Catholic spokespersons are hoping the Notre Dame fire will rekindle an interest in their religion for many of France’s highly-secularized Catholics. However, whether a Catholic is on the church’s legalistic religious treadmill or spending Sunday mornings in bed, the results are the same. Les résultats sont les mêmes.
Interesting article. The Catholic majority massacred the Protestant Huguenot minority beneath the towers of Notre Dame on St. Bartholomew’s Day in 1572. Pope Gregory XIII had a special medal struck to commemorate the slaughter of the Protestant “heretics.” See here for more information.
Many American Catholics are finding it impossible to remain in the Catholic church in light of the current scandal tsunami. Are evangelical churches reaching out to their disaffected Catholic neighbors with the Gospel of grace?
- Radio Maryja and the media empire of Poland’s polarizing priest
- Poland’s Catholic Church condemns Jewish effigy ritual
Because of its unique history, Poland is one of the few remaining (if not the only) “Catholic countries” in Europe where the militant, pre-conciliar brand of Catholicism still flourishes.
The vast majority of American Catholics have only a very shallow understanding of their church’s theology, and their knowledge of Scripture is even less. For them, being Catholic boils down to upbringing and allegiance to family tradition. In the cases of those who are drawn to Catholicism’s liturgical ritualism or who remain despite the scandals, it often boils down to a subjective, “it just feels right,” similar to Mormons’ alleged validation of their religion through a “burning in the bosom.”
Conservative Catholics are appalled by pope Francis’ progressive reforms (i.e., the lifting of the ban on communion for remarried divorcees, the advancement of shared communion with Protestants, the absolute ban on capital punishment, etc.), but their strong belief in papal authority has precluded outright rebellion and schism to this point. Will conservative Catholic gadfly, Steve Bannon, succeed in unifying and mobilizing opposition to Francis?
In this excellent short article, a pastor states some vital truths that are being swept under the rug in the push for ecumenical false “unity.”
I’ve already ordered mine.
Lol. Love in our Christ, Mr. Tom.:)
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Thanks, Bonnie. While I don’t think boycott wars are the right approach, I do believe telling the straight truth about Catholicism is loving our Catholic friends. In the evangelical church today, there is so much accommodation and compromise that very few tell the truth about Catholicism. That doesn’t equip evangelicals to witness to Catholics and it certainly doesn’t help Catholics to see the difference between their church’s false gospel and the Gospel of grace. The Lord used some uncompromisingly truthful books and pamphlets about Catholicism to help lead me out of that institution and I’m grateful to the folks who wrote it.
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I am very happy you are helping others to find Christ’s Grace..:)
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Thanks for the encouragement in the Lord, Bonnie!
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1.) “Notre Dame fire may finally awaken France’s ‘Zombie Catholics’”
I hope those Zombie Catholics will become born again instead…
2.) “More Americans than ever are leaving the Catholic Church after the sex abuse scandal. ”
THis should be an opportunity to reach out and even for Protestants to present a biblical view of the ministry, qualification and disqualification of elders, and also a biblical view of sex. These areas are great spring board to the Gospel! Sad that many Protestants don’t see that as an opportunity. It makes me want to make some series of posts on these topics in the near future to reach out to Catholics
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Thanks for the good comments!
1. I don’t blame the Zombie Catholics for not relishing sitting through the same boring liturgical ceremony week after week. Yup, disenchantment with dead tradition will hopefully be an opening to the Gospel for many. I would really welcome the series you mention.
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I’m going to have to spend some time writing up on it I think the angle of the abuse scandal do present opportunities
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3.) “In the cases of those who are drawn to Catholicism’s liturgical ritualism or who remain despite the scandals, it often boils down to a subjective, “it just feels right,” similar to Mormons’ alleged validation of their religion through a “burning in the bosom.””
Sad this is the case. How they need to be based upon the truth of God’s Word!
4.) “New Device For Stoic Baptists Lifts Your Arms During Worship For You (Satire)”
LOL!!
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3. Right, Catholics and Mormons replaced God’s Word with their own “sacred” traditions, their first and biggest mistake.
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Yep
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Just loaded a comic review!
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Thanks, I’ll check it out!
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