Excellent argument. However, there are people on this thread who for some reason believe that none of the apostles were married men. That's the low level of understanding that I'm having to deal with.But as someone pointed out upstream, the Catholic Church relies not only on scripture, but on their tradition -- which is what they say it is.
Not only what they say it is, but what they say it is at a particular point in time. 600 years ago you would have had popes, bishops, and priests argue that selling indulgences was a perfectly fine tradition.But I'd love to read about the early members of the Church from their own point of view.They also have doctrines like Purgatory, the Immaculate Conception, the perpetual virginity of Mary, and praying to saints which were wholly unknown in the first 300, 400, or 500 years of the Church, depending upon which tradition you're talking about.
Ah, but you can do that right now with the internet. Not only did I find Clement of Alexandria's Stromata for poor saradippity last night, I found it in both English and Latin. There are some excellent sites where you can read the original writings in either a good translation or the original language.
Well, Mikey, you don't like it? Neither did the Church, which stopped that stuff as soon as She could.
Since it is perfectly obvious that you are not a Catholic regardless of your baptism, why don't you buzz off?
Purgatory, the Immaculate Conception, the perpetual virginity of Mary, and praying to saints which were wholly unknown in the first 300, 400, or 500 years of the Church, depending upon which tradition you're talking about.
The Church will declare certain dogmas and canonize Saints without your assistance or input. Further, the Church is really not in need of your opinion after-the-fact.
I don't live in your State--so I don't vote in your elections.
You may extend the same courtesy, and apply it to the Church, as well.