[metmom]

The Catholic church is the organization headquartered in the Vatican.

Lay Catholics who try to distance themselves from it are putting themselves in schism with it and putting themselves according to Catholic teaching, in spiritual danger.

Many lay Catholics seem to feel they can sit as judge and jury as to what is *true* Catholicism and what is not, and there is certainly not any agreement among you all even here on FR.

What Catholic doctrine or theology gives you the right or privilege or ability even to decide for yourselves what or who you want to believe and follow and what or who you don’t?

The lay Catholic who sits in judgment of the Catholic religion headquartered in Rome and claims allegiance to the *true* Catholic church, is only holding allegiance to their interpretation of what Catholic church they want to adhere to.

There are some here who don’t think there have been any valid popes for a long time but won’t tell which one they think was the last one.

And which era of Catholicism do you adhere to? Vatican 2? Vatican 1? The Council of Trent? Some other version of Catholicism? And more interestingly, WHY that particular point inn church history?

[BipolarBob]

There are some here who don’t think there have been any valid popes for a long time but won’t tell which one they think was the last one.

I don't think there has ever been a valid Pope. Not one. The only head of the Christian Church is Jesus Christ. He is the cornerstone. The title Pope is not mentioned in the Bible. Why would we need one? The Holy Spirit is available to all who earnestly seek help and guidance. Putting ones faith in man made denominations and pastors have led many to stray and fall away because of their shortcomings and sins.

[ebb tide]

And which era of Catholicism do you adhere to? Vatican 2? Vatican 1? The Council of Trent? Some other version of Catholicism?

Trent and VC I are both in full harmony and confirmation of the Catholic faith from apostolic times.

VC II was a rupture in that harmony.

[ealgeone]

And the comical claim of an unbroken line of popes…..as decided by who? Per some RC (?) malcontents we don’t even know when the last legit, in their lofty opinion, pope was!!

[tomsbartoo]

Sorry, but my post to you was “informational.” I long learned that arguing with a Protestant about Catholicism is a fool’s errand. Believe what you will.