Replies

Have you noticed that our Protestant antagonists want to keep the discussion and our attention on the hypothetical and away from the real, the physical and the actual?

I find that to be quite the other way around.

All one need to observe is which form of worship is efficacious. At one end of the spectrum are the many verified and verifiable miracles within Catholic worship and a contrasting paucity within Protestant worship.

What paucity? Miracles abound... They are not weeping statues, apparitions in grilled cheese, and such silliness and magic - but I have seen healing... I have seen tongues, I have seen prophecy...

At the other end of the spectrum is the power of the Church to perform exorcisms and drive out demons where Protestantism takes a more tolerant and head in the sand approach.

I can confidently assert that the Pentecostals and charismatics go boldly where your priests fear to tread - and without incantations, without 'holy water', without all the baubles and talismans. All they have is the promise and the power of the Name. And they do it on such a regular basis that it is commonplace.

Please be informed that weeping statues and apparitions in grilled cheese, are in no way part of Catholic dogma. (I am sorry I do not have a smiley that rolls its eyes.)

As for exorcisms and healings, they are as common in Catholicism as they are in Pentecostalism, and far more adequately documented.

Which is not to say that they do not occur in Pentecostalism --- I'm not putting down the veracity of these miracles in the least --- I'm just saying that the Catholic Church is outstanding for subjecting reputed healing miracles to systematic and rather rigorous medical investigation.

In whatever "denomination" these miracles occur, it is Jesus Christ Our Lord who does them.

Peace be with you.