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You know that, although I disagree with you on some matters theological, I often praise your excellent efforts here and seldom pick fights with you. OTOH, it is not at all fair to accuse "traditional Catholics" of "celebrating diversity among themselves." We do nothing of the sort. Right now, we are trying to figure out how to exclude an apparent pope like Frankie from the Church.

The "married" lesbian music directors with the clenched fists at St. Michael's in Ireland and their infernal excuse for a pastor are NOT Catholic whatever the circumstances of their baptisms, if any. Nor are Pelosi, Rosa DeLauro, Patty Murray, John Kerry, Tim Kaine, Susan Collins, and a host of other once Catholic political apostates. They have excommunicated themselves.

It goes without saying that there is "diversity" among the Reformed. Protestantism cannot be the One True Church because Protestantism, as such, is not one. Protestant churches contain much truth and many truths which differ in some respects from church to church. In and of itself, such differences prove nothing other than that "Protestantism" has many principled variations and is not "one."

Sola Scriptura assumes, without proof, common agreement on what Scripture truly teaches. On their own, neither Catholics by their own talents, nor Reformed Christians by theirs agree completely on the entire meaning of Scripture.

Oooops, Sorry. I stand corrected.

I read that as Catholics, not TRADITIONAL Catholics. I went back and re-read the post and saw what dan was referring to.

You are correct that traditional Catholics do NOT celebrate anything of the sort but desire to get back to pre-VII Catholicism.

While I also disagree with traditional Catholics, sometimes strongly, as a whole I have found them courteous and have a great deal of respect for them as they really do stand for what they believe in without compromise. Not being a young, tender, little snowflake, I can handle the fact that someone has an opinion different than mine.

And I understand what they think of those outside the Catholic church.

Nor do I consider them Christian.

It is inconceivable and contrary to Scripture that someone who names the name of Christ would either continue in such sin or advocate for it. Those with the new, born again, born from above nature at the very least have a a strong aversion to sin, one that really should be revulsion, but alas, we are still creatures of flesh and struggle with the old nature still liking the sin the new nature doesn't.

But there are not many churches, and I have never encountered any personally but rather have heard that they exist, which claim to be the one true church.

Of all the different churches I've attended over the last 40 years, of varying denomination (not church hopping, but because of moving and traveling a LOT -it gives you a lot of exposure to many different fellowships) their unifying factor is salvation through faith in Christ.

Sometimes there are minor differences in theology, but at the core is salvation by grace through faith in Christ. Those who have put their faith in Christ alone for salvation I consider my brother or sister in Christ and we can enjoy fellowship with each other and I can freely worship in their church on Sunday morning, even as a guest once or twice a year.

And while many have repeatedly asked why not all just one denomination, well there are differences in ministry focus. Some are aimed at college students, some helping the poor, some on missions, some just like small churches, others like big, but the main focus is the same and the areas of difference fall under what Paul refers to as *disputable matter* (Romans 14).

No, I've not encountered that meaning for sola Scriptura.

It recognizes Scripture to be the final word on Truth and is authoritative due to it being the God inspired, Holy Spirit breathed word of God. It is that to which all truth claims and doctrine and theology is compared.

While there will never be common agreement on every last passage of Scripture, even within Catholicism there is room for different interpretation. As I've been told in the past, anything that Rome has not authoritatively interpreted is subject to the individual's own interpretation.

And Rome has not yet put out a theological interpretation of the entire Bible, so that leaves a fair amount of flexibility for individual Catholics to interpret as they choose., something that I notice is frequently condemned with non-Catholics do it.