Problem w/The Pope...

First off,let me say Im loyal to The Holy Father & Im a good Cathoic in standing & all that(believe me Ive been a RC for 7years but IM OLD SCHOOL BABY)! Yet Ive got a problem w/The Popes ecumenical endevours(esp today at Assis):Why would The Successor to Peter hold prayer meetings w/Moslems,Shintoists,Buddhists & other pagan leaders? There is no evangelization going on from his side,no talk of Christ or the Faith...just a PC common denominator god. I know I cant be the only Catholic out here who feels this isnt right! And before u Jack Chick drones begin your diatribes...talk to the hand.Dont you think this whole "lets put aside our differences for a feel-good day" is just not kosher? I certainly would be so charged to hear the Pope put the Truth out there about all these false religions & the path to Hell that they are taking their people on! Give me your thoughts people!!!!!!!

Let me say this gently but firmly as a Catholic priest...you truly need to discard your narrow view of Catholic Christianity if you wish to enjoy the full fruits of the Gospel. As an entire, collegial church speaking under the inspiration of the Holy Spirt at Vatican II, the presence of actual Truth(i.e. Jesus Christ the Word made Flesh) can be known to at least some degree in any "religion" that fosters or communicates Love. That holds for Buddhism, Islam, Hinduism, etc. In this manner, we could say that Christ makes Himself mystically but truly present in certain aspects of these ideologies. However, it is very true that some religious visions of the Eternal God can be clearer and more actualized than others. This is where the Pope, as successor of Kephas-Peter (the Rock) would claim that the Catholic Church (or, for that matter, any Christian community that specifically communicates the *Person* of Jesus Christ) offers an opportunity for the fullness of salvation--not in any church institution, but in the Person of Jesus HImself. By the same token, the Pope, while recognizing that the Person of Jesus can be known, shown and loved in most all Christian fellowships, would say that the Catholic Christian fellowship holds the fullest vision of Christian faith of all of them, due to its indisuptable link to the historical apostles, its centuries of unbroken continuity, preservation of baptism and Eucharist, etc, and especially by virtue of the fact that the Roman bishop truly is the historical successor of Peter's servant/leadership of the Apostles, he whose task it was to "strengthen the brethren." In any case, try to broaden your horizons of faith. You won't fall into darkness or doubt if you truly keep your eyes on Jesus Christ the Person, and will learn a great deal more about the reality of Love's secret workings and hidden places in our diverse existence.

Peacefully in Christ & Mary,

Br. Finn

Yes its nice to have a

Yes its nice to have a "blackrobe" amongst us & I look frwd to future posts. As far as Vatican II(were not going to go there are we...LOL). I still dont see how hanging w/pagans & worshipping with them fullfills the great commission. All those mentioned deny the divinity of Christ,the Holy Trinity etc. THEY ARE PAGAN RELIGIONS. And please do not equate Islam as having the same God as Christians & Jews...allah is not the God of Our Faith!!! Islam is a false religion started by a fallen angel masquerading as Gabriel(this is a whole other topic). As far as Buddha,Vishnu etc all false gods...can darkness dwell in the light? Im still confused by POPE JP'S actions here,sorry. Narrow-minded about The Faith....YUP,guilty as charged! Call me an old-fashioned 32yr old Harp,but Gods Truth never changes...just mans interpertation.
GOD BLESS!!!!!!!!!

Devil Stomper (love the name)...your gift is your enthusiasm and excitement about the Truth you truly feel regarding your Catholic beliefs--but know that the line between enthusiasm and fanaticism can sometimes be very thin. Cross that line and your gift becomes a burden. That said, keep in mind that it's perfectly okay to recognize that certain elements of non-Christian (or non Catholic Christian) faiths are often rooted in what we perceive to be "less enlightened" traditions, or in practices that do not stem from the work of Love, and hence, from Christ, Who is the Source of all Love. For me, a good example of this comes from the story of Mother Teresa, who founded her Home for the Dying on the outskirts of an ancient temple to the Hindu goddess, Kali. Now, Kali is a deity whose mythology springs from pain, suffering, vengeance, and a desire to destroy mankind. For many Hindus, Kali is the embodiment, in goddess-form, of pure misery. In order to "get on the good side" of that force of misery, they have attempted for centuries to placate this deity through blood sacrifice, etc. Humans have done this with various deities for centuries--they've tried to appease the violent, god-like forces they don't understand in ways that they believe might be pleasing to a deity. Obviously, this is a very primitive human response. We can see how uneducated people (or people caught up in "tradition for the sake of traditon") can put simple concepts like that together and believe such things are useful. But Jesus taught us to think and react to the Divine on a much more accurate, and indeed perfect level. Mother Teresa built her home for the dying in the shadows of the temple of a Death Goddess, and illustrated so wonderfully how "Death" can be approached from two different spiritual angles: one from the quaking fear of and need to satisfy a hateful entity, the other from a desire to comfort, nurture, and communicate pure kindness to the dying in the Name of a loving Lord. It's clear which is the "better" approach, and which is the more "True." Instead of looking at pagans and non-Christian people as being anti-God, try to look at them as perhaps having an incomplete "glimpse." After all, everyone responds in one way or the other to Love, and Love always comes from the True God, no matter where it is found on this Earth. You can claim your unique Catholic Christianity and believe firmly in its superiority without resorting to blanket condemnations of all other faiths. Besides, even Catholic Christianity struggles to see the full light of the Gospel at times. As Paul said... "we see through the glass darkly" now. Many traditons of Muslims, Hindus, and Buddhists spring from healthy human attitudes toward the Divine, and we must have respect for them without necessarily having agreement. Most of all, the best witness we can ever give for Christ is NOT a doctrinal one, or an ecclesiastical one. We witness by LOVE and faith in action, and if we witness well enough, non-believers will ask what makes us so happy, and then we can tell them the reason for our gladness: JESUS THE CHRIST. The rest will follow. It really is as simple as that (or should be). Be peaceful.

Br. Finn

N ice to hear from ya KC! Padre I appreciate your responce(although I cant agree 100%,Im trying).LOL>
In regards to the Holy Ghost,amongst my prayers & intentions yesterday I asked to be "enlightned" to the motives of Pope JP & guess what...yup=spoke to me through the word:COL 3:9-17. WOW TALK ABOUT OPENING MY EYES! KC,as far as allah,the Koran being inspired by God....thats just not possible Kiddo! St Paul warned us of angels deceiving w/false gospels & false messiahs etc & that is ISLAM. Yeah they believe Christ was a prophet,so do Jehovah witness. Remember God(in their case allah) never delivered the "inspired"word of the Koran to his prophet...it was done by an angel. All prophets of Old Test who were given "inspired word of God" were spoken to thru The Father. Islams prophet was deceived by the Father.........of LIES. Islam negates & attempts to refute all the basic Truths of Christianity....its purpose was & is to eliminate Christianity & The Jews. You cannot equate Islam w/The Faith. Dont be blinded by all the PC/newage rhetoric being forced down our throats. Pick up some Apologetics on both sides & see where its coming from.
GOD BLESS