Comments (86)

The One True Church.

The Catholic Church.

H.H. the Pope Benedict XVI had called for more understanding amongst Christians in his recent visit to the States, which means more ecumenical efforts in order to unite of Our Lord’s flock, following the true shepherd, chosen by Thee, when he chose Peter as the head of his Church and his apostles as those who can forgive the sins, or on the contrary to those who are not repented, close the doors of heaven. But this is pure theology based in the Holy Gospels, what is the most important aim for us Catholics and for all Christians acting in good faith, is find common grounds, which will help us to come close to this wonderful goal, overcoming centuries of distrust. The current Pope and his predecessor the unforgettable John Paul II are quite committed to an open dialogue. But seeing and listening many reactions in the States, originated in certain extremists, including lots who are not Christians, many of them as we read in the comments these days, want the destruction of our Lord’s legacy and our traditional values and moral inherited through the centuries from our eldest brothers in Faith, the Jews and the doctrines established by Christ our Lord Himself, which we can read in the lasts Sundays and weekdays after Easter in the Gospels. The Pope again said in Saint Patrick, that we must struggle with all our strength and all our heart for a much better understanding with our brothers and sisters in our Faith but who are not in communion with the Holy Church. This is our duty and our moral obligation; we must follow this path until we reach the so desired unity in Christ.
On the other hand, if all protestant denomination, including the Church of England, want to survive, the only possible and realistic ways to accomplish with this goal is putting and end to four centuries of schism with our Holy Mother the Church. This is the only one who was created by Our Lord Jesus Christ. In spite of centuries of persecution many English, Sots, Welsh. the vast majority of Irish and millions of Catholics in the USA are still are faithful to His Holiness the Pope as the Vicar of Christ in this earth, including members of the royal British family and the oldest nobility of those lands. This disgraceful rift started with the Act of Submission of the Clergy and an Act of Succession followed, together with the so call Act of Supremacy (1534) which recognised that the king was 'the only supreme head of the Church of England called “Anglicana Ecclesia”, which was originated by King Henry VIII who received the title of Defender of the Faith, conferred by Pope Leo X in 1521, a total paradox, considering what happened next, including all persecutions and assassinations of Catholics in his realm, which continued with her daughter Elizabeth I, the first Tudor and the tyrant Cromwell, amongst others.
The end of this anomalous situation will help immensely to a blossoming of our mutually shared Christian values and will prepare a reunification of all Christians in just one flock, including the Eastern Orthodox churches, which have a wonderful Marian tradition like Catholicism and many Anglicans have as well. We are facing tremendous challenges in these days coming from the Islamic fundamentalism and as a consequence of the mistakes of our leaders since 2003, this is one of the main priorities of all Christians, to be reunited worshiping together to Our Lord Jesus Christ and pardon all our sins. Nobody was innocent in relation with this scandalous and outrageous division, nor Rome, or the English Kings of the time, nor even Luther or Calvin but we have to turn the page and face a common future if Christianity and our Western civilization will be successful confronting the challenges that I had mentioned above. I hope that Mr. Blair he was utterly sincere in his repentance, including the lies, which pushed Britain into the war in Iraq, which was the case of many American Catholics, who instead of listen the Church they had fallen in a false patriotism, comparing this situation with WW2, which many know now has not been the case.

I'm amazed by how people need to write these long posts to try to move people from their faith, their beliefs. There are things that only faith can explain and make sense out of it.

Orth, I am with you on this. And be sure that the ones writing are the "Thomases" of our time.

Ever paid attention how the catholics write their messages and just move on to their daily tribulations of life?

Peace in the heart to all.

I'm amazed by how people need to write these long posts to try to move people from their faith, their beliefs. There are things that only faith can explain and make sense out of it.

Orth, I am with you on this. And be sure that the ones writing are the "Thomases" of our time.

Ever paid attention how the catholics write their messages and just move on to their daily tribulations of life?

Peace in the heart to all.

A Thought, April 22, 2008 11:05 AM,

I read the link you suggested and just wanted to say that it is note worthy to mention that it would benefit all to read it and ponder on.

Although I did not agree 100%, which is the case with most indepth religious readings, I was "Amazingly surprised and Impressed" by its content of truth.

As a child I collected old and unusual coins as a hobby with my Dad and when I had my daughter the tradition was passed on and my daughter and I collected them. Even today I find myself saving coins for her when the opprotunity arises. Your reference of the reading gave me hope regarding my daughter because currently she is in a "wayward" way and our relationship is divided; I wait and long for her return. Love never fails.

A Thought, April 22, 2008 11:05 AM,

I read the link you suggested and just wanted to say that it is note worthy to mention that it would benefit all to read it and ponder on.

Although I did not agree 100%, which is the case with most indepth religious readings, I was "Amazingly surprised and Impressed" by its content of truth.

As a child I collected old and unusual coins as a hobby with my Dad and when I had my daughter the tradition was passed on and my daughter and I collected them. Even today I find myself saving coins for her when the opprotunity arises. Your reference of the reading gave me hope regarding my daughter because currently she is in a "wayward" way and our relationship is divided; I wait and long for her return. Love never fails.

For all, a beautiful summation of what the current Pontiff (aka, the “Servant of the Servants of God”) is all about can be found in his first encyclical; please read this - entirely - and understand 1) it completely in context, 2) that it is rooted in Scripture, 3) that this is what the Catholic faith, the faith given to Peter by Jesus Christ, the faith that Jesus called Peter to become the rock and cornerstone for, is all about.

In the more recent words of Pope Benedict XVI, it is the “Twin Commandment” of Jesus Christ that we strive to attain everyday, “Love God & Love Others”, period. That is the summary of the Ten Commandments, the Sermon on the Mount; from those everything else that Jesus instructs us to do flows from that central idea. That is what gives us Hope as the people of God, that God loves us and is ever merciful and is always willing to bestow his grace upon us should we be willing to Love Him (and others) in return. This Love that God has for us was demonstrated frequently throughout Scripture, but most significantly in its ultimate form when God sent Jesus Christ, his only Son, to become one of us and be crucified for us, for our sins. God clearly did not have to do that, but He did because he wanted to provide the means for us to come back to Him, and this desire for us to come back and find Him is rooted in Love. And thus the Crucifixion becomes what we look to when we need focus for our faith, a faith rooted in and exemplified by Love.

It is understood that some may wish to dismiss this altogether because it is on the Vatican website, but it is urged that you try it out and give it a chance; besides, if you do read it and still disagree, at least you will have thought about it and will have something to respond to directly. Disagreement rooted on facts is certainly welcome and encouraged, as this too is what our faith teaches and encourages. It is good to question, because only by questioning do you open the door to explanation, which in turn will lead to understanding. An understanding of your faith leads to personal ownership in it, and in turn this ownership leads to actions, actions rooted in a Love of God (and others).

The link: http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/encyclicals/documents/hf_ben-xvi_enc_20051225_deus-caritas-est_en.html

Orth, this one is for you.

The Church Jesus Christ Built

In Matthew 16:18 Jesus said, "And I say unto thee (referring to Peter), that thou art Peter (petro or stone or rock), and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

In Acts 15:7 Peter said, " ...Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God made choice (or selected) among us, that the Gentiles (or we the people who are not Jews) by my mouth (or thru his preaching) should hear the word of the gospel, and believe."

In verse 9 & 11, he continues, " And put no difference between us (Jews) and them (Gentiles), purifying their hearts by faith ... But we believe that thru the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they."

If we read the whole of Acts 15, those words of Peter were made to clear up matters in which some of the members of the church (newly converted Pharisees) want to include the law of Moses in order to be saved.

Prior to this event or dispute, Apostle Paul and Barnabas had been preaching to the Gentiles the salvation of souls thru faith in Jesus Christ . In Acts 14:27 it says, "... and how He (God) had opened the door of faith unto the Gentiles." Also in Acts 13:39 it says " And by Him (Jesus Christ) all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses."

In the midst of the debate, Apostle Peter, whom Jesus Christ had first chosen to preach the gospel to the Gentiles, stood up and confirmed the teaching of Apostle Paul that indeed salvation is by grace thru faith in Jesus Christ which is made possible thru the enlightening of the Holy Spirit. In the eyes of God, nobody can satisfactorily follow the "unveiled" law of Moses unless dwelt upon by the Holy Spirit of Jesus Christ. One of the "veiled" law of Moses is circumcision of the foreskin but its true or unveiled meaning is that of the "circumcision of the heart" or being "born-again" in other words (Romans 2:29).

It was taught upon the Catholic people that their church was started by Peter. Many believe it and for this reason many choose to stand by this church and defend "what Peter had started".

But in reality, the Catholic Church has been a fierce enemy to the doctrine propagated by Peter, Paul, the other Apostles and of Jesus Christ. When Martin Luther (a former priest) floated the idea of "justification by faith", which the apostles especially Peter and Paul had long ago preached to the Gentiles, all hell broke loose and it caused many terrible wars and massacres done by the church just to suppress that doctrine. If Peter and Paul were present during those time when Catholicism was at its peak of power and had they changed their names to avoid recognition, they too could have been burned at the stake also for preaching "justification by faith".

Despite the tremendous power of the Roman Catholic Church during that time, it didn't succeed to extinguish that holy doctrine coz as what Jesus Christ had said, " the gates of hell shall not prevail against it ". As what Martin Luther had said, "the body they may kill : but God's truth abideth still". And true enough it still abides today and even gave birth to a great nation (In God We Trust) and it will continue to abide even to the end of time. [ But this nation will suffer or be punished because of the foolishness (rising atheism, sexual promiscuity, gay marriage, garbage music, TV programs & movies centered on sex) which some or many of its people, who are ignorant of that holy doctrine, are promoting. With Catholicism, liberal Protestantism, atheism and other false religions slowly "invading" it, God won't spare parts of that nation to feel the brunt of His anger.]

For a very long time upto now, the salvation doctrine of Catholicism has been the sacraments like infant baptism, confession to the priests and penance, holy communion, confirmation, etc. Some even consider the role of Mary in their salvation plan. It just couldn't stop of thinking what really could save a person coz in reality, they really don't know and that explains why they have so many ways.

Justification by faith was never a part of their salvation doctrine and anybody who espoused that idea during those dark centuries were properly dealt with.

It must be noted that no Apostle ever performed infant baptism; no Apostle had a confession booth and gave penance; no Apostle performed the holy communion for the salvation of souls and neither was "confirmation" used by them. Also, no Apostle prayed to Mary for intercession to God. Whatever Catholicism has been teaching their flock like lighting candles, praying the rosary, praying to the saints, reciting prayer books, getting their properties blessed with "holy water", no Apostle ever did those things coz they are just purely Catholicism's own inventions. And as always, man's inventions especially if it pertains to godliness always fall short with God's standards. No person can ever make his own way to Heaven. It's either God's way or no way.

Catholicism was not the church Jesus Christ built in which Peter and the rest of the Apostles was tasked to propagate. On the contrary it is the church which persecuted and tried to destroy God's true church.

Jesus Christ had said, "upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it." This said church is already present with us and its not Catholicism, nor liberal Protestantism, nor Judaism, nor Islam, nor Hinduism, nor Taoism, nor Buddhism nor any other big or small religion that may name Christ but has other ways of salvation other than the simple faith in Jesus Christ which He personally gives to whoever He sees fit to receive it.

The first Pope in history was the Apostle Peter, who personally new Jesus. Peter is the founding father of the Roman Catholic Church, nothing less.

Therefore the Pope is the Holy Father and the Holy Spirit representative on Earth.

Pope Benedict is a peace maker! An intellectual. And I agree w/ DoTheRightThing, if even celebrities can get freebies, so can the Pope and many of "the luxuries" if not all, are donated by the manufacturers.

Long live to Pope Benedict XVI!

Peace Out.

Jeff P., your kind of thinking is the main reason why you won't be spared during a nuclear war. It's so idiotic and full of lies. I feel sorry for you guys if you would be the first ones to burn during a nuclear war.

Spiderman: thanks for your response.

Well, which country has the biggest stockpile of nuclear weapons currently? Which is the only country in world history to have used nuclear weapons in wartime, and what was it's "national religion?" Which country first developed the H-bomb as a fusion weapon with so much unprecedented destructive capacity that to use it would almost guarantee global nuclear winter? Which country's president suggested a "Strategic Defense Initiative (ie Star Wars) that, despite warnings from scientists that it was not feasible, went right on ahead funding it until he left office (at which point Congress quickly and silently killed it...) with the global response being: "well, we'll just build up our arsenal of nukes even bigger so we'll overwhelm Star Wars.." That's certainly some food for thought as well.

Gary:
I have too many Catholic friends to agree with your entire post, but it does bring up another point that I'm always entertained with: just google a map that shows "secular states" or "secular nations" versus "religious nations or states." Then decide in which of those you'd rather live! The exceptions are the state-religion mandated Scandinavian countries, but those are generally well known as being the most secular in the world despite their state-supported Lutheranism.

Those observations of course are too simplified, and there are many factors, but I'll always believe that democracy works best where it works in a secular society, and political skepticism and free-thought may be an adequate if not totally sufficient condition for democracy to exist.

Did anyone never notice that most poor third world countries have either an Catholic or Muslin population, corruption as a way of life, and high breeding rates. Of course, the Catholic church realizes many of the children will starve or die from childhood disease but as long as they are Catholic that is OK, enough will survive to make more Catholics. In the USA the Catholic church is making a come back. Its an ideal plan let the good Catholics Latinos pour across our open borders and Breed like Rabbits while forcing American tax payers to provide for them, that is why the Pope spoke about taking care of Immigrants and all Catholic Churches are for breaking the law and encourage Illegal Aliens and open Borders! When the next president gives the 20 to 30 million mostly uneducated Illegal Aliens citizenship alone with chain migration there will be 100,s of millions of new fast breeding, educating hating, criminally inclined , welfare loving citizens and the Nation will soon join the Third World as they breed us into poverty. But the Democrat Politicians will have the welfare votes and further their Socialist Agenda, the Republican Politicians an unlimited supply of cheap labor and the Church more millions of good docile Catholics to preach their dogma to, past the collection plate, and lots of children for the priests to play with. The only losers are current American Citizens and either Party or the Catholic church gives a damn about them!

i mean Jeff P., sorry

Paul C. wrote "And yes there is a real concern among those of us who are un-believers (and I'm sure from some moderate-believers as well) about the come-about of some self-fulfilling prophecy regarding the "end times" of Christian biblical prophecy."

Self fulfilling like Christians encouraging atheist communist and Islamic countries to stockpile nukes? Very good observation.

Catholics are very fine people. If you don't belive so, just ask one. And the only time that I have noticed them to be dangerous is when they are driving to and from church on Satursay night or Sunday morning. Don't get in their way or you are dead meat.

Kenneth wrote, "At least the Pope emulates Jesus, with extremely expensive clothes and luxurious living." In fact, those clothes and even the PopeMobile are donated by their manufacturers. And, with regard to luxurious living, Jesus socialized and ate with rich people, too: tax collectors, Temple priests, and well-to-do Pharisees, among others.
Tim Shriver wrote in a previous piece that he hoped Pope Benedict would go to a yoga class during his visit. I'm surprised he didn't address this in his current article. Also, it's too bad that Tim doesn't communicate empathy for his religious ancestors in America who made their faith a part of their daily lives in their own way (blessing of fleets and throats, pilgimages to Fatima, etc.) as much as he does today by his efforts to help the poor in his secular-corporate manner. Both Tim and his ancestors deserve my respect, not my easily-unleashed cynical, sarcastic disparaging of others who do their best to manifest the love of Christ for human beings to the world in their own limited manner different from my own limited manner.

J--
thanks for the posts.

I am in complete agreement with all of your observations.

I think sometimes it's difficult for certain evangelicals (especially when heavily influenced by apocalyptic mentality) to not realize that, when push comes to shove, there are many "patriotic" Americans who would be willing to risk life and limb in order to keep a firm separation between church and state, to preserve our liberties, and that those Americans realize the very slippery slope of claiming "God on our side" will be the potential end of us all.

And yes there is a real concern among those of us who are un-believers (and I'm sure from some moderate-believers as well) about the come-about of some self-fulfilling prophecy regarding the "end times" of Christian biblical prophecy. But don't fear, to the extent we have voting power, and ability to convey reason and ideas and skepticism, we might just stave it off for awile.

I look forward to the end of this "gut-feeling," good-versus-evil driven political rule, and toward a possibiliity of some new vision for our future in cooperation with a greater citizenship of planet Earth, rather than the "don't mess with America" mentality we sometimes have as an American nation.

Wouldn't it be great, in our lifetimes, to see such a future for our kids?

Smith wrote "Thank you Holy Father"

coggieguy wrote " Dear Benedict - Thank you for being an example of Jesus' love. "

Thank you for all the lies. Jesus said don't call anyone father but you topped it by even putting "holy" in it. There is only one Holy Father and that is God. When it's used towards anybody else, it's called blasphemy. Thanks for the millions of blasphemies mentioned during your whole week of visit in the U.S.

"Thank you for being the example of Jesus love" like continuing to be blind so millions will go to hell.

Thank you Holy Father for coming to the USA! This wonderful country was in much need of your visit.
And thank you very much for going to the ground zero site. I know it will help people to heal and NYC will feel the difference from now on.
God bless you!
Peace.

Dear Benedict - Thank you for praying for all the haters in the world. Thank you for being an example of Jesus' love.

Peace be with you.

I am proud that I made a decision long ago to leave the Catholic Church and have never looked back. I look on in sadness as Catholic families whose faith has been the bedrock of generations are betrayed by their church. Descendants of immigrants came to this country and used their hard earned money to build neighborhood churches have seen those churches sold out from under them to pay for lawsuits over sexual abuse -- lawsuits not against the sad and damaged priests who committed the acts, but against the diocese which time after time after time covered up for these crimes.

The families who are having their churches sold are obviously no where near as betrayed as the families of those countless children whose lives have been destroyed as a result, many of them now adults battling addiction, many of them dead by their own hand. Other Catholic families who welcome a priest with open arms who welcomes all "the people of God" in his parish to join in community life, including gays and lesbians, have seen those priests taken away and replaced with dogmatic hardliners. The underlying problem is one that Americans of all faiths can understand: the hierarchy of the Catholic church is accountable to no one, it is an autocracy and a absolute monarchy governed by one man, who appoints all of those who will "elect" the man who succeeds him.

An all male, "celibate" or more often, sexually dysfunctional hierarchy that has made such a fetish of a sexual morality they don't have any stake in (and that they seem to believe does not fully apply to them in any case) has made the Catholic church look far more like a first century fertility cult than like the transcendent religion of Jesus. While I am not a Christian, a cursory reading of the Gospels will show that while Jesus welcomed everyone into his circle and broke every social convention of his time, and believed the spirit of "the law" was more important than legalism, the Catholic Church preaches the exact opposite philosophy. The last time I was in a Catholic Church was for my father's funeral, a man beloved by many people of many faiths and no faith. The priest made a point of letting this diverse crowd know that only Catholics were "eligible" to receive Communion.

The pope is a king, so when he travels he meets with other heads of state and government, even those who start illegal wars and condone torture and indefinite detention -- in such meetings he dares to speak of the sanctity of human life.

In the aftermath of the sexual abuse scandals (though there is no aftermath for something that is still ongoing and still being covered up) many Catholics woke up and left the church (I had left long before) many others stayed behind to try to "reform from within" an institution that was so much an important part of their lives. But their attempt have failed, their voices have grown dim. Simply put, they have no voice and no vote in the institution they love.

The opening for change that came when John XXIII opened "the doors and windows" of the church with the Second Vatican Council has been firmly slammed shut by John Paul II and his successor. This is again a large institution that cares primarily and most dearly about itself, reactionary to the very core, at war with every small step of progress the human race has managed to make for itself, still hostile to real working democracy, still the "one true church" whose approach to ecumenism is to invite the apostates back, still excluding half the human race from any position of spiritual authority. Movements to show solidarity with the poor and oppressed have been crushed from within. Dissent is not allowed.

I am so proud I have no part in such a "faith".

The Jewish Passover is symbolic of the doomsday to come. Egypt was infested with God's plague when they refused to free their Isralite slaves.

In the future Israel will be occupied by invading countries and their adamant stand not to free Israel will be a sign of their impending Doom which would be much greater than the plagues of old.

Christ is the only truth and all that I say today will happen. I hope you're saving all my posts coz you'd be amazed how accurately they are told.

Jihadist wrote : " it means freedom to preach their version of the "truth".

Wrong. It means freedom by ALL religions to preach their version except preaching suicide bombings. Muslims are allowed here to preach but Christians are not allowed in most Muslim countries. Don't you think that is stupidity?

Jihadist wrote "They do want to bring about war and salvation to Jews and other anti-Christs such as Muslims who would not accept the "true faith" and still adhere to "false ones". From what I've read, some want to hasten it, including your goodself?

Wrong. The reason why Doomsday will happen is because of people whose interest is to destroy the whole of America. But America is a chosen country. Those who touch it will turn into dust. The Bible prophecies are a warning to those people with evil intentions not to do it, but they would do it still. That's not America's fault anymore if people don't believe those Biblical prophecies.

The truth is, if not for America, your country and much of Asia would still be under Japan occupation upto this time. The rest will be a toss-up between Hitler's Germany or Communist Russia.

Nobody sees the goodness of America and those who are most blind will pay for it very dearly. Not because America would hurt them but because they would hurt America and the retaliation is more than a thousand fold -- almost to the point of annihilation.

Normally, they would be blinded by their false religions or their false beliefs. There is very high percentage that the pope will be siding against America and that would spell the doom of Vatican. Islamic countries will also play a big role. Atheist and evolutionist countries too.

Hello Spiderman2:)

Having fun still?

Thanks for your response to my post directed at Jeff P.

It is all too well known in the wider world that when Baptists/evangelicals speak of freedom of conscience and freedom of religion at the national and international forums, it means freedom to preach their version of the "truth".

How can you be sure it is not the evangelicals who sees the creation of the state of Israel as a precursor of Armageddon? They do want to bring about war and salvation to Jews and other anti-Christs such as Muslims who would not accept the "true faith" and still adhere to "false ones". From what I've read, some want to hasten it, including your goodself?

Perhaps you may wish to consider that God is not allowing it - End of Days, Armageddon, Judgement Day, but it us man who is the primacy cause of it and with our stupidity, selfishness, stubborness, hatred and greed and disregard for others. Barring another good sized globally destructive meteor landing on earth, most likely, we'll bomb ourselves to oblivion if cooler heads do not prevail. Gloom and Doom indeed.

Ah yes, as a Muslim, I would like to stay out of America's foreign policies and the activities of the evangelicals groups. Unfortunately, US business, military installations and political involvements are all over the world. Including American evangelicals too.

Your President Bush told everyone post 9/11, including and especially Muslims, "Either you are with us, or are against us", thus forcing no one to be neutral. And no, I am not impressed with your threats that anyone against America will be utterly destroyed to almost non-existence. Perhaps you meant threats against particular Christian beliefs, including the Doomsdays sort and being against all adherents of "false" religions and no religions as you see them.

I'll being looking upwards to see if there is any meteor coming our way soon. That we can't stop at the stage of our human development. We'll go the way of dinosaurs perhaps. Extinct. And coachroaches will survive.

Take it easy tiger.

Cheers
"J"

Sure catholics were once mocked for their hocus pocus religion....etc. That was when I was a Catholic.

Now Catholics are not mocked for such beliefs, but are properly criticized for the immoral and unethical institution that it is. The pope simply goes through gyrations and permutations to excuse the abuse inbred in the leadership.

The pope is not sorry about sexual abuse by his clergymen, he's only sorry that they were caught.

Although the pope talks about the church being rational and seeking the truth, each dogma and underlying belief is irrational.

Jihadist, Freedom of Conscience is a primary baptist principle and Separation of Church of State is a by-product of that principle. They fought for and are still fighting for that First Ammendment.

This world will be destroyed by false religions in the future. My intention is to let the people know why would God allow it to happen before their impending Doom.

Like in the time of Moses or Noah, those who believe will be saved, and those who don't will be DOOMED.

God always give final warnings before an imminent destruction.

And since you're a Muslim, it would do well for your country if you stay neutral. Anybody who side against America in the last days of the great coming war will be utterly destroyed to almost non-existence.

Americans , on the other hand, should repent on their stupidity or else they would meet the same fate. Their enemies will be allowed by God to destroy part of them.

That is the prophecy of God. The proof of that is in the pudding. Everybody will taste the truth of that prophecy soon.

Paul C. wrote :" By the way, the line you are quoting from Corinthians:
it is BETTER TO MARRY THAN TO BURN." (1 Corinthians 7:9) was written by St. Paul, who was himself celibate, as you undoubtedly know. If you were honest with yourself, you would include the whole quote: "

The scripture says that IF YOU CANNOT CONTAIN, it is better to marry than to burn. The Catholic Church has not given them that option and as seen in its many priests' actions, they have not contained and therefore they will burn.

Hello Jeff P,

Perhaps Spiderman2 likes and is having fun weaving webs to see who will get caught and stuck there. So, let's get caught in his web:)

I do think he does sometimes throw in interesting contentions in his own ininimitable and combative ways.

So, Spiderman2 asserted:

"Man did not make America, God did. And why is that? It's because He lives in the hearts of many of them who believe and live that doctrine."

It would seem that Spiderman2 is stating the obvious with regard to believers. Europe, in the times America was colonised and opened up, was riven by and rife with intra and inter state and intra and inter faith religious and political strifes.

It is not a fact the first European migrant to America were considered religious mavericks or heretics or rebels, including the Pilgrim fathers, the Unitarians, the Quakers etc?

Many were avoiding religious persecutions in migrating to America. Then there is Manifest Destiny that drives the "opening" and "taming" of the west.

The Founding Fathers, knowing the religious diversity of Americans then, took the steps to to have the "establishment clause" in, preventing any church or belief from being the "established" church of America?

Perhaps they remember what happened to Britain with its "established church" of England as the official church and the ensuing religious persecutions from time of Henry VIII up to the early seventeeth century (especially of Catholics).

Belief in God in particular ways is the impulse which some Americans made and shaped America - from slavery to anti-slavery, to the Prohibition, to abortion to gay rights etc. They do shaped the public debate and public policies for better or for worse.

And is the so-called "Protestant work ethics" that drives America's economic growth not defined by a particular belief in God and of God too?

There may be seperation of church and state, but for some believers, belief in God and what they think God wants is a strong driving force in their personal thinking, decisions and actions on public issues flavoured by their respective religious beliefs which they take to the public square.

All the more to be grateful for and to pursue seperation of church and state and no established church/religion anywhere to stem domination nad imposition of the beliefs and values of one religious group to dominate over overs.

Thanks and best regards

"J"

Colin Micheal.

Thank you.

"I have never felt pride about my Catholic faith as it amounts to an elitist and arrogant attitude on my part. In fact, I feel blessed or even grateful to God's grace..."

Identity has nothing to do with Pride. It is what is is and Pride is a sense that does not belong when describing feelings about faith.

Me, I’m a good Catholic girl……… I wear the initial of the man I love on a chain long enough so it hangs near my heart…..because that is where I always want him to be……… close to my heart.

His beliefs are between him and "his" God not me and "my" God.......regardless of how or what he choses to believe I will love him just the same.

1 Corinthians 13:1-13,

{1} "If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. {2}If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. {3}If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.

{4}Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. {5}It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. {6}Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. {7}It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

{8}Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. {9}For we know in part and we prophesy in part, {10}but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears.

{11}When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. {12}Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.

{13}And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

spiderman2:
We had this discussion in a forum a few weeks ago: Why do you hate catholicism so much? How can you say with such certainty that the Popes will burn because they don't read or understand the bible. The current Pontiff, Benedict XVI is a formidable theologian. Perhaps if you read his work, you would have a better appreciation of Catholic Christian theology.

By the way, the line you are quoting from Corinthians:
it is BETTER TO MARRY THAN TO BURN." (1 Corinthians 7:9) was written by St. Paul, who was himself celibate, as you undoubtedly know. If you were honest with yourself, you would include the whole quote:

Now to the unmarried and to widows, I say: it is a good thing for them to remain as they are, as I do, but if they cannot exercise self-control they should marry, for it is better to marry than to be on fire.

As you can see, he clearly advocates celibacy for those that can execise self-control. This is what the Catholic Catechism says about it:

1579 All the ordained ministers of the Latin Church, with the exception of permanent deacons, are normally chosen from among men of faith who live a celibate life and who intend to remain celibate "for the sake of the kingdom of heaven." Called to consecrate themselves with undivided heart to the Lord and to "the affairs of the Lord," they give themselves entirely to God and to men. Celibacy is a sign of this new life to the service of which the Church's minister is consecrated; accepted with a joyous heart celibacy radiantly proclaims the Reign of God.

Al-Majduli Rabb Yasoo Al-Maseeh Hul-illah!

Reading comments from all the Catholics here, it shows how Catholics feel about their faith - Proud.

However, as a fellow Catholic myself, I find that the term "pride" and its derivatives are something which is inconsistent with the Christian values we claim to hold to. In the discourse given by St. Paul on love in 1 Corinthians 13, he says that "love is never boastful; it is never inflated... it does not seek its own interests" (v4 - 5).

As a faith that puts love above all things in its agenda, how can we then, say "I'm proud to be Catholic"?! I am not saying that it is wrong to feel honoured that this is our faith, but to say pride indicates that no one else can be a part of us when clearly, we are mandated to fulfill the Great Commission to bring the Glad Tidings which is the Gospel to people who are seeking it.

I have never felt pride about my Catholic faith as it amounts to an elitist and arrogant attitude on my part. In fact, I feel blessed or even grateful to God's grace for putting me where I am. It is God's grace that brought us all here, and it will be God's grace that will bring others to be with us.

The bigots aren't going to get new material. They're stuck in the Know Nothing phase and don't want to grow out of it.

Censored by a religious blog.

How deliciously ironic, you cowards.

Proud? Not I. Not when Benny visits my country and insists that we embrace all the illegal alien invaders (alleged Christians as well as jihadist muslims). Where does this idiot get off telling us to embrace these invaders but tries to get Europe to 'unembrace' their own invading muslims? What a hypocrit!! Can't wait to see your back, Benny, as you leave our shores - - just wish you could/would take your latino buddies with you.

Right on, Jeff P. You speak truly.

America was not "founded a Christian Nation." Patrick Henry wanted to include much language about God and Jesus in the Constitution, but Jefferson and Madison's faction won out over him. All language about religion was struck from the Constitution, and for decades right-wingers denounced the Constitution as profane and unholy because of this.

The 1787 Constitution says that no religious test may be a prerequisite for gov't jobs (something like "except for belief in the Christian faith" was among the stricken passages). The 1792 First Amendment was an addendum which mentions religion, for the express purpose of saying that gov't may not establish it or mess with it in any way.

Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, and many other Founding Fathers were deists or agnostics. Jefferson repeatedly proclaimed disbelief in the divinity and resurrection of Jesus. His journals (readable on many websites) list all the reasons and examples wherein religion has been used to suppress liberty through the ages as of 1800, and we of 2008 would do well to remember them.

Friendly Neighborhood Atheist:

right on, regarding the bottom-line assessment of what-the-hell-then-are-you-doing-to-make-this-a-better-place scenario.

The "pride" I see Mr. Shriver describe (I believe) could be shared among sports enthusiasts, Rotary Club members, or any other secular institution, but to feel "proud" about one's religious beliefs to me seems interesting at best, but potentially counterproductive at worst.

Sometimes it's easy to get bent out of shape regarding "belief-systems" but as you and I know, they're not going away. The best we can hope for is some enlightenment along our way, and that we don't do too much damage with our "certainties" as we see them.

I'll disagree with you on one point: "atheism has it's flaws"--really the only thing I see with atheism is a-theism: lack of "belief" in supernatural gods. After that, ideas, opinions and all else go all over the place.

One other comment, that I generally don't get into is again made by Spider2:

"Man did not make America, God did. And why is that? It's because He lives in the hearts of many of them who believe and live that doctrine."

If he would only realize just how dangerous and slippery a slope he's landed on. I'm trying to teach my boy to avoid that slope like a plague, and to our country's credit and future, some young people are beginning to break out of that mindset in some parts of our land.

Spiderman2 and Concerned the Christian Now Liberated:

You both need to grow up, and write in a mature fashion. CTCNL has some good points about the historicity (and lack thereof) of the Bible, but doesn't get them across very well.

Spidey is right about the superstitious nonsense of the Catholic Church, but take the plank out of your own eye before removing your brother's speck, as your posts are full of similar nonsense and superstition, as CTCNL says, pretty magic wingy flying thingies.

The straight record: There is no evidence Abraham or Moses existed, and good evidence AGAINST Moses and Joshua. Egypt and the Sinai Peninsula have been searched for evidence of Israelites camped there for the requisite years, and there are no Israelite markers or litter for 400 years in Egypt or 40 years in the desert where their garbage would have accumulated. The Joshua years were a peaceful time, when Jericho was a small unfortified village, not the great walled city it only became AFTER the Israelites took over.

The kings from David onward are probably a good list, just as we have good POTUS lists today. Fairy tales and magic like Elijah's fire were sprinkled in wherever the myth-makers saw fit.

Nineveh never had a citywide revival like the one Jonah supposedly caused.

The Book of Daniel has the wrong identities for the kings it describes and completely invents a fictitious king, Darius the Mede. It was written to describe a time 400 years earlier than its writer, who had not perfectly researched the time. Similarly Esther is the story of a great war which could never have happened in the well-documented time described. These are alternate-historical fictions like Gone With the Wind or Forrest Gump.

There is no record of a messianic preacher who was named Jesus and had the right descriptions, nor any unusual earthquakes, eclipses or bread-multiplications at the right time, yet Josephus should have written much about the former (the famous Jesus Letter of Josephus is a confirmed forgery), and Pliny the Elder should have written about the latter. Everywhere that should have Jesus-evidence, doesn't, so there is reason to say he didn't exist, or only existed as a common man.

Revelation "predicts" a great war in the OLD Roman Empire which never happened, so its author John is a false prophet.

Biology of neurons has confirmed that the "soul" comes from the brain and does not outlast it, and is not from "God."

Lastly, if God wants people to "believe" in his existence, he ought to take a public stroll down Times Square!

The Catholic Cycle

In one third world country where population explosion has become a major problem, Catholic chapels or centers offer free operation to untie the fallopian tubes of mothers after indoctrinating them that it's a SIN.

This devilish Church invent their own doctrines so parents would produce more chiildren despite their abject poverty.

They then teach these poor people that their government is the cause of their poverty due to corruption but lo and behold those same government personnel are usually "devout catholics".

Some revolt which cause more poverty and this has become a "CATHOLIC CYCLE" which I presume is routinely duplicated around the world.

To escape poverty, many go abroad adding more economic pressure to their countries of destination.

(for more of this topic, check out the replies in Susan Jacoby's article in the Opinion/Faith page.

The Bible is like a surgeon's sharp scalpel. It can be very useful in the hands of the surgeon but if a fool holds it, it becomes a dangerous tool.

Had you not wondered how those bread and "holy water" made those number of priests become p e d o p h i l e s and fornicators?

They spend more time eating those bread and "blessing" those "holy" water than reading the Bible and let it guide them.

The Bible is the holy water and the holy bread. Eat it so you will be filled.

COPY AND PASTE THIS SO YOUR POPE AND PRIESTS WILL LEARN

"But if they cannot contain, let them marry: for it is BETTER TO MARRY THAN TO BURN." (1 Corinthians 7:9)

And that I can say is INFALLIBLE.

Copy and paste that again and again repeatedly as what you do with other scriptures.

it is BETTER TO MARRY THAN TO BURN." (1 Corinthians 7:9)
it is BETTER TO MARRY THAN TO BURN." (1 Corinthians 7:9)
it is BETTER TO MARRY THAN TO BURN." (1 Corinthians 7:9)

No pope will ever go to heaven coz they don't believe the Bible.

For the rest of the catholics who think the same way as their pope, TAKE HEED OR YOU TOO WILL BURN.

Beware of False Prophets

In terms of occupancy, hell is much bigger than heaven coz many will go to that place of torment compared to those who will make it to heaven. One major factor why it is so is because of false religions or false prophets who propagate it.

In Matthew 7:13-15 Jesus said "...wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction (Hell), and many there be which go in thereat; ... strait (or limited in space) is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life (Heaven), and few there be that find it. Beware of false prophets which come to you in sheep's clothing...".

The fact that God had said that many will go to hell and few to heaven just shows that these false prophets are much more effective in teaching their false doctrines than those who preach the true word of God. As a result, they have a much larger following.

It is very disappointing that many religions today use the name of Jesus Christ and that its priests or preachers act like they are His servants but in truth are really servants of the devil. It is equally disappointing that many members of these churches are easily duped into believing what they falsely teach.

Since the year 2001, four so called "Christian" nations have already legalized gay marriage. It's quite amazing that four nations (The Netherlands, Belgium, Spain and Canada) legalized it in just a span of 4 years. Next year, there could be another two or more and before we know it, other "Christian" nations would be following their lead just like popcorn. The only thing to blame in here is their practiced religion.

It should be noted that both Belgium and Spain are Catholic countries. Canada is 43% Catholic and 29% Protestant and most of its Protestant churches have linkups with the Catholic Church and other false religions thru its Ecumenical Movement. Their biggest protestant group, The United Church of Canada (UCC), previously stated that their church welcome "sexually active single adults, lesbian, gay and bisexual people into all aspects of the life and ministry of the Church". It means that they see nothing wrong with people engaged in fornication, adultery and same sex unions. If we read the Bible, these are the same people God will burn in Hell. Clearly, there are two conflicting messages here -- one from God and the other from the devil. Since their church unashamedly teach the devil's doctrine, it's more fitting that they should call their church as the United Devil's Church of Canada. That way, it would clear up things and there will be no mixups. The Netherlands, on the other hand, has become a secular state which means most of its populace has no religious affiliation. In Massachusetts, which currently is the only state in the U.S that have legalized gay marriage, 54% of its populace is Catholic and still rising..

This is just the cross-section of the kind of religions those people who supported gay marriage have. Most of them were Catholics, liberal Protestants that have linkups with other false religions and Secularists who are either aetheists or skeptics. All these religions or beliefs have one thing in common. They worship the same "God" but not the God in the Bible for in Romans 1:32 it states, "Who, knowing the judgment of God, that they who commit such things are worthy of death...".

When God speaks of death, He means everlasting hellfire. The people who approved of it never knew that they have stretched even wider what is already a very broad pathway to Hell. Most probably, they too are breezing thru that road themselves and on their way to destruction. No more stoplights for the lights or religions they attend to like the UCC have been signalling them to push on and run on full speed.

False religions are not that really hard to detect. Jesus said that "ye will know them by their fruits". So the next time another country, state or city legalizes gay marriage, examine what kind of religion those people who approved of it profess. And as sure as the sun rises from the east, those people would be either Catholic, liberal Protestants or Secularists.

When God says beware, one should not take it lightly. In Luke 12:5 Jesus said, "But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear Him, which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear Him."

But what makes it more fearsome is the fact that it cannot be appealed like what other false religions want to suggest by teaching reincarnation or purgatory. The judgment of God is final and wherever He puts us in, Heaven or Hell, that would be permanent. The same is the fire and the worms crawling in one's body. They too would be permanent. The worms won't die and the fire won't quench either. It really is a place of torment and it's really very sad if some foolish religion would send somebody there.

"Beware of false prophets", said the Lord. I hope everybody would really ponder on this one.

I'm an atheist and have been for all of my life. God, religion, heaven and hell all seem very illogical and superstitious to me. With that said, I know many different people who believe in many different religions and, in almost all cases, those people are good people who are doing good things. When Tim Shriver says that he's proud to be a Catholic, I say "Good for you, Tim". If you are living a virtuous life and you are having a positive impact on other people (and as the leader of Special Olympics, I'm sure he is), then who cares what belief system got you there?

I'm writing this because of all the Catholic-bashing I've seen posted here. I have certainly taken more than one Catholic to task on the fallacies of their doctrine. But, there isn't a religion out there that doesn't have flaws. Atheism has its flaws. But, before we condemn people for the leaps in logic that they take, I think we should first look where that leap has taken them. In most cases, it is to a better place.

I am very proud to be a Catholic, proud to the bone!

There are those who choose not to believe in the real teachings of the Lord. Not because they are ignorant, but because they refuse to do so. What more these people want - another miracle of the sun? When these people die the Good Lord will ask each one of them - I have given you everything to believe in Me when you are alive, what will you say to Me now.

Pride cometh before a fall. You really should purge yourself of all that Catholic nonsense; you'll feel better and won't have the urge to brag so often.

I keep hoping for an American Catholic to present a logical argument based on human reason that explains how someone can profess absolute devotion and fidelity to the Catholic Church--but just doesn't believe he has to listen to that old geezer in Rome. Obviously, we didn't get it from Mr. Shriver. From him, we