I understand the "discussion" of Pope John Paul II will continue. (Maybe all week) No matter what your faith, most have respect on some level for this man and what he proclaimed and stood for. Yet he was vilified by so many on the air yesterday.
I ask you all to tune in and listen. Please call to share your views of the Pope. We are live from
3-6PM EST. The number is 1-800-320-8255. If you are Catholic, please do not call to defend the faith if you really do not understand it. Know if you do call, you will be challenged by a reformed protestant fundamentalist. Yet as Pope John Paul said, "Do not be afraid" Stand up to defend the truth.
Of course all views are welcome, but I would love to see an outpouring of support for Pope John Paul II from all Christians. Please pray for the strength and wisdom to speak the thruth to all who listen.
Thank you all for your support,
Shaun "Powerball" Pierce
11 comments:
I think JPII was an inspiration and an example of what a "Christian" is. When he spoke we truly heard the voice of Peter. His service to Christ and his Church will be sorely missed. JPII we love you.
I try to listen as frequently as possible, but find that days like today get me angry enough to tune out. It's obvious that many RC's listen to hear beliefs common to all Christians. But your host seems compelled to take issue with most lay Catholic's opinions, thus causing listeners like me to change the station. If he truly wishes to engage in deep theological discussion, particularly on Catholic doctrine, why doesn't he invite a Catholic theologian on the show? Today's show, for example, digressed from vague references to the Pope's Marian beliefs to an all-out attack on Catholics and the effect
their veneration of Mary has on their salvation. Might I suggest that you invite a biblical scholar, such as Scott Hahn(former Protestant minister) who teaches at the Univ. of Steubenville, to address such issues as Mary, the Eucharist, the papacy, and other issues that your host finds "interesting". I trust that he's not really interested in such a fair discussion. I'm starting to wonder whether MM is one of those "abc" (anything but catholic) Christians. Lastly, you are to be commended for never backing down(although MM seems to give you no quarter although you do not claim to be a theologian).
I actually called the show several months ago with that suggestion. MM just kept changing the subject -- trying to turn it into a Mary statues on the dashboard debate --but I persited. Finally he hung up on me.
And then I realized what's what, and I haven't listened to the show since.
(but love Powerblog!)
Thanks for the comments. Marty has always avoided having a "Catholic Expert" on the show because he claims he wants to hear what people believe not what experts believe. We had Scott Hahn on the show once in 3 years and it was to talk about some disagreement he had with the Bishop of Greensburg.
I agree we all need to know our faith and understand it before we can defend it and many Catholics don't. I by no means am an expert but so often I'm called to represent and defend the Church.
As for PowerBlog, I don't want this to be just a Catholic blog. I enjoy hearing what other Christians believe. In fact the challenges from protestants have caused me to search scripture and grow stronger in my fiath and understanding. But let's talk respectfully about what and why we believe certain things. You find much more understanding when you do that.
It pains my heart to hear some of the things that have been said. Not because I disagree, but because of the lack of compassion displayed by so called "Christains" to those who have suffered a great loss.
My sympathy to the Catholics who read this. Just know I'm doing my best to defend the faith both here and on the air.
I am a Protestant and do not agree with much that the Catholic Church teaches, but I think that now is not the time to have this discussion. I know that the Pope's death is in the news constantly. I think that all you are getting from the Catholics is an emotional response to a perceived assault on their faith. In a couple of months, you should get a Catholic Priest or apologist and have a theological discussion on the air. Many of the Catholics who call in do not know how to defend their faith. Why not open it up and have some real discussion with someone who knows their faith and how to defend it. Just my thoughts. God Bless!
In Christ,
Hoby
Catholics do NOT worship Mary. We hold her in the highest of esteem because she said YES to God. She was under no obligation whatsoever to say yes to God, but she did! That is why she is our greatest role model of all human beings.
She is called the Mother of God because she gave birth to Jesus- the Son of God. If Jesus was truly fully human and fully divine, then his mother would not just be the mother of his humanity, but the mother of HIM. The Church gave Mary this title to protect Jesus' divinity.
Mary being called the Mediatrix of all Graces is relatively simple to understand. We are saved through God's grace...that grace being Jesus' dying on the cross to forgive our sins. God gave us this grace through the act of asking Mary to become Jesus' mother. She could have said no, but she said YES. God didn't force Mary to be the mother of the Savior. Mary said yes through her faith in God. So, in a sense, God saved us through Mary's mediation...God gave us his grace...his saving Son...through Mary, thus Mary is considered the Mediatrix of God's grace.
I think the whole issue really comes down to- who has the authority? Is Jesus' authority from the scripture "alone" as Protestants claim, or is the authority from "Scriptures/Tradition/Teaching authority of the Church" as the Catholic Church claims? From a Protestant perspective you would have to ask "since authority is from Scripture alone, where in scripture is that statement found? Where in scripture does it say that these 73 books (66 since Martin Luther on his own authority decided to remove 7 books) are the inspired word of God? Also you have to ask where did the Bible come from? Since these books make up the authority, by what authority did they come into being? Who said these books are the inspired word of God?
The answer to these questions, of course, is that the Church (the Catholic Church) said that these books are the inspired word of God. The Church believed it had the authority to decide which books were inspired by God...and which books were NOT. So the Church came into being BEFORE the books of the Bible were written. How were the teachings and preaching given then? They were "handed on" by the Apostles to the believers. The word tradition means "handed on". We see in scripture that St. Paul told the Thessalonians to "stand firm and hold fast to the traditions that you were taught, either by an oral statement or by a letter of ours". (2 Thes 2:15)
So the Holy Traditions of the Church were first handed down by word, THEN by writing.
Where else do we see authority? In Mt 16 when Jesus gives Peter the keys to the kingdom and starts his church ON PETER, not on Peter's faith. Jesus give Peter the keys- (a symbol of His authority). The King could give his authority, in His absence, to His minister...his Prime Minister, Peter. Peter will have Jesus authority to bind and loose. Peter (the other apostles are also given this authority in another gospel) is given the power of authoritative teaching.
But didn't this authority end when Peter died? No! We see in Acts that when Judas died the Apostles filled his "office". There was a line of succession established to fill the Apostolic office of Judas. Do you think that the Apostles only did this with Judas' office? I'm guessing not! Certainly, if they would have a successor to Judas, they would have a successor to Peter, the Prime Minister!
So as we see...from scripture alone...that the Church believes it has its authority not only from scripture, but from Holy Tradition and from the teaching authority given it from Jesus Himself.
Why not celebrate all the great things that Pope John II has done which even the secular media like is doing.
The Greek word "all" that is used in Romans:( ...All have sinned and are deprived of the glory of God) is "pas." There are numerous examples in the NT where "all' does not mean "each and every single person without exception."
For example in 1 Cor 15:22 "For just as in Adam ALL die, so too in Christ shall ALL be brought to life. The Bible tells us that Enoch and Elijah did not die but were assumed into heaven while still alive.
Also in Matt 3:5-6 At that time Jerusalem, ALL Judea, and the whole region around the Jordan were going out to Jesus and were being baptized by him in the Jordan River. Was every individual person in Judea baptized by Jesus?
In Rom 15:14 Paul's says that his brothers are filled with ALL knowledge..." The only one that has all knowledge is God. Should we throw out our Bibles as Marty suggested?
In Rom 3:23 which passage Marty quoted, could Paul have meant when considering the other passages with "all" in them, that he was referring to those conceived in original sin and excluded Mary, just as Elijah and Enoch were excluded in the "all." This passage is not trying to teach us about Mary, but to instruct the early Christians that all of us who were conceived in original sin need redemption.
In the Bible it also states that the Church is the pillar of truth. Peter says that St. Paul's letters are difficult to understand. Who should have the authority to interpret them? There are over 20,000 different Christian denominations since the Reformation. Many of these denominations --all claiming to interpret the Bible according to the inspiration of the Holy Spirit--come to opposing interpretations. As you said there is only one truth. Is Marty's private interpretation reliable?
I seem to recall that about six months ago, there was a Rev. Park on the show who was discussing the common ground between various Christian faiths. MM was quick to criticize many of the RC beliefs that he contended compromised our salvation. Rev. Park began to express what he believed the Catholic position was(even though he pointed out that he was a Protestant Minister for a reason!) and yet MM appeared to get mad at him. Does anyone remember this?
It is my sincere belief that many evangelical pastors have to take this approach with Catholicism because they would not have many people in the pews of their churches without the disgruntled, former Catholics who are looking for something more (and looking, and looking.....). In times when I'm not the believer I should be, I find that it's me who has failed the faith, it's not the faith that has failed me.
Lastly, I read a very interesting article in either Time or
Newsweek indicating that Mary is becoming increasingly popular in some Protestant churches. In the article, the author tells of a Protestant Minister who died and went to heaven. He was greeted at the gates of heaven by Jesus, who while making the proper introductions said, "This is my father, who I believe you know. Let me also introduce you to my mother, who I don't blieve you have met."
Yes is was Pastor Eric Park. Notice you never heard him on the show again after that. To embrace any aspect of the Catholic Church in a sense requires dissmissing a small part of the reformation. Not many will do that. The original thought of reforming the Church has spun out of control and created "new churches" while failing in the original mission. The sad truth is many have based their life (and made a living) on this division and to bridge the gap is bad for business.
The Pope Who Revived the Office of the Inquisition
An American Catholic Reflects on Papacy of John Paul II
http://www.counterpunch.org/connolly04052005.html
The Pope Who Revived the Office of the Inquisition
An American Catholic Reflects on Papacy of John Paul II
http://www.counterpunch.org/connolly04052005.html
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