I'll agree to disagree.

 

I just felt that it was important to note that there's no irony in the perceived intolerance. The point is that while the Cathoic church has always believed exactly what Pope Benedict wrote, the Church too has made great efforts to work with other faiths and develop lines of communication and means of joint charity effort. To say that Pope Benedict is destroying such efforts is ludicrous, because the Catholic church has not changed their doctrine in this belief, even while reaching out.

 

I've never said that the Pope was destroying anything. As I keep saying, I have no problem with the Pope's comments, the Church's stance on this issue, or whether it's a docturnal change. All I've been pointing out is that Baptists and other denominations do not have the copyrites on casting a doubtful eye on other forms of religion. That is the irony I was referring to.

Not being argumentative here but this really confused me on the Catholics view of the Pope. How do you follow his statements on things that are not spelled out in Scripture if he can err?

 

He can't err on matters of faith and morals...just in the other aspects of his life. :thumb:

Question for everyone:

 

Which do you think should be the Pope's primary responsibility:

 

1) Appease all of other faiths?

2) Impart instruction to the Catholic membership?

1) He has no duty to appease other denominations. But he does have a duty not to offend other Christians. And I think the term "other faiths" lies at the heart of the problem. We who profess Christ as our saviour are Christians first, and Catholics, Baptists, Anglicans, Orthodox second.

2) His primary responsiblity should be the Roman Catholic Church. But if he hopes to fulfill the Great Commision, he, like all Christians, also has a responsibilty to all men and women and their salvation, be it through the Catholic church or elsewhere.

RESPONSES TO SOME QUESTIONS REGARDING CERTAIN ASPECTS

OF THE DOCTRINE ON THE CHURCH

 

I read this last night and it looked like there was some serious backpedaling going on in regards to those "merely ecclesial communities."

David was actually the leader of God's people, not the church. The Prophet Samuel was the spiritual leader. I can only speak of the Catholic Church from what I have been taught. I thought the Pope not only interoperates the bible for the church, but his interoperatations become the beliefs of the church. Therefore if he is given this much confidence by God, who in the Church can question him?

 

This is a law created by a council of bishops back in the dark ages when Kings were seen as infallible as well. It's man made. I am Catholic, but I have a huge problem with those in positions of authority in it. I believe that JPII had his heart in the right place. He cared about the foundation of the church, the believers and the people. Benedict is trying to reinforce an authoritarianism in the church. He's too political. His motivation has less to do with Christian fundamentalism and more to do with strengthening his position.

Here's another issue. The world has changed since even the Second Council. Is the church going to change with it, or die out as a dinosaur? Woman are less holy than men? Married men can't be as devoted to the church as a non-married man? What about sex? Should we prevent the poor from using contraceptives? The church is archaic. You can still create a strong moral base while changing with the times. This is what happens when you have unmarried men who are not in touch with society and societal demands placed on the family.

Here's another issue. The world has changed since even the Second Council. Is the church going to change with it, or die out as a dinosaur? Woman are less holy than men? Married men can't be as devoted to the church as a non-married man? What about sex? Should we prevent the poor from using contraceptives? The church is archaic. You can still create a strong moral base while changing with the times. This is what happens when you have unmarried men who are not in touch with society and societal demands placed on the family.

 

In an ideal world, should The Church adapt to society or should society adapt to The Church?

In an ideal world, should The Church adapt to society or should society adapt to The Church?

 

I'll answer for myself only. I belive that the Church has the responsibility to adhere to the tenets of our Faith. I believe that society should, if Catholic, subscribe to those beliefs. Does that mean I don't have the same questions as mexitucky posed? No. It does mean, however, that I am aware of my duty toward obedience of the doctrine of my religion. No one said that "doing the right thing" was easy.

The word "Church" is universal. It covers all churches. "When one or more are gathered in my name. I'll be with them".

 

"Every knee will bow, every tongue will confess Jesus is Lord... before the Lord".

 

A Church or a man cannot save you. It doesn't matter what a human says...what matter is what scripture says.

 

You have to have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

 

John 14:6 "I am the way, the truth, the life...no one comes to the Father except through me".

The word "Church" is universal. It covers all churches. "When one or more are gathered in my name. I'll be with them".

 

"Every knee will bow, every tongue will confess Jesus is Lord... before the Lord".

 

A Church or a man cannot save you. It doesn't matter what a human says...what matter is what scripture says.

 

You have to have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

 

John 14:6 "I am the way, the truth, the life...no one comes to the Father except through me".

 

I thought you were banned from this thread...

The word "Church" is universal. It covers all churches. "When one or more are gathered in my name. I'll be with them".

 

"Every knee will bow, every tongue will confess Jesus is Lord... before the Lord".

 

A Church or a man cannot save you. It doesn't matter what a human says...what matter is what scripture says.

 

You have to have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

 

John 14:6 "I am the way, the truth, the life...no one comes to the Father except through me".

 

The word "catholic" means universal. When all the man made prejudices and manipulations are stripped away, I think all honest Christians are basically very similar and I think they have the same task on this earth. The "lingo" may be different but the goal is the same.

The word "Church" is universal. It covers all churches. "When one or more are gathered in my name. I'll be with them".

 

"Every knee will bow, every tongue will confess Jesus is Lord... before the Lord".

 

A Church or a man cannot save you. It doesn't matter what a human says...what matter is what scripture says.You have to have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

 

John 14:6 "I am the way, the truth, the life...no one comes to the Father except through me".

 

Once again Larry, you nailed it - this post says it all. Slavation and "The Church" in God's eyes is realy pretty simple. Whe man comes in and trys to explain everything to his own or his groups own liking is when the questions and trouble arises. I still go with "God Said It.....I Believe It...........That's It";) If I don't understand something, I will pray and ask God to show me, not go through any man. Then if God leads me to the right person I can trust it.

The word "Church" is universal. It covers all churches. "When one or more are gathered in my name. I'll be with them".

 

"Every knee will bow, every tongue will confess Jesus is Lord... before the Lord".

 

A Church or a man cannot save you. It doesn't matter what a human says...what matter is what scripture says.

 

You have to have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

 

John 14:6 "I am the way, the truth, the life...no one comes to the Father except through me".

 

Question:

 

Do you believe that Catholics have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ?

 

Do you feel that Catholics worship a "man", in that they follow the leadership of the Pope?

 

I'm truly puzzled by some of the things you post, because sometimes I get the feeling there's more that you're NOT saying.

The word "Church" is universal. It covers all churches. "When one or more are gathered in my name. I'll be with them".

The word "church" wasn't introduced to the Bible until the King James version in . The Greek word is εκκλησιαν or ekklesia which translates literally (and was used in previous versions of the New Testament) as "assembly". Paul referred to it as the "the fellowship of the mystery".

Question:

 

Do you believe that Catholics have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ?

 

Do you feel that Catholics worship a "man", in that they follow the leadership of the Pope?

 

I'm truely puzzled by some of the things you post, because sometimes I get the feeling there's more that you're NOT saying.

Can I answer?

 

Yes, many Catholics have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. (You can substitute almost any Christian denomination for "Catholic" and the answer will still be true."

 

Many Catholics worship the Pope, primarily because the don't understand the purpose of the Holy See. And frankly, I feel that the Vatican has never been very aggressive in clearing up that point.

 

I know that there are politics within the Vatican, but I really feel that the Pope is selected by a group of good Christian men, hoping to select he who is best for the Catholic Church.

The word "church" wasn't introduced to the Bible until the King James version in . The Greek word is εκκλησιαν or ekklesia which translates literally (and was used in previous versions of the New Testament) as "assembly". Paul referred to it as the "the fellowship of the mystery".

 

I was extremely impressed with your keyboard until I realized that was just cut and paste.