The Neverending Story (The Christian Chronicles)

Associated Press ^ | 3/24/01

[malakhi]

The Neverending Story
An ongoing debate on Scripture, Tradition, History and Interpretation.

Statesmen may plan and speculate for liberty, but it is religion and morality alone which can establish the principles upon which freedom can securely stand. The only foundation of a free constitution is pure virtue. - John Adams

Previous Thread

[malakhi]

Hey. Quit trying to interupt my peace. :-)

Sorry, go back to sleep.

Dave, does the Catholic church have any traditions about Mary's dietary habits? Did she continue to follow the food laws? What about sabbath observance?

;o)

[IMRight]

Here's a better one:

Who is the source of mercy?

Is there nobody in Hell?

Does "mercy" then mean "no ultimate punishment if the judge is merciful"?

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

Well after we reach the 65,??? post, can't angelo just start a new thread? or did JR say that would be it? We could start under a new name:)

Becky

[SoothingDave]

By reprobate, I mean, a non believer, which is to say, one who's faith is in word only, a "said faith", but who's willful, continuous, premeditated habitual sin demonstrates a lack of genuine saving faith.

I was afraid of that.

I guess your life is easy and you have never struggled with any faults. Consider yourself blessed.

But try to have some iota of mercy for those who find living in faith more difficult. We all have our crosses to bear.

I am not one to arbitrarily judge who is and who is not a "reprobate," who is and who is not acting in "faith."

The answer to your question is that acting as a priest is evidence of a faith in what the Church is for and what She does. Now, priests may not all be immaculate, but that is not a requirement. The priesthood is a way for Christ to work through men in order to do His work on earth. If this require men who had no sin, compulsion to sin, desire to sin; absolutely perfect men, then Jesus would have no men to work with.

Instead, since it is He who works and not the man, the man's lack of percection is not relevant.

SD

[JHavard]

how a sinful man can be used as a vessel for Christ.

I can answer that one, "It can't" be, …….you said so a hunnert times, that God would never enter into an unclean vessel as in Mary's case, so a pedophile priest can not be used as a vessel of Christ or the Holy Spirit.

Thanks SD, that was easy thanks to you.

JH, taught at the Vatican :-)

[SoothingDave]

Well after we reach the 65,??? post, can't angelo just start a new thread? or did JR say that would be it? We could start under a new name:)

Yes, we'll start a new thread. We'll call it the, what was it?, "Cretinous heresy lovefest"

SD

[malakhi]

A full apology for her actions in helping to sexualise children in our culture would be a good start to a serious evaluation.

Something like this may happen about the time her own daughter is, oh, say 12 years old.

[trad_anglican]

Instead, since it is He who works and not the man, the man's lack of percection is not relevant.

Not relevant to the validity of the sacrament in question. Very relevant to the health of his soul and those souls put in his care. For which he will have to answer some day.

[IMRight]

We could start under a new name:)

Thread name nominations are now open!

"Why is Mack so wrong?"

"'32,000' denominations should be enough for anyone"

[malakhi]

Did you tell us this thread will only handle 60K post?

According to Jim Robinson, the maximum number of possible posts on a single thread is 65,536.

[SoothingDave]

how a sinful man can be used as a vessel for Christ.

I can answer that one, "It can't" be, …….you said so a hunnert times, that God would never enter into an unclean vessel as in Mary's case, so a pedophile priest can not be used as a vessel of Christ or the Holy Spirit.

Silly man, you forget that Mary was never baptised nor did she have access to the sacraments.

A priest, like all Christians, has been baptised and has become a dwelling place for the Holy SPirit.

Now if you wish to argue that it is absolutely impossible for God (Jesus, Holy SPirit, whatever) to work through you, then you may have a point.

But I bet you believe that God uses you as an instrument, don't you?

Even if you happen to sin.

SD

[drstevej]

***faith in what the Church is for and what She does***

Me: faith in who the Christ is and what He has done.

The object of one's faith is paramount.

[IMRight]

Not relevant to the validity of the sacrament in question. Very relevant to the health of his soul and those souls put in his care. For which he will have to answer some day.

Very well put.

[IMRight]

The object of one's faith is paramount.

"You then, are the Body of Christ. Every one of you is a member of it.."

[SoothingDave]

I'm talking about a professor of faith, a priest, whom you dogmatically deem to have the real presence of Christ's body and blood in him during the Eucharist, but is a reprobate as demonstrated by his ongoing, willful, unrepentant, habitual wickedness.

You have things mixed up. The Body and Blood of Christ is in the Bread and Wine used for Communion. The priest is a mere shell, through whom Jesus's spirit operates.

All of which is incidental. Your point is that any person who struggles with a very bad sin is, by definition, an unbeliever.

Sorry, I am not so willing to judge others. I know that the measure I used will be used against me.

SD

[SoothingDave]

***faith in what the Church is for and what She does***

Me: faith in who the Christ is and what He has done.

The object of one's faith is paramount.

Who is this "Christ" you speak of? I've never heard of him.

SD

[malakhi]

"You've got a point there. Also in the interview she said she believes we're all god."

I'd like to see her create life from dirt. But first she has to get her own dirt.

Sounds more like pantheism than autotheism. Being a part of, or subsumed in, God is not the same thing as being the divine creator of the universe. For Christian parallels, see Paul on the "body of Christ".