1. Caths? So, Protestants would be "Prots"?
2. How can YOU read the hearts of ALL 1.6 billion Catholics on this earth and make the blanket statement that they don't apply the Bible?
3. Why do you decide that the GREEKS had all the answers about Jesus and Mary? One of my oldest friends was married to a wonderful Greek man and I used to visit them often. I learned all about Greek Orthodoxy and I never did hear what you just wrote.
4. I NEVER, EVER learned that we had to go through Mary, or ANYONE, to get to Christ. Of course, I only took religion classes for 12 years and have been attending DAILY Mass for decades. The "Our Father" is an old prayer that Jesus said to His Father in heaven. How intimate is that? Jesus TAUGHT us to pray.
Perhaps you were speaking with someone who knew JACK about the Catholic faith. If you have a question about Catholicism you can go to two websites:
1. Catholic Online http://www.catholic.org/
or
2. Catholic Answers http://www.catholic.com/
for REAL answers from Catholics who make it their business to answer questions about our faith. People from anywhere can ask all kinds of questions. There you will get answers that you might not get here on the FR.
NO reason to be afraid. NO ONE will try to convert you or put you down.
God bless you and yours.
Based on their steadfast devotion to man-made teachings they apply over Biblical teaching.
3. Why do you decide that the GREEKS had all the answers about Jesus and Mary? One of my oldest friends was married to a wonderful Greek man and I used to visit them often. I learned all about Greek Orthodoxy and I never did hear what you just wrote.
For starters...never said the Greek had all the answers. However it does address the issues I pointed out...and a whole lot more. The admission that you never heard what I wrote regarding the Greek is further reason for you to do your own study of the Word and not take at face value what someone else says.
4. I NEVER, EVER learned that we had to go through Mary, or ANYONE, to get to Christ. Of course, I only took religion classes for 12 years and have been attending DAILY Mass for decades. The "Our Father" is an old prayer that Jesus said to His Father in heaven. How intimate is that? Jesus TAUGHT us to pray.
I'm glad you know the Lord's prayer. Notice no where in the NT does Jesus ever teach us to pray to His mom...nor does Paul, Peter (you remember Peter don't you?)neither does Timothy or James or anyone else for that matter.
You might want to read what the pope has said regarding this business of going through Mary to get to Christ.....from the Vatican's website. http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/leo_xiii/encyclicals/documents/hf_l-xiii_enc_22091891_octobri-mense_en.html
...Mary is the intermediary through whom is distributed unto us this immense treasure of mercies gathered by God, for mercy and truth were created by Jesus Christ. Thus as no man goeth to the Father but by the Son, so no man goeth to Christ but by His Mother." (Vatican Website: Encyclical of Pope Leo XIII on the Rosary, Octobri Mense, Pope Leo XIII, 1903-1914)
13. How grateful and magnificent a spectacle to see in the cities, and towns, and villages, on land and sea - wherever the Catholic faith has penetrated - many hundreds of thousands of pious people uniting their praises and prayers with one voice and heart at every moment of the day, saluting Mary, invoking Mary, hoping everything through Mary.Through her may all the faithful strive to obtain from her Divine Son that the nations plunged in error may return to the Christian teaching and precepts, in which is the foundation of the public safety and the source Of peace and true happiness. Through her may they steadfastly endeavour for that most desirable of all blessings, the restoration of the liberty of our Mother, the Church, and the tranquil possession of her rights - rights which have no other object than the careful direction of men's dearest interests, from the exercise of which individuals and nations have never suffered injury, but have derived, in all time, numerous and most precious benefits.
14. And for you, venerable brethren, through the intercession of the Queen of the Most Holy Rosary, We pray Almighty God to grant you heavenly gifts, and greater and more abundant strength, and aid to accomplish the charge of your pastoral office. As a pledge of which We most lovingly bestow upon you and upon the clergy and people committed to your care, the Apostolic Benediction. (Vatican Website: Encyclical of Pope Leo XIII on the Rosary, Octobri Mense, Pope Leo XIII, 1903-1914)
You know, I'm not even sure why catholics even need Christ when ya'll place the hope on Mary.
Oh, and there's more....
We constantly seek for help from Heaven - the sole means of effecting anything - that our labours and our care may obtain their wished for object. We deem that there could be no surer and more efficacious means to this end than by religion and piety to obtain the favour of the great Virgin Mary, the Mother of God, the guardian of our peace and the minister to us of heavenly grace, who is placed on the highest summit of power and glory in Heaven, in order that she may bestow the help of her patronage on men who through so many labours and dangers are striving to reach that eternal city. …..showing that the Catholic Church has always, and with justice, put all her hope and trust in the Mother of God. SUPREMI APOSTOLATUS OFFICIO ENCYCLICAL OF POPE LEO XIII ON DEVOTION OF THE ROSARY
Again...with the worship of Mary...not sure why catholics need Christ.
This is what happens when you follow man-made teachings that go against the Word.