Ecumenicism

[latinmass]

This is the very kind of back-and-forth that is simply maddening.

You insult someone, you make assumptions, you insult him/her again, you make NO apologies - and then you ask the person to “teach you” - so you can kick “teacher” in the teeth again? I’ve decided to speak up when I see this kind of exchange on this Catholic site. It’s so venal and disgusting, IN MY OPINION.

I responded to statements made to me. I in no way was trying to insult anyone. If anyone is was insulted or angry by what I have said I apologize, but I would add that it seems that pride is the reason why you might be hurt. If you are so easily hurt or feel attacked or brought to anger, apologetics might not be the path for you. If you are like this with me, you will crumble with the tougher protestants, and atheists. I sincerely wanted tips on views on ecumenism. If you looked at the last few posts you’ll see that they missed the boat on false teachings of other religions, and as not just plain heresy. Thanks for speaking up. The readers can disceren who is led by pride and who is led by truth in these exchanges.

 

[catharina]

I responded to statements made to me. I in no way was trying to insult anyone. If anyone is was insulted or angry by what I have said I apologize, but I would add that it seems that pride is the reason why you might be hurt. If you are so easily hurt or feel attacked or brought to anger, apologetics might not be the path for you. If you are like this with me, you will crumble with the tougher protestants, and atheists. I sincerely wanted tips on views on ecumenism. If you looked at the last few posts you’ll see that they missed the boat on false teachings of other religions, and as not just plain heresy. Thanks for speaking up. The readers can disceren who is led by pride and who is led by truth in these exchanges.

You have just stated your sincerity therefore I believe you. Still you might attempt an approach that doesn’t first belittle and then question.

 

[stmaria]

Roy5;2945689]Hm! “All religions but Catholicism are lies!” That attitude is why Catholicism was distrusted by millions of Protestants and those of other faiths over the years. Too much like the thinking of Islamic crazies who believe emphatically that their way is the only way to salvation

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I noticed that you are a protestant. Welcome to the forum. Catholics believe that Christ founded one Church not ten or twenty or a thousand. We believe that we have the best way to salvation not the only way. How can you blame us for thinking that? We believe that the Holy Spirit guides the Church today. Christ promised that to us.

John 14:15-17 “ “If you love me, and obey the commands I give you, I will ask the Father and he will give you another Paraclete-to be with you always: the Spirit of truth whom the world cannot accept, since it neither sees or recognizes him; but you can recognize him because he remains with you and will be within you”

John 14:26 “The Paraclete, ** the Holy Spirit whom the Father will send in my name, will instruct you in everything**, and remind you of all that I told you”
How does the Holy Spirit instruct us? Through the teachings of the Church and through the Pope, the vicar of Christ on earth.

Jesus also said "I am the living bread which has come down from heaven. Anyone who eats this bread will live for ever; and the bread that I shall give is my flesh, for the life of the world.

I tell you solemnly, if you do not eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood,you will not have life in you. Anyone who does eat my flesh and drink my blood has eternal life, and I shall raise him up on the last day"

The Catholic Church is the only Church that has the true living bread, the Holy Eucharist which is the actual body and blood of Christ

Pope John XXIII and Vatican II led many to look at Catholicism with greater understanding and sympathy. Previous to that there was a widespread fear that Catholicism was at heart hostile** toward religious freedom and separation of church and state. **Remember the ‘Syllabus of Errors’ of Pope Pius IX which condemned both ideas that are essential to American democracy

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Should the state be separated from the Church? The U.S. Constitution doesn’t even say that though many believe that it does. Pope Leo said that if you separate the Church from the State, the State will become godless. This has happened throughout the world. That is why godless laws such as abortion, pornography, gay marriage etc have become the law of the land.This could never happen in a true Christian state.

Isn’t it reasonable to believe that God would want the world to believe in the One Religion that was established by His Son, Jesus Christ? A religion that is guided by the Holy Spirit and has all the sacraments nesessary for salvation? How can God possibly approve of every religion? How can it be a divine right to belong and to believe as one chooses. There is only One, Holy and Apostolic Church not a dozen. This is hard for Protestants to understand. Being a Fatihful Catholic is not easy. The laws of the Church are strict. Many cannot accept them.But Jesus said that many are called and few are chosen.

The real challenge of Catholicism is to keep its faithful from drifting away into secularism or into some form of Protestantism, often the evangelical variety. Polls now indicate that American Catholics are less likely to embrace several basic Christian doctrines than most Protestants. All this has changed over the past 50 or so years. Maybe somebody should write a careful book explaining why this has happened

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Jesus said that the gates of hell would not prevail against His Church. That indicates that the gates of hell will try to destroy His Church. Satan hates the Catholic Church. He will try to lure as many as he can away from the True Faith.
I read a book once about the Church of Satan that is located in San Francisco. The members would regularly go to a Catholic Mass to get the Holy Eucharist, which even they know is the actual body and blood of Christ. They never went to get communion from a protestant Church. Satan knows which Church is the one that he must attempt to destroy. That Church is the Catholic Church

 

[bones_IV]

Pope John XXIII and Vatican II led many to look at Catholicism with greater understanding and sympathy. Previous to that there was a widespread fear that Catholicism was at heart hostile toward religious freedom and separation of church and state. Remember the ‘Syllabus of Errors’ of Pope Pius IX which condemned both ideas that are essential to American democracy.

The Syllabus of Errors’ was in reference to the situation in Spain. There was a lackadaisical attitude in the Church towards democracy that’s true. Fact is, the union of the Church and the State was never a happy one. Just look at what happened in Europe at the beginning of the 20th century. Not mention Fascist Austria in the 1930’s. Pius XI was opposed to Fascism. Not to mention many clergy in Austria stepped out of bounds and got involved in politics. Oh, and how about the fact that so many nobleman got elected to be bishops? SHAMEFUL! Kings and Queens and Government leaders were electing their own bishops to satisfy their agenda. Fascist Austria made Sunday Mass obligatory. Many Austrians never set foot in a Church again! Could explain why many Europeans in traditionally Catholic countries have a love/hate relationship with the Church. Fact: the democracy in this country kept the Church in America shall we say honest. Just ask President Roosevelt and Cardinal Pacelli who worked together with another American Bishop to get Fr. Coughlin off the air.

Democracy is the way to go! Union of Church and State has ALREADY BEEN TRIED!!! DID NOT WORK!!! For Europeans Democracy means freedom from the Church. The EU is very pagan and has forgotten their Christian roots. The European’s idea of Democracy is totalitarian. That is strict separation of Church and State. Which has it’s roots in the French Revolution. The genius of American Democracy is that is has separation of Church and State but it’s laws are based on Christian principles. A democracy without Christian principles is destined for failure.