Posted on 04/01/2015 7:50:45 AM PDT by Salvation
Wednesday of Holy Week is traditionally called “Spy Wednesday,” since it was on this day that Judas conspired with the Temple leadership to hand Jesus over. He would not accomplish his task until the evening of the next day, but this day he made the arrangements and was paid.
One way to reflect on this terrible sin is to consider that Judas was among the first priests called by Jesus. We see in the call of the Apostles the establishment of the ministerial priesthood. Jesus called these men to lead His Church and minister in His name. But one of these priests went wrong, terribly wrong, and turned against the very one he should have proclaimed.
We also see great weaknesses among the other “first priests.” Peter denied Jesus, though he later repented. All the others except John deserted Jesus at the time of His Passion. Yes, I am sad to say, only one priest, one bishop made it to the foot of the Cross. All the rest fled in fear. And so here we see the “sins of the clergy” made manifest. Christ did not call perfect men. He promised to protect His Church from officially teaching error but this does not mean that there is no sin in the Church, nor that those who are called to lead are without sin. The story of Judas shows that even among those who were called, one went terribly wrong.
In recent years there has been much focus on the sins of Catholic priests who went terribly wrong and sexually abused the young. The vast majority of priests have never done such things, but those who did so inflicted great harm.
There are other sins of the clergy that have nothing to do with sexuality but that also may have caused great harm. Maybe it was an insensitive remark. Perhaps it was a failure to respond at a critical moment such as a hospital visit. And how many of you have lamented deeply the scandal of silent pulpits, the silence of so many clergy in the face of a moral meltdown? Whatever it might be that has harmed or alienated you, please don’t give up on God or on the Church. If a priest or a Church leader has caused you grief please know that there are other priests, deacons, and lay leaders who stand ready to hear your concerns and offer healing. Let the healing begin. Ask among your Catholic family and friends for recommendations about helpful and sensitive priests or Church leaders who can listen to your concerns, address them where possible, and offer another opportunity for the Church to reach out to you with love.
On this “Spy Wednesday” pray especially for priests. We carry the treasure of our priesthood in earthen vessels; as human beings we struggle with our own issues. We have many good days, but some less-than-stellar moments, too. The vast majority of priests, though sinners, are good men who strive to do their very best. But some among us have sinned greatly and, like Judas, caused harm to the Body of Christ. Some of us may have caused harm to you. Please accept this invitation to begin anew.
If you have stayed away because of some hurt caused by any leader of the Church, strive on this “Spy Wednesday” to still seek Christ where He is found. He is among sinners and saints, in the Church He founded. The Church is perfect in her beauty as the Bride of Christ, but consists of members who are still “on the way” to holiness.
After all my verbiage, here is a music video that presents this message better than I ever could. If you have ever known someone who has been hurt, or been hurt yourself, allow this powerful video to move you.
I would like to see what shoving Scripture down people's throats means, but then may i asked, where or where have You been when RCs did this for years, and note that shoving Scripture down people's throats has its parrellel with constant posting of RC propaganda, engaging in argument by assertion, which they seem to demand we submit to.
Do you feel that Catholics, both of the Roman Rite and Eastern Churches, have no right to post articles? If you didn't wish to read them, you could have requested not to be pinged, if you were at all.
Read my page. I state what I believe. I don't ask others to believe as I do. I'm not here to evangelize. I wanted to hear other Christians' points of view. Why? Frankly, because we live in a world where abominations such as abortion; obsession with illicit sex of all kinds; genocide; persecution of Christians are not only commonplace but facilitated and imposed on people of that which is other than that of Muslim extremists. We need one another. Thus I wanted a better picture of what my other Bretheren think.
I had known non-Catholics throughout my life: both in school-yes, in parochial school- and at home, I was taught to respect people, especially their right to believe differently than we; thus we not only got along, but were friends living side-by-side.
Not very long ago, I was new, and honestly, I had never encountered the insults I saw on the boards. I also do not see the, "I believe" mentality projected in a majority of posts. Pages and pages of Scripture, according to how individuals interpret, along with mocking graphics, deliberate slurs, rehashing of events of hundreds of years ago. I was stunned. That isn't dialogue. Yes, Catholicism, as any other Faith has non-negotiable issues: Mary; the Eucharist; Purgatory, for example. Yes, then you will see an absolute. That is defense of the basic tenets of my Faith. I don't expect others to believe them, and polite counterpoint leads to dialogue- not with agreement but with an understanding that fosters less hostility.
We don't have to agree on every thing. I believe there are many paths to God, but if we of good will find a common ground, we can do more together than we can by arguing so vehemently. Check out the picture of the people in Indiana during the institution of the new legislation against gay marriage. Rabbis, Ministers, Sisters. Ever watch the March for Life? People of all races, Faiths, and denominations together by the thousands working together for a common cause. Together, we have strength!
A question before I reply: in the first sentence, whom do you mean by "herself"? I'm not certain if you're referring to the poster, or to the Church Itself. Respect is mainly the reason I capitalize, but it does also have the advantage of sometimes making things a little clearer.
History is done, it is a fact. Yes, we bring up the Reformation, as well as discrimination against Catholics in the New World. It happened. So did the Spanish Inquisition, and yes, not all our Popes have been model citizens. It's part of history and the tragedies have been experienced on both sides. And each side has articles why their beliefs are correct and the others are in error. If this can be discussed without the sarcasm in the first few posts, and the derisive graphics- please check, those graphics are very seldom seen posted by Catholics; the same people tend to post them, and they are not conducive to discussion- we can get much further toward at least some degree of understanding on both sides of the issues. This involves empathy on both sides, as opposed to retaliation.
Please, would you simplify that a little for me? I'm not quite certain what you mean. I don't want to answer if I'm unsure. Thank you!
Who are overall surprisingly (to RCs) basically unified, while Jews in the 1st century could have said much the same as you did about the followers of a group of itinerant preachers who followed a giant of an itinerant preacher, all of whom were rejected by the historical magisterium, whom they rebuked.
Obviously our preachers are not the apostles, nor are yours for sure, but we can show by the Scriptures what they taught, which the established upon Scriptural substantiation in word and in power.
"Nor are yours for sure" - a mild example of the very thing I've been speaking of. Why throw a dig in an otherwise civil discussion?
I perceive that a person who formulates his own belief system based on their own Scriptural interpretation is on the same par as what you perceive of the Church once saying It was the only means of salvation (which is probably a great oversimplification on both sides): that is, it is perceived as being "arrogance." They apparently from their posts, consider their ability superior to that of others. However it is intended, that is how it comes off.
There are so many preachers, and so many denominations that I don't watch very often. I admired Billy Graham, mostly because he spoke of God and didn't disrespect anyone. I've seen a lot of dissension against televangelists among my non-Catholic brethren, and our Bishops don't always agree with Rome. It's part of our human nature, something we must work hard to overcome if we are to work together for good in a world full of evil.
I'm responsible for what I post. I mentioned "troll because it was funny, but have been called names that, frankly, are unbefitting of Christians.
I recently got called a troll!
I understand, but it kind of like a stateside soldier lecturing those in combat that they need to be more respectful toward those who are shooting at them, and seem to long for the days of the Inquisition.
The troll remark followed a graphic of the Inquisition, and when I brought up persecution of Catholics starting in the Colonies, and the persecution under Henry Tudor. I'm sorry, but the above is childish and there is no excuse.
Thanks for the post, and God bless you!
Does Wiki pay you every time you dig up that old chestnut? 😊 I practically have it memorized! < / kidding >
Not so. Each Council, each encyclical is based upon the others. In the instance I cited, gigantic, tragic circumstances took place and could not be ignored; just as when, I honestly do not recall which Pope, promulgated assn encyclical in favor of the Jews, denying theirs or anyone's group responsibility for the death of Jesus. We are all, as children of Adam with original sin (that of Mary, was taken from her soul prior to her conception in her mother's womb. That is why, although she is the Immaculate Conception, she refers to God as her Savior.)
but Pope Pius IX made it absolutely clear that we should not entertain "good hope" for the salvation of those outside the Catholic Church. Good hope is not the same thing as recognizing that in rare instances God can allow it, in instances where someone had a desire for baptism and/or perfect contrition before death. Thanks to the modernism that has creeped into the Church via Vatican II (and is now full steam ahead), most Catholics seem to think that we can hope that these non-Catholics will be saved. No, we can not.
Please read again what I posted. Do you honestly believe those killed in war fighting for just cause; the victims of holocaust and genocide are doomed to hell? Please read it again with them in mind. The worldview of the Church is available in verbatim documents online.
Good bless you!
Recognizing is what Catholics do.
I expect to find actual SCRIPTURE that makes the point.
I see...
Third, the blatant anti-Protestantism sticks out like a sore thumb.
Does Rome give you a free indulgence every time you laugh off the SINS of it's past leaders?
Who do you think it is that sets himself up in the temple?
Do you really think God would allow His Son to die a terrible, agonizing painful death?
The Traditional Catholic Faith has never been easy. Just because you think it is unfair for certain people not to get to Heaven doesn’t mean they do. Just because the type of evil in the modern world changes doesn’t mean the truth of the Traditional Catholic Faith changes along with it.
We are not to entertain good hope that those outside of the Catholic Church will be saved. Vatican II contradicts prior teaching in two main areas: religious liberty and ecumenism. Both involve those of other religions.
You mean you were not judging others in stating, "Must be the season for uptight anti-catholics to bash the church " simply due to 4 posts stating Scriptural denial of the Catholic priesthood (the only "shoving Scripture" without an argument was done by a RC) and one calling it a pagan church due to that fact?
Did he not say, when I was a child, I spake as a child? Did Jesus not say to let the children come to Him?
And children sometimes touch hot stoves, and should learn from it. When you jump into combat and proceed to condemn one side for firing back at the latest example of false teaching - this one that of making the apostles and NT presbuteros into being the non-existent separate class of NT believers distinctively titiled "priests" ("hiereus) - then it is you who are only a child in a hot kitchen acting like a veteran, and got burned by your presumptuous action.
Here is the remedy: Brethren, be not children in understanding: howbeit in malice be ye children, but in understanding be men. (1 Corinthians 14:20)
Follow your link; that wasn't my post.
It doesn't matter what I think.
What matters is what the Book says; and it does NOT link the two together.
"Pagan" is name-calling, as is "cult", and some of the other, worse names we get called as Catholics. I may not have written what was in the link you cited from Mercat, but, considering the immediacy of the contradictions, the choice of words and the sources, I would have to agree with the poster. Other than the first two posts, i.e. the article itself and the author's ping, it took two posts to get a negative response.
Out of context again, Elsie.
I'm Roman Catholic. We call them priests. I believe what the Church's translations say.
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