An Apology

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Hello Brothers and Sisters

Last night I had a dream. One of those dreams that one feels deep in their hearts did not come from their own mind. I believe I have been guided to deliver this.

At the present time we are witnessing a discussion on our boards happening between a group of catholic apologists and Christians. I think all would admit the goal of these catholic apologists is to gain converts from Christianity to their religion.

Two of the main pillars of the catholic faith are the following claims:

1)The catholic religion claims that the commission given to Peter is one that is a inherited one. They claim that from Peter to the present day Popes have held the same commission. Peters commission is revealed in Matthew 16.

Matthew 16

13 When Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, saying, "Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?"

14So they said, "Some say John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets."

15He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?"

16Simon Peter answered and said, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."

17Jesus answered and said to him, "Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. 18And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. 19And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven." 20Then He commanded His disciples that they should tell no one that He was Jesus the Christ.

Note it says:

19And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven."

Now there is no confirmation that Peters commission would be transferable. Peter was given the power. We can read his instructions in the from Acts to 2 Peter. Peter was the rock and his words established the guidelines for the Church. There was no need for further binding or loosing.

This leads to the second pillar:

2) The catholic religion claims that it has the authority to loose or bind doctrines and follow any policy deemed necessary because it is the holder of Peters commission. So it can hold a policy in one generation that it deems appropriate and then 200 years later hold a changed position that it deems appropriate to the changed times and situations. So no matter how its positions change down throughout the millennia the positions that it has held at the time they held them was, and is, the correct position for the duration those positions where held.

Now if the commission of Peter is one that is inherited and if the catholic church is the church that inherited it, The position stated in point 2 is defendable. And the catholic religion is the true faith and all others are false. Now at this point catholics could be forgiven for holding this position because it is near impossible to prove that the commission of Peter was Not transferable. It could simply be their interpretation of scripture against those who they consider rebellious apostates. But something happened on the 12th of march 2000. Below I have quoted excerpts from a PBS discussion in the USA on the 13th of march 2000.

Note this information was not gathered from a rabid anti catholic site. All quotes come from transcripts from The News Hour with Jim Lehrer. Feel free to read the whole interview Just click on the link

Click here ===>PBS Interview

JIM LEHRER: There was an extraordinary event in Rome yesterday as Pope John Paul II issued an apology for errors of his church over the last 2000 years. Our coverage begins with a report from Peter Morgan of Independent Television News.

POPE JOHN PAUL II: (translated) We are deeply saddened by the behavior of those who in the course of history have caused these children of yours to suffer, and asking your forgiveness we wish to commit ourselves to genuine brotherhood with the people of the Covenant.

MOST REV. ALEXANDER BRUNETT, Archbishop of Seattle: Well, the question I think is a very good question. I think we see here the Holy Father speaking in the name of the Church, kind of culminating several years and many, many efforts to reach this point of making a public, profession of our faith that we are called to -- people are reconciled with God and with each other, and that we need to ask forgiveness for the times that we have failed -- the Pope doing that in the name of the church and also asking us to become part of this process, to continue the process that began long ago. In a liturgical setting, which is a prayer setting where Catholics come together and gather to pray.

Note: Alexander Brunett is not a renegade figure in the catholic religion he is the Archbishop of Seattle. The catholic Authorities selected him to attend this interview to give clarity to the popes apology. That is to give the official catholic church explanation for the popes announcement.

Note he says:

[RGR]

It would seem to me that the Catholics are trying to make amends for shortcomings in the past. No one is perfect. They cannot help what mistakes were made in the past and I see it as moving forward in the love of Christ that they would try to make amends.

[refugepsa91]

WOW!!!

Thanks for sharing Adstar I'm gonna go and read the whole link later....good stuff...it really makes one think.

Love and Blessings,

Angel H.