I wouldn’t be too concerned about that site. It immediately brings itself into question regarding its won veracity or credibility. Given that it uses the “Infancy Gospel of James” as a source for “proofs”… That gospel was banned ages ago… in Jerome’s time.
There are many different opinions regarding the gospel… written by an unknown author… here are a couple of links to opinions regarding that particular issue:
college.usc.edu/news/may_2006/hock.html
gnosis.org/library/inftoma.htm
nationmaster.com/encyclopedia/Infancy-Gospel-of-James To say the least…one must not just simply buy into a line…because it makes a statement of differentiation as a “justification” or proof of anything.
It is the part about the Assumption of our Blessed Mother–how no one talked about it for like 300 years. Does not seem possible it could have happened and people not talk about it all the time.
On this fellow’s site…he says he is quoting from a Catholic Encyclopedia…maybe partly, but with much “editing” to fit his needs. Please feel free to compare… here is the actual Catholic Encyclopedia article courtesy of New Advent:
newadvent.org/cathen/02006b.htm Decide for yourself who or what is more “believable”. Actually historians…basing their findings on ancient writings…or a “detractor” of the Church with a pretty clear “agenda”…who has no problem even using a gnostic gospel as “proof” when virtually no-one in Christianity accepts gnostic gospels as more than “fiction”.
This is something we have to believe though–right??
Yes, its Church Dogma. And for myself, its not a problem, as no-one has offered a shred of proof to prove the Church in error. Granted, the Dogma is based on oral traditions…as was all of the Bible originally…so where would there be a problem? The mere fact that it did not have a full chapter dedicated to the issue in the Bible is not at all surprising to me… especially considering the fact that in those days…society as a whole was Patriarchal…and male dominated.
I am also not so sure about the venerating of images. It seems like early Christians were really opposed to it.
As to the “Veneration of Images”… he works fast and loose with quotes…and snippets of scripture and inserting his own opinions as “fact”. But lets deal with some real facts, not opinions:
From here:
newadvent.org/cathen/07664a.htm
Its very good reading, and it even explains the viewpoint of the Jews as well as the “early Christians”. In fact…the reality of it is this: “The guy is blowing smoke, and doing nothing but expressing his unlearned and biased opinion to foist an agenda that is disingenuous at best”.
Two questions that obviously must be kept apart are those of the use of sacred images and of the reverence paid to them. That Christians from the very beginning adorned their catacombs with paintings of Christ, of the saints, of scenes from the Bible and allegorical groups is too obvious and too well known for it to be necessary to insist upon the fact. The catacombs are the cradle of all Christian art. Since their discovery in the sixteenth century – on 31 May, 1578, an accident revealed part of the catacomb in the Via Salaria – and the investigation of their contents that has gone on steadily ever since, we are able to reconstruct an exact idea of the paintings that adorned them.* That the first Christians had any sort of prejudice against images, pictures, or statues is a myth (defended amongst others by Erasmus) that has been abundantly dispelled by all students of Christian archaeology.***
I do not want to leave the Church–I am not going to–but as I become more than a “cafeteria Catholic”–I really want to believe
That is good. I say it as one who is 58 years old, fell away from the Church in my younger days…(long story)…but did not go to another church, retained my faith in God…and found my way home…and happier than I have ever been. I am a Catholic, and I always will be…maybe not the best, but trying all the same. Do not let people with less than honorable intent get into your mind. They are of no benefit to you or your salvation.
Stick around, have fun, learn!! You will learn much truth here. God Bless you and keep you!!
… I am not sure why you are here … from your two posts [yes - that is not much to judge by but alas, it is all you have ] my guess 
is you believe that you can “Sway” the beliefs of Catholics here and turn them away from the Church that Christ established …
you might learn somethings about Christ, His Church and the Bible … hang on though - you might be in for a ride you did not expect 
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