Free Republic

Hi,

As a Catholic I accept that we are miles apart theologically, but I can assure you that I have seen far more evidence of the gifts of the Holy Spirit from my LDS friends andneighborsthan I have from many of those who profess to be “bible believing Christians”.

As much as I have felt the anti-Catholic bias from the moderators and posters here in the Religion Forum I can honestly say it is far worse toward Mormons. The wording of your post that drew the warning was far tamer than many, many by Protestants that are actively defended by the religion Moderator. Please do not judge us all by the actions of a few.

Peace and Blessings

Prayers for a speedy recovery and that He will continue to use you as a sign to the world of his power, grace and mercy.

Peace and Blessings

"That would indicate a weak "God"..."

I have heard many Protestants claim that all of their sins past, present and future were washed away by the Blood of Jesus. It is an indication of a belief in a limited God to believe that He could not do so to preserve Mary from sin from the moment of Her conception.

Peace be with you

"Are you 'trying' to control my posts?"

Even you apparently cannot do that. I am only proclaiming the truth which seems to be at odds with you. Rest assured, you do not have the capacity to provoke me to anger and I thank you for giving me something to forgive. I pray for your healing and repentance. May the Peace of the Lord be with you and your spirit.

"Gotcha - but I wasn't reading his mind, but agreeing with NL in what he said 'he believes' I believe as my Church.."

Had you stuck to what I actually said instead of conjecture about what you think I meant you might have a case. The RM is correct that you were involved in a failed mind reading exercise. Discussing theology is much more interesting and rewarding than discussing me.

Peace be with you.

"Hear and Obey. There is nothing to discuss."

That's OK. I really didn't think you could or would engage in an actual discussion. I don't think anyone can differentiate your theology from Islam based upon the content of your posts.

"Just by changing ..."

Why don't you explain what the capital "C" in Church designates.

"Catholics have NO idea what being in Christ is all about."

Here is a real example of an insult directed at Catholics that an actual Catholic finds offensive. Per your lecture last night this should satisfy the criteria of flame bait.

"That's not a Biblical definition of faith."

Surely you are not implying that Hebrews 11:1 is all that Scripture has to say about faith or is even an adequate synthesis of all that is said about Faith. God calls all to return to him and Faith is man's answer to that call. Faith is an act of the will that results in the supernatural powers to see and believe what the human eyes and mind themselves do not permit. The lack of Faith, my dear sister, is why Protestants do not see the Real Presence in the Eucharist, they are relying on what their eyes and minds convince them is present.

Peace be with you

"The fact that you refer to Scripture as *mumbo jumbo* is quite telling."

I was referring to the Protestant interpretation of that Scripture. Just because you believe it does not make it true or obligatory for anyone else to believe. All we have to go on for it being correct is the reliance on your admittedly fallible powers of interpretation. Sorry, that is nowhere good enough.

So all of the snide comments about what you think all Catholics believe, do, or are do nothing to foster your credibility or influence Catholic belief.

"BELIEVE"

I believe as my Church always has:

I believe in one God,
the Father, the Almighty,
maker of heaven and earth,
of all that is, seen and unseen.

I believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ,
the only Son of God,
eternally begotten of the Father,
God from God, light from light,
true God from true God,
begotten, not made,
of one Being with the Father;
through him all things were made.
For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven,
was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary and became truly human.
For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate;
he suffered death and was buried.
On the third day he rose again
in accordance with the Scriptures;
he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead,
and his kingdom will have no end.

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life,
who proceeds from the Father and the Son,
who with the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified,
who has spoken through the prophets.
I believe in one Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church.
I acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.
I look for the resurrection of the dead,
and the life of the world to come. Amen.

Don't you?

Jessep: (Jack Nicholson) You want answers?
Kaffee (Tom Cruise): I think I'm entitled to them.
Jessep: You want answers?
Kaffee: I want the truth!
Jessep: You can't handle the truth! Son, we live in a world that has walls. And those walls have to be guarded by men with guns. Who's gonna do it? You? You, Lt. Weinberg? I have a greater responsibility than you can possibly fathom. You weep for Santiago and you curse the Marines. You have that luxury. You have the luxury of not knowing what I know: that Santiago's death, while tragic, probably saved lives. And my existence, while grotesque and incomprehensible to you, saves lives...You don't want the truth. Because deep down, in places you don't talk about at parties, you want me on that wall. You need me on that wall. We use words like honor, code, loyalty...we use these words as the backbone to a life spent defending something. You use 'em as a punchline. I have neither the time nor the inclination to explain myself to a man who rises and sleeps under the blanket of the very freedom I provide, then questions the manner in which I provide it! I'd rather you just said thank you and went on your way. Otherwise, I suggest you pick up a weapon and stand a post. Either way, I don't give a damn what you think you're entitled to!
Kaffee: Did you order the code red?
Jessep: (quietly) I did the job you sent me to do.
Kaffee: Did you order the code red?
Jessep: You're goddamn right I did!!

"Yeshua the Messiah is the Son of YHWH, who died for our sins."

Is Jesus Lord? Is Jesus the Second Person of the Trinity, eternally begotten of the Father before all ages?

"Catholics like to boast."

"Let the believer who is lowly boast in being raised up" James 1:9

Peace and blessings be with you

"And that self serving mumbo jumbo has NOTHING to do with salvation!"

When we both say Salvation I am not even sure we are speaking of the same thing. If we are not, discussion or any arguing over this is pointless.

For Catholics Salvation begins with the grace of God which touches a sinner's heart and calls him to repentance. This grace cannot be merited because it proceeds solely from the love and mercy of God. Man may receive or reject this inspiration of God, he may turn to God or remain in sin. Grace does not constrain man's free will.

Through Grace is sinner is disposed for salvation from sin; he believes in the revelation and promises of God, he fears God's justice, hopes in his mercy, trusts that God will be merciful to him for Christ's sake, begins to love God as the source of all justice, hates and detests his sins.

This disposition is followed by justification itself, which consists not in the mere remission of sins, but in the sanctification and renewal of the inner man by the voluntary reception of God's grace and gifts, whence a man becomes just instead of unjust, a friend instead of a foe and so an heir according to hope of eternal life. This change happens either by reason of a perfect act of charity elicited by a well disposed sinner or by virtue of the Sacrament either of Baptism or of Penance according to the condition of the respective subject laden with sin. The Council further indicates the causes of this change. By the merit of the Most Holy Passion through the Holy Spirit, the charity of God is shed abroad in the hearts of those who are justified.

It was right when written at Trent and it is right today.

"Which makes it a works based salvation."

Any theology that absolves the individual of any culpability in the conduct of their lives, in their thoughts and in their words, in what the do and what they fail to do to the least of their brothers and sisters is is self serving mumbo jumbo.

Faith is the willful cooperation with Grace and Faith without Works is dead. The exclusion of works you refer to is the exclusion of the Jewish laws and rituals as not being salvific. Grace is not a one size fits all heavenly commodity. One must cooperate with Grace that they "may" be saved.

Peace be with you

Peace be with you

"PETER is NOWHERE called the Apostle to the Gentiles"

Acts 10 and 15:7

Peace be to you

"Limited education? So it's all about 'the brilliance of some scholar' and the philosophy of some?"

Everyone who wants to be offended will find ample reasons to be so. I have stated many times in these forums we are not saved by how much we know, but upon how we live what we know.

I will again remind you that when asked Jesus said there were TWO greatest commandments. No matter how zealously you profess to adhere to the First, your posts and demeanor suggest you are doing a miserable job on the Second.

Peace be with you

"But it IS!"

It is only perceived as a cracker to those without Faith.

"And I'm not buying that any Catholics on FR believe this nonsense either..."

If I accepted the lie that the Eucharist was only a cracker then I too would call it nonsense and reject it.

The truth is not determined by skillful debate or rude commentary on FR. The Truth was established at the beginning of time when God's concept of Himself and creation was manifest in the Logos. It is not our task to conform the Logos to our notions and to the limitations of our education and powers of reason, but to conform ourselves to the Truth.

Peace be to you