[Saundra Duffy]

the Pope IS in fact the Vicar of Christ, to attack him is to attack Jesus Christ Himself.

That is the biggest pile of CRAP I have ever heard! How dare you insult my Lord and Savior like that!!!!!!!

[Campion]

That is the biggest pile of CRAP I have ever heard!

Hey, Saundra, I'll make you a deal. You don't call a central pillar of my faith "the biggest pile of CRAP I have ever heard," and I won't call any pillars of your faith "the biggest pile of CRAP I have ever heard."

Or, to put it another way, you ain't loving your neighbor as yourself, dear. How dare you disobey my Lord and Savior like that?

[pgkdan]

That is the biggest pile of CRAP I have ever heard! How dare you insult my Lord and Savior like that!!!!!!!

Why don't you just do yourself a favor and avoid Catholic themed threads?

[Polycarp]

How dare you insult my Lord and Savior like that!!!!!!!

I like your work and most of your posts, Saundra, but those who live in Mormon glass houses should not cast such big stones.

According to Mormon theology, Jesus is hardly a Lord or Savior compared to Christian theology.

I make it a point to never criticize mormon beliefs, but neither will I tolerate such criticism as yours when the log in your own eye is quite large.

[Gophack]

The Catholic Church is the largest church in the world. 2,000 years ago, Jesus Christ founded His church and made St. Peter the head of the church. This is why sometimes you will hear about the Bishop in the Chair of St. Peter: the Catholic Church has a continuity going back to apostolic times where there has always been a Bishop in sitting in the Chair of St. Peter. So when we say that the Pope is the Vicar of Christ, we mean that he is representing Christ on earth. This is completely in line with scripture.

St. Peter was given the keys to the kingdom of Heaven, and inasmuch was given authority over the church on earth. Jesus specifically commanded Peter to "Feed my sheep" (John 21:17), and this is why Catholics say that the Pope speaks infallibly on issues of faith and morals.

The debate on this thread is more a difference, I think, between conservative Catholics. Most of the Catholics in this caucus are conservative politically and theologically; we denounce liturgical abuses, believe that Catholics should live by the Magisterium, and that if the Church says that abortion or contraception or homosexual is a grave or mortal sin, we do not participate in them, regardless of our personal circumstances.

Our differences here is to the degree of dissent allowable under the Canon. Where do we drawn the line? I think it is a worthy discussion for Catholics because most of us want to be in full communion and not be schmatic (split from the Church).

Jesus is your Lord and Savior, and He is also mine. God bless.