I want to understand the Catholic faith so....

[epostle]

[h=1]It's normal to grieve a pregnancy loss, including the loss of a child by abortion. It can form a hole in one's heart, a hole so deep that sometimes it seems nothing can fill the emptiness.[/h]Project Rachel is available at no cost to help anyone, regardless of faith, who has had an abortion, whether recent or many years ago.

Project Rachel offers women a path to healing after an abortion. This ministry offers hope and forgiveness in a non-judgmental and confidential atmosphere.

Project Rachel – HopeAfterAbortion.org

 

[sydlit]

sydlit, if I was wrong about Magenta, she would have told me and I would have apologized. But she hasn't said anything to me in any post or in private messages. Leave it alone, and leave Magenta alone. I admire your chivalry but Magenta can take care of herself.

She can take care of you, too, jack, but she has more grace and class than to even address it, and she doesn't need to say anything about it to you, pvt or public. It's not a matter of IF you were wrong about her.....you had NO right to say ANYthing about her childhood! You WERE wrong, you ARE wrong, and you owe her an apology. And don't tell me about ME leaving magenta alone, she's my sister. You can simply apologize, or continue being a coward...there's no third option.

 

[onlinebuddy]

Matt. 9:8 - this verse shows that God has given the authority to forgive sins to "men." Hence, those Protestants who acknowledge that the apostles had the authority to forgive sins (which this verse demonstrates) must prove that this gift ended with the apostles. Otherwise, the apostles' successors still possess this gift. Where in Scripture is the gift of authority to forgive sins taken away from the apostles or their successors?

Epostle,
Are you implying that catholic priests are successors of the apostles? Can you prove this?
Does a catholic priest possess the gifts of the Holy Spirit?
Is the "power to forgive" one of the gifts of the Holy Spirit?

 

[epostle]

Epostle,
Are you implying that catholic priests are successors of the apostles? Can you prove this?

We have a pedigree.

Does a catholic priest possess the gifts of the Holy Spirit?

Some do. Does every Protestant minister possess the gifts of the Holy Spirit? The gifts are for up-building the church, not trophies of holiness. How and what gift given to anyone is up to God.

Is the "power to forgive" one of the gifts of the Holy Spirit?

No, the "power to forgive" goes with ordination of the New Testament Priesthood. Jesus gave this gift only to the Apostles, not each individual believer. There is no way you can prove from scripture this gift died out with the last Apostle.

The Primacy of Peter, the Papacy and Apostolic Succession

I will, for the most part, answer briefly certain questions supported with links. If anyone really wants the answers, they will read them carefully with an open mind. I will mostly answer the OP and from now on, avoid "fruitless argumentation".

 

[KenAllan]

Again people are misinterpreting the Scriptures.

Nowhere in the Book of Acts or in the Epistles do we find any instance of an Apostle remitting the sins of anyone. They do go everywhere, proclaiming the forgiveness of sins.

Let me ask a question: What is it that forgives sins?

Forgiveness of sins is only and alone through the Blood of Jesus Christ!

Ephesians 1:7
[SUP]7 [/SUP] In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace


In John 20:23, Jesus does not give the power to the Apostles to forgive sins. Only the Blood of Jesus forgives sins.

Therefore for epostle and the Catholic Church to say John 20:23 gives the Catholics Priests the power to forgive sins shows that epostle and the Catholic Church does not understand what the Scriptures say. Which proves again epostle has never received Salvation and the Indwelling of the Holy Spirit.

How can you epostle understand the deep teachings of the Holy Spirit if you have never received Salvation and the Indwelling of the Holy Spirit?

You are a false teacher trying to deceive the Children of God with your false teachings epostle.

Matthew 7:15
[SUP]15 [/SUP] "Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.

2 Peter 2:1
[SUP]1 [/SUP] But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction.

Repent epostle and accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior before its too late and you end up in the Lake of Fire.

 

[notuptome]

Catholic social teaching is a central and essential element of our faith. Its roots are in the Hebrew prophets who announced God's special love for the poor and called God's people to a covenant of love and justice. It is a teaching founded on the life and words of Jesus Christ, who came "to bring glad tidings to the poor . . . liberty to captives . . . recovery of sight to the blind"(Lk 4:18-19), and who identified himself with "the least of these," the hungry and the stranger (cf. Mt 25:45). Catholic social teaching is built on a commitment to the poor. This commitment arises from our experiences of Christ in the eucharist.

As the Catechism of the Catholic Church explains, "To receive in truth the Body and Blood of Christ given up for us, we must recognize Christ in the poorest, his brethren" (no. 1397).

Catholic social teaching emerges from the truth of what God has revealed to us about himself. We believe in the triune God whose very nature is communal and social. God the Father sends his only Son Jesus Christ and shares the Holy Spirit as his gift of love. God reveals himself to us as one who is not alone, but rather as one who is relational, one who is Trinity. Therefore, we who are made in God's image share this communal, social nature. We are called to reach out and to build relationships of love and justice.

Catholic social teaching is based on and inseparable from our understanding of human life and human dignity. Every human being is created in the image of God and redeemed by Jesus Christ, and therefore is invaluable and worthy of respect as a member of the human family. Every person, from the moment of conception to natural death, has inherent dignity and a right to life consistent with that dignity. Human dignity comes from God, not from any human quality or accomplishment.

Our commitment to the Catholic social mission must be rooted in and strengthened by our spiritual lives. In our relationship with God we experience the conversion of heart that is necessary to truly love one another as God has loved us.
Catholic Social Teaching

View attachment 138596​

Better to enter into heaven halt an lame than being whole be cast into hell.

Matthew 5:29 And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.
30 And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.

Yes they have fed millions but they have also allowed many times that number to perish in ignorance of the saving grace of God. Substituting self righteousness for the righteousness of God.

For the cause of Christ
Roger

 

[KenAllan]

What good is it to feed millions of people if you refuse to bring the Gospel of Salvation to them?

Even Satan believes in the triune God!

How can you say you believe in God and reject His Truths epostle?

Repent epostle and accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior before its too late.

 

[epostle]

PROPHECIES GIVEN AT ST. PETER’S BASILICA DURING THE CLOSING EUCHARIST ON PENTECOST MONDAY—MAY 1975
BEFORE THE POPE AND SEVERAL CARDINALS AND BISHOPS. (still relevant today)

Because I love you, I want to show you what I am doing in the world today. I want to prepare you for what is to come. Days of darkness are coming on the world, days of tribulation….Buildings that are now standing will not be standing. Supports that are there for my people now will not be there. I want you to be prepared, my people, to know only me and to cleave to me and to have me in a way deeper than ever before. I will lead you into the desert…I will strip you of everything that you are depending on now, so you depend just on me. A time of darkness is coming on the world, but a time of glory is coming for my church, a time of glory is coming for my people. I will pour out on you all the gifts of my spirit. I will prepare you for spiritual combat; I will prepare you for a time o evangelism that the world has never seen…. And when you have nothing but me,you will have everything: land, fields, homes, and brothers and sisters and love andjoy and peace more than ever before. Be ready, my people, I want to prepare you…” (given by Ralph Martin)

“I speak to you of the dawn of a ‘new age’ for my church. I speak to you of a day that has not been seen before….Prepare yourselves for the action that I begin now, because things that you see around you will change; the combat that you must enter now is different; it is new. You need wisdom from me that you do not yet have.“You need the power of my Holy Spirit in a way that you nave not possessed it;you need an understanding of my will and of the ways that I work that you do not yet have.
Open your eyes, open your hearts to prepare yourselves for me and for he day that I have now begun. My church will be different; my people will be different; difficulties and trials will come upon you. The comfort that you know now will be far from you, but the comfort that you will have is the comfort of my Holy Spirit. They will send for you, to take your life, but I will support you. Come to me. Band yourselves together, around me. Prepare, for I proclaim a new day, a day of victory and of triumph for your God. Behold, it is begun.” (given by BruceYocum)

I will renew my church. I will renew my people. I will make my people one. I am calling you to turn away from the pleasures of the world. Iam calling you to turn away from the desires of the world. I am calling you to turn away from seeking the approval of the world in your lives. I want to transform your lives….I have a word for my church. I am sounding my call. I am forming a mighty army….My power is upon them. They will follow my chosen shepherd(s)….“…IBe the shepherds I have called you to be….I am renewing my people. I will renew my church. I will free the world.”

https://www.renewalministries.net/wordpress/prophecies-st-peters-basilica-pentecost-1975/

 

[Goodness11]

PROPHECIES GIVEN AT ST. PETER’S BASILICA DURING THE CLOSING EUCHARIST ON PENTECOST MONDAY—MAY 1975
BEFORE THE POPE AND SEVERAL CARDINALS AND BISHOPS. (still relevant today)

Because I love you, I want to show you what I am doing in the world today. I want to prepare you for what is to come. Days of darkness are coming on the world, days of tribulation….Buildings that are now standing will not be standing. Supports that are there for my people now will not be there. I want you to be prepared, my people, to know only me and to cleave to me and to have me in a way deeper than ever before. I will lead you into the desert…I will strip you of everything that you are depending on now, so you depend just on me. A time of darkness is coming on the world, but a time of glory is coming for my church, a time of glory is coming for my people. I will pour out on you all the gifts of my spirit. I will prepare you for spiritual combat; I will prepare you for a time o evangelism that the world has never seen…. And when you have nothing but me,you will have everything: land, fields, homes, and brothers and sisters and love andjoy and peace more than ever before. Be ready, my people, I want to prepare you…” (given by Ralph Martin)

“I speak to you of the dawn of a ‘new age’ for my church. I speak to you of a day that has not been seen before….Prepare yourselves for the action that I begin now, because things that you see around you will change; the combat that you must enter now is different; it is new. You need wisdom from me that you do not yet have.“You need the power of my Holy Spirit in a way that you nave not possessed it;you need an understanding of my will and of the ways that I work that you do not yet have.
Open your eyes, open your hearts to prepare yourselves for me and for he day that I have now begun. My church will be different; my people will be different; difficulties and trials will come upon you. The comfort that you know now will be far from you, but the comfort that you will have is the comfort of my Holy Spirit. They will send for you, to take your life, but I will support you. Come to me. Band yourselves together, around me. Prepare, for I proclaim a new day, a day of victory and of triumph for your God. Behold, it is begun.” (given by BruceYocum)

I will renew my church. I will renew my people. I will make my people one. I am calling you to turn away from the pleasures of the world. Iam calling you to turn away from the desires of the world. I am calling you to turn away from seeking the approval of the world in your lives. I want to transform your lives….I have a word for my church. I am sounding my call. I am forming a mighty army….My power is upon them. They will follow my chosen shepherd(s)….“…IBe the shepherds I have called you to be….I am renewing my people. I will renew my church. I will free the world.”

https://www.renewalministries.net/wordpress/prophecies-st-peters-basilica-pentecost-1975/

So the Catholic Charismatic Movement...personally 'I' see a lot of 'I's' in there. Replacing God much?? So confusing!! Are they speaking for God or have they become God? Wow, I am speechless. (Oh sorry, God thinks I am speechless!)

 

[epostle]

So the Catholic Charismatic Movement...personally 'I' see a lot of 'I's' in there. Replacing God much?? So confusing!! Are they speaking for God or have they become God? Wow, I am speechless. (Oh sorry, God thinks I am speechless!)

The "I" in prophetic utterance is Jesus speaking in the first person. Jesus is speaking through the person who verbalizes what Jesus is telling him to say. A member of any charismatic or Pentecostal church that manifests the gifts of the Holy Spirit can explain it, they will say the same thing.
Catholics have a large banquet table of diverse spiritualities. We don't sit around glossing over doctrines.

 

[Goodness11]

The "I" in prophetic utterance is Jesus speaking in the first person. Jesus is speaking through the person who verbalizes what Jesus is telling him to say. A member of any charismatic or Pentecostal church that manifests the gifts of the Holy Spirit can explain it, they will say the same thing.
Catholics have a large banquet table of diverse spiritualities. We don't sit around glossing over doctrines.

Simply not true. I currently attend a Pentecostal congregation and they reference through the Holy Spirit. 'I awoke and my Holy Spirit...'.

That is Catholic priests speaking on behalf of Jesus? Why would you trust that? Jesus spoke for himself in the Bible. I would hate for someone to speak on my behalf because it will always gets altered or people can take it incorrectly. Very odd; that's the first time I have ever seen that language/dialogue spoken that way in reference to Jesus!? No really, I am not lying to you.

 

[mpaper345]

Some false interpretations of the Bible occur,because someone has a belief that is not according to the Bible,and drag it in to the Bible,and that false belief becomes their foundation for the interpretation of the Bible.

Like Joseph Smith who had a belief that is not according to the Bible,and dragged it in to the Bible,in which it became the foundation for the interpretation of the Bible.The Mormons.

Like the new age movement who have a belief in the occult,harnessing the power of nature,not following a personal God,witchcraft,and such,and it became the foundation for the interpretation of the Bible.

Like Scientology,and others,that have a belief that is not part of the Bible,and drag it in to the Bible,which becomes their foundation for the interpretation of the Bible.

It is obvious when observing the Roman Catholic Church,and what they teach,that when they embraced the Bible,and Christianity,they did not get rid of their pagan ways,and go only by the Bible,but held unto their pagan ways,and it became their foundation for the interpretation of the Bible,and that is why Mary can be the Queen of heaven,mother of God,making a statue of her,and bowing to it,and the Pope can be the Holy Father,the head of the Church,and infallible in the pulpit,and the trinity,which is a pagan belief,that the reformation held unto it,and so many other things,like dipping a cross in water,and it is holy water,the rosary,saying hail Mary,and confessing to the priest,baptizing infants,and such things.

It is obvious that the Roman Catholic Church held unto their pagan ways,and it became their foundation for the interpretation of the Bible,which the reformation did good,but made the mistake of holding unto the trinity,and it became so popular with Catholics,and Protestants,that people think that the oneness is false,going by the rule,the majority rules,but if majority rules,then the Roman Catholic Church is the truth,and in the future,the new age religion would be the truth.

 

[onlinebuddy]

No, the "power to forgive" goes with ordination of the New Testament Priesthood.

The very first line (I can't believe this...the very first line) is a lie!
QUOTE from the article
In both Old and New Testaments, there are three ranks of priests, which are commonly referred to as the high priests, the ministerial priests, and the universal priests
UNQUOTE
Show me the universal priests in the Old Testament.
Show me the high priests (apart from Jesus) in the New Testamtent.
Show me the ministerial priests in the New Testament.

 

[onlinebuddy]

The very first line (I can't believe this...the very first line) is a lie!
QUOTE from the article
In both Old and New Testaments, there are three ranks of priests, which are commonly referred to as the high priests, the ministerial priests, and the universal priests
UNQUOTE
Show me the universal priests in the Old Testament.
Show me the high priests (apart from Jesus) in the New Testamtent.
Show me the ministerial priests in the New Testament.

OK hang on. Let me read the entire article first........

 

[epostle]

Simply not true. I currently attend a Pentecostal congregation and they reference through the Holy Spirit. 'I awoke and my Holy Spirit...'.

I am familiar with the history of the Pentecostal church and have attended many services. Prophecy is common place in most of them. If your congregation does not manifest the gifts, I am at a loss as to what to say.

That is Catholic priests speaking on behalf of Jesus? Why would you trust that?

No, they are laymen. Look at the words. They are not the words of men, but spoken through men. If you can't identify the voice based on the merits of the words, there is nothing I can say.

Jesus spoke for himself in the Bible. I would hate for someone to speak on my behalf because it will always gets altered or people can take it incorrectly.

Then there was never a need for prophets. Gifts come from the Holy Spirit, but when it comes to prophecy, it's truthfulness is discerned by all in attendance, which is why strong leadership is required for prayer groups to function without going off the deep end.

Very odd; that's the first time I have ever seen that language/dialogue spoken that way in reference to Jesus!? No really, I am not lying to you.

Very odd for me as well, to have a Pentecostal not familiar with the gift of prophecy.

 

[epostle]

Some false interpretations of the Bible occur,because someone has a belief that is not according to the Bible,and drag it in to the Bible,and that false belief becomes their foundation for the interpretation of the Bible.

Like Joseph Smith who had a belief that is not according to the Bible,and dragged it in to the Bible,in which it became the foundation for the interpretation of the Bible.The Mormons.

Like the new age movement who have a belief in the occult,harnessing the power of nature,not following a personal God,witchcraft,and such,and it became the foundation for the interpretation of the Bible.

Like Scientology,and others,that have a belief that is not part of the Bible,and drag it in to the Bible,which becomes their foundation for the interpretation of the Bible.

It is obvious when observing the Roman Catholic Church,and what they teach,that when they embraced the Bible,and Christianity,they did not get rid of their pagan ways,and go only by the Bible,but held unto their pagan ways,and it became their foundation for the interpretation of the Bible,and that is why Mary can be the Queen of heaven,mother of God,making a statue of her,and bowing to it,and the Pope can be the Holy Father,the head of the Church,and infallible in the pulpit,and the trinity,which is a pagan belief,that the reformation held unto it,and so many other things,like dipping a cross in water,and it is holy water,the rosary,saying hail Mary,and confessing to the priest,baptizing infants,and such things.

It is obvious that the Roman Catholic Church held unto their pagan ways,and it became their foundation for the interpretation of the Bible,which the reformation did good,but made the mistake of holding unto the trinity,and it became so popular with Catholics,and Protestants,that people think that the oneness is false,going by the rule,the majority rules,but if majority rules,then the Roman Catholic Church is the truth,and in the future,the new age religion would be the truth.

Opponents of the Church often attempt to discredit Catholicism by attempting to show similarities between it and the beliefs or practices of ancient paganism. This fallacy is frequently committed by Fundamentalists against Catholics, by Seventh-day Adventists, Jehovah’s Witnesses, Mormons, and others against both Protestants and Catholics, and by atheists and skeptics against both Christians and Jews.
Is Catholicism Pagan? | Catholic Answers

You can ignore the link, but if you wish to remain uninformed and repeat the same fallacies there is no point in discussing it further.

 

[onlinebuddy]

OK hang on. Let me read the entire article first........

I enjoyed reading the article.
Some very interesting and true Biblical facts are presented therein.
However, I should say that I did not agree with everything written.
I can find many points to argue on,
but I will not indulge in bashing.

I liked the way the ministerial priesthood is explained.
Also, in the article, the priest does not steal the position of Jesus as the High Priest.
The article also does not deny that we are a holy priesthood.
The article equates a priest with an elder, which I have no problem with.
I have personally been associated with catholic priests
who have been the most amazing people I have ever met.
Doctrine apart, these guys are awesome human beings.

Furthermore, Transubstantiation is not advocated in the article.
Celibacy and priestly garments are not argued about and are beyond the scope of this article.
It is not argued whether the presence of Jesus in the Liturgy of the Eucharist is actual or symbolic.
Also it is clarified that the catholic priest does not put Jesus on the cross every time the Eucharist is celebrated.
Mary is not discussed, and does not steal the position of Jesus.
The power of priests to forgive is not discussed.
Scripture is not used out of context.
So taking the article in the range of its scope, it was a good read.

 

[epostle]

Scientific Evidence for Miracles
​

ARGUMENT:

(1) Miracles are defined as: instances where events happen in such close temporal proximity and in logical connection to religious evocation, such as prayer; said events stand out from what we understand to be the set course of nature; said events cannot be explained through any known natural agency; said events create religious affections in the lives of those connected with them.

(2) Miracles are perceived to be interventions or influences of Supernature upon the lower sphere of nature.

(3) Thousands of such examples have been documented in modern times.

(4) When and if such occurrences affect the life of a believer, the believer is then justified in assuming that some supernatural effect has occurred

(5) If a supernatural effect happens, it is assumed that God works such an effect

(6) Such effects have occurred, therefore, the believer is justified in such a belief.

(7) A justified belief in the action of God is a justification for a rational belief in God. Therefore, the real first hand experience of this type of event, or the credible confidence in such documented cases justifies a rational warrant for belief.

Introduction:Lourdes Rules
Lourdes
Saint Making
Eucharistic Miracles
Protestant Miracles
Protestant Miracles:The Anecdotal Pile
God and Amputees
Causality in miracle Hunting

The Medical committee at Lourdes is totally independent of the Church. They use skeptics on the committees, the rules are geared to control for remission. They screen our remission. They are required to use only the best medical evidence, to consult the doctors of the patients and they cannot make decisions without obtaining the medical records of those doctors. They do examine the patients. It does have to be proven that the people were sick beforehand! they will only choose a case when they cannot find a naturalistic explanation.

I am not claiming that these cases "prove" the existence of God. But in each case there is enough to make the leap of faith, filling in the gap with a good extraordinary pile of evidence. Atheists are always asserting we need extraordinary evidence. This is evidence. What most atheists mean by that is a little gape of raise the bar. I have played this game, met all their demands for documented miracles and they want more. They keep raising the bar until it turns out they will not believe until you give them regeneration of severed limbs. I show where St. Anthony did that, well it's a legend. I show a miracle that beatified Saint Thérèse of Lisieux. A man grew grew back new lungs over night, but now that's not good because it's a Mary devotional site. It doesn't matter that the case is documented by the best medical evidence of the day (1916). But that's not good enough because the site it's on is not a science site and the X-rays are not on the net.

Atheists will never be satisfied because they are not seeking truth, they are seeking to guard a paradigm. Be that as it may, the evidence for miracles at Lourdes is the finest I the world, and is valid and well documented with the best science has to offer to date. That makes it extraordinary. This furnishes a rational warrant for belief. Meaning, if one chooses to construe it as proof it is not irrational to take it as such. Scientific Evidence for Miracles page 1: examination of the Lourdes rules for miracle acceptence.

 

[KenAllan]

Yes Catholicism is Pagan.

Two of the Major Doctrines about Mary from the Catholic Church proves the Catholic Church is a Pagan Church.

1. Mary's immaculate conception.
2. Mary as Mediatrix.

Romans 3:10
[SUP]10 [/SUP] as it is written: “None is righteous, no, not one;

Romans 3:23
[SUP]23 [/SUP] for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

Romans 5:12
[SUP]12 [/SUP] Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned—

None is righteous, not even Mary. Mary was never righteous. Only Jesus Christ was righteous.

All have sinned includes Mary. Mary was born a sinner and Mary died a sinner. Mary was never born without sin.

There is only one Mediator and He is Jesus Christ.

1 Timothy 2:5
[SUP]5 [/SUP] For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus

Jesus Christ is our Mediator and the ONLY Mediator between us and God. Nowhere in the Scriptures does it say Mary is our Mediator.

These two Major Doctrines about Mary proves the Catholic Church today is a Pagan Church with Mary as their God.

Its unfortunate most Catholics are blinded by the god of this World to the Truth that they do Worship Mary as their God.

 

[epostle]

I enjoyed reading the article.
Some very interesting and true Biblical facts are presented therein.
However, I should say that I did not agree with everything written.
I can find many points to argue on,
but I will not indulge in bashing.

I liked the way the ministerial priesthood is explained.
Also, in the article, the priest does not steal the position of Jesus as the High Priest.
The article also does not deny that we are a holy priesthood.
The article equates a priest with an elder, which I have no problem with.
I have personally been associated with catholic priests
who have been the most amazing people I have ever met.
Doctrine apart, these guys are awesome human beings.

Furthermore, Transubstantiation is not advocated in the article.
Celibacy and priestly garments are not argued about and are beyond the scope of this article.
It is not argued whether the presence of Jesus in the Liturgy of the Eucharist is actual or symbolic.
Also it is clarified that the catholic priest does not put Jesus on the cross every time the Eucharist is celebrated.
Mary is not discussed, and does not steal the position of Jesus.
The power of priests to forgive is not discussed.
Scripture is not used out of context.
So taking the article in the range of its scope, it was a good read.

Thanks onlinebuddy, it's refreshing to see a positive reply. Do you prefer videos over text? I prefer text myself. I speed-read.