Anti-Catholic Opinion Piece in CNN

[ahumbleservant]

Hi Everyone,

I noticed CNN posted some commentary regarding our Holy Father.

“Commentary: Pope’s comments irrelevant to non-Catholics”

With a title like that, I figured it would be some secular reporter or an Evangelical brother. I suppose I was right on the latter. Check out what he says:

For [the Pope] to even suggest that only the Catholic Church can provide true salvation to believers in Christ shows that he is wholly ignorant of the Scriptures that I have known all my life.

Sorry, let me take that back. I’ve really only known the Bible for the last 13 of my 38 years. That’s because those first 25 years were spent as a die-hard Catholic.

Yes, our Catholic brother seems to be just as wounded as the “church” he traded for Truth. I cannot say I was surprised to read it. Lord help us.

He goes on to say:

That’s right, I was born and raised in the Catholic Church. One of the first meetings to build the church I was raised in – Our Lady Star of the Sea in Houston – took place in my grandparents’ living room. Many of my Saturdays and Sundays were spent serving as an altar boy, Catholic Youth Organization leader, dedicated student of Catechism, and constantly reciting the Holy Rosary.

Is it just me, or does something sound off here? In any case, I entrust him to our Blessed Mother.

May Christ’s Peace be Upon All of You

 

[Transformer]

That commentary doesn’t make a lot of sense; it’s all rhetoric and no actual logical progression. It never really says anything, and what it does say isn’t supported at all.

Sorry, let me take that back. I’ve really only known the Bible for the last 13 of my 38 years. That’s because those first 25 years were spent as a die-hard Catholic.

That’s right, I was born and raised in the Catholic Church. One of the first meetings to build the church I was raised in – Our Lady Star of the Sea in Houston – took place in my grandparents’ living room. Many of my Saturdays and Sundays were spent serving as an altar boy, Catholic Youth Organization leader, dedicated student of Catechism, and constantly reciting the Holy Rosary.

And the reality is that we were never really encouraged to study the Scriptures. The standard practice was for all of us to read the same pamphlets passed out by the church, recite the readings from the New and Old Testaments, listen to the Scripture chosen for us in the Gospel and hear a normally bland homily.

A nod to the fact that Catholic education is often terrible, a blatant falsehood about biblical study among Catholics, some empty rhetoric; not much to see here.

That isn’t always the case at some Catholic churches. If you visit St. Sabina in Chicago, Father Michael Pfleger will surely have your soul jumping with his strong sermons and willingness to engage the community to get involved in direct action.

A kind concession, but he still hasn’t said anything.

Yet as I reflect on my years as a Catholic, it pretty much was a wasted experience, as there was more identification with the church, and not with Christ.

He never explains this statement; it’s all rhetoric and no reason. Why would communal worship and devotional practices springing forth from the example of previous lovers of Jesus detract from identification with Christ rather than add to it? Why would identification with a community of lovers of Christ supported by Sacrament detract from or supplant identification with Christ rather than enrich it? Apparently, he doesn’t know why, or he would have said.

And that’s why Pope Benedict XVI is meaningless, along with his decision to re-state the primacy of the Catholic Church. This week, the pope released a document correcting interpretations of the Second Vatican Council, which some say modernized the church. But for hardliners like Pope Benedict XVI, the liberals went too far in some of their declarations.

But what ticked folks off was his assertion in the 16-page document by the Vatican’s Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith that the only denominations that can call themselves true churches are ones that can trace their roots back to Jesus Christ’s original apostles. He even suggested they suffer from defects.

Some more empty rhetoric combined with necessary exposition; nothing to see here.

This is nothing but a naked attempt by Pope Benedict XVI to “own” Jesus by virtue of the Catholic Church considering the apostle Peter as its leader. He refuses to acknowledge the reality that Jesus didn’t consider a church to be most important. What was? The Great Commission.

The Bible records in Matthew 28:16 that Jesus called his 11 disciples (the other, Judas, hanged himself after betraying Jesus) to Mount Galilee and decreed, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (New International Version).

This is the only time in the whole article he actually makes an argument, and it isn’t a good one. Why on earth would such an important apostolic commission detract from the validity of apostolic succession? Why would the importance of the Great Commission detract from the value of Church, or of the sacraments?

 

[Transformer]

It doesn’t matter what Pope Benedict XVI has to say, or for that matter, any other religious leader. A Christian believes in Jesus Christ and what He had to say, not what a man of God has to say. This is not an attempt to completely dismiss religious leaders, but is further evidence of what happens when ego is more important than the work of Christ.

This is so vague and empty I have trouble even addressing it. What is he even suggesting here, that individual Christians decide what the historical Jesus meant for themselves, using their extensive skills in exegetical study? Is he suggesting that any attempt by an incredibly learned religious leader to interpret scripture for his flock makes ego more important than Jesus? To say the least, when individual Christians decide for themselves what Jesus “meant” and what authority they operate under, the results aren’t pretty.

John 14:6 says, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” Nowhere does it say that Peter, Pope Benedict XVI or anyone else can supplant Jesus as the leader of the church.

Complete nonsense, refuted by Catholic apologists 1000 times a day. No serious Catholic has ever suggested that a pope can or should supplant Christ as supreme head of the Catholic Church.

It is these kinds of missives by Pope Benedict XVI that do nothing to support or build the community of faith. All it does is divide.

Protestant leaders: Don’t buy into the foolishness. Let Pope Benedict XVI keep running off at the mouth and making pointless declarations. If you keep bringing good news to the poor, setting the captives free and assisting those who seek to know Jesus, then you’ll make more headway in doing the work of Jesus than any 16-page document will.

More empty rhetoric; once again, he hasn’t actually said anything. Is he suggesting that a 16-page document cannot do the will of Christ? Then his 1 page document certainly won’t.

Geh, I don’t even fully understand the nuances of this subject, but its clear that editorials like this are not well thought out.

God bless.

 

[dwc]

You know, he wrote what he believes. Despite his extensive Catholic upbringing, his actual education in the faith was very shallow. That is a weakness the Church has to recognize and deal with. So many disenfranchised and bitter ex Catholics don’t have the faintest knowledge of why the Church teaches what she does or even what the church teaches in reality. He’s just one more example of this.

 

[Jay74]

I compare reaction to the Pope’s comments regarding non-Catholic Christians with the reaction his comments regarding Muslim history. Evangelicals didn’t burned the Pope in effigy, Catholic cathedrals have not been burned down by protestants, priests and nuns have not been kidnapped, and to my knowledge death threats have not poured in.

I won’t debate what the pope said because that is Catholic doctrine (no more intolerant than the “faith through Jesus alone” doctrine of most of his evangelical and protestant critics) and I won’t challenge it on a catholic forum. I believe that would be disrespectful.

Nor am I accusing most, or even a significant minority, of Muslims of being violent.

I’m just saying that those who follow Christ tend to have a remarkable record on tolerance and kindness (Catholic and non-Catholic Christian alike). I wish a religion that was rooted in Jesus would be called “the religion of peace.” When you look at the religion that is called “the religion of peace,” although I acknowledge that there are hundreds of millions of fine people who claim that religion, its fruits are not nearly as peaceful as the fruits of faith in Christ.

Praises to the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit!

 

[agp2176]

I hadn’t seen this thread until after I posted a post to the thread about the Our Holy Father’s comments.

Please look here:

forums.catholic-questions.org/showpost.php?p=2466605&postcount=263

In Christ’s Peace

Tony

 

[Gottle_of_Geer]

Hi Everyone,

I noticed CNN posted some commentary regarding our Holy Father.

“Commentary: Pope’s comments irrelevant to non-Catholics”

With a title like that, I figured it would be some secular reporter or an Evangelical brother. I suppose I was right on the latter. Check out what he says:

Yes, our Catholic brother seems to be just as wounded as the “church” he traded for Truth. I cannot say I was surprised to read it. Lord help us.

He goes on to say:

Is it just me, or does something sound off here? In any case, I entrust him to our Blessed Mother.

May Christ’s Peace be Upon All of You

About this​

someposterorotherwhoseisnotnamed:

That’s right, I was born and raised in the Catholic Church. One of the first meetings to build the church I was raised in – Our Lady Star of the Sea in Houston – took place in my grandparents’ living room. Many of my Saturdays and Sundays were spent serving as an altar boy, Catholic Youth Organization leader, dedicated student of Catechism, and constantly reciting the Holy Rosary.

… “Off” ? I don’t think so - at least, what he (or she) says, does not sound like anything one would associate with (say) the Southern Baptist Convention, the JWs, Eckankar, or Islam It all sounds like run-of-the-mill, unsurprising, everyday RC stuff​

What seems off to you ?

 

[blessedtoo]

That isn’t always the case at some Catholic churches. If you visit St. Sabina in Chicago, Father Michael Pfleger will surely have your soul jumping with his strong sermons and willingness to engage the community to get involved in direct action.

Interesting that he should zero in on a priest who is currently being investigated on criminal charges and who many believe should be disciplined for his unorthodox behavior.
foxnews.com/story/0,2933,277037,00.html

Roland Martin has hosted several CNN religion specials and has made it very clear that he is not a conservative Christian. I am not surprised by his response.

 

[Gottle_of_Geer]

I compare reaction to the Pope’s comments regarding non-Catholic Christians with the reaction his comments regarding Muslim history. Evangelicals didn’t burned the Pope in effigy, Catholic cathedrals have not been burned down by protestants, priests and nuns have not been kidnapped, and to my knowledge death threats have not poured in.

I won’t debate what the pope said because that is Catholic doctrine (no more intolerant than the “faith through Jesus alone” doctrine of most of his evangelical and protestant critics) and I won’t challenge it on a catholic forum. I believe that would be disrespectful.

Nor am I accusing most, or even a significant minority, of Muslims of being violent.

I’m just saying that those who follow Christ tend to have a remarkable record on tolerance and kindness (Catholic and non-Catholic Christian alike). I wish a religion that was rooted in Jesus would be called “the religion of peace.” When you look at the religion that is called “the religion of peace,” although I acknowledge that there are hundreds of millions of fine people who claim that religion, its fruits are not nearly as peaceful as the fruits of faith in Christ.

Praises to the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit!

I thought you were being sarcastic - it does have a most “remarkable record” ​

 

[Fidelis]

Incredible…simply incredible:

cnn.com/2007/US/07/13/martin/index.html

 

[FCEGM]

Incredible…simply incredible:

cnn.com/2007/US/07/13/martin/index.html

Yes; another “I-read-the-bible-and-now-am-my-own-pope” sort making manifest his ignorance.

 

[blessedtoo]

Already being discussed here:
forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=168876
and here:
forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=169019

 

[Bennie_P]

Interesting that he should zero in on a priest who is currently being investigated on criminal charges and who many believe should be disciplined for his unorthodox behavior.
foxnews.com/story/0,2933,277037,00.html

.

That was a cheap shot at Father Michael Pfleger and has nothing to do this gentlman’s attitude about his ‘wasted’ time in the Catholic Church.

If the man thought that his time as 'Catholic" was wasted I would like to ask him why does he feel so lowly of himself. For if he wasted his time, then it is the Church’s fault? or his by not taking a more active role in getting others engaged? I find so many ‘so-called’ ex-Catholics try to justify thier own lack of commitment on the Church instead of taking responsibility of thier own inaction or lack of knowledge of the faith. Many will claim how ‘much’ knowledge and invovlement they had, but when I inquire deeper I find amny times that it is just front, or cover up in somehthing that was really lacking in them. Other issues start to pop-up, such things as lack of knowledge or understanding of Church teachings, or disagrement over issues or teachings of abortion, divorce, male priesthood, Euchurist, etc. I wonder what is his ‘real’ issue. Shoot, I heard Fulton Sheen tell a story about how Stalin was once an alter boy - so him being one once doesn’t give him any credintials as an expert on the Catholic Church or faith. No I’m not calling him a commie.

 

[blessedtoo]

That was a cheap shot at Father Michael Pfleger and has nothing to do this gentlman’s attitude about his ‘wasted’ time in the Catholic Church.

Really? I made no judgements, just an observation. It was only a few weeks ago that quite a few threads were devoted to discussion regarding Fr. Pfleger and his controversial actions and positions. I just find it curious that this commentator, who has very liberal views, would cite Fr. Pfleger as a someone who

“will surely have your soul jumping with his strong sermons and willingness to engage the community to get involved in direct action.”

 

[ahumbleservant]

Hi Gottle of Geer,

Many will claim how ‘much’ knowledge and invovlement they had, but when I inquire deeper I find amny times that it is just front, or cover up in somehthing that was really lacking in them.

Bennie P did a good job explaining why I thought Mr. Martin’s statement was “off.” I am not suggesting he was doing unorthodox things as a young Catholic. I am suggesting he did not understand it. If he had, Mr. Martin would be defending the Pope right now.

Thanks for your thoughts everyone!

 

[manualman]

I just don’t get it. This would be much the same thing as if a protestant leader were to issue a paper stating that only FAITH was required for salvation and no visible external action played any role.

Would catholics, wring their hands, express outrage at the provocation, proclaim the man to be a divise throwback itching for conflict? No. We’d think he was a normal protestant, believing protestant doctrine.

How sad that merely restating timeless catholic teaching can provoke outrage. That it does so now, seems IMO to say that we haven’t been doing so enough. The opponents of the faith had gotten used to trampling catholic teaching with nary a squeek in protest. They are none too happy with the idea of a pope who will actually proclaim the entire Good News!

 

[gus]

I don’t get it.
The Orthrodox are upset because the Pope said they are lacking completness. Yet we honor their Sacraments even though in their eyes Catholic’s are Heretics or worse. Is it better to be a heretic or to lack something?
The Pope said Protestants are not part of the Church
Well Protestant definition of Church and Catholic definition are two different things.
To a Catholic the chuch is a visible entity.
To a Protestant there is no such thing as a visible church
So how could they be upset on not being a part of something they don’t believe

 

[ahumbleservant]

Hi Everyone,

I agree with manualman; Protestants do not have a problems calling Catholics “non-Christians” or misguided. Protestants express a position and it is accepted as their belief.

When the tables are turned, some begin to act like little children, hurt that their mother will not acknowledge them. It is a cry to be recognized by Christ’s One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church.

Make no mistake, whether they realize it or not, Protestants who are truly trying to follow Christ are always attracted to the Catholic Church, even if it is to attack Her at first.

Let us pray that the Holy Spirit continues to guide them home.

In other news, Orthodox Christians actually welcomed the document.

Protestants Criticize, Orthodox Welcome Vatican Document

Their positions reveals much maturity in their faith and goals for unity in the Church.

 

[PKoucheravy]

This really reminded me of the 2004 Presidential election.

Every time the abortion issue would come up, Sen. Kerry would begin by talking about how he was raised Catholic, had been an altar boy, blah blah blah… and then use this past experience to justify a political position outside of Church orthodoxy.

The two “cradle” Catholics on The View (Behar and formerly O’Donnell) do the same thing.

I think it’s an issue of authority. They can deny all they want that they don’t care what the Vatican tells them to do, but as soon as “Papa” makes a pronouncement they freak out.

 

[ltbpoe43]

As I try to wonder what makes this writer so cranky, I can’t help but think there is still a little bit of guilt in him - otherwise - why would he even care?

25 years of masses, Easter, Good Friday, Christmas, Feast Days, altar serving, and yet no good catechism taught? He admits to hearing NT, OT, Gospel and homily - but says he didn’t learn or discuss Scriptures? - he must have slept through those beautiful events.

May all God’s lost lambs return home one day.

Today’s culture has more to do with declining numbers of Catholics in America. It’s tough to be self-disciplined, respectful of self and others, and pure and chaste, and most of all responsible and accountable for your own actions - in today’s me, me, me culture - who wants that burden?