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Why won’t all other Christians recognize the Roman Catholic Pope as their leader?
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Jimmy_B
Guest
Did the Pope’s visit to the United States, change anyone’s opinion of Pope Benedict XVI or the Catholic Church?
Pope Benedict XVI’s visit to the U.S., made me proud to be a Roman Catholic.
Pope Benedict XVI’s visit to the U.S., made me proud to be a Roman Catholic.
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Jimmy_B
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Gabriel_of_12
Guest
You know Jimmy B, I have not shared this with anyone, but when I saw the Vicar of Jesus Christ reach our coast lands here in the US, it was sure exciting to watch.Did the Pope’s visit to the United States, change anyone’s opinion of Pope Benedict XVI or the Catholic Church?
Pope Benedict XVI’s visit to the U.S., made me proud to be a Roman Catholic.
At the end of the Pontifical visit, I came across of the opinion as I recalled John Paul the Great visit. That Pope John Paul II revealed a Love of God that was Motherly and merciful filled with Grace. Pope Benedict 16th revealed to me a Fatherly’s Love, that is stern, graceful, truthful, accepting, and moving past the body of Christ wounds, recognizing them, acknowledging and fixing them as a Father does for his son.
I am bless’d to have lived to witness these two parental loves displayed by our Pappa. Our present Pappa to me, reminds me a fatherly love and truthfullness to the ups and down of life. I stand and wait for more of this fatherly revelation to come out not only to the body of Jesus Christ his Catholic church, but to the world.
Peace be with you
J
Jimmy_B
Guest
Hello Gabriel of 12,
I wish I was there for the most recent visit. I was blessed to see Pope John Paul II in Los Angeles, in 1987, as I was one of many Los Angeles police officers assigned to work on the day he drove through downtown Los Angeles. I was working in the crowd, in an under-cover capacity; he drive right by me and at one point we made eye contact…it was awesome…LAPD actually created a medal for the occasion and it should be no surprise, that the ribbon is yellow and white, with two crossed - golden keys…Many officer today, still wear the “Pope Medal" (ribbon) on their uniforms….
Peace
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lurdes
Guest
I just hope that the visit from our Pope(Papa) bring GOD back in to the USA since we have drift far away from him as a Country, and we as part of the Holy Catholic Church have to teach other how it is to live with God in our lives, By loving other without prejudice.
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brkn1
Guest
I guess the Pope coming to the USA has brought this thread back, but there was this question about the remission of sins in your bloodless sacrifice of the Eucharist that came up, which none of you would honestly answer. All of you had to hedge or refer it off to some link, but you would not confirm the simple answer that I already knew would have been the only honest one. Why not be honest and just say “YES! There is remission of venial sins by the Eucharist.”?
My question was clear, but your “answer” was not.
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Jimmy_B
Guest
YES! There is remission of venial sins by the Eucharist ,
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ChristianWAB
Guest
I found the title of this thread to be interesting because, in a way, it’s kinda reminding me of the race we’re watching to see who will make it to the United States presidency. There just aren’t a lot of people thrilled with their options, but they take solace in the one thing that makes them feel at least moderately empowered…
Every registered voter has his/her say by casting a vote for who they want.
I’ll be honest. I don’t have any problems with Pope Benedict XVI because I really don’t know who he is. I mean, sure, he’s the designated leader of the Catholic church so presumably, he will uphold Catholic doctrine, but for millions of Christians who put their faith in Jesus instead of Ratzinger, they’re not willing or even able to accept following the advice of a guy they didn’t vote for.
I paid attention following the death of Pope John Paul II because I wanted to get a better understanding on exactly how they would elect their new pope. Ratzinger won, but I’m still a bit mystified as to how people decided that HE’D be the one to carry the torch.
Simply put, it’s hard to get jazzed up about someone you don’t really know and had no (name removed by moderator)ut into their ascension to the Vatican.
Every registered voter has his/her say by casting a vote for who they want.
I’ll be honest. I don’t have any problems with Pope Benedict XVI because I really don’t know who he is. I mean, sure, he’s the designated leader of the Catholic church so presumably, he will uphold Catholic doctrine, but for millions of Christians who put their faith in Jesus instead of Ratzinger, they’re not willing or even able to accept following the advice of a guy they didn’t vote for.
I paid attention following the death of Pope John Paul II because I wanted to get a better understanding on exactly how they would elect their new pope. Ratzinger won, but I’m still a bit mystified as to how people decided that HE’D be the one to carry the torch.
Simply put, it’s hard to get jazzed up about someone you don’t really know and had no (name removed by moderator)ut into their ascension to the Vatican.
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Jimmy_B
Guest
Hello ChristianWAB,
I don’t think I understand your comments here. Every Christian denomination has a leader or many leaders and I am not aware of any religion, where all of the members have a “vote” or “(name removed by moderator)ut” into the “ascension” of their religious leaders. Catholicism isn’t about “empowering” you or me, it is about focusing on Jesus Christ and about humility and surrender.
Can you provide some examples, where all the members of any religious organization, “votes” for their leader or leaders?
Moreover, there are one billion Catholics world wide and over 2500 Catholic dioceses, so I it would be impossible for every Catholic to personally “know” the Pope.
Finally, when you wrote, “for millions of Christians who put their faith in Jesus instead of Ratzinger”, you wrongly implied that Catholics put their faith in the Pope, instead of Jesus and that is absolutely false. I put my faith in Christ above everthing.
Catholics put their faith in Jesus Christ, not the Pope. The Pope puts his faith in Jesus. The focus of Catholicism is on Jesus.
I don’t know where you got your ideas from regarding Catholicism but your information is wrong. I hope you continue to learn the truths about Catholicism and not more false information.
Peace
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lurdes
Guest
Peace be with you christianwab, it sad to read your comment it sounds just like every other non-catholic what you say is what you heard from others not what you have research, Why don’t you study the history of the Church and focus in the truth because Jesus’s true Church holds the truth and who is the truth JESUS.
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ChristianWAB
Guest
Well, the title of the thread is “Why won’t all other Christians recognize the Roman Catholic Pope as their leader?” I was merely speculating as to why millions of Christians choose to focus on Jesus as opposed to a flawed man such as former Cardinal Ratzinger… or Billy Graham… or Benny Hinn… or Joseph Smith… or Tom Cruise… or Warren Jeffs, etc.Hello ChristianWAB,
I don’t think I understand your comments here. Every Christian denomination has a leader or many leaders and I am not aware of any religion, where all of the members have a “vote” or “(name removed by moderator)ut” into the “ascension” of their religious leaders. Catholicism isn’t about “empowering” you or me, it is about focusing on Jesus Christ and about humility and surrender.
Can you provide some examples, where all the members of any religious organization, “votes” for their leader or leaders?
Moreover, there are one billion Catholics world wide and over 2500 Catholic dioceses, so I it would be impossible for every Catholic to personally “know” the Pope.
Finally, when you wrote, “for millions of Christians who put their faith in Jesus instead of Ratzinger”, you wrongly implied that Catholics put their faith in the Pope, instead of Jesus and that is absolutely false. I put my faith in Christ above everthing.
Catholics put their faith in Jesus Christ, not the Pope. The Pope puts his faith in Jesus. The focus of Catholicism is on Jesus.
I don’t know where you got your ideas from regarding Catholicism but your information is wrong. I hope you continue to learn the truths about Catholicism and not more false information.
Peace
I openly admitted that the process utilized in choosing Popes remained a mystery to me, even after watching it on TV and reading about it. Sure, maybe a lot of religions don’t elect their leaders or whatever, which is PROBABLY why most Christians tend to keep their focus on Jesus as opposed to someone who would claim to be Christ’s representative on earth.
Then again, you wrote that “Every Christian denomination has a leader or many leaders…” so maybe you just answered the question better than I did. Each religion seems to have their own leader, so… c’est la vie.
Incidentally, you asked me to cite examples of a religion where people “vote” for their leader. I honestly thought that’s how Catholic popes were chosen. So to better understand the process, I went to catholic-pages.com and managed to find my answer in the very first sentence of “Electing a Pope.”
It reads: *“Popes are elected by the College of Cardinals meeting in Conclave when the Apostolic See falls vacant.” (bold mine). * So apparently, there **IS **a vote… or what they refer to as a “secret ballot” which is the same thing.
So here again, I must defer to my original suspicion that, PERHAPS due to the fact that we the people don’t choose this leader, rather he is chosen for us, maybe this is why not everybody accepts him as their leader.
Again, I have no opinion of this guy, positive or negative, because… well… I don’t know him. For all I know, Ratzinger might be a great guy. Who’s to say? Certainly not me… but in my heart, Jesus is my leader.
Jesus is the One to whom I place my trust and my desire for guidance to do what is right and just in this world. Jesus is the One to whom I beg forgiveness and pray for the salvation that only He can grant me.
The good Lord above receives all of my prayers in the name of Jesus. I honestly don’t go to anybody else but Jesus to intercede for me. And I wouldn’t necessarily trust the Pope, even if he were standing in front of me, telling me what he believes is true. But, Catholics would likely disagree with me and they have every right to - no harm, no foul.
To be honest, with all of the cardinals, bishops, arch-bishops, priests, deacons, etc. that Catholics have, I can’t help but wonder why we even NEED a pope.
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ChristianWAB
Guest
I’m admittedly confused by your comment for a few reasons:
1.) If this question is (presumably) directed towards non-Catholics to provide possible reasons why they don’t accept Ratzinger as their leader, why would it sadden you to read a response to the question, regardless of whether you feel it’s correct or not?
2.) Why do you believe I’m going on what other people say as opposed to doing research? And on that vein, isn’t RESEARCH that one finds in written form merely the words of other people anyway?
3.) What makes you think I haven’t studied the history of the church already?
I speculated as to why millions of Christians don’t consider Ratzinger their leader. I never said I was right, though if I were to conduct a survey, I suspect I might not be far off. Perhaps other factors are at play here (i.e.: the sex abuse scandals).
I know that, at least around where I live, Catholicism took a HUGE hit following the church closings that resulted in having to pay punitive damages awarded to the victims of abuse at the hands of the clergy. Many people stopped attending, stopped giving money, etc.
I actually find the question quite intriguing - Why won’t other Christians recognize the Roman Catholic Pope as their leader? Maybe if I did a little digging, I’d find surveys and polls taken regarding this very question. Certainly seems worthy of a survey to me, don’t you think?
Anyway, like I said before, I’m sure Ratzinger’s a great guy and probably a pleasure to speak with, but I don’t *know *him. If I ever do meet him, I’d be happy to speak with him about Catholicism and listen to his words, just as I’m happy to read YOUR words.
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Jimmy_B
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I was merely speculating as to why millions of Christians choose to focus on Jesus as opposed to a flawed man such as former Cardinal Ratzinger… or Billy Graham… or Benny Hinn… or Joseph Smith… or Tom Cruise… or Warren Jeffs, etc.
There you go again, wrongly assuming the billions of people, over the last two thousand years, who you haven’t met and do not know, are “focused on” other people “instead of Jesus” .
I am a Roman Catholic and I, as well as ALL of the observant Roman Catholics, I have ever met, are focused on Jesus Christ, not on the Pope or anything else.
EVERYTHING in Catholicism, leads Catholics to Jesus Christ.
I’m sorry, but you have absolutely no idea what you are talking about, when it comes to Catholicism. What is your source, for these opinions of yours, on Catholicism? I would like to know because your information is completely wrong!
why most Christians tend to keep their focus on Jesus as opposed to someone who would claim to be Christ’s representative on earth.
“as apposed to”
Catholics are Christians and we were the First Christians!
The Bible you have used to “focus on Jesus” was passed down to you by the Roman Catholic Church…the Bible is a “Catholic Book”.
If it wasn’t for the Roman Catholic Church, you wouldn’t even know who Jesus was……
Will you please stop it with this none-sense, about Catholics not being “focused on Jesus”, these are false statements and as a Catholic, I find them to be annoying and offensive.
so maybe you just answered the question better than I did. Each religion seems to have their own leader, so… c’est la vie.
Incidentally, you asked me to cite examples of a religion where people “vote” for their leader. I honestly thought that’s how Catholic popes were chosen. So to better understand the process, I went to catholic-pages.com and managed to find my answer in the very first sentence of “Electing a Pope.”
Nope, you are misquoting me here, I asked you to provide a religion were “all of the members of the religion have a vote” … All one billion Catholics, are represented, by Cardinals who vote, parishioners’ do not vote for the Pope.
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Jimmy_B
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by the College of Cardinals meeting in Conclave when the Apostolic See falls vacant." (bold mine). So apparently, there **IS **a vote… or what they refer to as a “secret ballot” which is the same thing.
Yep, but this isn’t - “all the members”, go back and read my post.
due to the fact that we the people don’t choose this leader, rather he is chosen for us, maybe this is why not everybody accepts him as their leader.
As a Catholic “Jesus is my leader”.
How did you learn about Jesus? Christian “leaders” (Catholic Popes) approved the Bible.
As a Catholic, I agree with this comment.
of my prayers in the name of Jesus.
Once again, as a Catholic, I agree with this comment.
Nope…wrong again, here, I agree with most of the statement.
a pope.
Those positions are described in your Bible…so is the Bible wrong or just ALL early Christians…in your opinion?
Moreover, without central leadership in the Catholicism, there would be no Christianity today, There would be not Bible and Christianity would have been wiped from the face of the earth and that’s a fact! We wouldn’t be having this discussion today, if the Catholic Church and Catholic Popes had not protected and preserved Catholicism (Christianity).
Please become an informed Christian…the information is out there… Keep growing and learning as a Christian and stop jumping to conclusions based on anti-Catholic lies.
Peace
J
Jimmy_B
Guest
**[sign]
Pope Benedict XVI
****Why won’t all other Christians *******recognize ****the Roman Catholic Pope ***as their leader? **[/sign]
http://www.defendthepope.com/PopeBenedictXVI.jpgPope Benedict XVI
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jblake
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Jimmy B;:
xan
jonathon
Individual congregations in Restoration Movement Christianity do vote for who the congregation leaders are. (Minister, elders, deacons.) There is no higher authority in those “denominations”, due to the autonomous nature of those congregations.
xan
jonathon
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Annie_B
Guest
Maybe because they are not Roman Catholic?
Just as Catholics do not accept other denominations leaders as their own…
Annie
Just as Catholics do not accept other denominations leaders as their own…Annie
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