Exactly my point. When Pope Leo wanted people to kiss his big toe after his hunt, how could people judge him for that?
...the Spanish Inquisition is generally considered to be one the most scrupulously honest court systems in history.
I think it's wrong to look back on the morays of another era, but the Spanish Inquisition was NOT the most scrupulously honest court system. Jews and Muslims were forced to become Catholics and if they refused to become "good practicing" Catholics they were burned at the stake. Hardly what I would call honest.
Do you reject ALL Catholic teaching?
You'd have to define "ALL". If you mean the Trinity then no I do not reject it. If you mean their interpretation of the "saints", the bogus idea of purgatory, the made up doctrine of Mary, the goofiness of imparting God's grace through the Eucharist, (and others); well, yes I do reject it.
The split with the East was caused by schism, not issues of doctrine.
They reject the Pope as the final word. To them the Pope is one more bishop. I would say that's a big schism especially since Catholics teaches the Pope to be infallible.
Reformers "left" to acquire Church property.
Well, that's a new one. I thought it was because the Church was collecting money through indulgences to pay for their indulgences.
but cannot happen the Church because it is ultimately protected by the Holy Spirit.
Do you believe homosexual priest are a good thing that the Holy Spirit wants in the Church?
Well put.
We're learned on these threads that once a man undergoes the ritual of priestly orders, he becomes "another Christ" for life. He never loses that exalted position, meaning for the rest of his life, NO MATTER WHAT HE DOES, he remains closer to Christ than you and me.
Thus, the winks and nods between Rome and the bishops. Homosexual priests aren't punished because they are entitled to more than a regular man. No marriage, no women, but...
If Rome really believed homosexual priests were an abomination against God, it would 1) get rid of all the homosexual priests and 2) dump the celibacy requirement.
Obviously not, but God allows free will. Calvinists are blinded to this reality, but anyone who wants to sin may do so. However, the Holy Spirit has not allowed homosexual "Catholic" officials to alter Church doctrine, as has happened in every Protestant denomination infested by homos.
Admit it. There is nothing else like the Catholic Church. Even if many of her officials are given over to sin for a season, her doctrine remains pure. Over the past 2000 years, as civilizations faded and empires collapsed, a miraculous regenerative power kept renewing the Church to a state of youth and vitality. Today, many who are blind to the workings of the Spirit predict that the Church is on her last legs and headed for extinction. Such naysayers will join the company of failed prophets who've said the same throughout the millenia.
Wrong. Forced conversion is not valid in the Catholic Church. The Spanish Inquisition started 14 years prior to completing the reconquest of Spain from Muslims. Only public, baptized Catholics were investigated. In 1492, Spanish Catholics finally finished 800 years of extremely bloody domestic warfare and frequent enslavement by Muslim raiders. According to terms of surrender, the Muslims were allowed to remain in Spain and keep their religion.
Jews had originally assisted the Muslim conquest along with traitorous Catholics. Both groups were considered ongoing security risks by the government. Repeated powerful attempts at renewed invasion from Africa and Turkey were a constant threat. The rooting out of Catholic traitors by Inquisition had been considered essential to the military victory. That self-defense would continue and the Jews would be expelled. Many Jews left but those who converted were allowed to stay. The unconverted Muslims were allowed to stay for another 100 years until, after many attempts at revolt, they were also finally expelled. Nobody was forced to convert, but those who did were treated equally under the law with long-standing Catholics.
Without the Inquisition, Spain could not have won her freedom.