Testimony of a Former Irish Priest

BereanBeacon.Org ^ | Richard Peter Bennett

[OLD REGGIE]

By the way, there is nothing in those links — absolutely nothing — that in any way supports your ludicrous falsehood that “there is a very large group of Catholics including bishops and cardinals who are pushing for the Catholic church to claim Mary as part of the Godhead...”

I never said that.

If you can't be truthful silence is the best action.

Of course ignorance reigns supreme.

[Cronos]

Ye Schtoopied eyediot — it don’t revolve around Rigel — it IS Rigel. Har har, and John Wayne was Pope. And he don’t wash no feet, not even his own. None of the was cool, Quixotics or Doctors of nuttyness wash feet, hence the stink that permeates... :-P

[Jvette]

Ouch, that’s gonna leave a mark.

[MarkBsnr]

Since Catholics don't worship Mary, just who is it apparent to? Aquinas did not invent hyperdulia as code for Mariolatry. We respect Mary; we worship God.

Why the need?

Need?

From the beginning, the Church recognized those who were holier, who were more, whose imitation of Christ stood out from others and who exemplified a Christian life and practices. They are called holy, beatified, sainted. It is a practice of recognition.

[Quix]

THANKS TONS FOR YOUR WONDERFUL WORTHY, FITTING, APT POINTS.

I don’t know any that I wholesale disagree with.

I particularly liked these and felt these were quite IMPORTANT:

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The Catholics on Free Republic are very knowledgeable in their beliefs and in the doctrine of the Church. But “out there” in the secular world, by my experience, they would be the exception, not the rule. Most of the Catholics other than family who I engage in casual conversation – and I am not talking about trying to convert them to any other Christian doctrine – seem to be very hesitant to discuss Christ or their beliefs and/or seem to be ill informed.

Truly, they remind me of those who received an education and then forgot most of it as they went off pursuing life. Continuing education makes sense in many professions and it should be standard among all Christians, Catholic or not.

One would expect those who embrace the doctrine of “once saved, always saved” would be the least inclined to continue their Christian education. But that is not true, on my experience they are often the most driven to ask, seek and knock.

Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. - Matt 7:7-8

But more disturbingly, there was obviously insufficient follow-through in the Caribbean because the residents, back in the throes of their secular environment, seemed to think it was ok to blend Catholic doctrines with their own religious traditions giving rise to Santeria. And I have read on this forum from a missionary in the Philippines that even today some receive the Catholic doctrine and, back in their secular environments, blend it with their own Buddhist traditions even to the point they make household shrines with statues of Mary alongside statues of Buddha.

[Cronos]

So you agree with

The Bible is not exhaustive in every detail. John 21:25 speaks to the fact that there are many things that Jesus said and did that are not recorded in John, or in fact in any book in the world because the whole books of the world could not contain it. But the Bible does not have to be exhaustive to function as the sole rule of faith for the Church.

And yet you say that

All that is necessary for that blessed assurance is found in the Bible

it's not exhaustive in every detail about salvation, and yet all that is necessary is found in it?

[OLD REGGIE]

But it all comes back to this: why was the Council at Jamnia (if there ever was one) given authority to close the canon? It was not closed before this point.

It was closed but the Hellenists attempted to add to it.

Why did the RCC wait more than 1,500 years to close their canon? It was not closed before this point.

[OLD REGGIE]

But it all comes back to this: why was the Council at Jamnia (if there ever was one) given authority to close the canon? It was not closed before this point.

It was closed but the Hellenists attempted to add to it.

Why did the RCC wait more than 1,500 years to close their canon? It was not closed before this point.

[Quix]

TEN SERIES OF MEDITATIONS ON THE MYSTERIES OF THE ROSARY

by John Ferraro.

The rest of that collection of my excerpts are at post #1576 here:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/religion/2503880/posts?page=1576#1576

It is rife with very shocking hideousness.

Yet it is treasured as probably one of THE major devotionals by 10’s of millions of RC’s.

It also has:

ni•hil ob•stat
n.
1. Roman Catholic Church An attestation by a church censor that a book contains nothing damaging to faith or morals.
2. Official approval, especially of an artistic work.

WITH RICHARD CARDINAL CUSHING’S IMPRIMATUR

[Cronos]

Oh and you never responded to:
1. Since the Lutherans have the True Presence of Christ in their Eucharist (which they DO celebrate) along with ICons, Crucifixes and incense and kneeling in their services and churches, would you go and worship with them? You had indicated that you wouldnt' go anyplace that had such things and didn't consider them (the True Presence etc.) to be Christian, correct?

2. Would you go and worship in a Word-of-Faith group where Kenneth Copeland says Adam was "not a little like God ... not almost like God ...",[26] and has told believers that "You don't have a God in you. You are one." -- would you agree with this and worship there?

[Cronos]

Actually, no one ever said Peter had the same knowledge as Paul — where did you get that from? All that is said and that is known is that Peter was a simple believer who had complete faith in Christ — and someone who JEsus believed would be a good example as a simple, faithful beleiver and servant

[Quix]

Works for me. God gave us enough in Scripture to lead us to faith. and live a life of faith.

God’s word is true and the gold standard by which we compare everything else to find out if IT is true or not. If it doesn’t line up with what revealed Scripture shows, it should be rejected as not from God.

That does not allow for the mentality of... *Well, it isn’t mentioned in Scripture therefore it’s true because we said so*, like Mary’s alleged immaculate conception or her assumption, or praying to saints, or purgatory, or any number of other Catholic doctrines and teachings.

There’s plenty of truth in the Bible for us to deal with that will keep any person busy the rest of their lives without adding to it things that are of no consequence.

2 Timothy 3:16-17 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

The Bible IS enough, contrary to the thinking and teaching of the Catholic church.

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I AGREE.

THX.

[OLD REGGIE]

From the beginning, the Church recognized those who were holier, who were more, whose imitation of Christ stood out from others and who exemplified a Christian life and practices. They are called holy, beatified, sainted. It is a practice of recognition.

Oh? And hyperdulia applies to all of them?

Hint. Don't drive for some time.

[Cronos]

except the desire of your religion to make Paul subservient to Peter...

Wherever did you get that? Subservient? Peter had his role as spiritual leader of the Church, Paul had his role as evangelist to the gentiles. Paul learnt to humble himself (a learned Pharisee scholer) to a simple, unlearned fisherman as a leader. Peter learned to be humble himself and to simply trust in God (arguably he had that in him, but this was strengthened after Christ's crucifixion)

[Quix]

OH DEAR!

How CAN you deprive them of one of their favorite targets! How will they ever manage? How will they continue on! LOL.

SURE DO APPRECIATE ALL YOU DO TO KEEP THIS HERD OF RABID CATS IN THE SAME GALAXY AS

“CIVIL.”

[Cronos]

ok — did Jesus quote each and every one of the books in the Old Testament? Which books did He NOT quote from?

[Quix]

INDEED. SPOT ON.

Have you noticed?

It’s the RC’s . . . what . . . 95% of the time? Who dare to argue with, challenge the RM’s perceptions and judgments.

Must come from that cheeky construction on reality where the mentality of

MARY bossily MOTHERS GOD ALMIGHTY!

springs from.

Sheesh.

[Cronos]

Actually, the Pope IS a servant to the servants. You said clearly that you thought this was a photo-op. I told you very clearly that this is something done every Maundy Thursday by popes before the invention of the term photo-op and also by every priestly celebrant

Does your neighborhood parish priest who washes the feet of 12 on Maundy Thursday have a "marble palace with servants galore"?

[Cronos]

Next, the papal rooms of Pope Benedict are spartan, the rest of the Vatican is offices and the museum. And where exactly are there “servants galore”?

[Quix]

The RCC is patient. Remember, it was not until 1950 that the Assumption Of Mary was declared dogma.

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INDEED.

YET they have the cheek to expect us to believe that such stuff came from BEFORE the the Vatican began in 300-400 AD.

WHAT UNMITIGATED IRRATIONAL NONSENSE.