dear Amazing... hello there. there are 3 reasons for my response to this tread.
1. THIS tread is the one I wanted to answer a response to when I first came here.
2. I feel that in my response I am being true to my own belief about the roman catholic church.
3. I see it as a kind of offering...an apology for lying to a friend + 20 percent.
I believe that the roman catholic church has not been completely true to the gospel and that "it" has neither the glory nor the guts to come clean about its mistakes or heresy.
at vatican II pope paul VI stated in paragraph 14 "All should see to it, then, that in catechetical work or in the preaching of the word of God they do not teach anything that does not conform to the truth of the Gospel and the spirit of Christ." http://www.vatican.va/archive/hist_councils/ii_vatican_council/documents/vat-ii_decl_19651028_nostra-aetate_en.html
I find it difficult to find any biblical source for the RCC belief that the virgin mary(from heaven) is the dispenser of the mercies of God the Father through Jesus Christ as she is portrayed in the RCC traditions. Contrary to this tradition, the bible says that there is one mediator between God and man - the Man Jesus Christ, and here on earth, the christain is to be the dispenser of mercies to other "men".
I find it difficult to find any biblical source for the RCC belief that somehow hard cash/indulgences can buy ones way out of a supposed purgitory where the blood of the Savior can't. I find it difficult to find any biblical source for the RCC belief that a bloodless sacrifice in the form of the mass holds any benefit for anyone - without the shedding of blood there is no atonement for sin - the transubstantiation miracle seems strangly out of place in that all of the miracles recorded in the bible were seen by people(verified).
was it in the spirit of Christ to sit on/horde enough resources to shelter, feed and clothe entire nations? was it in the spirit of Christ to offer an apology to the world for the sins of the sons and daughters of the church while omitting the fact that the popes themselves are culpable for many of the atrocities committed throughout the long history of the church?
to give credit where credit is due...I am thankful that the RCC was responsible in part for the collection/preservation/transmission of the biblical texts, BUT the essential task was carried out by the Holy Spirit working through men of God...which are hardly identifiable with many of the "apostolic succession".
when the traditions of men take precedence over the revealed word of God men have made the word of God of no effect. unfortunately the pope is "bound" on earth by the traditions of the RCC...but the Truth will set him free.
xo
