are non catholic religions getting farther away from the Truth?

[wisdomseeker]

Hello seeker,

I will pre-amble what I’m going to say with the following: Before I knew who Father Corapi was - I was already Corapian in my way of preaching and teaching and defending my catholic faith.

Having said that…

The Catholic church is the one, true church that Christ intended to exist after His ascension into heaven and of which He left Peter as its first Pope…263 popes later to Pope Benedict XVI.

Neither protestants - whose belief is incomplete
with their “sola scriptura” bible - which is also incomplete,
nor the secret societies, nor atheists, powers, principalities etc etc etc. will ever prevail against her.

(waiting for my blood pressure to come down)

Pax Domini sit semper vobiscum.

i say Amen to that!

Chesterton
“The Catholic faith even when watered down can still boil the world to rags.”

 

[Prodigal_Son1]

It’s not a charge. It’s an unquestioned historical fact. People in the sixteenth century wouldn’t have thought that it was a “charge”–it was an obvious moral duty to try to stamp out heresy.

If you want one particular source that summarizes how people thought about these things, you might try Brad Gregory’s *Salvation at Stake. *One of the early chapters is called “The Willingness to Kill” and summarizes sixteenth-century attitudes on the punishment of heresy. Or you could read the early chapters of Hubert Jedin’s mammoth history of the Council of Trent, which discusses the complex negotiations between Pope and Emperor as to just how best to stamp out Protestantism. These are just two of many sources–any book on the Reformation will give you the outlines. (I chose the two sources above because they are both Catholic.)

One quick reference–you might note that in the papal bull “Exsurge Domine” (itself one of the earliest attempts to stamp out Protestantism), one of the “errors” of Luther that are condemned is the claim that it is contrary to the will of the Spirit for heretics to be burned.

Edwin

Edwin,

Even though I’m responding by quoting this post, I have read through to the end.

I am a simple guy and sometimes have trouble articulating myself, especially in a written format such as these forums have to offer. Just as I also have troubles sometimes because I may read too much between the lines. You’ll have to admit, there are a lot posters on these forums that use condescending and sarcastic wording. I’ll admit I have become defensive about the Church from some of the actions I’ve witnessed on this and other forums.

I apologize if I’ve misunderstood you, just as I asked for you not to take offense at my questions. I sincerely wanted to read some documentation on the things you mentioned.

I am, hopefully temporarily unemployed (I have been for almost a year now). I am utilizing my time soaking up all the information I can to be able to make a logical defense of my faith and my Church.

I realize what happened during the inquisition and recognize it as horrendous acts by men. However, I’m not going to throw the baby out with the bathwater. I still believe the Catholic Church to be the one true Church, protected by the Holy Spirit through Christ’s promise. To condemn the Church today because of the acts of men from the 16th century would be the same as continuing to condemn Germany for Hitler, condemning Italy because of Mussolini, condemning America for it’s slavery in the past, condemning all protestants because of Jim Jones, Jim Baker, Jimmy Swaggert or Pat Robertson. There has been a progression in positive ways on all issues that I’ve just mentioned.

Just as Christ corrected the Pharisees during his time, men throughout history have misconstrued God’s laws, because they are men. I’m sure our future holds many more men who will commit many sins in the name of religion, country or politics.

How many covenants did God make with men because they just couldn’t get it right?

Again, I intend on reading the documentation you provided and I apologize for any misinterpretations on my part. As I said, I believe all believers in Christ are connected through that belief, no matter our differences.

I hope you understand what I’m trying to say.

May the peace of the Lord be with you.
Prodigal Son1

 

[bpbasilphx]

Their moderators were furious and insisted that they have been around since John the Baptist but have been suppressed by the Catholic Church.

**The only “church” that has been here since John the Baptist are the Mandeans, who claim that John the Batpist was the Messiah and Jesus a deceiver. (My hand trembled to type those words, but I am simply saying what they believe.)

The Mandeans are located primarily in Iran and Iraq, if I’m not mistaken.**

 

[fbl9]

hi bpbasilphx,as a little side note the claim of being oppressed by the Catholic church and being there since John the Baptist is an admission that the Catholic church was indeed there with Christ himself.and in the same breath these same people will tell you the Catholic chuch didn’t exist until around yr400 or so.huh??

 

[Arbitro360]

The fact is that most organizations who engage in the World become more liberal over time. Those with the most grievances become the most activist and push things in the direction of tolerating more and more dissent, until tolerating dissent becomes an end in itself. Pity the poor Church of England, tying itself in knots trying to be “More Pee Cee than thou” and oh so tolerant of the utterly intolerable, and oh so “non-judgmental” so as to completely lose it’s bearings. The Episcopalians and the Methodists and others have this disease also.

Tell you what all of you “Liberal Theologians” and your followers, the World doesn’t need another “institution of validating liberal values,” it needs CHURCHES THAT PREACH THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST.

It needs those who keep the faith, not those who compromise it.

 

[Contarini]

Prodigal Son,

I was not trying to attack the Catholic Church by my remark. I understand why you are sensitive about it. I am an Anglican, and the government linked to (indeed, in charge of) my church burned Baptists and other radicals at the stake (and executed many Catholic missionaries and their collaborators as traitors, most of whom were obviously not trying to overthrow the government). Anglicans have no business pointing fingers at anyone else in terms of persecution.

Salvation at Stake really is an excellent book. The main point is not to discuss persecution but to discuss martyrdom (on all sides). But he does have a chapter on why people thought it right to execute heretics.

Roland Bainton has written quite a bit about persecution and religious liberty in the sixteenth century as well. He’s a good source for Protestant persecution in particular (Bainton’s main goal was to point out to his fellow Protestants that their spiritual ancestors had been involved in persecution as well).

Edwin

 

[LutheranDK]

The other day my protestant friend told me she was upset with the holy father Ben XVI because he said there is only One True Church.

Now, is it a believe among other religions that the CC is just another denomination? how long has this been going on?
Is it the CC’s fault in letting this believe perpetuate throughout our generations?

I humbly ask everyone’s opinion on this.

Benedict is actually right, but not in the way he thinks he is.
As the 19th century Danish hymn-writer and pastor NFS Grundtvig said it: “There has always been, and there will always be, One Holy Church” (quoted from memory).
As I have stated elsewhere on this forum, I agree with this statement - and I also say that there is only One Holy Catholic Church…but that Church is not identical to the Roman-Catholic church. The RC is a branch, the largest but still a branch, of the Catholic church, but not the tree itself.

So to finish where I began: There is only ONE true Church, BUT the Roman-Catholic church is a denomination within that Church.

 

[JRKH]

Benedict is actually right, but not in the way he thinks he is.
As the 19th century Danish hymn-writer and pastor NFS Grundtvig said it: “There has always been, and there will always be, One Holy Church” (quoted from memory).
As I have stated elsewhere on this forum, I agree with this statement - and I also say that there is only One Holy Catholic Church…but that Church is not identical to the Roman-Catholic church. The RC is a branch, the largest but still a branch, of the Catholic church, but not the tree itself.

So to finish where I began: There is only ONE true Church, BUT the Roman-Catholic church is a denomination within that Church.

The Catholic Church is rather the Trunk than “a branch”. Every Protestant Church will trace back to her if through nothing else, the canon of the NT Bible.

Peace
James

 

[LutheranDK]

The Catholic Church is rather the Trunk than “a branch”. Every Protestant Church will trace back to her if through nothing else, the canon of the NT Bible.

Peace
James

The Catholic church is the tree. The Roman-Catholic church is a branch on the tree. Granted, the largest branch, but still a branch.

And I’m getting rather tired of disproving the claim that the Roman-Catholic church assembled the NT. Canon existed before the Roman-Catholic church (clearly defined) even came into existance

 

[Cathdefender]

The Catholic church is the tree. The Roman-Catholic church is a branch on the tree. Granted, the largest branch, but still a branch.

And I’m getting rather tired of disproving the claim that the Roman-Catholic church assembled the NT. Canon existed before the Roman-Catholic church (clearly defined) even came into existance

You should in fact be exhausted then because, no matter what you say, the bible was compiled from the Catholic church…period. these are historical facts and documented from over the centuries…now, I understand your tiredness… As soon as you realize this, you will be able to get some sleep.

 

[JRKH]

Originally Posted by JRKH
The Catholic Church is rather the Trunk than “a branch”. Every Protestant Church will trace back to her if through nothing else, the canon of the NT Bible.

Did I say Roman Catholic Church??? Looook closely now. Did I say Roman Catholic Church???

Peace
James

 

[KingAlfred]

The other day my protestant friend told me she was upset with the holy father Ben XVI because he said there is only One True Church.

Now, is it a believe among other religions that the CC is just another denomination? how long has this been going on?
Is it the CC’s fault in letting this believe perpetuate throughout our generations?

I humbly ask everyone’s opinion on this.

I think you’re on to something here, Wisdom. Non-Catholic Christian religions have indeed drifted ever farther from the truth that the Catholic Church is the one, true church. In fact, Christian fundamentalism hasn’t been as hostile toward the Church as it is today in centuries. Not only is ecumenism within the Christian world on the decline, but in the U.S., it’s practically dead.

 

[fbl9]

\

So to finish where I began: There is only ONE true Church, BUT the Roman-Catholic church is a denomination within that Church.what church then is the true church and why are people going away from it?

 

[wisdomseeker]

Benedict is actually right, but not in the way he thinks he is.
As the 19th century Danish hymn-writer and pastor NFS Grundtvig said it: “There has always been, and there will always be, One Holy Church” (quoted from memory).
As I have stated elsewhere on this forum, I agree with this statement - and I also say that there is only One Holy Catholic Church…but that Church is not identical to the Roman-Catholic church. The RC is a branch, the largest but still a branch, of the Catholic church, but not the tree itself.

So to finish where I began: There is only ONE true Church, BUT the Roman-Catholic church is a denomination within that Church.

i guess what you trying to say is that the CC once being One is no longer valid since many departed from her to form other beliefs. but this assumption can only be false. because there is only one CC. there is no such a thing is the Roman CC. you can say whatever you want or make you feel better. since the beginning of the Church many departed from her and they no longer dare to call themselves catholics. this is a new trend, a new belief. it is a new attempt to destroy the CC. a new attack on the True Church of Christ , the CC. it did not work then it will not work today.
I humbly speak against any attack on One Holy Apostolic Catholic Church.

:bowdown: