However, one letter recently printed caught my attention, especially one sentence. The writer said, “Furthermore Jesus authorized not even one denomination therefore every denomination is, by definition, man-made.”
I challenge that statement by quoting from the New Testament. If we believe that Jesus is a divine person, the Son of God, then what He says has divine authority.
“And I say to thee, thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my Church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. And I will give thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven; and whatever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” Matthew 16:18-19
So Jesus established his church with Peter as its head. This church has existed for almost 2,000 years and will continue to exist with popes as successors of Peter and bishops as successors of the Apostles.
In fact if you study the history of the Christian church from the Acts of the Apostles to the present time you would be studying the history of the Roman Catholic Church.
Yes, there are other Christian churches such as the Eastern Orthodox and the proliferation of churches at the time of the Protestant Reformation.
But still the point Christian church is the Catholic, as can be seen by the daily relentless attacks on it by the growing secular culture we live in today.
Its biblical, doctrinal and moral teachings are unchanged for the past two millennia.
You Wrote:EVERYBODY who is not Catholic brings up the pedophile issue, well, Penn State, find one institution that doesn't involve children that has a pedophile problem.
I reply: Yes Penn State had a child abuse issue and it was vile and is disgusting that a major college failed to notify police.
However the Catholic church has been proven to have engaged in a WORLDWIDE child abuse crime.
Worse when confronted the church has transferred abusive priests from church to church to shield them.
This has occurred for DECADES and in numerous countries.
So I do not think it's the same as Penn State......BTW Sandusky was arrested and is going to jail. Can't say that for many priestly abusers.
Now my overarching point is still that ALL religions run around proclaiming themselves to be the one true version of their gods words.
Look at how many words have been expended in in the debate on Shorter's bigoted and hypocritical policy.
Letter after letter from from christians and pastors proclaiming that only THERE version if the bible was correct.
Frankly to me as an atheist it's like watching two four olds scream at each other.
Rhuidean
I found the true meaning as each week's meeting would unlock a closeness to God that I had never felt before. Why? For every staple of belief that is the Catholic Church, there was a valid reason for it. For every ceremonial element of a Mass, there was a scriptural reason for performing it.
The most important thing was the relationship of the Old Testament to the New Testament. It was like all these rings of knowledge intertwined and made sense, where no preacher had ever been able to communicate to me.
Yes, there have been problems of corruption over 2000 years. With every good thing there are bad things. It is not just isolated to the Catholic Church. Look at what happened with an Associate Pastor at a local church that led to an affair and murder...Just one of many examples in Rome alone.
The Catholic Church was the first church, some of the Popes, Bishops and Priests have been corrupt, but the people of the Catholic Church are striving to be the best they can be, not for you or me, but for themselves.
I challenge anyone to go through the RCIA process, and see if it doesn't change you for the better, instead of believing a few catch phrases set forth by ignorant people and preachers who haven't looked into all avenues of the Christian faith.
Last year, I was visiting my father for the first time since my confirmation. We celebrated the Eucharist together, and took our first ever communion together. He had converted when I was a child of 6 years old. I was 41 and it was the most bonding experience we had had. For the first time we were united in Christ. 2 weeks later, he was with Christ, thanks to cancer.
Can you nay sayers of the Catholic Church find something wrong in that experience?
You Wrote: But still the point Christian church is the Catholic, as can be seen by the daily relentless attacks on it by the growing secular culture we live in today.
I reply: Over the last millennia the Catholic church has persecuted those who disagree with them. Maybe you have heard of the Spanish Inquisition? How about pedophile priests? Cardinals lecturing about marriage and sex while being celibate.
Now the bishops want to take away women's right to contraception.
Under Attack? Hardly?
Rhuidean
If anyone thinks that's why it's being attacked, they're living in a state of delusion. A delusion that supports various ongoing atrocities around the world.