I try to tell critics of the Catholic Church that even though the current pope is horrible, the church is still good - kinda like when evil Obama was president, America was still fundamentally good. Change is one election away.
Exactly. I have a lot of respect for priests, but they’re still human. It may be the “one holy Catholic and apostolic church” but it is led by humans who are just as vulnerable to temptation as the rest of us.
There’s always Constantinople... but then again, at this point Moscow is maybe a safer bet. No heresies tolerated. They identified them all centuries ago. Of course Liturgy is attended standing up for the multi hour duration, so the weak cannot abide.
It’s beautifully ceremonial and heavily incensed and you feel numinous. But it’s all in Slavonic, so unless you know the Liturgy in English you’ll be lost.
It’s a re-enactment of something not discussed. They actually eject the non initiated before the main event. It might harm them to even be present.
Pretty hardcore. But they’ve seen totalitarian communism and Mongol occupation and survived, so maybe they’ve got something enduring.
Remember, the Kremlin was a Cathedral. It’s a work of high art. Divinely inspired maybe.
Oh, and priests marry and have wives and children. Not a lot of aberrant sexuality going on.
I’m Orthodox, but I’m not Russian. I was weak and couldn’t abide. That’s okay too, I’m reliably informed. So, I pilgrim on alone. But I will always remember. Can’t detect counterfeit unless you’ve seen the real thing.
I hear that alot, but the Catholic Church considers the pope to be its Holy father, ordained by God to lead and speak for you. Jesus told Peter that he was the rock to build His Church on, but never said Peter was the only rock, or only true Church. Jesus endlessly taught to follow Him, His teachings, not men. In fact, the modern Church building, & hierarchy thing resembles the sinagog model more than the early Church that met house to house, sharing all. They didn't even have bibles, just stories & letters, but with the one central message. Catholics are no better or worse than any denomination, because we are the Church when we claim Jesus as Lord.
Christ created one church, His church, the Universal Church. The Catholic Church.
Creating multiple churches would create a crisis of authority, which Jesus would not have allowed, which is why He appointed a leader to guide His church on earth after His ascension. That leadership has transcended the ages through succession - and while there have been good and bad leaders (men are fallible and prone to evil in their fallen nature) the Church remains as “the gates of hell shall not prevail against it”.
Yeah, the leadership of the Catholic church thru succession, not the the whole Church. Tell that to eastern, or Greek orthodox Christians & you'll get a good schooling on a more accurate succession than Catholicism can provide. Your in disobedience to Christ by your own admission. Your 1 church requires your obedience to your pope. The pope isn't just your leader, he's ordained by God to head your church, apostate or not. To oppose the pope, is to oppose your Church, and to be in disobedience to God.
This. So very much this.
I try to tell critics of the Catholic Church that even though the current pope is horrible, the church is still good - kinda like when evil Obama was president, America was still fundamentally good. Change is one election away.
The decline in Novus Ordo mass attendance versus the explosive rise in Traditional Latin Mass attendance would seem to indicate otherwise.
Catholics should read the Book of Enoch, as should all Christians.
Exactly. I have a lot of respect for priests, but they’re still human. It may be the “one holy Catholic and apostolic church” but it is led by humans who are just as vulnerable to temptation as the rest of us.
There’s always Constantinople... but then again, at this point Moscow is maybe a safer bet. No heresies tolerated. They identified them all centuries ago. Of course Liturgy is attended standing up for the multi hour duration, so the weak cannot abide.
It’s beautifully ceremonial and heavily incensed and you feel numinous. But it’s all in Slavonic, so unless you know the Liturgy in English you’ll be lost. It’s a re-enactment of something not discussed. They actually eject the non initiated before the main event. It might harm them to even be present. Pretty hardcore. But they’ve seen totalitarian communism and Mongol occupation and survived, so maybe they’ve got something enduring.
Remember, the Kremlin was a Cathedral. It’s a work of high art. Divinely inspired maybe. Oh, and priests marry and have wives and children. Not a lot of aberrant sexuality going on.
I’m Orthodox, but I’m not Russian. I was weak and couldn’t abide. That’s okay too, I’m reliably informed. So, I pilgrim on alone. But I will always remember. Can’t detect counterfeit unless you’ve seen the real thing.
Love to all. God Bless.
As some alter boys will attest Xp
The way I always think about the Church is that it's a perfect vehicle driven by imperfect beings.
I hear that alot, but the Catholic Church considers the pope to be its Holy father, ordained by God to lead and speak for you. Jesus told Peter that he was the rock to build His Church on, but never said Peter was the only rock, or only true Church. Jesus endlessly taught to follow Him, His teachings, not men. In fact, the modern Church building, & hierarchy thing resembles the sinagog model more than the early Church that met house to house, sharing all. They didn't even have bibles, just stories & letters, but with the one central message. Catholics are no better or worse than any denomination, because we are the Church when we claim Jesus as Lord.
Christ created one church, His church, the Universal Church. The Catholic Church.
Creating multiple churches would create a crisis of authority, which Jesus would not have allowed, which is why He appointed a leader to guide His church on earth after His ascension. That leadership has transcended the ages through succession - and while there have been good and bad leaders (men are fallible and prone to evil in their fallen nature) the Church remains as “the gates of hell shall not prevail against it”.
Yeah, the leadership of the Catholic church thru succession, not the the whole Church. Tell that to eastern, or Greek orthodox Christians & you'll get a good schooling on a more accurate succession than Catholicism can provide. Your in disobedience to Christ by your own admission. Your 1 church requires your obedience to your pope. The pope isn't just your leader, he's ordained by God to head your church, apostate or not. To oppose the pope, is to oppose your Church, and to be in disobedience to God.
Show me where Christ said the pope was perfect.
I’ll wait.
Isn't this supposed to be the final pope according to a saint's prophecy?
Not that I have heard and I am a very active orthodox Catholic for 47 years.
Had to go look it up after I commented. It was St. Malachy.
Sounds fishy. Never heard of him.
There are a lot of false “private revelations” that are not approved by the church and are most likely demonic in their origins.