Today is my last day

[Ben Kenobi]

I have to go, but thanks to everybody who has offered encouragement, and even thanks to those who have poked fun.

Dante exposed many of the ills of the Catholic church in a rather captivating journey through hell. He was branded a heretic and ex-communicated. History is literally littered with reasons to "protest" the Catholic church.

That being said, what was it that particularly captivated you to make the switch?

Look up at my post to spiffor. That says a quite a bit, but if you are dissatisfied by that reply, then I can reply again to you tomorrow.

[Brent]

And He gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists (patriarchs); and some, pastors (bishops) and teachers. Salvation is a process requiring specific ordinances.

[Alexander's Horse]

Protestant churches come and go but catholicism is forever.

[Brent]

no more so than Judaism...

[JimmyCracksCorn]

Originally posted by Alexander's Horse
Protestant churches come and go but catholicism is forever.

So true.

[Zevico]

Ah well, to be honest it isn't going to really change anything. Not like you'll start yer own inquisition or something
Yeah, so congrats. May you find spiritual enlightenment in your newfound faith [insert further encouragement here].

[Dr Strangelove]

Originally posted by Ben Kenobi


As poor imitations.

Who us, imitators? You're the slow pokes who took nearly 500 years to institute the basic reforms we introduced in the 16th century. Our institutions are based on traditions of the Church dating back long before the bishops of REome got the crazy idea of announcing their world hegemony over the Shurch. Today the Anglican churches probably stick to the timeless traditions of the Church more faithfully than the Catholic Church. Several years ago one of our priests did a series of services based on what is known about Christian rites in the 4th century, the middle ages, the reformation, and colonial times. Using my experience with Catholic services it seems to me that contemporary Episcopalian rites follow the tradition better than contemporary Catholic practise. We've gotten over the sixties and don't feel the need for folk rock masses.

Their heirarchy doesn't work the same way, and gives much more authority to the local congregations.

This is a problem? The idea of the hierarchy is the Catholic chuches greatest weakness. The vast majority of Catholics ignore it. If they didn't there would undoubtedly be a mass exodus of congregants out of the Roman Catholic Church.

[JimmyCracksCorn]

This is a problem? The idea of the hierarchy is the Catholic chuches greatest weakness. The vast majority of Catholics ignore it. If they didn't there would undoubtedly be a mass exodus of congregants out of the Roman Catholic Church.

How exactly do they ignore it? There's a reason that if you walk into any Catholic church anywhere in the world, the masses are going to be 99% identical.

Today the Anglican churches probably stick to the timeless traditions of the Church more faithfully than the Catholic Church.

Based on what? The centrality of the eucharist in the catholic mass is what formed the cornerstone of early christian practices. Christianity IS communion, which is what the Catholic church is centred around.

[Brent]

If people need to hear the word of God, they need to hear it in their own language. Some repetition is good, but people need to hear things specific to their circumstances too. Church should be enjoyable, but entertainment is not its purpose. The true church is one universal church throughout the world. What's in the Bible is the most timeless tradition.

[Dr Strangelove]

Originally posted by JimmyCracksCorn


How exactly do they ignore it? There's a reason that if you walk into any Catholic church anywhere in the world, the masses are going to be 99% identical.

You don't need a Pope in order to co-ordinate the religious ceremonies of a worldwide church. The Anglican Communion does the same thing without an autocratic structure.
What I was referring to was the vast chasm between what the Roman hierarchy thinks makes a good Catholic and what the parishoners think, specifically regarding the subjects of birth control, marriage, and sexuality. Most of the Catholics that I know brush off Papal teachings with a "so what" attitude. No one cares what the Pope thinks, so what's the point of having a Papacy?

Based on what? The centrality of the eucharist in the catholic mass is what formed the cornerstone of early christian practices. Christianity IS communion, which is what the Catholic church is centred around.

All Anglican / Episcopalian services also are centered around the Eucharist, but I've been to a number of Catholic services which were more like folk or Christian rock festivals.

[Brent]

It's difficult to be one church without a central earthly authority. What's the point of being a member of a church if you don't follow the leadership?

[DanS]

but I've been to a number of Catholic services which were more like folk or Christian rock festivals

Likely what you were experiencing was a residual of the period of experimentation in the Church after Vatican II. After 1,500 years, masses were once again said in the local languages, among other novelties. This experimentation (much of it in the US) wasn't bad in and of itself, but some of that experimentation has since been discarded.

[Spiffor]

Wait, don't tell me mass is now in Latin again

[DanS]

Sure, some parishes say a latin mass each weekend. Mostly cathedrals.

[Spiffor]

Oh well, whatever floats your boat I guess.

But still, I thought the Catholic church really did want to make it possible for the faithful to understand what they believed in