"The use of temples, and these dedicated to particular saints, and ornamented on occasions with branches of trees; incense, lamps, and candles; votive offerings on recovery from illness; holy water; asylums; holy days and seasons, use of calendars, processions, blessings on the fields, sacerdotal vestments, the tonsure, the ring in marriage, turning to the East, images at a later date, perhaps the ecclesiastical chant, and the Kyrie Eleison, are all of pagan origin, and sanctified by their adoption into the Church." (Essay on the Development of Christian Doctrine, John Henry Newman)
The missionary history of the [Catholic] Church clearly shows her adaptability to all races, all continents, all nations. In her liturgy and her art, in her tradition and the forming of her doctrine, naturally enough she includes Jewish elements, but also elements that are of pagan origin. In certain respects, she has copied her organization from that of the Roman Empire, has preserved and made fruitful the philosophical intuitions of Socrates, Plato and Aristotle, borrowed from both Barbarians and the Byzantine Roman Empire—but always remains herself, thoroughly digesting all elements drawn from external sources...In her laws, her ceremonies, her festivals and her devotions, she makes use of local customs after purifying them and "baptizing" them. (Twentieth Century Encyclopedia of Catholicism)
Deuteronomy 12:30 Take heed to thyself that thou be not snared by following them, after that they be destroyed from before thee; and that thou inquire not after their gods, saying, How did these nations serve their gods? even so will I do likewise. 31 Thou shalt not do so unto the LORD thy God:
...”Thou shalt not do so unto the LORD thy God”....
....Unless Rome says otherwise...They truly see Rome/Pope as ‘their authority’....such a shame, and so very sad......they serve a very small and shallow god-head of their own design and creation. The more I learn about the catholic church the darker it gets.
“and sanctified by their adoption into the Church.”
Now Christian.
How’s that pagan wedding ring feeling?
Didn’t think you’d actually get an answer to that.
The Catholic church and leaders in it actually admit to incorporating pagan practices and yet here FRoman Catholics adamantly deny what is blindingly obvious.
I guess they’re not as well catechized as they like to brag on, esp. when non- Catholics know more about what their church teaches than they do.