Some Questions

[Jonle]

I'm not going to be here after tomorrow to respond to the answers to these questions(we're going on a retreat), but i thought I'd ask them anyway:

1. Why do Catholics think of the Catholic Church as being more than just another denomination?

Most Christians think of the Church that they belong to as the best place for them, the place where the pastor is saying things that relate best to them and their life.

2. Why do Catholics feel that God would have to guide the Magisterium of their Church (especially) and protect Papal pronouncements from error, when all believers are promised the guidance of the Holy Spirit?

3. Why does the Catholic Church teach that it doesn't change its teachings on matters of faith and morals?

I can think of a matter of faith on which the Catholic Church has changed (Hyper's oft quoted "Outside the Church, there is no salvation" means something very different in Catholic teaching now than it did in 1600), and in morals the Church changed its position on slavery in the Nineteenth Century and on usery.

Didn't the Church also change at some point it's stand on religious freedom?

4. Didn't the Nineteenth Century Church err by encouraging the Cult of saint Philomena?

5. On what does the Catholic Church base her teaching that their is both Temporal and eternal punsihment for sin?

6. I live with a Catholic so I know you believe the Sacrament of Reconciliation to be the way that God wants us to confess our sins to Him, but what do you think of confessing to God in prayer (with true contrition of course)?

7. Do Catholics believe that Hell is the normal destination for other baptised Christians?

I may have misunderstood this in the past, but it's the definate impression I've gotten in the past.

8. What evidence is there that the Petrine Primacy was intended to be a Primacy of Authority (Catholic teaching) rather than a Primacy of Honor (Orthodox, Anglican, High Church Lutheran, and Methodist teaching).

9. What reason is there to believe that the Catholic Church (which is in all likelihood the Church Christ founded), still does things exactly the way it's first members did and still believe exactly whta the Apostles taught?

I've asked all of these questions before and gotten very good answers, but I'm coming at things from adifferent angle now.

Immaculate Heart of Mary, you are my home.

Sacred Heart of Jesus, you are my only hope.

Jon

[cmotherofpirl]

You need to pick one question to start.

[Jonle]

3. Why does the Catholic Church teach that it doesn't change its teachings on matters of faith and morals?

I can think of a matter of faith on which the Catholic Church has changed (Hyper's oft quoted "Outside the Church, there is no salvation" means something very different in Catholic teaching now than it did in 1600), and in morals the Church changed its position on slavery in the Nineteenth Century and on usery.

Didn't the Church also change at some point it's stand on religious freedom?

[Brother Adam]

I don't think it fits any of those catagories. Sorry

[Jonle]

Any of the poll categories?

A mystery wrapped in an enigma should have been a choice, but I thought I was the only one who felt thusly.

[ironmonk]

3. Why does the Catholic Church teach that it doesn't change its teachings on matters of faith and morals?

I can think of a matter of faith on which the Catholic Church has changed (Hyper's oft quoted "Outside the Church, there is no salvation" means something very different in Catholic teaching now than it did in 1600), and in morals the Church changed its position on slavery in the Nineteenth Century and on usery.

Didn't the Church also change at some point it's stand on religious freedom?

Faith and Moral teachings have never changed. The Church grows deeper in understanding of the Faith.

You are mistaking disciplines and acceptance to civil authorities for faith and morals. Such things as slavery was totally ok in the bible, the bible even states that "if a slave remain a slave" when being called.

1 Corin. 7:21

Were you a slave when you were called? Do not be concerned but, even if you can gain your freedom, make the most of it.

22 For the slave called in the Lord is a freed person in the Lord, just as the free person who has been called is a slave of Christ.

Not to mention, the majority of the blacks that came over during the slave years, were Catholic. The Catholic faith is huge in Africa.

It was the Catholic Church that gave us the New Testament Canon.

It's been around since 33 AD. ALL other Christian churches are offshots of the Catholic Church.

The Catholic Church IS NOT a denomination. To be a denomination, a church has to be an offshot of the original. The Catholic Church IS the original.

"To be rich in history is to cease to be Protestant."

Read the first 600 years of Christian writings, they are all Catholic.

Here are some resources:

http://www.NewAdvent.org/Fathers/

http://www.ScriptureCatholic.com/

http://www.Britannica.com

http://www.Catholic.com

http://www.MoralTruth.com

I'll answer your other questions as I have time.... they should be here when you get back.

And, thank you for coming to real Catholics to seek what the Catholic Church really teaches.

God Bless, Love in Christ & Mary

ironmonk

[ironmonk]

The following verses describe what the Catholic Church calls "Purgatory"

Isaiah 6:5

Then I said, "Woe is me, I am doomed! For I am a man of unclean lips, living among a people of unclean lips; yet my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts!"

6

Then one of the seraphim flew to me, holding an ember which he had taken with tongs from the altar.

7 He touched my mouth with it. "See," he said, "now that this has touched your lips, your wickedness is removed, your sin purged."

Sins are purged so he may enter Heaven. If sins are purged, then he will be saved.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Matt 12:32

And whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven; but whoever speaks against the holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come.

How can someone be in Hell, and then be forgiven??? The age to come people can be forgiven, it can't be Heaven because there is no need for forgiveness because in Heaven there will not be sin... it can't be Hell because once your in Hell, it's for eternity.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Rev 20:13

The sea gave up its dead; then Death and Hades gave up their dead. All the dead were judged according to their deeds.

14 Then Death and Hades were thrown into the pool of fire. (This pool of fire is the second death.)

15 Anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life was thrown into the pool of fire.

Death and Hades (not the pool of fire) gave up their dead and they were judged according to their deeds.... THEN Death and Hades were thrown into the pool of fire (HELL as we know it)

Death and Hades is not Hell, and is not Heaven... then what could it be??? The Catholic Church calls it Purgatory.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

1 John 5:16 If anyone sees his brother sinning, if the sin is not deadly, he should pray to God and he will give him life. This is only for those whose sin is not deadly. There is such a thing as deadly sin, about which I do not say that you should pray.

Rev 21:27

but nothing unclean will enter it, nor any (one) who does abominable things or tells lies. Only those will enter whose names are written in the Lamb's book of life.

Nothing Unclean can enter Heaven, but not all sin is deadly (1 John 5:16) therefore we must have our sin purged (Isaiah 6:6-7) before we enter Heaven if we are guilty of lesser sins.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

1 Cor 3:15

But if someone's work is burned up, that one will suffer loss; the person will be saved, but only as through fire.

How can we be saved from Hell, because Hell is eternal? This being saved as through fire can only be Purgatory, where our lesser sins will be purged from us.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Luke 12:59

I say to you, you will not be released until you have paid the last penny."

We will pay for all our sins in one way or another (Purgatory). All our sins must be paid for.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

2 Macc 12:43

He then took up a collection among all his soldiers, amounting to two thousand silver drachmas, which he sent to Jerusalem to provide for an expiatory sacrifice. In doing this he acted in a very excellent and noble way, inasmuch as he had the resurrection of the dead in view;

44 for if he were not expecting the fallen to rise again, it would have been useless and foolish to pray for them in death.

45 But if he did this with a view to the splendid reward that awaits those who had gone to rest in godliness, it was a holy and pious thought.

46 Thus he made atonement for the dead that they might be freed from this sin.

If we make it to Heaven, we don't need atonement. If we go to Hell, there is no atonement.... There must be Purgatory

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

1 Peter 1:6

In this you rejoice, although now for a little while you may have to suffer through various trials,

7 so that the genuineness of your faith, more precious than gold that is perishable even though tested by fire, may prove to be for praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Job 1:5

And when each feast had run its course, Job would send for them and sanctify them, rising early and offering holocausts for every one of them. For Job said, "It may be that my sons have sinned and blasphemed God in their hearts." This Job did habitually.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Purgatory from the Catechism, The Official Teaching of the Catholic Church:

III. The Final Purification, or Purgatory

1030

All who die in God's grace and friendship, but still imperfectly purified, are indeed assured of their eternal salvation; but after death they undergo purification, so as to achieve the holiness necessary to enter the joy of heaven.

1031

The Church gives the name Purgatory to this final purification of the elect, which is entirely different from the punishment of the damned.606 The Church formulated her doctrine of faith on Purgatory especially at the Councils of Florence and Trent. The tradition of the Church, by reference to certain texts of Scripture, speaks of a cleansing fire:607

As for certain lesser faults, we must believe that, before the Final Judgment, there is a purifying fire. He who is truth says that whoever utters blasphemy against the Holy Spirit will be pardoned neither in this age nor in the age to come. From this sentence we understand that certain offenses can be forgiven in this age, but certain others in the age to come.608

1032

This teaching is also based on the practice of prayer for the dead, already mentioned in Sacred Scripture: "Therefore [Judas Maccabeus] made atonement for the dead, that they might be delivered from their sin."609 From the beginning the Church has honored the memory of the dead and offered prayers in suffrage for them, above all the Eucharistic sacrifice, so that, thus purified, they may attain the beatific vision of God.610 The Church also commends almsgiving, indulgences, and works of penance undertaken on behalf of the dead:

Let us help and commemorate them. If Job's sons were purified by their father's sacrifice, why would we doubt that our offerings for the dead bring them some consolation? Let us not hesitate to help those who have died and to offer our prayers for them.611

607: Cf. 1 Cor 3:15; 1 Pet 1:7.

608: St. Gregory the Great, Dial. 4, 39: PL 77, 396; cf. Mt 12:31.

609: 2 Macc 12:46.

611: St. John Chrysostom, Hom. in 1 Cor. 41, 5: PG 61, 361; cf. Job 1:5.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

God Bless, Love in Christ & Mary

iron monk

[Norseman82]

2.  Why do Catholics feel that God would have to guide the Magisterium of their Church (especially) and protect Papal pronouncements from error, when all believers are promised the guidance of the Holy Spirit?

On this question, all I need to say is: look at all the different denominations. Everyone claims the Holy Spirit, but look at how we disagree - ESPECIALLY ON THE REAL PRESENCE!! The Eucharist either IS the Body and Blood of Jesus, or it is JUST A SYMBOL. How can the Holy Spirit inspire such contradictions? There are many more examples, but this is the most obvious.

Thus the wisdom of Christ in setting up the Church and promising the Holy Spirit to guide it in all things (John 14:26).

[ironmonk]

Authority of the Church

John 14:16

And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate to be with you always,

17 the Spirit of truth, 9 which the world cannot accept, because it neither sees nor knows it. But you know it, because it remains with you, and will be in you.

18 I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you.

Jesus promised that the Church would be guided by the Holy Spirit, in Truth. The Church cannot be wrong about faith and morals, because Jesus said so.

1 Tim 3:15

But if I should be delayed, you should know how to behave in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of truth.

The Church is the Pillar and Foundation of truth. To be the Pillar and Foundation of Truth, then the Church must have the authority to teach the Word of God, to teach it infallibly. Infallibly because it is guided by God.

St Matt 18:17 (Jesus said) If he refuses to listen to them, tell the church. 14 If he refuses to listen even to the church, then treat him as you would a Gentile or a tax collector.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

St. Matt 28:18 Then Jesus approached and said to them, "All power in heaven and on earth has been given to me.

19 Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the holy Spirit,

20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age."

Which Church has been making diciples of all nations since the Apostles for 2000 years? Which Church could possibly have Jesus Himself guiding the Church? ....answer to both.... The Catholic Church

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Luke 10:16 "He who hears you hears me, and he who rejects you rejects me, and he who rejects me rejects him who sent me"

This is another verse that shows there will be One Church to lead, One Church to preach the truth....

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

2 Timoty 3:14

But you, remain faithful to what you have learned and believed, because you know from whom you learned it,

15 and that from infancy you have known (the) sacred scriptures, which are capable of giving you wisdom for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.

16 All scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for refutation, for correction, and for training in righteousness,

This shows that someone taught it....The scripture spoken of here is the Septuagint... The New Testament was not considered Canon until around until 400 AD.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

2 Thess 2:15

Therefore, brothers, stand firm and hold fast to the traditions that you were taught, either by an oral statement or by a letter of ours.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

2 Tim 2:2

And what you heard from me through many witnesses entrust to faithful people who will have the ability to teach others as well.

These faithful people...who could they be??? Which Church has been around since the Time of Christ & His Apostles? .... The Catholic Church, fulfilling the commands of Jesus.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Romans 10:17

Thus faith comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes through the word of Christ.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

1 Peter 1:25

But the word of the Lord abides for ever.’ That word is the good news which was preached to you

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ephesians 3:5

which was not made known to human beings in other generations as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit,

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ephesians 2:20

built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the capstone.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

1 Corin 11:2

I praise you because you remember me in everything and hold fast to the traditions, just as I handed them on to you.

These traditions spoken of are what the Catholic Church hands on....

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

1 Corin 15:3

For I handed on to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the scriptures;

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

1 Corin 15:11

Therefore, whether it be I or they, so we preach and so you believed.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Acts 2:42

They devoted themselves to the teaching of the apostles and to the communal life, to the breaking of the bread and to the prayers.

They devoted themselves to the "teaching" of the Apostles, not scripture.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Acts 8:27

So he got up and set out. Now there was an Ethiopian eunuch, a court official of the Candace, 8 that is, the queen of the Ethiopians, in charge of her entire treasury, who had come to Jerusalem to worship,

28 and was returning home. Seated in his chariot, he was reading the prophet Isaiah.

29 The Spirit said to Philip, "Go and join up with that chariot."

30 Philip ran up and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet and said, "Do you understand what you are reading?"

31 He replied, "How can I, unless someone instructs me?" So he invited Philip to get in and sit with him.

The Catholic Church is a gift from Christ sent to instruct us. Christ promised that the gates of hell would not prevail against the Church (Matt. 16:18) and the New Testament itself declares the Church to be "the pillar and foundation of the truth" (1 Tim. 3:15).

Over 200 books and letters were considered to go into the New Testament Canon, but only 27 made it, the 27 chosen by the Catholic Church.

"We are compelled to concede to the Papists that they have the Word of God, that we received it from them, and that without them we should have no knowledge of it at all."

~ Martin Luther, Commentary on St. John

Without the Catholic Church, no one would know of Christ.

God Bless, Love in Christ & Mary

ironmonk

Militia Immaculata

[Chrysologus]

1. Why do Catholics think of the Catholic Church as being more than just another denomination?

Because the Catholic Church was founded in the first century by Christ himself and he promised that the gates of the netherworld would never prevail against it. Consequently, there has never been nor will there ever be a reason for other denominations of Christianity.

2. Why do Catholics feel that God would have to guide the Magisterium of their Church (especially) and protect Papal pronouncements from error, when all believers are promised the guidance of the Holy Spirit?

Individual guidance of the Holy Spirit while real and useful does not make someone infallible or prevent him from twisting scripture. Look at Protestantism; it's full of hundreds of competing theologies, all coming from professing, supposedly Spirit-filled Christians. Rather, we need an infallible magisterium to teach us the true faith just as the apostles taught the true faith in the apostolic age.

3. Why does the Catholic Church teach that it doesn't change its teachings on matters of faith and morals?

Because it doesn't. The church develops a deeper understanding of its doctrines over time, and that there is no salvation outside the church is such a doctrine which has been re-evaluated, but it's still the same doctrine. The church has never changed how it has understood a certain doctrine to the extent that it would mean the opposite of what it once meant. The church has never taught that slavery is okay, though many Catholics in the past have felt so.

5. On what does the Catholic Church base her teaching that their is both Temporal and eternal punsihment for sin?

Like all teachings, it's based on scripture and tradition. God punished King David even though he forgave him. Another place in the Bible says that God forgives guilt, but by no means lets the guilty go free.

6. I live with a Catholic so I know you believe the Sacrament of Reconciliation to be the way that God wants us to confess our sins to Him, but what do you think of confessing to God in prayer (with true contrition of course)?

Perfect contrition merits the immediate forgiveness of sins without going to the sacrament, as long as one intends to go to the sacrament as soon as possible. If a person doesn't know that he or she is supposed to receive the sacrament, and this ignorance is not willed, i.e. it is invincible ignorance, then that person will still be forgiven, almost like a "confession of desire."

7. Do Catholics believe that Hell is the normal destination for other baptised Christians?

No, the church does not teach that, but some Catholics do believe this, much to my displeasure. All Christians are Catholics if they have been baptized in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. If their rejection of full communion with the Church of Christ is due to invincible ignorance (as I would say it almost always is), then they aren't rejecting salvation.

8. What evidence is there that the Petrine Primacy was intended to be a Primacy of Authority (Catholic teaching) rather than a Primacy of Honor (Orthodox, Anglican, High Church Lutheran, and Methodist teaching).

Look at the way St. Peter spoke in the Acts of the Apostles. Look at the writings of the early church fathers and their opinions of the papacy. One of the very earliest popes and apostolic fathers, St. Clement wrote to and admonished the Corinthians even though he was bishop of Rome.

9. What reason is there to believe that the Catholic Church (which is in all likelihood the Church Christ founded), still does things exactly the way it's first members did and still believe exactly whta the Apostles taught?

The church doesn't teach EXACTLY the same things as were taught in the apostolic age. Rather, the doctrines have developed and born fruit since then. But, to see that they are indeed at heart the same doctrines as from the beginning and by no means contradictory to the Christian faith as understood by the apostles, merely read the apostolic fathers. None of them understood Christianity the way the Reformers did. Since the fathers were much closer to Jesus and the apostles in time, we must conclude that it is they who were correct in interpreting scripture, and not the hasty and confused Protestants of later years.

I hope that this helps you. God bless you.

P.S. I skipped one of the questions because I didn't know whom the saint about which you were talking was.

[littleflower+JMJ]

go defender! go defender!

[cantstopdancin9]

You know, yawl could just short answer and not even explain yourself but you just have to make it all drawn out and dot your i's and cross your t's!

that's what I love about this place

[Anna]

3. Why does the Catholic Church teach that it doesn't change its teachings on matters of faith and morals?

I can think of a matter of faith on which the Catholic Church has changed (Hyper's oft quoted "Outside the Church, there is no salvation" means something very different in Catholic teaching now than it did in 1600), and in morals the Church changed its position on slavery in the Nineteenth Century and on usery.

Didn't the Church also change at some point it's stand on religious freedom?

Jonathan,

Teachings which the Church has declared to be infallible teachings cannot change. Truth doesn't change.

That said, our understanding of certain Truths evolves as we mature.

While the basic Truth remains the same, our understanding of these Truths develops over time.

Take for example, colors.

Ashley started out learning her colors one at a time, right?

She may have started out learning basically the primary colors, plus black and white.

In time, she learned other colors besides the primary colors, pinks, purples, etc...

When she gets older, in science classes, she will learn that white is the absolute absence of all the colors, and that black is all the colors together. She'll learn that yellow + blue = green, red + white = pink, blue + red = purple.

She'll learn new colors like magenta, periwinkle, coral...

These things always existed, and for the sake of this conversation, we can say that they are absolutes.

Once she learns the new things, it in no way diminishes the basic teachings with which she began. It only broadens her perspective.

The Church, likewise, has never ceased teaching that Salvation is through the Catholic Church alone.

The Church was "born" on Good Friday, when Christ, (the New Adam) slept in Death on the Cross, and from His opened side, there issued forth a new extension of Himself.

He had already set the foundations of His Church. He had instituted the priesthood just the evening before.

He had established who would be the leader once he was gone.

He had instituted and instructed His Apostles on the Sacraments.

You might say that on Pentecost, the newborn Church was baptized, receiving the Holy Spirit and being presented to the world in a completely new light.

What man outside of this Church can make the claims that She can make? Who can claim to be guided infallibly by the Holy Spirit? The Catholic Church has Christ's Word on it. Anyone understanding this would want "in!"

But there is a requirement. Christ asks us to prove our love for Him daily, and this is not easy.

"If you love me, deny your very self, pick up your cross daily, and come, follow me."

Following Jesus daily is not an easy thing to do. He tells us we must deny self. When we indulge ourselves in that which pleases our "selves," we displease Him. Rather, we should be immersing ourselves in those things which we know with certainty please Him...prayer, charitable works, fasting, etc.

In Matthew 19, we see how the rich young man loved his riches more than he loved Christ.

At some point in our lives, we are forced to choose: Do I love this more than I love Christ? Am I deluding myself to think that I can have both?

Even St. Paul experienced a thorn in his flesh, some temptation or desire which would separate him from Christ. Praying didn't seem to remove it, and he realized that by living with this pain, but not submitting to it, he would become stronger and prove his love for his Savior.

We see that the rich man went away sad, because he could not leave the wealth he loved behind. Then Jesus said that it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than a rich man to enter the kingdom.

But, all things are possible with God, for those who love Him!

Which brings us back to "If you love me..."!

We have to peel off the layers of selfishness like an onion, and yes, there will be tears as we do so sometimes...but the promise of eternal joy.

For what we have here on earth is only temporary, and what is to come is eternal.

Pax Christi. <><

P.S. Shannen--That was my short answer!

[Jake Huether]

1. Why do Catholics think of the Catholic Church as being more than just another denomination?

Because the Catholic Church was the very first Church! It's like I give you the number 8 right. Well, 4 is a denomination of 8. 2 is a denomination of 8. But 8 isn't a denomination of itself. In the purest sense of the word, a denomination is a devision of something else. Since the Catholic Church started, then it isn't a denomination, only the groups that seperate from the Church are denominations.

Most Christians think of the Church that they belong to as the best place for them, the place where the pastor is saying things that relate best to them and their life.

This is absoluty unfortunate and seriously foolish. If the truth was based on the "best place for you" then there would be no absolute truth. Christ built His Church so that we could conform to it. It should set us straight! We aren't supposed to make the Church conform to us. What good would that do. It's like me trying to tell a judge that steeling from the store was okay because... The law is meant to correct us and make us better. We change acording to laws in order to better ourselves and society. If the law conformed to each persons personal desires or beliefs then there would a) be a zillion laws and B) there might as well be no law.

2. Why do Catholics feel that God would have to guide the Magisterium of their Church (especially) and protect Papal pronouncements from error, when all believers are promised the guidance of the Holy Spirit?

Actually, if you read John carefully you will note that Jesus isn't intending the message for "all believers". Up until John 17, he is talking specifically to the Apostles (i.e. the first Bishops / the first Magesterium). We are all promised guidance of the Holy Spirit, but not all believers are promised the distinct characteristic of always hearing the Holy Spirit. Therefore, believers are only really guided, when they open their hearts to being guided (which there is unfortunatly no tell tail sign of). I mean, I could tell you that I'm being guided right now. And that the Spirit is telling me that women need to have the right to choose and abortion. But that's B.S. Sure, I'm promised the guidance of the Spirit, but have I really listened to the Spirit.

It was the Apostles that were not only promised the guidance of the Holy Spirit, but they were also promised that they would KNOW the Spirit. Remember from Scripture?

John 15: 19 If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world.

He is specifically talking to the Apostles.

John 17: 16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of it.

17 Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.

18 As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world.

19 For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified.

Now Jesus starts to make his prayers general. This is how we know that what He was saying before was for the Apostles ONLY. Otherwise He wouldn't have had to specify NOW that Has changed his speach for ALL beleivers.

John 17: 20 My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message,..."

So you see. Jesus, being the smart guy that he is, knew that there would be indecisiveness (sp?) between "all" believers. That is why He established the Church in the first place! I mean think of it good: If the Holy Spirit just simply guided all the believers, the what use would the Church be? There would be no need for a Church. We wouldn't even need a pastor, or ministers or whatever. If we all could just read the Bible and believe and be guided, than not only would priests be out of a job, but pastors and ministors would be too! We'd be our own ministers.

But you see, not all believers understand the guidance of the Spirit. It's like the seeking question. The Spirit is constantly guiding us, but if we don't take the directions, then we cannot say that we are guided.

3. Why does the Catholic Church teach that it doesn't change its teachings on matters of faith and morals?

I can think of a matter of faith on which the Catholic Church has changed (Hyper's oft quoted "Outside the Church, there is no salvation" means something very different in Catholic teaching now than it did in 1600), and in morals the Church changed its position on slavery in the Nineteenth Century and on usery.

Didn't the Church also change at some point it's stand on religious freedom?

The Church doesn't change it's teachings. It sometimes begins to understand them better. And be careful also to note that not every papal anouncement is infallible. Many corrupt Bishops would have like to make you think that the Church taught something it really didn't. But the Church never has changed. Therefore, Bishop shmow might pronounce that anyone not baptised in the Catholic Church is headed straight for hell. But that doesn't mean that that is really what the Church teaches. Infallible teachings are those that have the backing of the Pope in UNION with all the Bishops. Therefore, shmow's statement isn't binding, nor is it even correct. See what I mean. The word "Church" can be used very liberally to contort meanings and develope anti-Catholic rhetoric. But remember the Church is a seperate entity from the individuals inside her.

6. I live with a Catholic so I know you believe the Sacrament of Reconciliation to be the way that God wants us to confess our sins to Him, but what do you think of confessing to God in prayer (with true contrition of course)?

God has shown us, through his Church, that the way He would like to see us confess is through His Sacrament. He has chosen this way because it is not the most beneficial for Him, rather, it is the most beneficial for US. God knows that a true confession in prayer is good, and with true contrition even better. But he is saddened when we think that this way is best for us. Because if we confess to God in our prayers, and make a true act of contrition, yet lack the Sacramental aspect of confessing to a priest, we lose the benefits that we would achieve. A) The priest can give us pointers on how we can avoid sin. B) Humans need human interaction. C) When we hear, "your sins are forgiven" we are assured that God has really forgiven us, and that our confession and contrition were good enough.

So you see, yes, confession in prayer and a true act of contrition are good for God. But they are less than beneficial for us. God has given us the Sacraments not for his own gratification, but for our own benefit.

Father knows best!

7. Do Catholics believe that Hell is the normal destination for other baptised Christians?

No.

8. What evidence is there that the Petrine Primacy was intended to be a Primacy of Authority (Catholic teaching) rather than a Primacy of Honor (Orthodox, Anglican, High Church Lutheran, and Methodist teaching).

When Jesus told Peter that He has the Keys to the Kingdom of Heaven, and that what He binds is bound and what he loses is loosed. If it was a Primacy of Honor, there would be no binding ability.

9. What reason is there to believe that the Catholic Church (which is in all likelihood the Church Christ founded), still does things exactly the way it's first members did and still believe exactly whta the Apostles taught?

When Christ mentioned that the gates of hell would not prevail against Her. It is kinda silly to think that if Christ built His Church on a ROCK (even if you don't think he was refering to Peter), which he stated clearly in scripture, that a few years later it would corrupt (as most Protestants think). I mean, what kinda rock was he refering to? A dirtrock? Hahahahah.

If Christ said he will build His Church on solid ROCK we must believe that the very same Church that he started with, would indeed endure to the end.

[Don John of Austria]

Just a few historical points. The papacy condemned Slavery in the 1500's I want to say 1530's but it could have been the 1530's or 40's at anyrate the pope condemned Slavery as soon as it started to be a serious issue ( in the middle ages slavery was very rare in Christian lands), now if you are specking of the classical period no slavery was not condemned nor was it condemned by Saint Paul such was the culture of the time, it took a Catholic Culture to recognize that ownership of oneself was demanded by God.

And No "Outside the Church there is no salvation means exactly what it did in 1600 some moderns do not like thaat but still it means the same such things have been defined i n council everything else is heresy.

Well I have to go now. I have baby duty.