benhur #69
For sure I do not accept all the CC, but I assure you I am not confused about it, nor hide from anything, as He has so graced me
I accept that just not all the CC says about it.
It would be quite sectarian to insist on Roman Catholic,and not Orthodox Catholic, even Protestant Catholic.
The confusion and selfism is plainly evident – one religion for him is as good as another!
Jesus warned dissenters: “if he refuses to hear even the Church let him be like the heathen and a publican.” (Mt 18:17).
That scripture deals with moral faults, not doctrinal differences.
That warning is after Jesus issues this warning:
“It is not those who say to Me, ‘Lord, Lord’ who will enter the Kingdom of heaven, but the person who does the will of My Father in heaven (Mt 7:21).
As Christ has established His Church to teach infallibly on morals and on faith, benhur’s error above is stark.
As Dom Bernard Orchard comments on Mt 18:17:
“Only in the last resort must the matter be brought to official notice – this is for the sake of the individual and the community… His ‘Church’ appears as a compact, defined body with powers to exclude the recalcitrant from its society. After such a sentence the sinner stands outside the Society as the pagans and the Jewish tax gatherers are beyond the pale of the Synagogue.”
Catholic Commentary on Holy Scripture, Thomas Nelson and Sons, 1953, p 884].
It is vital to follow the command to judge all actions, speech, writing against truth and in this way we can help others by offering truth. Christ and His Church’s Scriptures tell us:
“Stop judging by appearances, but judge justly.” (Jn 7:24).
“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but underneath are ravenous wolves. By their fruits you will know them” (Mt 7:15, 16).
“Every tree that does not bear good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire. So by their fruits you will know them.” (Mt 7:19-20).
“Test everything: retain what is good.” (1Thess 5:21).
“Beloved, do not trust every spirit but test the spirits to see whether they belong to God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.” (1 Jn 4:1).
“I know your works; I know that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either cold or hot. So, because you are lukewarm, neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of my mouth.” (Rev 3:16).
So those who place themselves above Christ’s Church, with their manoeuvrings, are exposed and condemned.