[quote]Brother Chris wrote:
[quote]USMCpoolee wrote:
[quote]Brother Chris wrote:
[quote]TheBodyGuard wrote:
Well, you’re really touching on why I reject religion period. Anything can be perverted to suit your interests.[/quote]
Hence, the reason for Jesus establishing the Church.[/quote]
I’m trying to figure out how to ask this without sounding accusatory, but I can’t, so please don’t take it that way. But do you honestly think the Catholic Church isn’t corrupt? Or hasn’t been?[/quote]
The human nature (the individuals), yes. We’re sinners. Like my Israeli friend says, “We’re not hypocrites because we’re Catholics, we’re Catholics because we’re hypocrites.” We are not perfect, never claimed to be.
Peter our Pope, denied Christ three times. Let me tell you about numerology here for a second. Three is very symbolic in the Bible, stands for completeness (Trinity, three days in Hell, Jesus tempted three times, &c.). Peter denied Jesus completely, Peter also told Jesus he loved him complete (Jesus asked Peter three times if he loved him, and he answered affirmative thrice).
As Catholics we know three things (okay we no more than that, but trying to make a point and go along with the theme of three). Those three things are some of the most morbid things you’ll ever wrap your head around, how we remind ourselves is even more morbid (but that is a later topic). What we know…we know of our fallen nature (we’re sinners), we know without the Lord we couldn’t do anything (anything that’s not going to be dashed in the pit of fire at least), and we know one day we’ll die (Tempus Fugit, Memento Mori).
As Catholics, we should not, or at least should not, have any illusions otherwise.
However! Always a however. ![]()
The Church has two natures (think of Jesus, two natures: human and divine). Jesus’ body, or Church, is made up as any other body. The reason for the divine nature is because Jesus is G-d and Jesus promised the Holy Ghost to the Church to guide us to the end of time.
Just as Jesus’ body was crucified, torn apart, beaten, corrupted by the nails, the lance, the leather of the whip and everything deemed profane, but his divine nature stayed pure, he never sinned. It was never corrupted.
That is why Catholics believe the Church can be perfect (morals, teachings, &c.), with sinners in it. Not because we’re some uber-uptight people who never do a bad thing or because our Bishops are sooooo good at teaching the same thing from the beginning of the Church on Calvary to the current date, but because Jesus is G-d and Jesus said he’d protect the Church from Hell and the Holy Ghost would be our guide, and we believe that the Holy Ghost cannot be deceived or deceive us.
As well, what congregation in Christendom has a sacrament of reconciliation? If we have a Sacrament (with a capital S) for the sole purpose of forgiving sins, you think we don’t recognize that we’re not corrupt? We know, trust us. We’ve been trying to tell the world of the human’s fallen nature, but no one believes us. What shall we do? Keep the preaching I guess.[/quote]
Wow, I was not expecting that great of a response, thank you BC. Well I can’t say I agree with you, thanks nonetheless.