of course, you may have picked it up elsewhere...

Naturally! Gutter thoughts come first to those with gutter minds.

[Dr. Eckleburg]

lol. A “quick” but accurate summary.

[metmom]

“Yes, it was because of his unshakable faith that Peter was chosen, but the Lord clearly made him the rock on which the Church was built. Simon’s name was changed by Jesus to Peter, which in Aramaic means “rock”. “Petros” is the Greek transliteration.”

Peter’s unshakable faith? Like when he denied Jesus three times just before His crucifixion? Um... OK.

http://www.scripture4all.org/OnlineInterlinear/NTpdf/mat16.pdf

Now, I know that some Catholics aren’t concerned about the quality of their translations, that they don’t have a problem with poor translations, but just for the record, the Greek word for “Peter” is “petros”, and the Greek word for “rock” that Jesus used in saying *Upon this rock I will build my church* is “petra”.

Jesus didn’t say that He was going to build His church on a “petros” but on a “petra”.

More links to the Greek....

http://biblos.com/matthew/16-18.htm

http://biblelexicon.org/matthew/16-18.htm

[metmom]

I’m not talking about an apology even. Just an acknowledgment that it was wrong without finger pointing.

A simple, *Yeah, that sure was wrong. It’s unfortunate that it happened. Good thing we’ve moved in from there.* would be nice to hear.

I’d hazard a guess that it would also effectively shut down any further opportunity for further accusations by those pushing the issue.

But it comes across as denial when the first reaction is *Yeah? So? Well, what about this, that, or you guys?* sounds like you’re defending the actions and not taking it as seriously as it warrants.

And there are some Catholics who I’ve never seen condemn the Inquisition. It’s almost like if they admit that it was wrong, that they are betraying their faith or being disloyal to Catholicism. What it comes across as is telling people that nothing has really changed in the Catholic church in that regard; that if the opportunity presented itself, it would happen again because nobody seems to see anything wrong with it.

A little good solid condemnation of evil even if it’s within your own ranks, can go a long way. Others see it for what it is. Admitting it is only going to come across as being more honest to a world looking on.

Just letting you know the impression it gives to non-Catholics.

[Deo volente]

http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/leo_xiii/encyclicals/documents/hf_l-xiii_enc_29061896_satis-cognitum_en.html

from SATIS COGNITUM
ENCYCLICAL OF POPE LEO XIII  ON THE UNITY OF THE CHURCH

Jesus Christ, therefore, appointed Peter to be that head of the Church; and He also determined that the authority instituted in perpetuity for the salvation of all should be inherited by His successors, in whom the same permanent authority of Peter himself should continue. And so He made that remarkable promise to Peter and to no one else: "Thou are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church" (Matt. xvi., 18). "To Peter the Lord spoke: to one, therefore, that He might establish unity upon one" (S. Pacianus ad Sempronium, Ep. iii., n. 11). "Without any prelude He mentions St. Peter's name and that of his father (Blessed art thou Simon, son of John) and He does not wish Him to be called any more Simon; claiming him for Himself according to His divine authority He aptly names him Peter, from petra the rock, since upon him He was about to found His Church" (S. Cyrillus Alexandrinus, In Evang. Joan., lib. ii., in cap. i., v. 42).

The Universal Jurisdiction of St. Peter

12. From this text it is clear that by the will and command of God the Church rests upon St. Peter, just as a building rests on its foundation. Now the proper nature of a foundation is to be a principle of cohesion for the various parts of the building. It must be the necessary condition of stability and strength. Remove it and the whole building falls. It is consequently the office of St. Peter to support the Church, and to guard it in all its strength and indestructible unity.

So He who is Himself "the chief corner-stone in whom all the building being framed together, groweth up in a holy temple in the Lord" (Eph. ii., 21), placed Peter as it were a stone to support the Church. "When he heard `thou art a rock,' he was ennobled by the announcement. Although he is a rock, not as Christ is a rock, but as Peter is a rock. For Christ is by His very being an immovable rock; Peter only through this rock. Christ imparts His gifts, and is not exhausted....He is a priest, and makes priests. He is a rock, and constitutes a rock" (Hom. de Poenitentia, n. 4 in Appendice opp. S. Basilii).

[Mad Dawg]

No matter how you slice it, the Inquisition is a major black mark in the history of the Catholic church and Catholics would get further with non-Catholics by simply admitting it instead of trying to dismiss it, downplay it, or blameshift.

Ah verdict and sentence first -- evidence later! That'll bring peace.

I'm not trying to get somewhere with anybody. I'm trying to discern and articulate the truth the best I can.