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 Catechism of the Catholic Church  Crossing the Threshold of Hope  Good News About Sex and Marriage: Answers to Your Honest Questions About Catholic Teaching  Saint Joseph Edition of the New American Bible: Translated from the Original Languages With Critical Use of All Ancient Sources  The Lamb's Supper: The Mass as Heaven on Earth  Christ the Lord: Out of Egypt  The Pope, the Council, and the Mass, Revised Edition  Mother Teresa: Come Be My Light - The Private Writings of the Saint of Calcutta  Jesus-Shock  Compendium of the Catechism of the Catholic Church |
During these serious times, people of all faiths should remember these four religious truths: 2. Jews do not recognize Jesus as the Messiah. 3. Protestants do not recognize the Pope as the leader of the Christian world. 4. Baptists do not recognize each other at Hooters. I figured we could all use a laugh. We are all sinners but I think most Catholics know their short comings and hope to correct their lives to live according to their Catholic Fatih. It is discouraging to all Catholics to hear about politicans who use their faith as a resume builder verses a true conversion of their lives. While some Bishops have ask politicans who support abortion laws to refrain from communion not all have. There is currently a petition to gather one million signatures/entries which will then be provided to the US Bishops and to the Vatican. You can read the petition below and provide your support at http://www.pewsitter.com/petition/ Text of the Petition In the United States there has been and continues to be an ongoing disregard, by prominent Catholics in public life, of the Church’s teaching on a variety of serious moral issues including abortion, euthanasia, human cloning, homosexual “marriage”, and embryonic stem cell research to name a few. Whereas, many of these prominent Catholics not only disregard the Church’s teachings on these issues but actively and publicly promote policies and legislation that undermines, opposes and contradicts the Church on these serious moral issues. Whereas, the Catholic Church has given the local Bishop, the authority to deal with such manifestations of public disobedience to the Church’s teachings. Whereas, Catholics understand, support and respect the behind-the-scenes dialogue and diplomacy that goes on by our Bishops, with prominent Catholics, to reconcile them with the Church and further recognize that as a Church, it is our strong preference to resolve such issues in private. However, when such actions by prominent Catholics continues for years and in some cases decades – - in spite of the actions and activities that have been undertaken by past and present Bishops to reconcile them with the Church – - then it becomes necessary for a Bishop to take decisive public action, like the withholding of Holy Communion under Canon 915, to prevent further scandal. Whereas, Bishops who do not withhold communion, or institute some other serious, public disciplinary action against such prominent Catholics that obstinately persevere in manifest grave sin, leave the impression such actions are condoned, or at least tolerated, and thereby perpetuate this scandal. Whereas I, YOUR NAME, a faithful Catholic residing within the diocese of YOUR DIOCESE do find the reception of Holy Communion by these prominent Catholics to be scandalous; I fear that it sets an example that will undoubtedly mislead others into participating, condoning and justifying these same immoral activities. Whereas, Canon 212 ‘3, states that the Catholic faithful have ..the right, indeed at times the duty, in keeping with their knowledge, competence and position, to manifest to the sacred Pastors their views on matters which concern the good of the Church. Be it therefore resolved in accordance with Canon 212 ‘3 , that I, YOUR NAME, do petition my Bishop, YOUR BISHOP, to extinguish this scandal by publicly disciplining such prominent Catholics that reside within his diocese, through the withholding of the Holy Communion, as stipulated in Canon 915, until such time as they have been reconciled with the Church. YOUR NAME
This is an article I ran across today that gives a good explanation of just how an abortion “procedure” played out in Florida in 2006. http://www.opposingviews.com/articles/news-botched-florida-abortion-case-could-impact-life-debate I think the article does an excellent job of showing just how insane the abortion “laws” are in this country. We as a people appear to be willing to fight for every life outside the mothers womb but none inside of it. It is stories like this one that will one day hopefully change the hearts of this nation and will hopefully cause our laws to be changed. God has given us all a tremendous amount of responsibility to treat each human life with care and love and we appear to be failing miserably. … when it comes to funding of overseas abortion organizations i.e. the reversal of the Mexico City doctrine. The Gallup organization just released a new poll last week asking American’s whether they approved or not of some of the decisions Obama has made since taking office. One of the questions dealt with people’s thoughts on allowing US funding for overseas ”family planning” organizations that provide abortions. 35% Approved Of those approving of the decision 59% Democrats The 35% Approval rating was the lowest of the 7 questions asked
Join a Faith & Scripture webinar tonight from 8:30pm to 9:30 CST right at your very own computer put on by AwakenCatholic.org you can register at https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/626404815 Tonight’s agenda/scripture passages… Scripture passages… |
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Dissent
This morning I started to listen to a CD by Ken Hensley called “Calvin, Inside the Protestant Mind” I’m only on the 4th track of the first CD but Ken brought up the topic of “unified spiritual authority” and how that is the main issue with Protestantism during the reformation and today.
Today you see Protestantism inside and outside of the Catholic Church. On the outside you have the differing denominations Baptists, Methodists, Presbyterians, Assemblies of God, etc. You also have the non-denominational Christians, and there are those who believe Jesus is God but then act as their own authority when it comes to what they believe. Their beliefs are built on their heart and their feelings and then at times adjusted with actual facts.
Within the Catholic Church you also have Protestants of a different nature. They are the “But Catholics”. I’m Catholic but, and then you’ll hear their dispute’s with the Church on issues of celibacy, an all male Priesthood, teachings on contraception and abortion, teachings surrounding the Sacrament of Reconciliation, or Transubstantiation.
Ultimately all these issues come down to the foundational topic mentioned above, unified spiritual authority on earth being placed upon the Pope. Does it matter whether someone calls himself a Catholic or not, if they aren’t willing to accept magisterial teaching? Who has the greater burden, the disbeliever who considers them self in or outside of the Catholic Church? How should theological dissent be displayed, and when does that dissent become sinful? In some instances dissent is needed, Martin Luther raised some legitimate issues with how the Catholic Church acting in his day, but the path he ended up choosing was certainly beyond what should be considered proper, but upon hearing more of the times I can see how it easily occurred.
I know I get very upset when I hear people like Nancy Pelosi or Joe Biden speak as though they know Catholic doctrine and call themselves Catholic, when from my perspective they are out in left field if even on the field at all. But I also felt equivalent disease when it came to how the SSPX Bishops handled their situation. The SSPX Bishop appeared to be much closer to the faith I know and understand, but they still acted in an apparent disobedient manner and were excommunicated in 1988 while those who are clearly not obedient (Pelosi) to the faith appear free to call themselves Catholic with no repercussions. With the excommunication of the four illicitly consecrated SSPX bishops being lifted by Pope Benedict recently, one could wonder if they was actually fighting from within the Church the whole time with their apparent dissent.
Then the question arises as to whether or not I should even worry about these situations, for I am not the judge. My job is to follow Christ and to follow him as a child, in an obedient and trusting manner and God knows I have not always done that.
I would love to hear people’s thoughts on how dissent should be handled and when does dissent become sinful. May we all follow Christ’s lead and respond to His prayer for us from John 17:21 that we may all be one as He and the Father are one.
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