Pope Francis in the Wilderness

New York Times ^ | April 28, 2018 | JASON HOROWITZ

[ebb tide]

VATICAN CITY — Five years ago, Pope Francis was elected to be an agent of change within a church shaken by scandals and the historic resignation of Benedict XVI. He quickly became a global force in geopolitics, setting the agenda on climate change and care for migrants. World leaders wanted to be near him. Even non-Catholics adored him.

Today, Francis is increasingly embattled. The political climate has shifted abruptly around the world, empowering populists and nationalists who oppose much of what he stands for. Conservative forces arrayed against him within the Vatican have been emboldened, seeking to thwart him on multiple fronts.

[Be Careful]

This Pope is to the Church what Colin Kapernick is to the NFL

[DarthVader]

“Perhaps this is a test to see just how strong our Faith is.”

It is! Jesus commanded this in the sermon on the Mount. We must all become scholars of the Truth, totally depend on God and not rely on man:

Matthew 5:17-20

17 ‘Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets; I have come not to abolish but to fulfil. 18For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away, not one letter,* not one stroke of a letter, will pass from the law until all is accomplished. 19Therefore, whoever breaks* one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same, will be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.

[sphinx]

Martin Luther- an arch heretic

Luther is quite on point at the present moment. What should a faithful Catholic do when confronted by corrupt authority in the church? Riding it out and waiting for God to correct the error is not always possible. In Luther's case, he was ordered on pain of excommunication to perjure himself (a mortal sin) and affirm what he believed to be grave error. He refused. That's the spark that lit the Reformation.

Francis hasn't forced things to that point. Yet. So there may still be time. But if Francis in fact represents a majority of the cardinals, and if that majority truly wants (as seems to be the case) to run up the white flag and get right with the progressive agenda and the spirit of the age, the church may not self-correct for a very long time. So: what will you do if the hierarchy propagates error? Keep your mouth shut and go along to get along?

[ealgeone]

Just one of the thousands of monstrosities (Creflo Dollar; Joel Osteen; Rev. Jeremiah Wright; Jimmy Swaggart etc) that was spawned by Luther.

You really need new material.

I guess you must lump Paul into that category along with those he trained as they did not "follow from" the other Apostles.

[ealgeone]

Luther is quite on point at the present moment. What should a faithful Catholic do when confronted by corrupt authority in the church? Riding it out and waiting for God to correct the error is not always possible. In Luther's case, he was ordered on pain of excommunication to perjure himself (a mortal sin) and affirm what he believed to be grave error. He refused. That's the spark that lit the Reformation.

And the OP of this thread is acting just like Luther did as the guy is "protesting" his little heart out by posting more anti-pope articles than one could imagine.

I can only imagine the outcry of "Roman Catholic bashing" if a non-Catholic were to post the same type articles against the pope.

[metmom]

Just one of the thousands of monstrosities (Creflo Dollar; Joel Osteen; Rev. Jeremiah Wright; Jimmy Swaggart etc) that was spawned by Luther.

The Catholic church spawned Francis and these guys.

Y'all are in no position to be pointing fingers in condemnation.

Top 10 Most Wicked Popes

http://listverse.com/2007/08/17/top-10-most-wicked-popes/

1. Liberius, reigned 352-66 [Catholic Encyclopaedia]
2. Honorius I, reigned 625-638 [Catholic Encyclopaedia]
3. Stephen VI, reigned 896-89 [Catholic Encyclopaedia]
4. John XII, reigned 955-964 [Catholic Encyclopaedia]
5. Benedict IX, reigned 1032-1048 [Catholic Encyclopaedia]
6. Boniface VIII, reigned 1294-1303 [Catholic Encyclopaedia]
7. Urban VI, reigned 1378-1389 [Catholic Encyclopaedia]
8. Alexander VI, reigned 1492-1503 [Catholic Encyclopaedia]
9. Leo X, reigned 1513-1521 [Catholic Encyclopaedia]
10. Clement VII, reigned 1523-1524 [Catholic Encyclopaedia]

Top 10 Worst Popes in History

http://www.toptenz.net/top-10-worst-popes-in-history.php

1. Pope Alexander VI (1431 – 1503)
2. Pope John XII (c. 937 – 964)
3. Pope Benedict IX (c. 1012 – 1065/85)
4. Pope Sergius III (? – 911)
5. Pope Stephen VI (? – 897)
6. Pope Julius III (1487 – 1555)
7. Pope Urban II (ca. 1035 – 1099)
8. Pope Clement VI (1291 – 1352)
9. Pope Leo X (1475 – 1521)
10. Pope Boniface VIII (c. 1235 – 1303)

Pope kissing Koran

YOUR pope kissing the koran. Fits right in with YOUR Catechism of the Catholic church.

http://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/__P29.HTM

841 The Church's relationship with the Muslims. "The plan of salvation also includes those who acknowledge the Creator, in the first place amongst whom are the Muslims; these profess to hold the faith of Abraham, and together with us they adore the one, merciful God, mankind's judge on the last day."330

[ealgeone]

Imagine how long the list of bad priests, cardinals, etc would be. The popes are just the tip of the iceberg.

[ealgeone]

The other main difference between Christianity and Roman Catholicism: Christianity recognizes and calls out the false teachers....Rome just hides them and moves them around.

[Mom MD]

Not quite. Kapaernick was a second string quarterback rising the bench. The pope is the duly elected leader of your sect. Big difference.

[Maris Crane]

Wow. It seems as though Matthew were alive today.

Thank you, Darth.

[DarthVader]

Didn’t Jesus not say “Heaven and earth will pass away but My words will never pass away.”

[Maris Crane]

Yes, He did.

[metmom]

And if you’ll notice, the lists aren’t even the same.

Three’s discrepancy between the two.

[Buckeye McFrog]

The NY Slimes can stop already with the pearl clutching.

For better or worse, Francis is a dictator. He can (and likely will) start purging all of his conservative opposition.

[ebb tide]

Actually I dislike Jorge Bergoglio even more than I dislike Martin Luther.

Luther was an open heretic; Bergoglio is a stealth heretic.

And you’ve told me that you, yourself, are no fan of Luther. So what’s your problem?

[ealgeone]

And you’ve told me that you, yourself, are no fan of Luther. So what’s your problem?

I've said I don't follow Luther much as you and some of the other RCs contend in error.

However, you and Luther have much in common in terms of your actions.

[ebb tide]

However, you and Luther have much in common in terms of your actions.

Only in your dreams.

[ealgeone]

You just don’t see it. The rest of us do however.

[ebb tide]

Only in your dreams.

[aMorePerfectUnion]

As long as you are still posting on the religion forum, please post the list of “ thousands of Protestant theologians who converted to Catholicism.”

So far, you’ve (anonymously) found about 3.

Where is your list to back up your claim?