PETER THE ROCK WHICH THE CHURCH OF CHRIST WAS BUILT

AP turns anti-Catholic superstar Jack Chick into an all-purpose fundamentalist hero

Source: GetReligion
By Terry Mattingly 26 October 2016

This will be risky, but I'd like to talk about Adolf Hitler and religion for a moment.

The problem with creating a metaphor involving Hitler is that, as journalist Ron Rosenbaum told me long ago (this is a paraphrase): What people say about Hitler usually reveals more about their biases and beliefs than about those of Hitler. (Rosenbaum is the author of an amazing book, "Explaining Hitler: The Search for the Origins of His Evil.")

So here goes. Readers, especially Jewish readers, what would you think if you read a news feature covering the life and legacy of Hitler and, right at the beginning, it stressed that he was known for his oppression of Marxists, Catholics, faithful Lutherans, gays, Jews and gypsies?

On one level, all of that is true. That is an accurate list of groups in Germany, Poland, France and elsewhere that Hitler attacked. But isn't it rather strange to see his war on the Jews turned into a mere bullet item in a list of what appear to be similar offenses?

Now, please hear me say this: I am not about to compare the work of Jack T. Chick with that of Hitler. So what am I attempting here?

I am saying that, when I read the Associated Press obituary for the famous – many would say "infamous" – cartoonist the lede struck me as strange. Click here for the version that ran in The Los Angeles Times – which is symbolic since Chick was based west of LA.

Now, Chick was famous for using his pen to attack lots of different targets. But there is no question that he attacked one body of religious believers more than any other and in ways that were uniquely scandalous. But read the AP lede and try to figure out which body got stabbed the most:

Jack T. Chick, whose cartoon tracts preached fundamentalist Christianity while vilifying secular society, evolution, homosexuality and the beliefs of Catholics and Muslims, has died. He was 92.

Then there was this follow-up:

Chick's pulpy, lurid cartoons combined traditional evangelism with frankly conspiracy-minded attacks. He and later other illustrators produced several hundred tracts over the decades. Latching onto the issues of the day, the tracts took aim at abortion, occultism, ecumenism and other perceived evils.

They portrayed everything from rock music to Dungeons & Dragons and Harry Potter as literal traps of the Devil. One tract, “The Walking Dead,” tapped into the hit zombie TV show but argued: “We're all like zombies. The spirits inside our souls are dead.”

OK, Catholic readers, does any of this strike you are rather strange?

I mean, all of this is accurate. There is no question that Chick fired away at all of these different targets. But isn't the lede here that the cartoonist would appear at the top of any informed researcher's list of the most influential anti-Catholic voices of the 20th Century? Isn't it – returning to my risky metaphor – rather strange to see Chick's fierce and at times lurid attacks on Catholicism turned into a mere bullet item in a list of what appear to be similar actions?

Yet throughout this piece, Chick's anti-Catholic campaign is consistently mixed in with this work criticizing other groups. For example:

Chick managed to offend Catholics, Jews, Mormons, Jehovah's Witnesses, Muslims and Freemasons, who found their beliefs discounted, ridiculed or condemned as false – or worse.

“Learn how the papacy helped start Islam, only to have this new daughter rebel against her. You'll understand the Arab's place in Bible prophecy. Muslims have been saved by reading this book,” says the blurb for one pamphlet on the Chick Publications order website.

The tracts were criticized for using debunked or one-sided arguments and stereotypical portrayals of blacks, homosexuals, Arabs and others. But they also attracted collectors and fans who cherished them as quirky works of art.

This AP approach was not unique. The Religion News Service obituary for Chick underlined the Catholic attacks earlier, but did not cite the unique degree to which the cartoonist focused on the Church of Rome again and again.

Chick printed and distributed 800 million copies of more than 250 different tracts, according to ComicsAlliance. Each illustrated fundamentalist Christian beliefs about the way to heaven, as well as what he believed were stumbling blocks: Harry Potter books, homosexuality, even Catholicism.

With titles such as “The Death Cookie,” depicting Catholicism as a plan of the devil, and “Dark Dungeons,” about Dungeons and Dragons, they’re campy and controversial – and widely known, distributed on street corners, at churches, sometimes even in place of Halloween candy.

As you would expect, Bill Donohue of the Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights was not amused by this approach to describing the life and work of Chick, especially its emphasis on attacking St. Mary, the mother of Jesus.

Donohue's press statement argued:

Chick’s goal was to convince Protestants that Roman Catholicism was a false religion. He published scores of books and magazines, and released many videos, but he was most famous for his small tracts and comic books. ... His titles were provocative: “Are Roman Catholics Christians?”; “Why is Mary Crying?”; and “The Death Cookie” (meaning the Host). These were among his bestsellers.

Some of the assaults on Catholicism were quite specific. For example, Confession was the work of Satan. The Jesuits constitute a “truly secret army” all over the world. The Catholic Church was responsible for the Nazi death camps. Pope Pius XI and John Paul I were drugged. Protestants must beware of the “Catholicization of America.” The Vatican is bent on creating the “New World Order.”

OK, this analysis will not surprise Donohue's critics. However, I thought this bite of information struck home:

The fact is that Jack Chick concentrated most of his time and resources attacking Catholics. ... Indeed, on the website of Chick Publications there are 680 stories on Muslims, 260 on homosexuals, and 2,460 on Catholics.

Once again let me stress: I am not comparing Hitler and Chick. I am talking about efforts to describe their targets.

Yes, it is accurate to say that Hitler attacked all kinds of people. However, it was clear that the Jews were his primary target.

Yes, it is also accurate to say that Chick used his pen and fierce, at times bizarre, talent to criticize and even attack all kinds of people. However. it was clear that the Catholic Church was his primary target. Why not say so?

Just asking.

BE WARNED! The Metropolitan Church of Christ founded by Troy Perry on October 6, 1968 now in the Philippines!

Looks like Catholic. Acts like Catholics. Celebrate like Catholics. But THEY ARE NOT CATHOLICS and THEY DO NOT REPRESENT THE UNIVERSAL CHURCH! They copied Catholic rites. They copied Catholic creed. They copied Catholic liturgy. And they copied Catholic priestly vestments and appearances but DO NOT BE DECEIVED. They are now in the Philippines and spread their Satanic deceit and lies. Stay away from their liturgy for it is an abomination one! -CD2000

The Metropolitan Community Church (MCC), also known as the Universal Fellowship of Metropolitan Community Churches (UFMCC), is an international Protestant Christian denomination. There are 222 member congregations in 37 countries, and the Fellowship has a specific outreach to lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender families and communities.

The Fellowship has Official Observer status with the World Council of Churches. The MCC has been denied membership in the US National Council of Churches, but many local MCC congregations are members of local ecumenical partnerships around the world and MCC currently belongs to several statewide councils of churches in the United States. -Wikipedia

Q: When did the term “Roman Catholic Church” first come into being?

ANSWER:

It is not possible to give an exact year when the Catholic Church began to be called the “Roman Catholic Church,” but it is possible to approximate it. The term originates as an insult created by Anglicans who wished to refer to themselves as Catholic. They thus coined the term “Roman Catholic” to distinguish those in union with Rome from themselves and to create a sense in which they could refer to themselves as Catholics (by attempting to deprive actual Catholics to the right to the term).

Different variants of the “Roman” insult appeared at different times. The earliest form was the noun “Romanist” (one belonging to the Catholic Church), which appeared in England about 1515-1525. The next to develop was the adjective “Romish” (similar to something done or believed in the Catholic Church), which appeared around 1525-1535. Next came the noun “Roman Catholic” (one belonging to the Catholic Church), which was coined around 1595-1605. Shortly thereafter came the verb “to Romanize” (to make someone a Catholic or to become a Catholic), which appeared around 1600-10. Between 1665 and 1675 we got the noun “Romanism” (the system of Catholic beliefs and practices), and finally we got a latecomer term about 1815-1825, the noun “Roman Catholicism,” a synonym for the earlier “Romanism.”

A similar complex of insults arose around “pope.” About 1515-25 the Anglicans coined the term “papist” and later its derivative “papism.” A quick follow-up, in 1520-1530, was the adjective “popish.” Next came “popery” (1525-1535), then “papistry” (1540-1550), with its later derivatives, “papistical” and “papistic.” (Source: Random House Webster’s College Dictionary, 1995 ed.)

This complex of insults is revealing as it shows the depths of animosity English Protestants had toward the Church. No other religious body (perhaps no other group at all, even national or racial) has such a complex of insults against it woven into the English language as does the Catholic Church. Even today many Protestants who have no idea what the origin of the term is cannot bring themselves to say “Catholic” without qualifying it or replacing it with an insult.

Source: CatholicSay
November 1, 2014

Luther and the Protestant Reformation: Crash Course World History

“25 MORE SHOCKING ARRESTS”: Pastors Charged With Sex Crimes

Source: Awkwardmomentsbible via  The Splendor of the Church blog

This is a serious problem that very few people are willing to discuss out of fear, guilt, or… denial.

While it is easy to point an accusing finger at the Catholic Church for decades of covered up child abuse, it appears to be far too easy to ignore the fact that the problem of coercive sex crimes are just as, if not more prevalent among Protestant churches in America today. Of course, we don’t hear about them in the national news because they aren’t inter-connected to a massive worldwide organization like the Vatican. However, isn’t the scariest part that these crimes go on right in front of our nose while nobody really talks about it simply because Protestant pastors don’t wear “funny robes”? Much like their Catholic counterparts, Protestant pastors and ministers are trusted with children who have been taught to obey the authority of their church leaders.

After the Vatican’s recent “discipline” of pedophile priests, I decided to do a quick Google search for some local cases involving Protestant pastors – those that might have actually been reported and made local news. This is not an opportunistic attempt to slander Christian pastors by stringing together random cases compiled over the decades – these are all stories that hit the local news in May 2014 alone. Likewise, these are not random cases of “everyday Christians” getting arrested for “everyday crimes” such as theft or drunk driving. These are a few of the reportedcases of Christian leaders taking advantage of their positions of perceived power – from the month of May alone! (I couldn’t bring myself to continue browsing…)

• rape, sodomy, and incest of a nine year old

• forcing “morning after” pill after raping teens

• sexual abuse of mentally handicapped in custody

• producing and distributing child pornography

• installing hidden cameras in church bathrooms

• father/son pastors tag-teaming member of youth group

• drugs, sex, and yes – a dead body

This is just a small list of some of the crimes (that were actually reported to authorities AND the media) in the MONTH OF MAY ALONE. Out of the shockingly long list at the link below, only ONE of the perpetrators was Catholic. The rest? Your average Protestant pastor that nobody would have ever suspected. That is 24-to-1, folks! And, before you play the, “But that’s because the Catholics cover it up” card – think about just how much turmoil a Protestant pastor, church, family, and community would have to knowingly go through in order in the event of public charges being filed. Just like the crimes themselves, coverups are not just a Catholic problem.

QUESTION: Why isn’t there any massive national media outrage at these crimes in ONE MONTH? Oh, that’s right – because it’s never good for ratings (aka ad revenues) to go be seen as attacking Christianity as a whole. Many might see these crimes as being random and unrelated. I do not.

 – BEWARE –

Billy Howard Guy: Pastor charged with six counts of sexual crimes includingmolesting mentally-disabled woman in his care
http://www.wsoctv.com/news/news/local/ashe-co-pastor-accused-sex-offense-person-his-care/nfsJ4/

Tyrone Banks: Minister charged with rape and sodomy of 13 year-old (more victims coming forward)
http://www.myfoxal.com/story/25431240/pleasant-grove-man-58-charged-with-raping-13-year-old-girl

Joseph Hall: Pastor charged with 14 counts of sex crimes against kids as young as 12 years old
http://www.wsoctv.com/news/news/local/dallas-minister-accused-sex-crimes-including-rape-/nf9N3/

Trevon Boone: 39-year old minister arrested for rape of a minor
http://wtkr.com/2014/05/28/local-minister-charged-with-rape-turns-himself-in/

Larry Michael Berkley: Pastor charged 16 counts of sexual assault, drugs, and, yes – a dead body…
http://wreg.com/2014/05/06/shocking-allegations-against-former-pastor-of-churches-in-harrison-ar-and-henning-tn/

Jerome Anthony Clay: Pastor charged with raping a minor, under the age of 16 (prior record for domestic abuse)
http://abc7.com/archive/9466369/

Paul Endrei: Senior pastor charged with two counts of sexual battery and gross sexual imposition
http://www.cleveland.com/westlake/index.ssf/2014/05/westlake_pastor_accused_of_sex.html

Jordan Endrei: Pastor joins father in charges of sexual battery
http://fox8.com/2014/06/05/second-pastor-at-westlake-church-charged/

Damien Bonner: Pastor arrested for rape of a minor (who he forced to take “morning-after” pill after unprotected sex)
http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/crimewatch/affidavit-tulsa-pastor-charged-with-lewd-molestation-gave-victim-pill/article_bb06eaeb-0950-5fd6-b204-7f256a373d11.html
Second victim comes forward: http://www.kjrh.com/news/local-news/7th-molestation-complaint-filed-against-tulsa-pastor-damien-bonner-after-2nd-victim-alleges-abuse

Allen Lehman: Minister and teacher charged with seven counts of rape and sodomy with victims younger than 12
http://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/porter/valparaiso/valpo-substitute-teacher-former-m-ville-pastor-charged-with-sex/article_5de1c16e-aa2a-5dfd-9f73-bcd04009a2b6.html

Hector Caria: Pastor arrested for rape of teenage girl
http://sacramento.cbslocal.com/2014/05/10/davis-priest-arrested-on-sexual-abuse-charges/

Jeremy Grinnell: Pastor, seminary professor arrested for climbing ladder to watch neighbors have sex. Twice.
http://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/index.ssf/2014/05/peeping_pastor_and_professor_p_1.html

Chris Allen Phillips: Youth pastor embezzles $90,000 from church to cover-up prostitution problems
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/crime/extortionist-threatened-expose-youth-pastor-sexual-tryst-sentenced-jail-article-1.1783152

Donald Lafferty: Pastor hires couple to kill his wife, burn house with her inside (not sex with minors, but – certainly interesting)
http://www.semissourian.com/story/2087038.html

Forest Gibson: Youth pastor charged with sexual abuse of a minor
http://www.idahopress.com/news/local/local-church-youth-leader-arrested-for-sex-abuse/article_a6d34c7c-d7ff-11e3-8eaf-0019bb2963f4.html

Robert Lyzenga: Pastor arrested for planting cameras in girls restrooms at church
http://www.indystar.com/story/news/crime/2014/05/16/ex-pastor-admits-planting-restroom-video-cameras/9165929/

Roy Hariger: Pastor charged with multiple counts of rape and incest
http://wivb.com/2014/06/02/pastor-accused-of-sexually-abusing-children-facing-new-charges/

Travis Ray Smith: New trial set for pastor charged with multiple accounts of rape and sexual assault
http://www.lakenewsonline.com/article/20140521/News/140529664

Dennis Myers: Youth minister sentenced to 30 years in child porn, rape, sodomy or children
http://www.kansascity.com/news/local/crime/article360359/Former-Independence-youth-minister-sentenced-to-30-years-in-child-porn-sex-case.html

William R. Best Jr. : Pastor charged with sodomy, rape, and incest
http://www.selmatimesjournal.com/2014/05/21/241943/

Robert Stoner: Youth minister admits to multiple rapes 15 year-old girl from youth group
http://www.delawareonline.com/story/news/crime/2014/05/31/prison-time-ex-youth-minister/9816561/

Joel David Bolay: Pastor charged with sexual abuse, lewd acts with minors in child pornography case
http://newsok.com/church-youth-leader-charged-with-distributing-child-porn-lewd-acts/article/4746804

Scott Sechrist: Pastor charged with multiple rapes of 9 year-old girl over three years
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2628239/Pastor-kills-one-week-trial-sexual-abuse-nine-year-old-girl-start.html

Scott Barber: Church leader admits to rape of 13 year-old girl
http://newsok.com/nichols-hills-church-administrator-jailed-on-child-rape-complaint/article/4864597

Richard Mick: Pastor charged with raping two 8 year-old girls (and fondling boy)
http://www.sanduskyregister.com/article/sexual-assault/5642011

While it is easy to be outraged by Catholic coverups, I will admit – I am more worried about the Protestant with just as much ability to skip town and even less accountability from any governing body. Is it really that difficult to imagine how many of these crimes are never reported to begin with out of not wanting to harm reputations, the church, or the community?

It’s one thing to accuse the mysterious lonely man in the funny black robes that disappears behind the curtain at the end of mass. It’s quite another to accuse the man wearing khakis and button-ups. The man who is much more directly involved in the daily lives of all families within the church and is coming over for dinner tomorrow. The man whose wife leads the women’s group and works at the local bank. The man whose kids go to school with the victims. The man who is seen as a respected community leader with perceived authority over their flocks. To a nine, twelve, or sixteen year old – these men ARE God.

My parting (terrifying) thought: These are just the cases where the victim had the courage and family support to come forward publicly to accuse their attackers – even in their positions of power and authority within the church and community. Police and prosecutors know that most of these crimes go unreported – especially within the church. How many more victims suffer in silence every day? If I were still a praying man, I would be praying that the poor victims of these monsters are able to get the best counseling available OUTSIDE the typical “Christian Counseling” found within the church.

“God works in mysterious ways”? “Forgive and forget”? Tell that to a nine year-old victim of rape, sodomy, and incest…

– PLEASE SHARE THIS IMAGE –
It might help a victim or family in you area have the courage to come forward to put an end to unspeakable abuse that may be hidden right before your very eyes.

Obligatory disclaimer #1: Yes, of course – they are all innocent until proven guilty. I’m sure it was all just a misunderstanding.

Obligatory disclaimer #2: “They are obviously not real Christians!” Says who? Were they not trusted “real Christian leaders” the day before they got arrested? Wake up!

Don’t even get me started on fraud, corruption, and other crimes of Christian leaders…

The Guardian: Protestants can no longer dismiss abuse as a ‘Catholic problem’

By Symon Hill

Friday 29 May 2015 (Source: The Guardian)

‘In terms of abuse in British churches, the 1,885 cases announced by the Methodists are undoubtedly the tip of the iceberg.’ Photograph: Alamy

Last month, I moved out of a residential Christian community attached to a Methodist church in London. I moved for several reasons. One was the way that the church had handled an allegation of sexual abuse. The victim in that case was interviewed as part of the Methodist church’s Past Cases Review into abuse allegations. She had no advance notice of Thursday’s announcement by the Methodist church, which has formally apologised for 1,885 cases of abuse over the past 60 years. Despite media references to “historical abuse”, some of the cases are very recent.

This should be a wake-up call for all Christians in Britain. It is time for Protestants who have complacently dismissed church abuse as a “Catholic problem” to face the reality that abuse is endemic across denominations. As a Christian, and as someone who writes and teaches about religion and sexuality, I have heard far more stories of sexual abuse than I can count – along with stories of cover-ups, sexist responses, victim-blaming and repeated failures to take allegations seriously.

In terms of abuse in British churches, the 1,885 cases announced by the Methodists are undoubtedly the tip of the iceberg.

Only a few years after the Catholic child abuse scandals, we are on the brink of a new scandal. This time it will be about abuse across churches, probably mostly of adults. It can no longer be blamed simply on Catholic doctrine or clerical celibacy.

CHRISTIANS may become ONE -- SOON!

Non-Christian churches who professes another "Jesus" such as the Iglesia Ni Cristo (founded by Felix Manalo), the Mormons (Founded by Joseph Smith) and the Jehovah's Witnesses (founded by Charles T. Russel) should be very worried if this UNIFICATION of CHRISTIANS will be realized. Although still some Protestants vehemently oppose to this plans, it's only a matter of TIME when the HOLY SPIRIT will move and make us ONE, under the VICAR OF CHRIST on earth - the POPE! 

Rick Warren meeting Pope Francis at the Vatican; and a Muslim (Shiite) Imam praying with the Pope

Protestant Leaders Declare Reunification of Churches Under the Holy See

VATICAN CITY (24/7 News)– Following more than five hundred years of separation, American and European Protestant leaders met with Pope Francis last week to finalize the reunification of the two churches under the Holy See. The historic agreement is the result of a year’s worth of unpublicized talks between Protestant leaders and the Vatican.

Prominent American pastors Joel Osteen and Rick Warren, respectively, as well as Justin Welby, the Archbishop of Canterbury, were among the Protestant delegation that met with Pope Francis last week. Pastor Warren, founder of Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, California, spoke with members of the international press in St. Peter’s Square, saying, “Protestants, as a people, have a long history of heresy. The time for reconciliation is now in order to ensure a full and dogmatic transition into the folds of the Church.”

Moments before meeting with reporters, the entire Protestant delegation, for the first time ever, entered the confessional to take part, individually, in the Sacrament of Penance. “It’s important that we participate in these sacred rituals before asking our congregation to do the same,” Pastor Osteen said, adding that his time in confession was “an immensely moving experience.”

As Protestants around the world make the transition to Catholicism, many are wondering what, exactly, that means for them. “First and foremost we acknowledge the Pope’s infallibility with regard to universal moral declarations, the authority of Church magistrate, faith, and ex cathedra,” said Father Cliff Brogan, a former Protestant pastor who was the first of the delegation to be ordained as a priest at the Vatican. “Secondly, we participate in the sacrament of the Eucharist by accepting the actual body and blood of Christ, an event known as Transubstantiation, at the conclusion of the holy mass.”

As part of their induction into the Catholic faith, all Protestants above the age of fifteen are required to undergo a Catholic Confirmation, one of three sacraments of initiation, out of seven total, which Catholics can receive. “Most, if not all, of us have been baptized,” said Father Brogran. “However, without formal Confirmation, our Protestant baptisms will be null, thus preventing us from entering the Kingdom of Heaven.”

Additionally, during the transition period, American Protestant families whose children attend Sunday School are to receive vouchers allowing them to participate in CCD programs at area Catholic churches.

In a show of support for the reunification under the Holy See, the United Kingdom announced Wednesday that it is taking steps to reunify Northern Ireland with The Republic of Ireland. The government of the UK has acknowledged the stark differences between the two countries, but according to one official, “We are, for the first time, one people, united under the Bishop of Rome, acting together as the bride and servant of Christ.”

- See more at: http://247nigerianewsupdate.co/protestant-leaders-declare-reunification-of-churches-under-the-holy-see/#sthash.v12NNT8d.dpuf

Iglesia Ni Cristo is a Christian Sect!

The EBC is reportedly run by the influential Christian sect Iglesia ni Cristo.-PhilStar

UNITED IN HATE: Iglesia Ni Cristo (INC), Born-Again (BA), Jehovah's Witnesses (JW), Jesus Is Lord (JIL), Seventh-Day Adventists (SDA), Sedevacantists (SSPX), Islam (ISIS, Boko Haram, Al Qaeda, Abu Sayyaf, etc)

Dito niyo makikita ang mga NAGKAKAISANG mga PROTESTANTE LABAN sa IGLESIA KATOLIKA na siyang TUNAY na IGLESIANG TATAG NI CRISTO.

Bagamat alam na alam nilang ang IGLESIA KATOLIKA ang TUNAY, kaya pilit nilang MINAMALI ang mga ARAL nito at PINAPALABAS na ang LAHAT ng mga KATURUAN at PAGSAMBA ng mga KATOLIKO ay LABAG sa BIBLIA.

Kailangan nilang MANLINLANG at MANDAYA para lamang MAKAAKIT ng kaanib. 

Wala po sila sa PANIG ng KATOTOHANAN. Nasa panig po sila ng KASINUNGALINGAN at PANDARAYA!

At dahil alam nilang TAYO ANG NAGBUO ng BANAL NA BIBLIA kaya't hindi nila ito INAARAL sa kanilang mga kaanib!

Magpuri po tayong mga Katoliko sapagkat KUNG PAANO INUSIG ang DIOS nating si CRISTO ay hindi po tayo makananaig. Ang ating PAGDURUSA natin dahil sa PAG-UUSIG ay isang PAGTATAGUMPAY ng KANYANG IGLESIA. 

Patunay lamang ito dahil ngayon po ay nasa 2,015 YEARS na po ang ATING IGLESIA! -CD2000

John Ferrer Kapatid akoy 40 taon na bilang Katoliko pero ni isang salita at talata tungkol sa PURGATORYO, ROSARYO, ITIM NA NAZARENO, STO NINO, AT ANG PAGSASAMBA SA MGA REBULTO NG MGA SANTO AT NI INANG MARIA NA GAWA NG TAO ay WALA SA BIBLYA! Kaya akoy nagkusang umalis ay tinahak , hinanap ang TOTOONG MGA SALITA AT UTOS NG DIYOS- BIBLYA!

John Ferrer Isiah 42:8 ! " I am the LORD: that is my name: and my glory will I NOT GIVE TO ANOTHER, NEITHER MY PRAISE TO GRAVEN IMAGES" . But why the Catholic church even the popes themselves wön't stop people giving praises , worshiping graven images statues , relics of dead people even allowing people kiss the ring in their hands! Honestly i'm 40 years as a Roman Catholic, 40 years of being decieved and mislead by false doctrines! Everyone has the RIGHT TO FIND THE TRUE TEACHINGS OF JESUS CHRIST TO DISCOVER THE TRUE WORDS AND COMMANDMENT OF GOD, SO IN THE END MAY SAVE YOUR SOUL AND EVEN OTHER SOULS: WAKE UP MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS! GOD BLESS US ALL! 

John Ferrer The question is: why do all the popes tolerate people t worship graven images including what he's holding, even letting people kiss their rings or hands, why did they not stop the false teachings of their churches like praying repeated prayers like the rosary. Deutoronomy 5:7-9, Mathew 6:7-13, Acts 17:29, Jerimiah 2:27, Habacuck 2:18-19, Galatians 4:8, and Mathew 23:9 ( "and call no man your father upon earth: for one is your FATHER, which is in heaven')

John Ferrer CHRISTIANITY ang itinatag ni CHRISTO - ibig sabihin taga sunod ni CHRISTO at hindi Katoliko. hindi paninira ang pumuna sa maling aral na magiging dahilan ng ikipapahamak ng iba, oo ngat mahigit 2000 taon na ang Katoliko, d ba kau nagtataka at maraming umaalis sa relihyong ito dahil marami ang namumulat sa KATOTOHANAN na naaayon sa BIBLYA na kasalungat ng mga TURO, ARAL AT MGA DOKTRINA NG SIMBAHANG KATOLIKO.

John Ferrer wala sa Biblya ang salitang KRISTYANISMO kundi taga sunod ni KRISTO, sa makatuwid KRISTYANO ANG TINAWAG SA MGA TAGA SUNOD NI KRISTO ALANGAN NAMANG KATOLIKO O MUSLIM! ang tawag sa mga taga sunod ni Satanas syempre mga Satanista alangan namang Kristyano , kapatid, isipin mo nga kapatid

John Ferrer since 33A.D . pa pala kayo naliko! kung ang BIBLYA ang paguusapan naniniwala akong totoo lahat ng nakasulat ngunit kung sa mga turo ng katoliko, maraming salungat sa nakasulat sa BIBLYA kapatid. saan nyo mababasa na dapat magvenerate sa mga taong patay na, rosaryo na paulit2 na dasal, pagukit at pagsamba ng mga imahe gawa ng kamay, ang pagbinyag sa mga kapa2nganak na bata baka mapunta sa LIMBO, ang PURGATORYO ? pasensya na kapatid at isang buwan palang ako nagbabasa ng BIBLYA

How do I explain that the Catholic Church did not split from the Christian church?

Full Question

Someone I know claims that the Catholic Church divided from the “Christian church” around A.D. 900. I know he is incorrect, but how do I explain it to him?

Answer

Tell him to go find a serious book on Church history and read it. There is no basis for what he is claiming. Not only were there no significant splits around A.D. 900, there were no splits anywhere near this period that resulted in a surviving group that was called “the Christian Church.”

The claim is so preposterous that one suspects your acquaintance has gotten something garbled somewhere along the line. If you really want to engage him on this subject, get more detail about what he is claiming. Insist that he give a source for the info, then research the claims made by that source.

Read: CatholicSay

Evangelical Convert: Adam Crawford

Article from Why I'm Catholic:

A lifelong Protestant, Adam came home to the Catholic Church when he was 39 years old. He currently lives in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains in Northern California with his wife of 20 years Missy, and their three boys. Adam also blogs at his site, A Faith-Full Life.

Your Starting Point Doesn’t Always Determine Your Conclusion…

Part One - Context

A pastor friend who had heard of my conversion to Catholicism cautioned me that, “Your starting point always determines your conclusion.” Often this is a maxim that I would wholeheartedly agree with. I too have recognized that frequently a faulty conclusion is indeed the result of an erroneous starting point. This certainly seems to be a maxim that can be applied to many endeavors involving human reason and logic – endeavors such as science, mathematics, philosophy, and theology. And yet, while this maxim seems to generally hold true, there are exceptions to the rule. In science for instance, one starts with a hypothesis (starting point) which often must be abandoned during the course of research, since your research may lead you to a very different conclusion indeed. In theology and religion, these exceptions to the rule are most often referred to as conversions – i.e. people whose starting point (like Saul of Tarsus) very much does not determine their conclusion!

Having said that, I wanted to start by providing a bit of context for my conversion story. I was extremely fortunate to be raised in a Christian home by parents who did an excellent job of acquainting me with the Holy Scriptures. Our Christian faith was a very central part of our life and identity as a family. Within our faith, I was exposed to both ends of the spectrum so to speak, both to legalistic and fundamentalist churches that were very dogmatic and certain about everything, and also to more “regular” denominations that were very certain about some things (the necessity of speaking in tongues) but not so certain about others (predestination vs. free will). Over the years, we attended various denominational and non-denominational churches, but they were all characterized by the idea that the bible alone was our only basis for truth, faith, morals, and authority. Many of these churches also tended to interpret Scripture in very literal terms.

Nevertheless, I frequently found myself at odds with the accepted theological beliefs of our Christian friends, many of whom could probably be best described as Evangelical Fundamentalists. As a result, I frequently felt that my own views bordered on the “unorthodox”, leading me to feel that I struggled with issues of faith more than most. In particular, starting when I was about seventeen, I really began to struggle with the idea of the Bible alone. I couldn’t seem to get a good answer as to where this idea had come from or more importantly where the Bible asserted this doctrine. I found myself at odds with the doctrine of sola Scriptura for primarily logical reasons. If it is, “the Bible and the Bible alone” then where does the Bible make this claim? If anything when I studied the Bible I found that it seemed to argue against this idea as it was full of times when God spoke both through direct revelation, and also times when He spoke through others (prophets, priests, judges, kings, etc.) to His people. In Scripture I saw that God revealed Himself through His creation, through His incarnate Son who dwelt among us, through the disciples who, “handed on … what [they] had in turn received:1” (oral tradition), through His Church, etc. Obviously this revelation was inscripturated and preserved for those of us who came later, and Scripture is indeed God’s revelation to us, but this was never the primary means by which God choose to reveal Himself. In other words, He didn’t, with the notable exception of the Ten Commandments, choose to simply drop a written users manual from heaven in order to communicate with us – and even that didn’t end up working so well!

ONE BIBLE, MANY INTERPRETATIONS from PerishableItems Wordpress Blog

Article that is a MUST to be read by anti-Catholics like the Iglesia ni  Cristo^® founded by Manalo in the Philipipnes.[Source: PerishableItems Wordpress Blog]

Mormons teach that the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are three Gods, and that we too can become Gods in our own right someday.

You may reply to them, for instance, with James 2:19, “You believe that God is one. You do well. Even the demons believe that and tremble,” but Mormons will have some explanation for that New Testament passage which fits their theology.

Oneness Pentecostals teach that the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are not three persons but three manifestations of one divine person, God.

You may ask them who Jesus is praying to in Matthew 26:39 when he says in the Garden of Gethsemane, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me; yet, not as I will, but as you will,” yet Oneness Pentecostals will offer some answer for why Jesus is not praying to another person.

Jehovah’s Witnesses teach that Jesus is not God, not divine, but God’s first and greatest creature, and that the Holy Spirit is not a person but the active force of God the Father in the world.

You may answer with the beginning and end of the Gospel of John: with John’s prologue where we see “the Word was with God, and the Word was God. … And the Word became flesh,” and the gospel’s climax, John 20:28, “Thomas answered and said to [Jesus,] ‘My Lord and my God!’” However, Jehovah’s Witnesses will surely have some reply for these verses.

A diagram of the ancient, orthodox, Christian conception
of the Most Holy Trinity: One God, Three Divine Persons

In my personal experience, advocates of Mormon polytheism, Oneness Pentecostal modalism, or Jehovah’s Witnesses Arianism-esque theology have all been sincere, friendly, rational, and not unintelligent people. They were all well-versed in the Bible, regarded it as God’s infallible Word, and used it to support their beliefs. They all proudly claimed the name of “Christian.” However, the undeniable fact that their theologies contradict each other proves that these admirable personal traits are not enough to guarantee a true understanding of the Christian Faith. The problem is that there seems to be more than one possible internally-coherent interpretation of the Bible. Just as texts out of context can suggest several defensible, though incorrect, meanings; interpreting biblical texts outside the context of Christ’s one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church leads to many errors.

Protestants Need the Pope by Graham Glover

by Graham Glover

Article Source: The JAGGED WORD

We do. We really, really do. We Protestants need the papacy. We need it for our theology. We need it for our politics. We need it more than we want to admit.

And this is a good thing. (Yeah, I said it Rev. Hess, the papacy is a good thing!) For those Lutherans and other Protestants who think Pope Francis, Pope Benedict XVI, and Saints John Paul II and John XXIII are the antichrist, you should probably stop reading this post right now, because I am a Lutheran pastor who is utterly captivated by the papacy.

Let’s take Saint John Paul II. Part of me gives credit to one of our nation’s great presidents, Ronald Reagan, for the fall of the Soviet Empire. I also give credit to Lady Thatcher of Great Britain and to the inherent failure of the communist system to sustain itself. But any student of theology, history, and politics, must give enormous credit to John Paul II in bringing down this evil regime. John Paul’s role in Poland’s solidarity movement offers a textbook case in how the Church ought to involve herself with politics. It is the Gospel that changes people’s hearts. Only the freedom of the Risen Christ offers people true hope when confronted with the perils of this world. John Paul the Great preached this and his message was instrumental in freeing millions throughout the world.

This same approach to politics is what draws many to Pope Francis. His way of dealing with and speaking to people is certainly different than his most of his predecessors, but the message remains the same. Francis’ language reminds me a lot of my own church’s bishop, Rev. Matthew Harrison. They both speak a lot about mercy – Christ’s mercy – and how this mercy is the foundation of the Christian faith. And both of these shepherds engage people in every station of their life, regardless of their situation or past transgressions. To the best of their sinful ability, they both model the love of Christ to others – with believers and unbelievers alike increasingly drawn to their message.

Then there is my favorite pope, Benedict XVI.

A Bavarian who understands Lutheranism more than any of those who preceded him as Bishop of Rome, I am absolutely convinced that history will regard this man as one of the foremost intellectual giants of Christendom.

I would put him on par with Thomas Aquinas. He’s that good. Probably better. His writings cover a great deal and never disappoint. I think he is most solid on the Liturgy. But we Protestants should also love him for his insight into the greatest evil today’s world knows, “The Dictatorship of Relativism”. Benedict understands how deceptively threatening relativism is to our world and challenges us all to confront it head on, with the Law of God to be sure, but even more with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

INQUIRER: How other faiths observe Holy Week

Pope Francis kneeling to wash the feet of people with disabilities (Source: Chron)

It's IRONICAL that an ordinary journalist of Philippine Daily Inquirer knows the REAL REASON, and ESSENCE of celebrating the HOLY WEEK, - it is the 'PASSION, DEATH and RESURRECTION' of the LORD JESUS-- while those who say they are professing "faith" in (the same) Jesus Christ downplay this celebration NEGATIVELY JUST BECAUSE it's a CATHOLIC-led HOLIDAY.  What a shame! And who doesn't know the origin and founder of these SECTS:

• Aglipayan Church founded by Bishop Gregorio Aglipay in 1902 (Filipino former Catholic)
• The Iglesia ni Cristo founded by Felix Manalo in 1914 (Filipino former Catholic)
• Jehovah's Witnesses founded by Charles T. Russel in 1931 (Protestant)
• Seventh-day Adventists founded by Helen G. White et.al. in 1863 (Protestant)
• United Church of Christ in the Philippines founded 1901 but officially registered in 1942 by group of Evangelicals, mixed of Congregationalist, Presbyterians and Episcopalian

But the CATHOLIC CHURCH is considered as "among the oldest religious institutions in the world" (Wikipedia) and the mother of Christianity-- founded by JESUS CHRIST upon ST. PETER the APOSTLE, whom he promised that the "gates of hell" shall NOT prevail (Mt. 16:16-18). Therefore the same CHURCH now is crossing the THIRD MILLENNIUM with 266 Popes, the present is POPE FRANCIS!

MANILA, Philippines—The annual commemoration of Holy Week—marking the passion, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, which begins on Palm Sunday, climaxes on Jesus’ crucifixion on Good Friday and culminates in the joyful celebration on Easter Sunday of the Resurrection—and its pious customs observed in Roman Catholic tradition also find expression in the mainstream Protestant denominations and evangelical churches. What follows is an informal survey of what Holy Week observances are followed by other faiths.

Aglipayan Church

The Aglipayan Church, officially the Iglesia Filipina Independiente (IFI), or the Philippine Independent Church, follows the same Holy Week observance as the Roman Catholic Church, according to Rev. Fr. Terry Revollido, rector of the Aglipay Central Theological Seminary.

“I don’t see any significant difference because we’re also following biblical narrative,” Revollido said.

Like the Roman Catholics, the Aglipayan faithful begin the Holy Week with Palm Sunday. On Maundy Thursday, there would be a celebration of the Eucharist and the washing of the feet while on Good Friday church activities include the Seven Last Words, veneration of the cross and processions. The Easter Vigil mass is held the evening of Black Saturday and the Salubong very early on Easter Sunday.

The Aglipayan Church, which calls itself the national church of the Philippines, proclaimed its break from the Catholic Church in 1902 by the members of the Unión Obrera Democrática Filipina because of the alleged mistreatment of Filipinos by the Spanish clergy. Although a Christian denomination, the IFI rejects the spiritual authority of the Pope and emphasizes patriotism in its teachings.

The members of the church are called Aglipayans after its first supreme head, Fr. Gregorio Aglipay.

Iglesia ni Cristo

The Iglesia Ni Cristo, another homegrown Christian sect, does not observe Lent or mark the special observances and services of Holy Week, as it believes that the pious customs associated with it derive from pagan traditions.

For instance, it believes that Palm Sunday, the beginning of Holy Week commemorating Christ’s triumphal entry to Jerusalem to fulfill his paschal mystery, has pagan origins. The INC says the palm symbolizes victory, and notes how victorious armies of pagan nations decked themselves and their chariots with palm fronds.

According to the INC, the word Easter was derived by St. Bede from Eastre, a forgotten dawn goddess. Numerous local customs held during Easter, such as the blessing of meat, eggs and other foods the partaking of which was formerly forbidden during Lent, have pagan origins, the INC believes.