Catholic Q/A

[Katholish]

My semester is just starting and there are alot of things associated with opening week that will delay me from answer questions a little bit, but I have no intention of leaving any question unanswered.

Dave, just as a quick comment. Yes we do see the Apostles healing after the Ascention.

Acts 5:

15 Insomuch that they brought forth the sick into the streets and laid them on beds and couches, that, when Peter came, his shadow at the least might overshadow any of them and they might be delivered from their infirmities.

16 And there came also together to Jerusalem a multitude out of the neighbouring cities, bringing sick persons and such as were troubled with unclean spirits: who were all healed.

[dwinkjr]

My semester is just starting and there are alot of things associated with opening week that will delay me from answer questions a little bit, but I have no intention of leaving any question unanswered.

Dave, just as a quick comment. Yes we do see the Apostles healing after the Ascention.

Acts 5:

15 Insomuch that they brought forth the sick into the streets and laid them on beds and couches, that, when Peter came, his shadow at the least might overshadow any of them and they might be delivered from their infirmities.

16 And there came also together to Jerusalem a multitude out of the neighbouring cities, bringing sick persons and such as were troubled with unclean spirits: who were all healed.

Thanks for pointing that out to me

So where do we see the grounds set for Apostolic(sp) Tradition?

God Bless,

Dave

[ServingHim]

Dave (dwinkjr),

Forgive me if you have already stated this, but why do you confess to your priests?

To my surprise, I haven't had that question yet here.

The Scriptures are explicit when they state that the power to forgive sins was given to the Apostles.

John 20:

21 He said therefore to them again: Peace be to you. As the Father hath sent me, I also send you.

22 When he had said this, he breathed on them; and he said to them: Receive ye the Holy Ghost.

23 Whose sins you shall forgive, they are forgiven them: and whose sins you shall retain, they are retained.

Furthermore, from the History of the Church, we clearly see that it was always the practice of the faithful to confess to priests. Indeed under the persecutions of Decius in 250 and Daia in the early 4th Century, we see the controversy among the Church as to how the lapsed (those who denied Christ under persecution) should be readmitted to the Church, and what their penance should be before they could be given absolution and fully admitted back into the Church to once again receive the Sacraments. See St. Cyprian of Cathage's treatise on the lapsed (I read it only a few weeks ago, very good).

Furthermore, in the confessional, the priest acts in persona Christi, in the person of Christ. He is not acting as an individual man, but as Christ through the ministry of the Church to give absolution to the penitent. In that sense, you are going straight to God with your sins, for only God has the power to forgive sins. However, he has chosen his priesthood to be the ministers of that forgiveness.

See this is where I have always had a problem. So we cannot confess our sins to God without the aid of a priest?

yes, you can ... 6 But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you. Matt 6:6 But, Christ established the sacrament of 'reconciliation' in order for His grace to flow through, like all the other sacraments.

And yes we all know Christ bestowed upon the apostles were given the power to forgive sins among many other things, But where do we see that this was given to there seed? Does Christ say I give you and all your descendants this power?

Yes, He does ... 20 For it is written in the book of Psalms,

`Let his habitation become desolate,

and let there be no one to live in it';

and

`His office let another take.'

21 So one of the men who have accompanied us during all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, 22 beginning from the baptism of John until the day when he was taken up from us -- one of these men must become with us a witness to his resurrection." 23 And they put forward two, Joseph called Barsab'bas, who was surnamed Justus, and Matthi'as. 24 And they prayed and said, "Lord, who knowest the hearts of all men, show which one of these two thou hast chosen 25 to take the place in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas turned aside, to go to his own place." 26 And they cast lots for them, and the lot fell on Matthi'as; and he was enrolled with the eleven apostles. Acts 1:20-26 (RSV)

The role of apostolic succession in preserving true doctrine is illustrated in the Bible. To make sure that the apostles

[ServingHim]

So where do we see the grounds set for Apostolic(sp) Tradition?

for a start, read here... :il: Blessings...

[ServingHim]

That little leather thing called a scapula that some people wear around their neck, especially those who are close to death, what exactly it is for?

I used to have one. It has an inscription that says if you die wearing it, you will go straight to heaven.

I do not I wear one, steve, but how do you know that this might NOT be possible??? Afterall, 19 Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, "Why could we not cast it out?" 20 He said to them, "Because of your little faith. For truly, I say to you, if you have faith as a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, `Move from here to there,' and it will move; and nothing will be impossible to you." Matt 17:19-20

[johnP]

Katholish. (Lekcit)

Firstborn means preeminent. It is often applied to the first one born such as a child. A girl could be firstborn but will lose the title if a boy is born into the family. It is a title such as given to Israel in Egypt;

Exodus 4:22-23 Then say to Pharaoh, `This is what the LORD says: Israel is my firstborn son, and I told you, "Let my son go, so he may worship me." But you refused to let him go; so I will kill your firstborn son.' "

Israel was not the first created nation but did become the preeminent-most important- nation because God chose them. That is the meaning of firstborn.

Charlie.

You are excused. Butt away old chap.

Thanks for your reply.

Of course God can do anything He likes, He brought Samuel back for a chat with Saul. Isaiah 28:

Why consult the dead on behalf of the living?

Show me one place in scripture where praying to the dead is encouraged.

Samuel asked Saul why he was not talking to God.

As Katholish's reply at the beginning of this thread implies, I should put my faith in miracles and reading up on Lourdes it would seem, (Jesus cannot manage His house alone), people put their trust in visions dreamed up by dreamers.

Show me a place in scripture that talking to the dead is reckoned a good thing. Just one will do.

I bet there was the same fight between the Devil and Michael over Mary's bones as there was over Moses. He does not change his ways.

The vereration of people is Satanic as is the praying to dead men and women.

Since Mary was just as much a sinner as the rest of us and did nothing special except give birth to children what makes her special?

Jesus was asked, "What must we do to do the work God requires." The answer was simple. "Believe on the one He sent." John 6:28-29. End of story.

He said that if you believe in Him He will make His house with you. He lives in His temple, we who are chosen are His temple, what or who else do we need?

Fancy that! They put a dead girl in a glass case and people worship it!

Isaiah 8:19-20 When men tell you to consult mediums and spiritists, who whisper and mutter, should not a people inquire of their God? Why consult the dead on behalf of the living? To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, they have no light of dawn.

Sola scripture.

Forgive me ServingHim if I mistake what you say.

It is faith in Christ not just faith in anything, no matter how much faith you have in anything it will be of no use. Faith in Christ and in Him alone is what counts.

johnp

[stevehut]

I do not I wear one, steve, but how do you know that this might NOT be possible???

Because the Bible says nothing about it.

Because it represents faith in material objects, instead of faith in God.

Because it is nothing short of superstition and witchcraft.

Because Jesus said the route salvation is faith, repentance and baptism.

I think that about covers it. Maybe I'll think of something else later.

[ServingHim]

I do not I wear one, steve, but how do you know that this might NOT be possible???

Because the Bible says nothing about it.

Then why does St. John say everything is NOT in the Bible? John 20:30,21:25

And then what is the purpose of John 16:13 where the Holy Spirit WILL teach you all the truth?

YOU say the Bible is the ALL Truth...yet why does the Bible itself say in 1Timothy 3:15 that 'the CHURCH is the pillar and the foundation of truth'?

Steve, I know NO ONE who relys on an 'object'... you're grasping here, but that doesn't surprise me. I know MANY who have the 'fishy' symbol on the back of their cars, the bumper stickers proclaiming their faith, their cross necklaces that they wear that they ALL disply in order to 'show' that they are Christian. I certainly don't think they are trusting in the 'symbol', but WHO the symbol represents. Same with the scapular. :il:

[ServingHim]

[because it is nothing short of superstition and witchcraft.

give me a break...then you better never wear a cross, display any sort of religious item EVER...for as you say...it's WITCHCRAFT!

Because Jesus said the route salvation is faith, repentance and baptism.

TRUE!!!! does the bible say that you can't wear a cross necklace? or have a fishy sticker on your car?

I think that about covers it.    Maybe I'll think of something else later.

yep

[jmwhalen]

ServingHim writes:

"YOU say the Bible is the ALL Truth...yet why does the Bible itself say in 1Timothy 3:15 that 'the CHURCH is the pillar and the foundation of truth'?"

_________________

My comment: I have made a decision to limit my comments to any group that teaches a perverted gospel, like the RCC, to only 1.the presentation of the gospel of Christ as summarized in 1 Cor. 15:1-4, "for it is the power of God unto salvation to eveyone that believeth"(Romans 1:16), and/or 2. simple misstatements that even "a two year could figure out". Accordingly,

The Holy Bible says that the Church is "the pillar and ground of truth", but NOT THE SOURCE OF TRUTH. 1 Tim. 3:15 is saying, in "5th grade English", that the church, which is PEOPLE, "the called out ones", not some hierarchy like the RCC, SUPPORTS the truth(that is what a pillar does). The word of God is the source of truth:

" Thy word is true from the beginning..." Psalms 119:160

"Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth." Jn 17:17

"...the scripture of truth...." Daniel 10:21

Catholics should read/study Psalms 138:2 very carefully:

"I will worship toward thy holy temple, and praise thy name for thy lovingkindness and for thy truth: FOR THOU HAST MAGNIFIED THY WORD ABOVE ALL THY NAME(emphasis mine)".

Let "the spin begin" from Roman Catholics.

In Christ,

John Whalen