GardenDove

The advantage of confession to a priest is that they are bound by the seal of secrecy and are never to reveal anything to anyone regarding a confession they hear. You would never find me confessing to a fellow parishioner, unless I wanted my confession repeated to at least one person, who would then repeat it to another person.

I had a patient who grew this out in her sputum. She was a COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) patient who had been sick at home with an upper respiratory illness, on oral antibiotics, then went into sudden respiratory distress. By the time I got her she was on a ventilator and on a dopamine drip, with a diltiazem drip to control the sinus tachycardia caused by the dopamine. The contributing factor would definately be her 50+ a day cigarette habit. And yes, most of these patients also probably had lifestyle contributors. We were having a hard time weaning her off the ventilator, but I've heard that she did get off of it and is doing better.

The Catholic Church went through many different phases in how the sacrament of confession was handled. In the post Vatican II period, it because less legalistic. Now it seems to be underused. I think the Church, though, in making confession more tangible has wisely addressed the human psychological factor as well, making it more concrete to us. It's not that the priest forgives us, but he is a visable intermediary. However, my priest gave a sermon on how we are perfectly able to confess directly to God, and that it isn't easy to break our relationship with God, such as people thought in the past. I use the sacrament to help further me on my walk with God. It's also a great solace.

I'll bet the teachers are thrilled to have an extra duty of being the nutrition police...

I am Catholic and use this sacrament. I personally think it's a whole lot healthier that going on Oprah and confessing to the whole world, like everyone does these days. In the sacrament, you are really confessing to God, but there's something very powerful about actually saying your sins out loud to a representative of the Church. I think it's too bad that most Catholics don't take advantage of Confession to a priest, it's really very healing. There are some arch Catholics that make the whole thing very legalistic, and liberal Catholics who don't take it very seriously, but there is a balanced approach too. Let me tell you, there's nothing so real and cleansing as a good confession, and the anonymity of the confessional is a big plus!

I didn't like when they impeached Clinton and I don't like the idea of Bush getting impeached. I hope that the impeachment process doesn't end up being used once a decade now. That would be an abuse, imo.

I think that they keep foisting unsuccessful dollar coins that no one ends up using, that always have some politically correct agenda. Next thing they'll want to do is put Barbara Streisand on one. Personally, I don't care what the coins say, and actually some devout people might be thinking that assigning God responsiblity over our currency is presumptuous. Is associating God with money something scripture instructs us in? I thought that Jesus specifically assigned the Roman government responsiblity and power over it's currency?

Sounds like they were making a spectacle of themselves, which is definately not what Jesus instructed us to do. All they had to do was move their prayer group to a more discrete location.

You should see the film 'SuperSize Me' to find out what is wrong with McDonalds. I don't think you are correct that 'most' Americans supported the war. As far as France, they are entirely out for their own business interests and see the U.S. as competition. They also have allow themselves to be overrun with Muslims and have for the most part abandoned the Church.

Arash you didn't say you like America. . . you said you can't stand America. Big difference. . . Many people in Europe despise America. So what? I don't know why he like McDonalds though. It's inferior food.

You sound young. Good luck to you. America has it's strengths and weaknesses, just like anyplace. I'm thankful to be able to live here.

I think a true christian would not hide from the world, nor segregate himself from it either. Remember the commandment, go into all the world and teach and preach the Gospel You can't do that on a island with only christians on it. I disagree. A true Christian can be called to a life of solitude and prayer. Others might be called to be more active in the world and it's affairs. Both are valid paths for a "true"(all rights reserved) Christian.

Christiandom is already a divided house, unfortunately. There are many disagreements amongst us

I think the Amish have the closest thing to this. I really admire them. Judging from your average church, I doubt if you would be as problem free as you envision, however. Christians have plenty of character flaws of their own.

LOL, yes church members are often an unappreciative, unencouraging, and demanding group of human beings. I like your list, it's very true. Really, fellow Christians are so flawed, I totally understand why people drop out of going to church. It's discouraging for your average parishioner as well, the amount of petty squabbling, backbiting, and immature behaviour that goes on in your average church.

Who's to say that a church that observes the tradition of Lent is not 'Spirit Filled'? There are very few actual requirements as to what to do, and most people make their own personal commitments as to how to observe the 40 days of Lent. It's nice because everyone in a parish is on the same page. Also, becaue it's in sync with the seasons and the natural rhythm of life. I really look forward to this period of renewal. If other people want to do other things and their churches are more unstructured, that's fine too, but I personally find the Liturgical calendar to be wonderful.

I would think that he needs inner healing himself and is a hypocrite to be standing up preaching when he violated chastity in this way.

Some people get alot of benefit out of Lent. The Jews also had this type of structure, I think our Jewish forebears had a very structured faith in many ways. I personally find Lent a very useful time to renew and recharge my spiritual batteries. This year I am on a general health regieme, and our family is giving up meat for the whole of Lent because this was my 12 year old daughter's resolution. I think Christians from non-Liturgical churches are missing out on some of the beauty of the Liturgical calendar, which is in sync with the seasons and flow of life which God created. The fact that we live in a modern society that is often out of touch with the natural world perhaps excarbates this situation.

Hello, I'm new here and am trying to figue out this site. Lent is a Church tradition based on the 40 days that Jesus fasted in the desert. It gives his followers a chance to also practise self sacrifice on some level. I think Friday was traditionally chosen as an extra important day for some self sacrifice because Jesus was crucified on Friday. So the older, Litugical churches have traditionally used Friday as a penitential day for believers to sacrifice, in respect and gratitude for Christ's suffering on the cross for our sins. The Jews also had traditional periods of fasting and sacrifice, including Passover, and Rosh Hashonah, I believe. I think before the destruction of the Temple it was more complicated, I'm not an expert.