Posted on 03/21/2015 4:27:12 PM PDT by NYer
From The Salem News in Massachusetts:
If the deacon is a different sort of religious figure for the church, then Chuck Hall, 62, is a different sort of deacon. He came of age as an evangelical Protestant. Only slowly did he gravitate toward conversion, drawn by, of all things, the priest abuse scandals.
As one damaging headline followed another, he sensed an imbalance in the treatment of the church. Moreover, he saw the Roman church as at the very foundation of Christianity. While he never faulted the press for following the story, the fierce hostility brought on by the scandals seemed to him an attack on Christianity itself.
“It made me go back and study some church history. … I let the church speak for itself,” he said. The more he studied and understood, the more he began to feel that the conflicts always cited between Protestants and Catholics were overdrawn: “‘Do you worship Mary?’ No.”
The lessons of inclusion brought by Vatican II, the “inspirational” writings of G. K. Chesterton, also a convert, and the courage of Pope John Paul II eased Hall’s path.
“I went to my first Mass,” he said. The very interior of the church shouted of difference — the stained glass, the bright colors of the priest’s vestments, the statuary.
“A lot of things about being Catholic take some getting used to,” he laughed. But Hall began to see the beauty in these things and, sitting recently in the bright, soaring interior of St. John the Baptist, he smiled at the thought that God can be seen in such beauty.
“Art is a great gift,” he said. “The creative life is when we most imitate God.”
There is an added irony in Hall’s attraction to Catholicism. When he married 25 years ago, his wife, Mary, was teaching the Catholic catechism. As he was drawn toward her religion, however, she was drifting away. She currently worships in the Anglican church. Yet, he says, “She has been supportive of everything I’ve wanted to do.” They have no children.
The article has much more on deacons. Check it out.
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This is interesting because in the diocese I live in the wife must be a "practicing" Catholic.. no mixed marriages need apply..this uy as a "convert" must have been a catch OR HIS wife lied when he applied
I did have one come back and make one of those “well they didn’t say it didn’t happen” type comments. I can’t even imagine how an intelligent adult would come up with something like that.
I would encourage you ro read Mark 16:16
http://biblehub.com/mark/16-16.htm
Matthew 3:13-17 might be instructive too as to the importance of the sacrament.
Easy! It's called "indoctrination" from the cradle. How does a jihadist come to the conclusion that it is ok to blow himself up along with some "infidels" so he can have e a bunch of virgins? It is all he has ever heard as he grew up!
Catholicism is a cult which specializes in teaching "we are the only ones"! It is exclusionary, yet tries to represent itself as universal and inclusive. It contorts the Word of God so the "traditions" it teaches are acceptable. It is sorta like putting a bitter pill inside a sticky bun. It makes it more palatable, but also gives a great sugar rush.
They are blind to the truth because that is what/how they are taught!
I rely on the Teaching authority, the Magisterium of the Church for interpretation. I am not too proud to admit if i don't know something, and many holier people, more scholarly people, and better human beings than I have done the interpretation for me. I have the advantage of the fruits of their labor. -G2G
Where is the Holy Spirit in that? Is God incapable of teachings and leading us into ALL TRUTHS? According to that posit, He is a limited God, relying on RC scholars to lead the sheeple! I would disagree and quote Him as my source:
John 16: 16 “All this I have told you so that you will not fall away. 2 They will put you out of the synagogue; in fact, the time is coming when anyone who kills you will think they are offering a service to God. 3 They will do such things because they have not known the Father or me. 4 I have told you this, so that when their time comes you will remember that I warned you about them. I did not tell you this from the beginning because I was with you, 5 but now I am going to him who sent me. None of you asks me, ‘Where are you going?’ 6 Rather, you are filled with grief because I have said these things. 7 But very truly I tell you, it is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. 8 When he comes, he will prove the world to be in the wrong about sin and righteousness and judgment: 9 about sin, because people do not believe in me; 10 about righteousness, because I am going to the Father, where you can see me no longer; 11 and about judgment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned.
12 “I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear. 13 But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. 14 He will glorify me because it is from me that he will receive what he will make known to you. 15 All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will receive from me what he will make known to you.”
Ask yourself: why do I hate the Catholic Church? Who taught me what I think I know about the Catholic Church? Is what I was taught true?
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And another one bites the dust!
The people that think one can’t lose their faith and salvation need to read these sorry stories for what they are.
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Ping to post 106
Where is your refutation of the CONTENT of my post? Is that all you can offer? I don't hate the Roman Catholic people, only the institutional cult!
I know in Whom I believe and it isn't following a cult!
Look! Squirrel! (pay no attention to the man behind the curtain TRUTH!)
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Why do I wish to expose the false church that Constantine founded to tribulate and murder Yeshua’s elect?
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Simple, they are leading millions if not billions to spend eternity in “outer darkness.”
Those they murdered are in the bosom of Abraham, awaiting the day of Trumpets, but those captive in the cult of Constantine will know only torment for eternity.
Not a difficult question at all.
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We will continue to suffer and be martyred and to offer all up for the salvation of this fallen world. We will build schools and hospitals and communities and take our places in the marketplaces of goods and services and ideas, as Jesus would.
You may continue to demand proof as it serves your purposes. We're taking care of business for people who should know better because they insist they know better, like we have for the past two millenia.
The matter is ended.
Not likely. Come in here spewing the errors of the Catholic Church teaching and expect to be countered with scripture. The Holy Spirit through Paul said if someone taught what the apostles didn't teach they were to be considered accursed.
I know you think you're a real holy roller, but it's crystal clear that what you love about anything is your concept of yourself. You love to believe you're right and you wouldn't know the Holy Spirit if He was sitting on your lap.
Oh you know that do you? Are you clairvoyant or something?
Galatians 1:9 As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.
Poor fool.
Matthew 5:22 But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.
I'd suggest you be more careful with your words.
mindreading!
“I know you think...”
Unhunh. You probably think it's magic. To the rest of us, it's just common sense. Would you like to burn me at the stake now?
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