After reading this thread I have seen a few twists and detours. Hope started this thread, expressing her disappointment towards priests abusing children, and how she sees the Catholic Church handling it. Now, after some straw man arguments, the focus of the thread is the legitimacy and validity of the Catholic Church and it's lineage of Popes.
To the latter, I for one, am getting tired of the same arguments, the same mud slinging, the same emotionally out of control 'discussions' about the Catholic Church, being spread to just about every forum and thread on this website. I am not taking sides. I am merely expressing my disgust, that such behavour is running rampant all over the place. There are new Christians here, who are also reading these mean-spirited, knock-down, drag-out fights. What kind of example are we setting for them?
Let us pray before each posting. Let us not post knee-jerk reaction posts. And, let us be reminded that we as Christians, are to let the light of Christ shine for all the world to see.
To Hope,
In reading a lot of your posts, in different threads, it is quite apparent that you are questioning your relationship/belief with the Catholic Church. You stated that you are in the midst of a religious crisis. These boards are a good place to discuss doctrines, etc. A lot of information, beliefs and ideas are exchanged here. But, these boards do have their limitations. I honestly think that your concerns should be discussed with a few, in-person, face-to-face, intimate exchanges.
Attempts to drum up Protestant support in this forum will be sucsessfull, but at a price. Namely, the in-fighting, bickering and mean-spirited posts that are now occuring. If you are really questioning your faith, take my advice, pray and sit down with someone, one on one. But please, don't take your personal religious crisis, and use it as a platform for a public crusade against the Catholic Church.
Again, let us pray before each posting. Let us not post knee-jerk reaction posts. And, let us be reminded that we as Christians, are to let the light of Christ shine for all the world to see.
John