I had a discussion about my previous post with my BFF, someone whom I believe is extremely knowledgeable in theology and who has a logical way of explaining the pope's comment. In fear of not paraphrasing his point correctly, and since he explained it so simply, I am posting his explanation below!

BFF:
It’s really pretty simple and easily explained. The pope said Catholicism is the one true CHURCH (man-made). This is because it is the only organization (man-made) that can trace itself back to the apostles, therefore, the catholics argue they have the truth in their man-made organization because the apostles developed it from first-hand experience with Jesus.

Other religions are based on these same ideas but the man-made traditions that have been handed down through the generations of Catholicism DID come from the apostles. No one can argue that and that’s what the pope said. Unfortunately people hear what they want and often easily substitute “religion” for “church”. He DID NOT say Catholicism is the one true religion.

Put your mind at ease, your pope is not wrong, misguided or controversial. He’s only doing his job, which is representing his religion and church, promoting their doctrine 100% correctly. John Paul II did this too only everyone only paid attention to his reaching out to other religions so they considered him more temperate, but he wasn’t. He said the same things.

DeJaVu:
Bravo BFF! Thank you once again!
Church and Religion are NOT the same. The Church is the organizational structure with rules and regulations, put in place to help carry out the 'belief' or Religion. It is also important to note, that over time, the Church has restructured and reorganized its rules and regulations, but the core 'belief' remains the same.

It just gets very confusing when the the rules and regulations 'seem to' contradict the core belief. Maybe the rules and regulations of the Church should go through some 'housecleaning', so that the core belief is 'crystal' clear and honored.

There is no ONE true Religion. Go with the one that is closest to your heart.

I know God won't ask me what Religion I am when I get to Heaven, He'll ask me, "How did I love my neighbor". I will be ready to answer him..."I loved my neighbor as Jesus would".

I was sitting at a Stephen Ministry group meeting today. We were discussing issues with our care receivers to help us help each other give better care to those in need. Every situation is different and requires a unique group of caring people to provide this ministry.

I have only been in this ministry since January training, and since last month on an actual ‘care giving’ assignment. I listened as everyone discussed their care receivers and the difficulties they were experiencing ministering to them.

After our discussion, someone needed some ‘Catholic Church’ ministering of her own. Apparently, our Pope, the head of the Catholic Church stated that the Catholic Church was the only ‘true’ church, and she was in complete distraught about it! Franklly, so was I after I heard the statement.

Now my heart really wanted to believe this was not true. As a Stephen Minister and as ME, I strongly believe that there is not one true Religion or church. We all serve a common purpose and that is ‘serving GOD’. [period] Stephen Ministry is non-denominational, however, the division of the ministry I serve is from a Catholic Church.

I was sitting amongst a very diverse group of woman. I was the youngest, from 37 all the way up to 77, maybe older. All of us from various families and heritages and of Catholic upbringing. Some not born into the Religion like myself, but actually ‘choosing’ it as their faith. One of the women was a Protestant when the churches came together and she had to teach the Holy Spirit to a group of Catholics who were never close to that part of the trinity. Regardless of how we got there, we were ALL in agreement that this statement made by our Pope must have been some mistake, and if it wasn’t, it truly weighed on our consciousness and forced us to have some doubt in our leader. As Catholics, you are raised never to doubt the Pope, but as I so humbly experienced, regardless of your upbringing, this statement was WRONG, even if it came from the POPE, and there we were, struggling with defying a Pope! [something Catholics just aren’t brainwashed to do!!! But we did anyway!!!]

The excuses were flying….maybe it was a misprint, maybe the news had another agenda, it was clear, that we were praying it was a mistake. One of the eldest woman in the group actually stated that it broke her heart, because her adult children were teetering on their faith, and going back to church and where to go and so forth, but remarks like our Pope had made were steering them in any direction other than Catholicism….and who could blame them???

Certainly not me!!! My response in the discussion was that fact. I understand the Popes motives for trying to get other more conservative groups back to the church, but as a result, he is steering more and more Christians away from it.

I said, “I have never done so much defending of my religion as I have had to do since this Pope entered office!”

One of my fellow members and leader said to me, “Is that such a bad thing?” Then I pondered….is that the point of all this. To get us Catholics to really think why are we Catholic and defend our beliefs? Be able to defend the church?

She is right, that is not such a bad thing. When 9-11 hit, the one thing I noticed was that the whole country was PRAYING together!! Moments of silence everywhere….no one was asking for “In God we trust” to be taken off of anything…we just prayed…

So, even though I am disappointed at my current leader, perhaps his motives are somewhat different than the surface. Perhaps his goal in his heart is something beyond my knowledge and comprehension and if so, that’s ok. But he hasn’t actually called me personally to explain anything to me, and I don’t think it’s on his agenda this week!

Let me do MY part. I want to do MY part….Love your neighbor as yourself….(it was actually the readings for the Sunday mass all over the universe for Catholics yesterday) The good Samaritan and loving your neighbor….and like Jesus spoke of the Good Samaritan who in those days was considered from a Pagan like background…the Samaritan took the stranger and cared for him. He was the Stephen Minister to the robber.

I don’t care what ‘title’ you give your religion is, all I know is that I live by Jesus’ law, to Love Your Neighbor…I love my Protestant neighbor, I love my Jehovah neighbor, I love my Buddhist neighbor, I love my Muslim neighbor, I love my next door neighbor, and in a way, I love my ex-husband….in a way!

That’s all we need to do to get to the kingdom of God! I won’t argue about ONE true anything….only ONE TRUE GOD, whatever ‘title’ you give HIM, He’s still GOD! [however God translates]

As Jesus taught us, and eventually suffered for….the teaching of Loving Your Neighbor!! I think I am going to start a church called, “Loving my neighborcism”

With the knowledge I am given today, I unfortunately cannot support my Pope [lightening will probably strike me dead soon, but at least you will know the truth!] I support my GOD and I serve my GOD and today, I will remain Catholic. Being Catholic gives me the beautiful mass, the extraordinary Holy Communion of Jesus Body and Blood and the ultimate challenge, to ‘love my neighbor’…

That I will continue to do!

Silence is deadly
It fools and deceives
It locks you with its chains
And squeezes you in its embrace
It lies to you
Why is silence talking to me?

Silence

You talk too much!

"I would rather live my life as if there is a God
and die to find out there isn't,
than live my life as if there isn't
and die to find out there is."

by Albert Camus

In the morning when I wake up
And I open up my eyes,
I feel an aching in my heart
That's when I realize.

How much I really miss you
And long to have you near.
My heart is filled with sadness,
And my eyes are filled with tears.

At different times throughout the day,
I find I'm missing you.
And I wonder if, perhaps a bit,
Maybe you miss me too.

I miss you in the shower,
When I'm all alone.
And when I want to hear your voice,
And call you on the phone.

When I check my e-mail
And find there's nothing there.
I can't help it that I worry,
And I put you in my prayers.

I think by now it's safe to say,
That I miss you very much,
And my heart will never be the same
Since it suffered Cupids touch.

by Krystle Frame