In other words, the Eastern Orthodox Churches are not Churches? This would contradict statements from the Vatican which indicate that the Eastern Orthodox Church is a sister Church to the Roman Catholic Church and that the Church has two lungs. For example, the expression sister Churches has been used by Pope John Paul II in the encyclical Slavorum Apostoli: “For us they [Cyril and Methodius] are the champions and also the patrons of the ecumenical endeavour of the sister Churches of East and West for the rediscovery through prayer and dialogue of visible unity in perfect and total communion” and also in other documents.
I still think that there is an institution which calls itself the Baptist Church and it is not true to say that this institution does not exist. That the institution of Baptists exists is seen by reference to the following:
No, they are. The Baptists are not, though.
Why this division and bitterness towards your Protestant brothers? Why this push toward Marian apparitions? Why is an apparition such a greater miracle than any other miracle? Did you ever consider that God may use whatever we would welcome or receive? If one is Catholic, they would welcome an apparition of Mary. If one is Protestant one would welcome a vision of Jesus. Yes apparitions are miracuous but for most believers they are meaningless because it is not for them. Apparitions are miraculous for the people that have them just as visions and healings are miraculous for the people that have them. You are right that Protestant churches have no one central government agency that looks into miracles. It tends to be done at a local level. If a miracle is from God we rejoice. Isn’t that the whole point of miracles - God’s intervening in His awesome way? Let me ask this, why does a miracle need to be looked into with so much ernestness? I don’t recall that it happened in the gospels that way. Jesus just told people to show themselves to the local priest. Other times he told people not to tell anyone. Were they not real miracles if they were not investigated? When the gospels speak of the transfiguration and the disciples saw an apparition of Moses and Elijah Peter wanted to create a shrine and again Jesus told them not to tell right away.
Apparently you disagree with the infallible Pope, and the Vicar of Christ, the Supreme Pontiff of the Holy Roman Catholic Church, His Holiness Pope Paul VI when he addressed a group from the Southern Baptist Church of Dallas on June 12, 1971:“We are most pleased today to receive so large a group from the Southern Baptist Church of Dallas, Texas. This is a striking and perhaps unique illustration of a new spirit of friendship among those who call on the name of Christ.”
#1 - not everything the pope says is infallible; in fact, very little of what the pope says is universally binding
JSmitty2005 said:
Hahahaha.
I’m glad that you can list the titles of the Holy Father but that makes your point no more valid. The pope was calling them that because that’s what they call themselves. He was not speaking in a technical theological sense. The Church has done this, though. Here’s what Karl Keating has said:
I prefer to follow the Pope rather than Karl Keating in this matter. The Pope has the authority as the Vicar of Christ and the Supreme Pontiff of the Roman Catholic Church, which Mr. Keating does not have.
Kirane, YOU ARE WRONG. Just admit it. There is no such thing as the Baptist CHURCH. I prefer to follow the official teaching of the Catholic Church rather than try to make a case from a random quote in which the pope uses the word in the colloquial sense. From Dominus Iesus:
Just as dolphins are not fish, Baptists do not belong to a church. I guess that could be an analogy. A valid priesthood and valid sacraments are necessary for a church. Some churches other than the Catholic Church include:
First of all there is division with the Protestants, but that’s for another thread. Where is my bitterness towards Protestants? I’m just stating a truth. Where is their authority to declare something worthy of belief? And it’s true that if anybody were to declare something worth of belief what other church besides the CC and OC have the authority? Where am I pushing Marian apparations? Where did I state that an apparation a greater miracle than any other. Please dont put words in my mouth… or fingers as is the case.
Is that showing bitterness?
There was a book out by a Michael somebody, cant remember his last name, but claimed Jesus appeared to him and that book sold many copies. Turned out after investigation was made he admitted he lied about the apparitions. Many people can imagine things and lie. That why the CC takes these things seriously and wants to make sure they really are something unexplainable.
Right now there are many claiming to have visions and some have even been condemn, and others the local bishops are warning the faithful to stay away. There are many people that just like to go around looking for miracles and apparitions, but Jesus warns us about looking for them.
Because there can be deception. Satan can pose as an angel of light and even work miracles to detract our attention that we should give Jesus. Not all alleged miracles are investigated.Also because there have been many cases of healings (I wont mention any names) but turned out to be fraud. Anybody can pretend they are crippled and then at the command of some dude get up and start walking and that same person does it again and again. It happened in my town many, many years back. It was not a Catholic gathering BTW. Like I said, I’m sure there are many miracles that happened on a daily basis in CC and in Protestant Churches.
Actually, Karl was quoting a pope (or at least a document promulgated with the approval of a pope), John Paul II, to be exact. The “particular” churches have maintained the sacraments and apostolic succession. The “ecclesial communities” have not.