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There is a fundamental mandate given by the Christ that is continually ignored by many of the hierarchy of the Church.
“You are to become compassionate as God is compassionate”
Jesus’ entire mission was based on getting people to move beyond the trappings of religious practice, which is if you follow certain religious rituals or specific practices you will become more ‘right’ with God. If you do the ritual or practices ‘correctly’ you will then become ‘holy’.
The trappings of such an approach comes about when religious leaders maintain that anyone who does not follow the cultural norm cannot be included in those who God recognizes as ‘holy’. If a person does not follow the ritual a certain way they are not a member of the church. What is emphasized is the ritual itself not the understanding of the meaning of the teachings of Jesus. Religious practice is placed before compassion, justice, even love. Jesus not only rejected this approach it was this rejection that the religious leadership of his day moved to have him destroyed. Jesus mandated that compassion be the essential quality of a disciple. What has become essential in the eyes of many of our church hierarchy is not compassion but piety
Compassion flows from recognizing the humanity of the people around us. Compassion flows from the humanity of Jesus. The refusal to be compassionate stems from a de-emphasis of the humanity of Jesus.
. We have seen it in the way bishops have treated victims of sexual abuse by priests, it is reflected in the way priests quote Canon Law instead of expressing the pastoral care of the Body of Christ, it is expressed in the way people are told they by religious leaders that they are not “real” Catholics if they do not follow a Catholicism that is different than the way they understand it to be. Adherence to the law takes precedence over everything, even the teachings of Jesus.
While don't you just become a protestant? There are 30,000 denominations that you can shop around and chose. I'm sure one will be to your liking. If it is not you can always change. Why be bound by God's mandate?
As for the Catholic Church it has been here for 2,000 years and does not distort truth to meet "cultural norms". Sorry if you don't understand the meaning of the rituals. The information is available for seekers.
By the way, who is funding your fifth column group?
Quote:
Originally Posted by ted08721
There is a fundamental mandate given by the Christ that is continually ignored by many of the hierarchy of the Church.
“You are to become compassionate as God is compassionate”
Jesus’ entire mission was based on getting people to move beyond the trappings of religious practice, which is if you follow certain religious rituals or specific practices you will become more ‘right’ with God. If you do the ritual or practices ‘correctly’ you will then become ‘holy’.
The trappings of such an approach comes about when religious leaders maintain that anyone who does not follow the cultural norm cannot be included in those who God recognizes as ‘holy’. If a person does not follow the ritual a certain way they are not a member of the church. What is emphasized is the ritual itself not the understanding of the meaning of the teachings of Jesus. Religious practice is placed before compassion, justice, even love. Jesus not only rejected this approach it was this rejection that the religious leadership of his day moved to have him destroyed. Jesus mandated that compassion be the essential quality of a disciple. What has become essential in the eyes of many of our church hierarchy is not compassion but piety
Compassion flows from recognizing the humanity of the people around us. Compassion flows from the humanity of Jesus. The refusal to be compassionate stems from a de-emphasis of the humanity of Jesus.
. We have seen it in the way bishops have treated victims of sexual abuse by priests, it is reflected in the way priests quote Canon Law instead of expressing the pastoral care of the Body of Christ, it is expressed in the way people are told they by religious leaders that they are not “real” Catholics if they do not follow a Catholicism that is different than the way they understand it to be. Adherence to the law takes precedence over everything, even the teachings of Jesus.
While don't you just become a protestant? There are 30,000 denominations that you can shop around and chose. I'm sure one will be to your liking. If it is not you can always change. Why be bound by God's mandate?
As for the Catholic Church it has been here for 2,000 years and does not distort truth to meet "cultural norms". Sorry if you don't understand the meaning of the rituals. The information is available for seekers.
By the way, who is funding your fifth column group?
i believe this poster already has formed "the church of ted" and mistakenly(on purpose(to incite) calls it catholic---i continue to see in the posts a continuous rant about sexual abuse---my recommendation-----continue therapy
The question isn't is ted and most Catholics still Catholic the real question is the hierachy and their small band of followers still Catholic.
I think this whole situation is coming to a head, we will have to see how it all plays out.
If God is for us who can be against us.
Ironic isn't it. The moment a practising Catholic stands up and points out the shortcomings, failings, or sin within his/her own church, the knives come out. Pride, spiritual blindness, and as Mystic said, nakedness, (see letter to the Laodiceans), prevents healing and growth. This is by no means new. Luther, Huss, Jerome, Malancthon, Calvin, and numerous others were all Catholic, many of them, priests, and all of them simply desiring reformation within the church they loved. Because of obstinate refusal to repent and clean up their act, the church leadership tossed them out and left them and their followers with no choice but to separate themselves from apostasy.
Quote: As for the Catholic Church it has been here for 2,000 years and does not distort truth to meet "cultural norms".
You don't get out much do you? Take a good hard look at the version of Catholicism practised and accepted by the church in Haiti.
Ironic isn't it. The moment a practising Catholic stands up and points out the shortcomings, failings, or sin within his/her own church, the knives come out. Pride, spiritual blindness, and as Mystic said, nakedness, (see letter to the Laodiceans), prevents healing and growth. This is by no means new. Luther, Huss, Jerome, Malancthon, Calvin, and numerous others were all Catholic, many of them, priests, and all of them simply desiring reformation within the church they loved. Because of obstinate refusal to repent and clean up their act, the church leadership tossed them out and left them and their followers with no choice but to separate themselves from apostasy.
Quote: As for the Catholic Church it has been here for 2,000 years and does not distort truth to meet "cultural norms".
You don't get out much do you? Take a good hard look at the version of Catholicism practised and accepted by the church in Haiti.
if one has so many complaints against a certain religion doesn't make sense to leave it or start your own???(instead of whining==imho----ted's issue is with sexual abuse--so get into therapy instead of continually dissing one religion as sexual abuse happens in all religions and is swept under the rug by 90% of them(years of running groups for abused experience)
if one has so many complaints against a certain religion doesn't make sense to leave it or start your own???(instead of whining==imho----ted's issue is with sexual abuse--so get into therapy instead of continually dissing one religion as sexual abuse happens in all religions and is swept under the rug by 90% of them(years of running groups for abused experience)
Martin Luther and John Calvin might disagree with you about starting their own religion. As far as "Everyone else does it, so it's OK sounds like a lot of rationalization to me, especially from one who purports to run groups for the abused. Who do you advocate for the Church (abuser) or the victims ?
if one has so many complaints against a certain religion doesn't make sense to leave it or start your own???(instead of whining==imho----ted's issue is with sexual abuse--so get into therapy instead of continually dissing one religion as sexual abuse happens in all religions and is swept under the rug by 90% of them(years of running groups for abused experience)
Interesting that you call objection to sin "whining". God has a different view, for He commands all believers to oppose sin wherever and whenever it rises in the church. Jesus dsid just that, rebuking the religious leadership for their hypocrisy and wickedness, however never once did we see Jesus rebuke the common people.
Apostasy always begins at the top, that is where rebuke, censure should be directed.
Isaiah 58:1 ¶ Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and shew my people their transgression, and the house of Jacob (read church) their sins.
2 Yet they seek me daily, and delight to know my ways, as a nation (church) that did righteousness, and forsook not the ordinance of their God: they ask of me the ordinances of justice; they take delight in approaching to God.
3 ¶ Wherefore have we fasted, say they, and thou seest not? wherefore have we afflicted our soul, and thou takest no knowledge? Behold, in the day of your fast ye find pleasure, and exact all your labours.
4 Behold, ye fast for strife and debate, and to smite with the fist of wickedness: ye shall not fast as ye do this day, to make your voice to be heard on high.
5 Is it such a fast that I have chosen? a day for a man to afflict his soul? is it to bow down his head as a bulrush, and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him? wilt thou call this a fast, and an acceptable day to the LORD?
6 Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke?
7 Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him (not when thou seest the vulnerable, take advantage of him/her) ; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh?
I suggest you read the rest of the chapter for your edification.
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5th column
