Posted on 05/07/2012 2:39:34 PM PDT by SeekAndFind
Although the sinless life of Jesus Christ is a foundational tenet of the Christian faith, a study recently released by the Diocese of Camden found that 60 percent of practicing Catholics in southern New Jersey believe Jesus sinned during his time on Earth.
"The number of Catholics who have a very flawed, a seriously flawed, understanding of who Jesus is, that's troublesome," Bishop Joseph Galante of the Diocese of Camden said during a press conference, USA Today reports. "We've got to re-focus on how we teach and inform people. Jesus is the foundation of who we are as Catholics."
The study was commissioned by the diocese with the hope that the results would help it to better evangelize the communities it serves. The study was conducted by the Barna Group, a Ventura, Calif.-based research organization, which surveyed 612 adults living in the six New Jersey counties within the diocese.
Of those surveyed, 34 percent identified themselves as Catholic, but there are some discrepancies between what the church teaches and what some of them believe.
For example, the study showed that four out of ten of these Catholics disagree with the idea that sex should be reserved solely for marriage. While 38 percent of the total residents living within the Camden Diocese agree strongly with the idea that the Bible is "totally accurate in all of the principles it teaches," only 28 percent of Catholics in the diocese believe the same.
Another major issue Galante discussed during the press conference was the high number of Catholics in his diocese who simply don't attend Mass. One-third of lapsed Catholics said they have other priorities or are too busy to attend, while others said they just aren't interested in church (27 percent).
"What intrigued me in particular was the high number of people who don't attend Mass simply because they have other priorities," said Galante.
"One of the things we need to do is emphasize that worship time can also be part of family time as well. These findings are both troubling and a challenge as we begin to deepen our evangelization efforts."
Peter Feuerherd, director of communications for the Diocese of Camden, told The Christian Post on Monday that another thing that struck him from the study was the low percentage of Catholics who invite others to church. The study found that Catholics (33 percent) were half as likely as Protestants (66 percent) to invite someone to visit their church.
"I find that the 'ask' is so important, and Catholics are not in the habit of the 'ask.' Even our parishes are not in the habit of the ask," said Feuerherd.
He also indicated that a major issue all churches have to deal with is the tendency for people to want to always be productive in the American culture. Those who don't take time off from work on the weekends are honored in our society, he says, and other "distractions" like youth sporting events and various forms of entertainment can sometimes take away from church attendance.
"I think we have lost ... the idea that whatever that Sabbath day is, it is valuable. It's important that people have it," he said.
Other interesting findings from the study:
-Of the Catholics surveyed, 38 percent favor attending church only on holidays.
-Among all of the adults surveyed, 51 percent said churches are "too involved" in opposing abortion or same-sex marriage.
-Nine out of ten (89 percent) adults said they know about the clergy abuse scandals that have occurred within the Catholic Church. Among those who are aware of the scandals, 89 percent consider it a "major issue."
-Only 18 percent of Catholics strongly agree that it is their personal responsibility to share their religious beliefs with others, as compared to 40 percent of Protestants and 36 percent of people who believe in non-Christian faiths.
RE: I have translated writings of the Early Church Fathers on disk translated from Greek given to me by Kolokotronis (who used to post here on FR) that don’t match Philp Schaff CCEl site.
Here’s a question for you — WHY IS THE TRANSLATION GIVEN BY KOLKOTRONIS’ right and Schaff’s wrong?
And why should one believe the attacks on Philip Schaff’s motives?
And please don’t give me a reason of this form : Because Philip Schaff is not Roman Catholic and Kolkotronis is.
That is not an acceptable reason.
I want an objective reason for doubting the correctness of Philip Schaff’s translation.
I think it might be a good idea for you to take a break and pray for Christ to open your heart and do honest research.
I have the seen the prideful know it alls become unglued before,but it is a good thing because it can lead them to humility and truth when they realize they were wrong,unlike Webster -Who I will be at Adoration praying for this week along with you.
I wish you a Blessed evening. Good Night
RE: I think it might be a good idea for you to take a break and pray for Christ to open your heart and do honest research.
How do you know that I am not praying?
RE: I have the seen the prideful know it alls become unglued before,but it is a good thing because it can lead them to humility and truth when they realize they were wrong
I can realize I am wrong ( if I am ) if you can show me through reason and evidence but not until.
I don’t think it is good for you to ASSUME that just because someone disagrees with you or shows doubt about your take on things, it is automatically a sign of pride.
With that, I say good night.
Faith.
It was Søren Kierkegaard, a Danish Lutheran, who rejected objective reasoning outright as a basis for faith. For Kierkegaard, faith was a fundamentally different process from objective reasoning, a matter of passion rather than reflection. He opposed the notion of proof to that of faith, arguing that faith is only possible when faced with uncertainty:
"Without risk, no faith... If I am able to apprehend God objectively, I do not have faith; but because I cannot do this, I must have faith."
I would also venture to add that to begin with a presumption of Schaff's correctness is not objective.
Peace be with you.
RE: “Without risk, no faith... If I am able to apprehend God objectively, I do not have faith; but because I cannot do this, I must have faith.”
Sure, but what is the OBJECT of your faith?
Faith is only as good as the OBJECT for your faith. If you faith is on X and X does not help you, then your faith is in vain.
The 9/11 hijackers had faith that their martyrdom would bring them reward. What good did it do for them?
Hence, I choose to put my absolute faith in the WORD OF GOD.
As for Schiff vs some other translation, I am not going to put blind faith in any one of them. I have to use the faculties that God has given me to make a judgement. Not simply say — just because someone said he is trustworthy or he has sinister motives — I should then believe him.
For now, it seems to me that Schiff looks like a good resource. That is why I asked the other poster to show me with good evidence that he is not.
I'll go with St. Thomas Aquinas on this one:
"The object of every cognitive habit includes two things: first, that which is known materially, and secondly, that whereby it is known. In both of these, the object of faith is God."
I have no objections with Aquinas’ view.
I didn't think you would. I've seen a lot of people try to argue against Aquinas, but none successfully.
“”I’ve seen a lot of people try to argue against Aquinas, but none successfully.””
Especially one like this from Blessed Aquinas-who quotes The Early Church Fathers in the proper context upholding what they believed.
CONTRA ERRORES GRAECORUM
by ST. THOMAS AQUINAS
http://dhspriory.org/thomas/ContraErrGraecorum.htm#b33
C
HAPTER 33
That the same Pontiff has universal jurisdiction over the entire Church of Christ.
It is also shown that the Vicar of Christ has universal jurisdiction over the entire Church of Christ. For it is recorded of the Council of Chalcedon how the whole synod acclaimed Pope Leo: “Long live Leo, the most holy, apostolic, and ecumenical, that is, universal patriarch.” Footnote
And Chrysostom commenting on Matthew says: “The power Footnote which is of the Father and of the Son himself the Son conferred worldwide on Peter and gave a mortal man authority over all things in heaven, giving him the keys in order that he might extend the Church throughout the world.” Footnote And in homily 85 on John: “He allocated James a determined territory, but he appointed Peter master and teacher of the whole world.” Footnote Again, commenting on the Acts of the Apostles: “Not like Moses over one people, but throughout the whole world Peter received from the Son power over all those who are His sons.” Footnote
This is also taught on the authority of Holy Scripture. For Christ entrusted hi sheep to the care of Peter without restriction, when he said in the last chapter of John (21:15): Feed my sheep; and in John 10:16: That there might be one fold and one shepherd.
CHAPTER 34
That the same possesses in the Church a fullness of power.
It is also established from the texts of the aforesaid Doctors that the Roman Pontiff possesses a fullness of power in the Church. For Cyril, the Patriarch of Alexandria, says in his Thesaurus: “As Christ coming forth from Israel as leader and sceptre of the Church of the Gentiles was granted by the Father the fullest power over every principality and power and whatever is that all might bend the knee to him, so he entrusted most fully the fullest power to Peter and his successors.” And again: “To no one else but Peter and to him alone Christ gave what is his fully.” And further on: “The feet of Christ are his humanity, that is, the man himself, to whom the whole Trinity gave the fullest power, whom one of the Three assumed in the unity of his person and lifted up on high to the Father above every principality and power, so that all the angels of God might adore him (Heb. 1:6); which whole and entire he has left in sacrament and power to Peter and to his Church.” Footnote
And Chrysostom says to the Bulgarian delegation Footnote speaking in the person of Christ: “Three times I ask you whether you love me, because you denied me three times out of fear and trepidation. Now restored, however, lest the brethren believe you to have lost the grace and authority of the keys, I now confirm in you that which is fully mine, because you love me in their presence.” Footnote
This is also taught on the authority of Scripture. For in Matthew 16: 19 the Lord said to Peter without restriction: Whatsoever you shall bind upon earth shall be bound in heaven.
Here it is again after I removed the Footnote parts
CONTRA ERRORES GRAECORUM
by ST. THOMAS AQUINAS
http://dhspriory.org/thomas/ContraErrGraecorum.htm#b33
CHAPTER 33
That the same Pontiff has universal jurisdiction over the entire Church of Christ.
It is also shown that the Vicar of Christ has universal jurisdiction over the entire Church of Christ. For it is recorded of the Council of Chalcedon how the whole synod acclaimed Pope Leo: “Long live Leo, the most holy, apostolic, and ecumenical, that is, universal patriarch.”
And Chrysostom commenting on Matthew says: “The power which is of the Father and of the Son himself the Son conferred worldwide on Peter and gave a mortal man authority over all things in heaven, giving him the keys in order that he might extend the Church throughout the world.” And in homily 85 on John: “He allocated James a determined territory, but he appointed Peter master and teacher of the whole world.” Again, commenting on the Acts of the Apostles: “Not like Moses over one people, but throughout the whole world Peter received from the Son power over all those who are His sons.”
This is also taught on the authority of Holy Scripture. For Christ entrusted hi sheep to the care of Peter without restriction, when he said in the last chapter of John (21:15): Feed my sheep; and in John 10:16: That there might be one fold and one shepherd.
CHAPTER 34
That the same possesses in the Church a fullness of power.
It is also established from the texts of the aforesaid Doctors that the Roman Pontiff possesses a fullness of power in the Church. For Cyril, the Patriarch of Alexandria, says in his Thesaurus: “As Christ coming forth from Israel as leader and sceptre of the Church of the Gentiles was granted by the Father the fullest power over every principality and power and whatever is that all might bend the knee to him, so he entrusted most fully the fullest power to Peter and his successors.” And again: “To no one else but Peter and to him alone Christ gave what is his fully.” And further on: “The feet of Christ are his humanity, that is, the man himself, to whom the whole Trinity gave the fullest power, whom one of the Three assumed in the unity of his person and lifted up on high to the Father above every principality and power, so that all the angels of God might adore him (Heb. 1:6); which whole and entire he has left in sacrament and power to Peter and to his Church.”
And Chrysostom says to the Bulgarian delegation speaking in the person of Christ: “Three times I ask you whether you love me, because you denied me three times out of fear and trepidation. Now restored, however, lest the brethren believe you to have lost the grace and authority of the keys, I now confirm in you that which is fully mine, because you love me in their presence.”
This is also taught on the authority of Scripture. For in Matthew 16: 19 the Lord said to Peter without restriction: Whatsoever you shall bind upon earth shall be bound in heaven.
“”I can realize I am wrong ( if I am ) if you can show me through reason and evidence but not until.””
Eucharistic Miracles
http://www.therealpresence.org/eucharst/mir/a3.html
The Eucharistic Miracles of the World
http://www.therealpresence.org/eucharst/mir/engl_mir.htm
Try going to Eucharist Adoration in a church near you and perhaps Our Lord will change your mind.Protestants are welcome to attend Eucharist Adoration
Assuming you live in the US ,here is the list
Churches and Chapels in USA that have Eucharistic Adoration
http://www.therealpresence.org/chap_fr.htm
I apologize,dear friend, I have a very bad fault of antagonizing people sometimes. I will need to go to confession for this since it's wrong and sinful
I wish you a Blessed evening
RE: Eucharistic Miracles
http://www.therealpresence.org/eucharst/mir/a3.html
The Eucharistic Miracles of the World
http://www.therealpresence.org/eucharst/mir/engl_mir.htm
Try going to Eucharist Adoration in a church near you and perhaps Our Lord will change your mind.Protestants are welcome to attend Eucharist Adoration
______________________
Again, please don’t post the ENTIRE website for me. I know how to get there and the EWTN websites to get their information.
This is FR, and I want YOU to tell me what you believe and why. With scriptural support.
Thank you. St. Thomas Aquinas is a favorite of mine. I just finished reading Chesterton's essay "St. Thomas Aquinas: The Dumb Ox". A very insightful look at the man behind the theology. I highly recommend it.
Pax et bonum.
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