It's good that we can get to an imperosnal consideration of issues. So here goes...
Originally Posted by
weedmeister2
The Roman Catholic Church, in its pagan form, unofficially came into being in 312 A.D., at the time of the so-called "miraculous conversion" to Christianity of the Roman Emperor Constantine.
This is a clear historical error, in fact a
total fabrication. The Catholic Church existed for nearly 300 years before Constantine came to power. Constantine was a pagan who was sympathetic to Christianity, like several Roman emperors before him. The Catholic Church, already had an unbroken lineage of Popes, an unbroken line of formal authority passed on by the Aposltes to successor bishops, and had already held numerous local Councils, including the Councils of Jerusalem (in the Bible), Carthage (258 AD), and others. It was organized, with a hierarchy, with bishops, dioceses, etc., and the pre-eminence of the Bishop of Rome (the Pope) was generally recognized throughout the entire Church. All the fundamental doctrines of the Church had already been taught and practiced in one form or another.
In other words, all the distinctive signs of the Catholic Church -- the papacy, decisions by councils, priestly heirarchy, the sacraments, formal Apostolic Authority, and Apostolic Tradition (doctrines) were ALL in place BEFORE Constantine was emperor.
Constantine did not found any Church, and although he was friendly to Christianity, HE DID NOT TAKE PART IN DETEMRINING DOCTRINE. In fact, historians think that he barely understood Catholic doctrine.
Take note this from the
Catholic Encyclopedia:
http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/04295c.htm
Still he avoided any direct interference with dogma, and only sought to carry out what the proper
authorities--the synods--decided. When he appeared at an oecumenical council, it was not so much
to influence the deliberation and the decision as to show his strong interest and to impress the
heathen. He banished bishops only to avoid strife and discord, that is, for reasons of state.
Constantine, as emperor, was NOT formally a Christian. He favored Christianity, but tolerated pagan practices. He was baptized when he was near death. He was NOT a Christian before then.
There are quite number of misunderstandings of Catholic doctrine in the rest of the article. Let me address some:
Catholics also maintain the belief in sacerdotalism -- that an ordained Catholic priest has the power to forgive sins
To be accurate, the priest has no power of his own. The authority to forgive comes from Christ, not the priest
Catholicism teaches that Christ is God, but they, nevertheless, do not believe that Christ's death paid the full penalty for sin; i.e.,
they believe that those who qualify for heaven must still spend time in purgatory to atone for sin.
Christ paved the way for our salvation, but scripture clearly states that forgiveness is not all there is. Paret of repentance is a willingness to make up for the EFFECTS of sin, which continue even after the sin has been forgiven.
http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/12575a.htm
That temporal punishment is due to sin, even after the sin itself has been pardoned by God, is clearly the teaching
of Scripture. God indeed brought man out of his first disobedience and gave him power to govern all things (Wisdom
10:2), but still condemned him "to eat his bread in the sweat of his brow" until he returned unto dust. God forgave
the incredulity of Moses and Aaron, but in punishment kept them from the "land of promise" (Numbers 20:12). The
Lord took away the sin of David, but the life of the child was forfeited because David had made God's enemies
blaspheme His Holy Name (2 Samuel 12:13-14). In the New Testament as well as in the Old, almsgiving and fasting,
and in general penitential acts are the real fruits of repentance (Matthew 3:8; Luke 17:3; 3:3). The whole penitential
system of the Church testifies that the voluntary assumption of penitential works has always been part of true
repentance and the Council of Trent (Sess. XIV, can. xi) reminds the faithful that God does not always remit the
whole punishment due to sin together with the guilt. God requires satisfaction, and will punish sin, and this doctrine
involves as its necessary consequence a belief that the sinner failing to do penance in this life may be punished in
another world, and so not be cast off eternally from God.
3. Mary.[/b] The Catholic Church gives honor and adoration to Mary that the Scriptures do not;
This is a total, despicable fabrication. There is no worship of Mary or putting her above Christ. The honor and veneration given to Mary are founded on Scripture. See the article below:
Immaculate Conception and Assumption
http://www.catholic.com/library/Imma..._and_Assum.asp
Total misundertsanding of salvation and the sacraments is evident in these section. Where can one begin? This will require a total expanation of doctrine, not a point-by-point refutation. It will need more space than is permitted in this message, so we'll deal with it another time.
6. The Mass.[/b] Unknown in the early church, the mass did not become an official doctrine until pronounced by the Lateran Council of 1215
Historically inaccurate. The Mass, in its essential form of a communal meal, was instituted by Christ Himself in the Upper Room. it is a participation -- not a simple re-enactment -- of Christ's sacrifice on the cross.
Christ does not repeat the sacrifice. The one sacrifice remains before God the Father forever since God and and Christ's sacrfice are timeless and are efficacious for eternity.
This is a thoroughly Christian doctrine, found in Scripture and even proclaimed in the New Testament. See article below:
Purgatory
http://www.catholic.com/library/Purgatory.asp
8. The Church Councils. There have been three major Roman Catholic Councils:
There have been 21 Ecumenical Councils.
(a) Reaffirmed the infallibility of the pope (and even when he does not speak ex-cathedra, all Catholics must still give
complete submission of mind and will to what he says)
Only as general pastor. When he does not speak ex cathedra, the Pope CANNOT define doctrine. No one has to believe as dogma any non-doctrinal statement (unless, of course, it simply states existing dogma).
So, any violent reactions to your establisment's colorful but highly recorded history?
It's history shows that the Catholkic Church is the One True Church established by Christ. And it shows how your church is necessarily a false church. The only "violent" reactions I would have would be to the misrepresentations your article makes of Catholic doctrine.
The author hasn't the faitnest understanding of the subject.
It's funny how you like to quote anti-Catholic propagandists, but refuse to read the actual source documents of the Church themselves. That, as has been poointed out, stinks of
STRAW MAN ARGUMENTS.
Re: All about Roman Catholicism here.
bigotch!
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