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Ewtn2000
Guest
Sorry to have to ask this question. In the past two weeks, I have been into a email discussion with a Non-Catholic friend who has tried to pick apart the Catholic Church. So far I have held my own and now I am in need of some research directions. Since all other questions and concerns have been addressed, I received a question which I have yet to answer.
This person quotes from Deut. 16:21-22 as follows : “Thou shalt not plant thee a grove of any trees near unto the altar of the LORD thy God, which thou shalt make thee. (22) Neither shalt thou set thee up any image (matstsebah / pillar); which the LORD thy God hateth.”
The question he asked is why on April 15, 2000 did our Holy Father John Paul II, dressed in scarlet, celebrate a Palm Sunday mass in St. Peter’s square with “with a ‘grove’ of potted palms and hundred-year-old olive trees placed around the standing pillar (matstsebah) or obelisk, at the front of St Peter’s - a clear violation of the LORD’s command?”
His explained how the obelisk is called “Cleopatra’s Needle”, blah blah blah. He concluded by saying that there are many examples of pagan foundation for the Catholic Church and how he can produce overwhelming amount of evidence to prove the CC is far from being Chirstian.
I guess when all the other arguements have failed when he tried to prove the CC was not based on scripture, he probably did a internet search for reasons why Catholic aren’t Christians.
After a quick Google search, I came across a link that brings up his exact objections using the same examples and even mentioning the scarlet red stole our Holy Father wore.
What direction can I take with this type of comments.
Thank you for your time.
This person quotes from Deut. 16:21-22 as follows : “Thou shalt not plant thee a grove of any trees near unto the altar of the LORD thy God, which thou shalt make thee. (22) Neither shalt thou set thee up any image (matstsebah / pillar); which the LORD thy God hateth.”
The question he asked is why on April 15, 2000 did our Holy Father John Paul II, dressed in scarlet, celebrate a Palm Sunday mass in St. Peter’s square with “with a ‘grove’ of potted palms and hundred-year-old olive trees placed around the standing pillar (matstsebah) or obelisk, at the front of St Peter’s - a clear violation of the LORD’s command?”
His explained how the obelisk is called “Cleopatra’s Needle”, blah blah blah. He concluded by saying that there are many examples of pagan foundation for the Catholic Church and how he can produce overwhelming amount of evidence to prove the CC is far from being Chirstian.
I guess when all the other arguements have failed when he tried to prove the CC was not based on scripture, he probably did a internet search for reasons why Catholic aren’t Christians.
After a quick Google search, I came across a link that brings up his exact objections using the same examples and even mentioning the scarlet red stole our Holy Father wore.
What direction can I take with this type of comments.
Thank you for your time.