Vatican II Contradiction?

[Geremia]

Who are we to judge?

Where did Jesus ever tell us never to judge? He is not at all against non-hypocritical fraternal correction.

 

[Lycorth]

We are commanded to judge
There seems to be some confusion over judging, and on others being in some way part of Christ’s Church.

We are commanded to judge words, writing and actions against the truth, so that we can know and show right from wrong; good from evil.
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).

“The spiritual person, however, can judge everything but is not subject to judgement by anyone.” (1 Cor 2:15).

“I, for my part, although absent in body but present in spirit, have already, as if present, pronounced judgement on the one who has committed this deed…” (1 Cor 5:3; read 1-13).

“I am speaking as to sensible people; judge for yourselves what I am saying.” (1 Cor 10:15).

“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).

We can’t judge according to truth by being mesmerised by others and giving them adulation, but according to the teaching of Christ’s Church, Her Tradition and Her Scriptures.

Jesus has commanded “Stop judging, that you may not be not judged.” (Mt 7:1; read 1-5). We are commanded not to judge others regarding their motives, intentions, and guilt before God (a judgment reserved to God).

The Church has always regarded the baptism of non-Catholics as valid – and a valid baptism means you are, in some sense, in union with Christ through His Church. Further, Pope Clement (circa A.D… 95) affirmed that “those who repented for their sins, appeased God in praying and received salvation, even though they were aliens to God." Christ’s Church knew from the beginning that non-Catholics could be saved. Catholic Apologetics Today, 1986, Fr William G Most, p 145].

The “necessity of the Catholic Church for salvation” = no salvation without the Catholic Church; the doctrinal meaning of the phrase, means that whether they know it or not, salvation for anyone can come only through Christ’s Church. Christ offers the actual graces which can enable them to follow the natural moral law, and come home if they have the opportunity to so do.

Amen!

 

[OriginalJS]

Private interpretation of the Scriptures is one of the worst things to have ever happened to Christianity. It has led to thousands of feuding sects springing up and confusing the masses who just want spiritual guidance and answers. When we once had a single voice in Holy Mother Church now we have thousands of little voices all clamoring at once, drowning out the Church’s voice and leading millions of souls astray.

Why then is the Church urging Catholics to read the Bible? I have in my possession a thirteen chapter Catholic Bible study series and belong to a group using the series. Should we throw our Bibles and biblical study books away? It has been my experience that private interpretation of scripture is sometimes greatly helpful. The scriptures are meaningful to in different ways to different readers at different times. The Bible is a living document, not a dead legal letter subject to a one time strict interpretation from which no variation is permitted.

 

[marymichael10]

…it appears that with A; The Holy Catholic Church goes on acknowledging that other fallen away Brothers and Sisters in Christ, although not in communion with the church, are still “Brothers” and “Sisters” none-the-less, opens a door for B; These people whom are said to be also “holy spirit guided”, to bring an entire array of contradictions upon the idea. For what they say too, would have to be taken as truth.

And in a quick terms it comes down to; If one says the others are also ‘with’ us, yet the other says we are dead wrong, hell bound, heretics; does it come to a cross-road of: Do we REALLY believe these protesting brothers and sisters are truly ‘brothers’ and ‘sisters’ or are we being ‘nice’ by acknowledging their belief in ‘scriptures’ or ‘Mary’ or ‘Jesus Christ’ even tho they continue to contradict us as well as each other whom are also “Guided” by the Holy Spirit.

Difference in opinion over certain issues doesn’t mean that there is more than one Truth. The Ultimate Truth is that Jesus said, “Upon this rock, I will build my Church. The gates of hell will not prevail against it.”; “I am the Way, the Truth and the Life.” Jesus set a Church after His resurrection, and history shows with certainty that this is the Catholic Church. However, the Catholic Church, as holding the very Truths of the Holy Spirit Himself, acknowledges the Baptism of Protestants as certainly true and not void. The Church, while at odds with certain issues, says that Reconciliation and the Eucharist in Eastern Orthodox Churches are true Sacraments. The Church even acknowledges Muslims, in the fact they worship the One, Eternal Living God, Just Judge and Merciful Lord, as worshipping our God in truth, but in distorted fashion.
Because Protestants are raised to be Protestants, or because Catholics convert to Protestantism, is because of sheer unacceptance of Catholic Doctrine. It goes back to Luther himself (who, interestingly but not widely known, converted back on his death bed), and much farther than that (“Many of them there found this saying hard, and said ‘Who can accept this?’ And many left after that time. And Jesus said to His apostles, ‘Will you too leave?’ And Peter said, ‘To whom shall we go, Lord? You have the words of eternal life!’…”). If a protestant is raised to treat Catholic doctrine as untrue, he/she will believe it and accept it…despite his/her true baptism, they are going to believe what their parents teach them as true, unless guided enough by the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Truth, back to their true home, in the Bride of Christ, the Catholic Church. It’s a matter of nurturing. Children will adapt to their parents knowledge. Nontheless, these people can be guided by the Spirit, for they too (most) believe in the Trinity, the foundation of the faith itself. They too believe that the Son of God became man to save us. And, as they are guided, they are led to live good lives and fight for God’s honor and defend the Truth…they just don’t have the whole truth. But, they can be led by God’s spirit, indeed. Anyone can, even if they are not Catholic, or not Christian, but are led by the Spirit, under God’s Providence, through the merits of Jesus Christ and His church.

I lost my faith once, before I converted, and I feel myself going that way again. Sadly, instead of feeling scared, I almost feel a sense of “relief”, for after three months of “aruging” with Family and Friends, I almost come to feel a lot of this as very futile and dumb.

Don’t lose faith friend! The truth you have is the most you will ever possess. Christ lives in the hearts of all His faithful, but He also lives in the tabernacle of the Blessed Sacrament…in the Host we see every Sunday. The truth is not futile.

 

[Lycorth]

Why then is the Church urging Catholics to read the Bible? I have in my possession a thirteen chapter Catholic Bible study series and belong to a group using the series. Should we throw our Bibles and biblical study books away? It has been my experience that private interpretation of scripture is sometimes greatly helpful. The scriptures are meaningful to in different ways to different readers at different times. The Bible is a living document, not a dead legal letter subject to a one time strict interpretation from which no variation is permitted.

Private interpretation of the Scriptures is sinful and opposed in the Scriptures themselves in 2 Peter 1:20 where we read: “Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation.”

For more, click here: Scripture is not for private interpretation

The Church is encouraging Catholics to read the Bible but to do so in light of Church teaching, never to do so as a Protestant would and assume that one’s own opinions of Scripture are in any way authoritative. The Church never encourages us to do anything apart from Church teaching; if anyone professing to be Catholic tells you otherwise, that person is a heretic who ought to be rebuked, not followed.