What we have here are drive-by internet “theologians” attempting to undermine the solid Catholic teaching of two millennia. Not only is this irrefutable Catholic teaching as the Church founded by Christ and instructed to teach ONE truth for ALL times to ALL people, it is one embraced by many leading Protestant theologians who after a lifetime of study and teaching, and serious reflection converted to Catholicism. I’d rather take their research that the out-of-content cut and paste stuff done lifted by armchairs critics of the Church who get their stuff from anti-Catholic websites sponsored by semi-literate pastors and self described “theologians.”
Take for example Rev. Richard John Neuhaus. He was America’s pre-eminent Lutheran theologian. He knew his Bible-text and history like no other Protestant in his time having taught and written extensively on the subject all his life. When Rev. Neuhaus converted to Catholicism he said, “I have long believed that the Roman Catholic Church is the fullest expression of the church of Christ through time.”
Take another case Francis J. Beckwith. He is a “born-again” evangelical, a tenured professor at Baptist-affiliated Baylor University in Waco, Tex, was the president of the Evangelical Theological Society (ETS), an association of 4,300 Protestant theologians who resigned and rejoined the Catholic Church.
Why? Because after having reviewed the materials from both sides, he changes his position and reverts to Catholicism.
Then there is Ulf Ekman, the founder of Scandinavia’s biggest Bible school. He led a a congregation of some 4000 individuals, converted to Catholicism because his theological inquiry confirmed for him the indispensability of the Catholic sacraments.
Other examples abound.
There is Catholicism, and the there is every other piece of rot out there from Joel Ostend’s “prosperity” gospel to Rev. Wright’s “God Damn America,” gospel to the lunatic followers of Rev. Moon, Rev. Jim Jones, and Rev. David Koresh. Each person arrogates to himself and herself, like metmom and other do here, and to lift isolated scriptural passages for conducting a driveby superficial analysis that contradicts the towering intellectual tradition of the Church including a string of eminent Episcopalian (Cardinal Newman) and Protestant, (yes actual scholars, historians, and theologians) who upon examining the beliefs of the Catholic Church, in good conscience, abandoned their prior false convictions, and converted to Catholicism.
Hmm, a man is mired in a pagan religion, comes out of that pagan religion but is mentally ascenting but not born from above, so he falls back into the pagan religion. And you think that's a good example? LOL
You always cite these guys. Here's the way to know if they, or any other preacher/messanger, etc, is right.
You can tell by their fruits if their message is in accord with the Word.
I don't think you'll find anyone on this thread that believes these people you mentioned are in accord with the Word.
But that's a difference with Christianity and Catholicism. Christianity has one source, the Bible, against which to measure truth.
Catholicism has so much stuff that is written (some of which is not even known by catholics), some of it is contradictory in message, and a good part of it, as we have discussed on this thread, is against the Word.
Each person arrogates to himself and herself, like metmom and other do here, and to lift isolated scriptural passages for conducting a driveby superficial analysis that contradicts the towering intellectual tradition of the Church including a string of eminent Episcopalian (Cardinal Newman) and Protestant, (yes actual scholars, historians, and theologians) who upon examining the beliefs of the Catholic Church, in good conscience, abandoned their prior false convictions, and converted to Catholicism.
How is verga's vanity post different from what you criticize? He's offered his opinion with no documentation to his sources. I know as I've asked him for them.
Plus, we've been told on these threads that some catholic beliefs are on a take it or leave it basis. For example, if Frances says something crazy we are free to take it or leave it. Same with the apparitions catholicism places so much emphasis on.
Catholicism has no standard against to measure truth.
You might have a point -- were your statement true. But, unfortunately for Roman Catholicism, it's not. Christ didn't found the Roman Catholic Church. He founded Christianity... not Catholicanity. Yet, Catholicanity tends to be what's "practiced" instead of Christianity. As for the Catholic Church's claim to teach one truth all times to all people, let me ask you about this "truth":
Is Mary a "mediatrix" as is taught (apparently as ONE truth in the CCC)? CCC 969 states that Mary, in part:
"...she did not lay aside this saving office but by her manifold intercession continues to bring us the gifts of eternal salvation..."
So, does the Catholic Church teach that Mary brings "gifts of salvation?" Is that part of the ONE truth to which you allude? If so, it's heresy. It's a falsehood and a false gospel. Why? Let's look at God's Word:
John 14:6 says (and can be understood without being a theologian):
"Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me"
Hmmm. NO one comes to the Father except through me... and my mother? NO. Christ alone. So, by one simple verse, we see that CCC 969 teaches FALSEHOOD.
But, let us continue.
I mentioned the whole "mediatrix" thing. In CCC 969 it says:
"Therefore the Blessed Virgin is invoked in the Church under the titles of Advocate, Helper, Benefactress, and Mediatrix."
Yet, in 1 Timothy 2:5 we find:
"For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man[a] Christ Jesus,"
Again.... ONE mediator. Doesn't say TWO mediators, or a A mediator and A mediatrix.... Only Christ. Yet, CCC 969 teaches as part of that "one truth" that Mary does something that God's very word -- his inerrant, God-breathed word refutes. It's plain. It's simple. No "drive by theologian" needed. Only simple reading skills and the ability to see what's written in God's word, and that it contradicts the Roman Catholic false gospel.
As for your other converts from Protestantism, well, all I can say is the Devil is busy, isn't he? No doubt those folks weren't saved.
So... since God's word refutes this one piece of filth (CCC 969), the rest of the rotten structure can't be too difficult to expose -- and it has been.
Hoss