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katolik
Guest
Actually it wasn’t in the 500s, it was in the 300’s. This is my source www.redemptorists.org.uk/red/mag/syrian2.htm
yes I kow who they are
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yes I kow who they are
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bear06
Guest
When one ignore history, he’s historically challenged.
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katolik
Guest
Okay folks, We all know that the Church is an evil Institution which suppressed the masses of peoples from becoming furtherly enlightened…
Bear, don’t insult his profession just because of some of his views.
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bear06
Guest
Uh, I don’t think I’m insulting his profession. I’m insulting him!
When people pick an choose what history they will focus on rather than take into account the whole of history of the subject you are speaking on then you are historically challenged or probably worse, historically misleading.
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bear06
Guest
BTW, Where does Ferrara come in? He’s neither a professional historian or a canonist.
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Steven_Merten
Guest
The cause of the fall of the Church is that now most people believe that Jesus is too loving to allow anyone to go to hell.
For the most part, when people believe their is no chance of eternal damnation no matter what they do, why not continue on in sin, why go to confession, why send money to the poor, why go to Mass?
It is a known fact that young people do more risk taking and life threatening conduct than older adults. This is because, due to their youth, they believe that they will not die. This is similiar to people and their spiritual life. People are more apt to commit spiritual life threatening conduct when they believe they will never spiritually die.
When was the last time you heard a priest, bishop, cardinal or pope warn people that their sinful conduct can cause them to go to hell? Why would Jesus have preached of eternal punishment and the fires of Gehenna so often if He did not think it was very important to do so? Why are we not echoing His message?
WARNING! Jesus Does Not Forgive All
Peace in Christ,
Steven Merten
www.ILOVEYOUGOD.com
For the most part, when people believe their is no chance of eternal damnation no matter what they do, why not continue on in sin, why go to confession, why send money to the poor, why go to Mass?
It is a known fact that young people do more risk taking and life threatening conduct than older adults. This is because, due to their youth, they believe that they will not die. This is similiar to people and their spiritual life. People are more apt to commit spiritual life threatening conduct when they believe they will never spiritually die.
When was the last time you heard a priest, bishop, cardinal or pope warn people that their sinful conduct can cause them to go to hell? Why would Jesus have preached of eternal punishment and the fires of Gehenna so often if He did not think it was very important to do so? Why are we not echoing His message?
WARNING! Jesus Does Not Forgive All
Peace in Christ,
Steven Merten
www.ILOVEYOUGOD.com
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Minerva
Guest
I second what several have already said about lack of education about the faith being the root cause for so many of these problems. I went to Catholic schools from 7-12 grades and learned almost nothing about the faith. CCD before then was equally useless - it was mostly crafts and occasionally having to memorize the names of the 7 sacraments. But no discussion of what those sacraments meant 
Since my parents are not practicing, everything I know about Catholicism I had to learn on my own. It is just heartbreaking to me how badly we are failing at transmitting the Faith to children and adults alike. People can’t practice what they don’t know - and people will abuse what they don’t understand.
Since my parents are not practicing, everything I know about Catholicism I had to learn on my own. It is just heartbreaking to me how badly we are failing at transmitting the Faith to children and adults alike. People can’t practice what they don’t know - and people will abuse what they don’t understand.
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Servant1
Guest
Steven Merten:
The promise of Christ is the reason. One believes Christ has the power to fulfill his promise or he does not. Not a little bit of both. It’s all or none - he has or he has not the power. If you doubt that power, that’s your choice. If you believe in that power, then let’s quit the nay-saying and all the gloom-and-doom. It weakens the Church’s witness in the world.
Look at Church history. There has NEVER been a time when the Church somewhere wasn’t is some form of problem or decline. If you look a bit further in Church history, you’ll find that when the problems facing the Church were greatest were the times when the Church rose the highest to meet the needs of the times.
It’s that simple. Christ never promised us an easy time because we are Christians trying to follow him. What he DID promise is victory in the end. That’s as good as we can hope for.
The Church **has not ** fallen and **is not ** falling.
The promise of Christ is the reason. One believes Christ has the power to fulfill his promise or he does not. Not a little bit of both. It’s all or none - he has or he has not the power. If you doubt that power, that’s your choice. If you believe in that power, then let’s quit the nay-saying and all the gloom-and-doom. It weakens the Church’s witness in the world.
Look at Church history. There has NEVER been a time when the Church somewhere wasn’t is some form of problem or decline. If you look a bit further in Church history, you’ll find that when the problems facing the Church were greatest were the times when the Church rose the highest to meet the needs of the times.
It’s that simple. Christ never promised us an easy time because we are Christians trying to follow him. What he DID promise is victory in the end. That’s as good as we can hope for.
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Chris-WA
Guest
Dj Roy Albert:
Oh ye of not getting the point–I said in my post that the church will never die because Jesus promised us that. But the church can cease to exist in certain places if people in those locations turn away from the faith. That is historical fact, not my opinion. And many parts of Europe are riding that slippery slope right now as Catholics continue to snub their noses at the authority of the church. God’s blessings do remain for as long as He wants, but he can and does remove blessings when people turn away from Him.Oh ye of little faith.
How can we “lose” the church? We are the church, the people of God. Church buildings may grow old & crumble, some people may lose faith, & some countries that were once strong in their love for God have been led astray, but the Universal Church remains. Jesus said “if two or more are gathered in my name”…do you really think that the church “dies”?? Saddening.
The Gospel may not be preached as much or as often in every place around the world as it once was, but that does not mean that the church has “died” in those places. God’s blessings can remain for as long as He wants.
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pnewton
Guest
The church is not crumbling. Our society has fostered a softening of morality. We live in a time where moral decay can be seen the world around. Obviously, this will affect many who are part of the church. The church remains, however, the bastion and pinnacle of moral teaching, often the lone voice of sanity amid the moral turmoil that surrounds us.
The church is plowing through stormy waters to be certain, but difficult times make for great saints. Some may choose to focus on those who succomb to the wiles of the devil. I rather would focus on the great men and women of faith in our time, from our Holy Father, to my local parich priest, to my wife. Even in these forums I have read so much beautiful faith expressed.
Hope remains. (1 Cor. 13:13)
The church is plowing through stormy waters to be certain, but difficult times make for great saints. Some may choose to focus on those who succomb to the wiles of the devil. I rather would focus on the great men and women of faith in our time, from our Holy Father, to my local parich priest, to my wife. Even in these forums I have read so much beautiful faith expressed.
Hope remains. (1 Cor. 13:13)
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