VATICAN CITY (AP) — Pope Benedict XVI marked Christmas Eve with Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica and a pressing question: Will people find room in their hectic, technology-driven lives for children, the poor and God?
Pope Benedict XVI waves to the faithfuls as he leaves St. Peter’s Basilica at the end of the Christmas night mass. (Photo Credit: Getty Images).
The ceremony began at 10 p.m. local time Monday with the blare of trumpets, meant to symbolize Christian joy over the news of Christ’s birth in Bethlehem. The basilica’s main bell tolled outside, and the sweet voices of the Vatican’s boys’ choir wafted across the packed venue.
Christmas Eve Mass at the Vatican traditionally began at midnight, but the start time was moved up years ago so as to give the 85-year-old pontiff more time to rest before his Christmas Day speech. That address is to be delivered at midday Tuesday from the basilica’s central balcony.
A smiling Benedict, dressed in gold-colored vestments, waved to photo-snapping pilgrims and applauding church-goers as he glided up the center aisle toward the ornate main altar of the cavernous basilica on a wheeled platform guided by white-gloved aides. The platform saves him energy.
In his homily, Benedict cited the Gospel account of Mary and Joseph finding no room at an inn and ending up in a stable which sheltered the baby Jesus. He urged people to reflect upon what they find time for in their busy, technology-driven lives.
“The great moral question of our attitude toward the homeless, toward refugees and migrants takes on a deeper dimension: Do we really have room for God when he seeks to enter under our roof? Do we have time and space for him?” the pope said.
“The faster we can move, the more efficient our time-saving appliances become, the less time we have. And God? The question of God never seems urgent,” Benedict lamented.
The pope worried that “we are so ‘full’ of ourselves that there is no room left for God.” He added, “that means there is no room for others either — for children, for the poor, for the stranger.”
With his voice a bit hoarse, Benedict decried that history has suffered through “misuse of religion,” when belief in one God became a pretext for intolerance and violence. Still, he insisted that where God is “forgotten or even denied, there is no peace either.”
“Let us pray that Israelis and Palestinians be able to live their lives in the peace of the one God and in freedom,” the pope said.
Benedict also mentioned his hope for progress in Syria, which is mired in civil war, as well as Lebanon and Iraq.
Reflecting the Vatican’s concern about the exodus of many fearful Christians from the Muslim-dominated Middle East, Benedict expressed hope that “Christians in those lands where our faith was born maybe be able to continue living there” and that Christians and Muslims “build up their countries side by side in God’s peace.”
Hours before the basilica Mass, Benedict lit a Christmas peace candle on the windowsill of his studio window overlooking St. Peter’s Square.
Submitting your tip... please wait!
Comments (148)
Zuitsuit
Posted on December 25, 2012 at 1:58ami can only wonder which god he is refering to
Report this comment
SirhanSirhan
Posted on December 25, 2012 at 8:35am@ ZUITSUIT- There’s only one God.
Report this comment
JACKTHETOAD
Posted on December 25, 2012 at 8:57amAnd we don’t pray to the same one either. Go peddle chrislam somewhere else.
Report this comment
SirhanSirhan
Posted on December 25, 2012 at 9:06am@ JACKTHETOAD- True, some boneheads pray to Jesus as if he was God! (smh)
Report this comment
1776freedomofspeech
Posted on December 25, 2012 at 10:46am@Sirhan
There is only one God and his son’s name is Jesus.
Report this comment
SirhanSirhan
Posted on December 25, 2012 at 2:53pm@ 1776FREEDOMOFSPEECH- It seems to me your God had more than one son:
Psalm 2:7 I will declare the decree: the Lord hath said unto me (David), Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee.
Exodus 4:22…Thus saith the Lord, Israel is my son, even my firstborn:
Jeremiah 31:9…for I am a father to Israel, and Ephraim is my firstborn.
***************
How can Jesus be the only begotten son of God If God called David his begotten son 100 years before Jesus was born?
How can there be 2 firstborn son’s?
Report this comment
Palter
Posted on December 25, 2012 at 6:51pmThis guy has a face of a child molester…. Sorry if i offended catholics here, but look at his photo!
Report this comment
1776freedomofspeech
Posted on December 25, 2012 at 6:54pm@Sirhan
My God is the only God and his name is not Allah and Mohamed is not his prophet!
Report this comment
1776freedomofspeech
Posted on December 25, 2012 at 8:10pm@PALTER
Your comment is offensive to more than just the Catholics.
Hope that you are not offended that I hope that you die soon.
Report this comment
SirhanSirhan
Posted on December 25, 2012 at 9:38pm@ 1776FREEDOMOFSPEECH- Even Christian Arabs call God Allah because in his language (Arabic) the word for God is Allah.
In Hebrew the word for God is Elohim. In Greek it’s Theos.
Would you tell a person that speaks Arabic, Greek, or Hebrew that the word they use for God is not the Almighty God of the universe simply because you speak English and in English there is no word for God but God? Of course you wouldn’t.
Report this comment
Greenwood
Posted on December 26, 2012 at 9:36pm@SIRHAND……………..”How can Jesus be the only begotten son of God If God called David his begotten son 100 years before Jesus was born?” “How can there be 2 firstborn son’s?”
Psalms 2:7 Was written by King David but is a prophecy referring to Jesus. If you read on it speaks about the nations of the earth and breaking them with an iron scepter as though a potters vessel.
Psalms 2:7 Let me refer to the decree of Jehovah;
He has said to me: “You are my son;
I, today, I have become your father.
8 Ask of me, that I may give nations as your inheritance
And the ends of the earth as your own possession.
9 You will break them with an iron scepter,
As though a potter’s vessel you will dash them to pieces.”
10 And now, O kings, exercise insight;
Let yourselves be corrected, O judges of the earth.
Report this comment
Greenwood
Posted on December 26, 2012 at 9:54pmSIRHAN SIR……………..The Iron Scepter also see…………..Genesis 49:10
Report this comment
snooop1e
Posted on December 29, 2012 at 2:33pm@sonofthunder – How ironic….Jesus gave the sons of Zebedee the name Boanerges because while thunder is loud and it gets your attention it is nothing but noise and doesn’t accomplish anything whereas Lightening is the actual force that accomplishes something and it is the force that causes the thunder. Jesus named the brothers Boanerges because they were all talk and no action. They were making a lot of noise preaching but they were all talk and no action, noise is simply noise. So too the Scribes and Pharisees were very good at quoting scripture but Jesus said to do as they say not as they do. They were white washed tombs who were not practicing what they preached. Yes “Sons of Thunder” sounds really cool but it was actually Jesus way of pointing out to them that they were basically making a lot of noise but not practicing what they preached. All talk and no action. : )
PAX CHRISTI
Report this comment
universalphilos
Posted on December 25, 2012 at 1:49am“The spirit was left that it may flow through all mankind…”
A prophecy by spiritual messengers of God, December 29, 1972: “You asked that he should come walking from the clouds? And we shall answer your question in this manner. When he should first appear unto the Jewish people, and they shall see him first, he shall be standing upon a cloud. And the Jewish nation in their despair shall kneel before him. This was meant so that that that had been written should be fulfilled. And as we have said before, written upon the clouds, written upon the sky, our Father shall make known of this entry in this way.” [See Acts 1:6-11, The Revelation of John, 7:2-12, chapter 10, 14:1-5, 14:14-16, 15:2-4, 19:1-16, 21:1-7, 22-27, 22:1-7, Zechariah, chapters 12-14.]
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uZPSv07Ez70&feature=share&list=UUBtweU_u3n_7tKpXm828–g
Report this comment
freeberty
Posted on December 25, 2012 at 9:10amToday he is wearing his gold hat, yesterday he was sitting on his gold throne surrounded by a room full of sycophants, and yet this hypocrite from hell wants to say that I’m full of myself?
Report this comment
RandyLee7
Posted on December 25, 2012 at 10:48pmIf the shoe fits….
Report this comment
RandyLee7
Posted on December 25, 2012 at 11:00pmMy grandfather was a old country man that once told me that if you threw a rock into a pack of dogs the one who yelps is the one that got hit….you yelped
Report this comment
Maxim Crux
Posted on December 25, 2012 at 1:01amThe Pope should speak for himself before he condemns everyone else.
Report this comment
1776freedomofspeech
Posted on December 25, 2012 at 10:15amSmug aren’t you?
Report this comment
Dudley Do-Right
Posted on December 25, 2012 at 12:05amExpose on Jehovah Witnesses Pedophile Cover-Up
Transcript
NBC DATELINE/May 28, 2002
JOHN LARSON reporting:
LARSON: (Voiceover) Anderson was a researcher at the Watchtower Society in the early 1990s when a senior official there asked her to look into the church’s handling of sexual abuse cases. What she found, she says, sickened her: hundreds of molestation cases on record, all kept secret in church files–secret not only from the outside world, but from the members themselves, the families, the mothers and fathers and children who trust the church is looking out for them.
http://www.jwfiles.com/wt_videos/2002_dateline_sexual_abuse_video/index.htm
Report this comment
Bro. Chuck
Posted on December 25, 2012 at 12:01amSorry….
I hate when that happens-
To resume:
It’s a shame he didn’t go on to say that the Spirit of God is pouring out in this day….
Even those in the main stream religions are being given the wisdom -
The knowledge and discernment to understand ….
This is our Father calling to us,
Perhaps a final time-
Calling us to seek HIM and repent of our sin, our disobedience,
Our self-center’d-ness, and our foolishness.
It’s not found in religion folks!
It’s one on One with Adonai….
It’s relationship – NOT religion.
Reach out to GOD – not a “church” or “group”…
Ask forgiveness-
Ask for His Spirit to kindle a desire in your soul to seek GOD-
Ask Yeshua / Jesus to lead you in a path…
Recognize HIS sacrifice for you-
That you might have a doorway unto our Father YHWH
The one God,Creator of everything….
Who lives us so much and desires we be restored in relationship with HIM!
It’s ok to fellowship with others in a church building…
But Don’t seek collective salvation in rituals & membership!
Help us Father ….
To turn from the way wrongly followed,
And seek your outstretched Arm!
In Yeshua’s name we humbly Pray….
Be Bless’d!
Bro. Chuck
Report this comment
Bro. Chuck
Posted on December 25, 2012 at 12:17amShould have been Who “loves” us so much….
And to finish the thought…..
When the Pope says “we’re self centered & full of ourselves, that includes how we see ourselves before God our Creator…..
If we do recognize Him, it’s not necessarily the way He wants us to worship Him….
Do not many take an “easy way out” rather than seek him with
“All our heart, all our mind, and all our might”?
Ask yourself this Christmas day when you are in the church….
In that pew….
Do you feel comfortable, welcome, and a part of the family,
Or do you feel awkward because you don’t know anyone and it’s been a while since you came into the House to visit with Dad?
“If my people, who are called by my name will return unto me….”
Father, give us the understanding and burning desire to seek Your Face and repent of our sins….
In Yeshua’s Precious Name….
We humbly ask
Report this comment
PaxInVeritate
Posted on December 24, 2012 at 11:57pmMay the Love, Joy and Peace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Word made Flesh, be with you and all your loved ones. Merry Christmas!
Report this comment
1776freedomofspeech
Posted on December 25, 2012 at 10:12amThanks for the post!
Merry Christmas to all you great “trail” Blazers. Peace to you all.
Bless all Christian Holy Men this day and let the Holy Spirit fill their sermons this Christmas Day.
In Jesus’ name
Amen!
Report this comment
Rock_Paper_Bullets
Posted on December 25, 2012 at 12:22pmAnd Peace to you as well my Brothers and Sisters on this glorious day of our Savior’s birth. The birth of our very Salvation!
Report this comment
snooop1e
Posted on December 26, 2012 at 11:39amRoger that Pax, good message. PAX CHRISTI
Report this comment
TheRightSideBlog
Posted on December 24, 2012 at 11:45pmHe looks like the emperor…kinda scary.
Report this comment
1776freedomofspeech
Posted on December 25, 2012 at 10:23amScared?
Report this comment
DIR
Posted on December 24, 2012 at 11:37pmI respectfully disagree with the pope. He is partially correct when saying there are a lot of people full of themselves. Because they are the noisy crowd, it seems like everone has the problem. But, there a whole lot of people who are good people, God fearing and God abiding humans. There is many who do good works and deeds who get little attention or notice: The soldier who fights for his country; the fireman who enters a burning building to save someone or someone’s personal property; Heathcare givers (go to an emergancy room during christmas) and millions more. It’s the squeeky wheel that gets the attention and generally when it squeeks it’s broken, but that doesn’t mean the who apperatus is shot.
Report this comment
1776freedomofspeech
Posted on December 25, 2012 at 10:26amSometimes the sqeeky wheel gets replaced. Either gently or violently, you decide which is best….
Report this comment
Jerry Frey
Posted on December 24, 2012 at 11:13pmYou don’t find God in religion on Sunday but in every day life, 24×7. Merry Christmas
Decide for yourself.
http://napoleonlive.info/judas-the-galilean/
Scroll to Alexander.
Report this comment
Gr8ful1jim
Posted on December 25, 2012 at 7:00amExactly…Catholicism is a WAY of life that puts God 1st. Love God, love your fellow man, no mention of me, me, me, I, I, I,…That is why the secular world and the idea “it’s all about me” and Catholicism collide head on.
Report this comment
Jerry Frey
Posted on December 24, 2012 at 11:09pmYou don’t find God in religion on Sunday but in every day life: 24×7. Decide for yourself – scroll to Alexander.
http://napoleonlive.info/judas-the-galilean/
Merry Christmas
Report this comment
denkat56
Posted on December 24, 2012 at 10:49pmSounds like sexual abuse is at epidemic levels in all religions. Maybe the finger pointers should contain their concerns and take and make sure that they don’t have any problems themselves.
Report this comment
1776freedomofspeech
Posted on December 25, 2012 at 10:32amHey Merry Christmas, Jesus loves you!
Report this comment
denkat56
Posted on December 24, 2012 at 10:35pmHey Barry the pope mentioned god and your name didn’t come up. Don’t tell Jamie Fox until Christmas is over, it’ll ruin his holidays.
Report this comment
******
Posted on December 24, 2012 at 10:27pmThe one’s he has to worry about that are ‘so full of themselves’ is Obama and some US poloticians. They’re so full of themselves they could shyt for a month.
Report this comment
heavywx
Posted on December 24, 2012 at 10:24pmOh god here come the Catholics with their gold and purple pom poms. “We are the Catholics, the rest of you are heretics, goooooooooooo Pope”.
http://www.the-bible-antichrist.com/catholics-worship-mary-relics-idols.html
Just sayin
Report this comment
heavywx
Posted on December 24, 2012 at 10:30pmOpps screwed up forgot to capatilize God
nuttyvet
Posted on December 25, 2012 at 1:46amBig words for an anonymous post. I notice most of the “blazers” say nothing about Mormons. Afraid of offending your messiah? (In case you didn’t get it, I’m referring to Beck)
Report this comment
JACKTHETOAD
Posted on December 25, 2012 at 7:11amI see two nuts escaped somebody’s party bowl.
Report this comment
heavywx
Posted on December 25, 2012 at 10:32amWhats crazy about what I said? Maybe the fact that the Catholics have murdered 75 million christians will suit you better.
http://www.cuttingedge.org/News/n1676.cfm
Report this comment
1776freedomofspeech
Posted on December 25, 2012 at 10:37amJust sayin that “Just Sayin” is over used. Try to be more original and less cliche in your posts. We would all appreciate thst.
Anyway, have wonderful Christmas Day. Celebrate with your friends and family, if you don’t have any of those, go to a Church. You will be accepted there. Peace to you.
Report this comment
RandyLee7
Posted on December 25, 2012 at 10:53pmWe do not, nor has the Pope EVER called fellow Christians heretics.
Report this comment
by faith
Posted on December 26, 2012 at 12:21pmHeavywx
The Inquisition was intended not to convert people, but to find people who were outwardly claiming to be Christian but secretly practiced another religion, such as people who had become Christian outwardly, but who were still secretly practicing anti-Messianic Judaism, Islam, or Albigensianism, this last being a religion claiming that there are two gods, one good and one evil. The inquisition was thus an attempt to protect the purity of the Christian community.
Protestants had a counter-inquisition that killed Catholics. Thousands of Catholics were killed in England alone after the Reformation struck there. The same thing was true in Ireland and other areas where the Reformation came. John Calvin, for instance, was known for burning people at the stake. Can you name one country that did not kill Catholics?
In addition, Protestants were the big witch-burners. Witch burning never caught on in Catholic countries. When the Spanish Inquisition examined the cases of reported witches, it almost invariably concluded that the charges were false and the accused were not guilty. But tens of thousands of supposed witches were burned at the stake, hanged, or drowned in Protestant countries, including the American colonies.
Report this comment
by faith
Posted on December 26, 2012 at 12:26pmMany Fundamentalists believe, for instance, that more people died under the Inquisition than in any war or plague; but in this they rely on phony “statistics” generated by one-upmanship among anti-Catholics, each of whom, it seems, tries to come up with the largest number of casualties.
But trying to straighten out such historical confusions can take one only so far. In fact, no one knows exactly how many people perished through the various Inquisitions. We can determine for certain, though, one thing about numbers given by Fundamentalists: They are far too large. One book popular with Fundamentalists claims that 95 million people died under the Inquisition.
The figure is so grotesquely off that one immediately doubts the writer’s sanity, or at least his grasp of demographics. Not until modern times did the population of those countries where the Inquisitions existed approach 95 million. The Inquisitions could not have killed that many people because those parts of Europe did not have that many people to kill!
Furthermore, the plague, which killed a third of Europe’s population, is credited by historians with major changes in the social structure. The Inquisition is credited with few—precisely because the number of its victims was comparitively small. In fact, recent studies indicate that at most there were only a few thousand capital sentences carried out for heresy in Spain, and these were over the course of several centuries.
Report this comment
Greenwood
Posted on December 24, 2012 at 9:22pmhttp://old.usccb.org/liturgy/NameOfGod.pdf
Jesus said “I have made your name known to them” John 17:26
Report this comment
RandyLee7
Posted on December 25, 2012 at 10:57pmYour referenced website is not an official catholic website. But was made to look like it so that you can defame our church to ignorant people such as yourself.
Report this comment
Greenwood
Posted on December 26, 2012 at 6:03pmRANDY…….Do they use God’s name or not? God,Lord, Father etc. is not a name but a title.
Do your own search of June 29 2008 Catholic Bishops Conference see what you get.
http://catholic-resources.org/ChurchDocs/CDWDS-2008-Name-of-God.pdf
Report this comment
RandyLee7
Posted on December 27, 2012 at 7:31amGod is God, He is our father, we are his. Jesus is Jesus. Holy Spirit is just that plus comforter and paraclete. What name are you refering to???
Report this comment
AbrahamsSheepdog
Posted on December 24, 2012 at 9:22pmThe Creator of life blessed the world with a conception that changed & symbolized hope in our purely sad world. A prophetic son, a prince of David, witnesses were rich wise men, poorest of shepherds, Angels, and mens hearts all throughout time.
Report this comment
BECK4US
Posted on December 24, 2012 at 9:15pmHey Barry O you hear any of the message?
Report this comment
Greenwood
Posted on December 24, 2012 at 9:09pmThe Pope said that where God is “forgotten or even denied, there is no peace either.”
June 29, 2008 The Catholic Bishops Conferences…………….The Vatican says “the name of God is neither to be used or pronounced” Furhtermore for the translation of the biblical text in modern languages……………the Divine tetragrammaton YHWY (Yehwey) or (Jehovah) is to be rendered by the equivalent of Adonai, Kyrios, Lord. This Vatican directive is aimed at eliminating the use of God’s Divine name and so they have minimized, profaned, distained and effaced it. He has many titles but only one name which appears more than 7,000 times in the original text.
Report this comment
Greenwood
Posted on December 24, 2012 at 9:30pmhttp://old.usccb.org/liturgy/NameOfGod.pdf
The Pope said “There is no room left for God”
John 17:26 Jesus said “I have made your name known to them”
Report this comment
hillbillyinny
Posted on December 25, 2012 at 4:19amYour use of elipses speaks volumes. . .
The parts of the quote above you left out explains that the directive to not use Yaweh as God’s name in liturgical worship is in respect for the name, not to “cut Him out” of worship!
Little things, for little minds. . .manipulate, manipulate, manipulate to make your point!
Blessed Christmas anyway as we celebrate the first coming and look forward to the second when the Church, the Bride of Christ will celebrate the Wedding Feast of the Lamb prefigured in the Eucharist Celebration of the Catholic Church as seen in the Book of Revelation!
“Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God Almighty! Heaven and earth are full of your Glory. Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is He who comes in the name of The Lord. Hosanna in the highest!” (Sanctus of the Roman Catholic Eucharistic Celebration)
Report this comment
Gr8ful1jim
Posted on December 25, 2012 at 7:07amThat’s the way the Anti Catholic bigots work… Twist and turn the words of God. Come up with their own translation to suit their needs. Go to the one, true source… The Holy Catholic Church, not the schismatic interpretations of men 1500 years later who did not wish to follow God’s will.
Report this comment
Dudley Do-Right
Posted on December 25, 2012 at 9:16amSpeaking of the second coming, have the JW’s prophesied another one? Take a look at a few of their false prophesies and then ask yourself why anyone should believe anything they claim.
1897 “Our Lord, the appointed King, is now present, since October 1874,” (Studies in the Scriptures, vol. 4, p. 621).
1899 “…the ‘battle of the great day of God Almighty’ (Revelation 16:14), which will end in A.D. 1914 with the complete overthrow of earth’s present ruler ship, is already commenced,” (The Time Is at Hand, 1908 edition, p. 101).
1916 “The Bible chronology herein presented shows that the six great 1000 year days beginning with Adam are ended, and that the great 7th Day, the 1000 years of Christ’s Reign, began in 1873,” (The Time Is at Hand, forward, p. ii). It is important to note that October 31, 1916 Charles Taze Russell dies and “Judge” Rutherford becomes the new leader.
1918 “Therefore we may confidently expect that 1925 will mark the return of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and the faithful prophets of old, particularly those named by the Apostle in Hebrews 11, to the condition of human perfection,” (Millions Now Living Will Never Die, p. 89).
1922 “The date 1925 is even more distinctly indicated by the Scriptures than 1914,” (Watchtower, Sept. 1, 1922, p. 262).
cont.
Report this comment
Dudley Do-Right
Posted on December 25, 2012 at 9:25am1923 “Our thought is, that 1925 is definitely settled by the Scriptures. As to Noah, the Christian now has much more upon which to base his faith than Noah had upon which to base his faith in a coming deluge,” (Watchtower, Apr. 1, 1923, p. 106).
1925 “The year 1925 is here. With great expectation Christians have looked forward to this year. Many have confidently expected that all members of the body of Christ will be changed to heavenly glory during this year. This may be accomplished. It may not be. In his own due time God will accomplish his purposes concerning his people. Christians should not be so deeply concerned about what may transpire this year,” (Watchtower, Jan. 1, 1925, p. 3).
1925 “It is to be expected that Satan will try to inject into the minds of the consecrated, the thought that 1925 should see an end to the work,” (Watchtower, Sept., 1925, p. 262).
1926 “Some anticipated that the work would end in 1925, but the Lord did not state so. The difficulty was that the friends inflated their imaginations beyond reason; and that when their imaginations burst asunder, they were inclined to throw away everything,” (Watchtower, p. 232).
1931 “There was a measure of disappointment on the part of Jehovah’s faithful ones on earth concerning the years 1917, 1918, and 1925, which disappointment lasted for a time…and they also learned to quit fixing dates,” (Vindication, p. 338).
cont.
Report this comment
Dudley Do-Right
Posted on December 25, 2012 at 9:40am1941 “Receiving the gift, the marching children clasped it to them, not a toy or plaything for idle pleasure, but the Lord’s provided instrument for most effective work in the remaining months before Armageddon,” (Watchtower, Sept. 15, 1941, p. 288).
1968 “True, there have been those in times past who predicted an ‘end to the world’, even announcing a specific date. Yet nothing happened. The ‘end’ did not come. They were guilty of false prophesying. Why? What was missing?.. Missing from such people were God’s truths and evidence that he was using and guiding them,” (Awake, Oct. 8, 1968).
1968 “Why are you looking forward to 1975?” (Watchtower, Aug. 15, 1968, p. 494).
1972 “So, does Jehovah have a prophet to help them, to warn them of dangers and to declare things to come? These questions can be answered in the affirmative. Who is this prophet? … This ‘prophet’ was not one man, but was a body of men and women. It was the small group of footstep followers of Jesus Christ, known at that time as International Bible Students. Today they are known as Jehovah’s Christian witnesses.” (Watchtower 4/1/72, p 197)
How does it feel to have YOUR faith attacked Greenwood?
Report this comment
Greenwood
Posted on December 26, 2012 at 11:03amDUDLEY…The truth is the truth. We are all imperfect men and even the apostles were no different. At first the apostles believed Jesus was setting up the kingdom while he was on earth. Then they said before John dies. They even argued who was the greatest among them. They first couldn’t agree if the gentiles were to be under the law of moses. Peter denied Jesus and Thomas doubted the resurrecion of Jesus until he saw with his own eyes. These were men who spent close time with Jesus everyday. C.T. Russel and Rutherford were also imperfect men but they never promoted war or the killing and torture of people who did not agree with them. They were not perfect but always look to the bible not any traditions of men. The Pope during WW2 signed an accord with Hitler and the Church blessed the troops on both sides of the war. As an organization the Catholic Church killed many who questioned their unscriptural practices, read or even owned a bible.
Just for the record the date 1914 still stands as the year of Jesus’ presence as heavenly King marked by the developments of that time WWI. The birth of God’s Kingdom and the beginning of “the last days ‘ of this wicked system of things. (Revelation 12:7-12) Woe for the earth because the Devil has come down to you , having great anger…(Matthew 24:3-8) 8. All these are the beginning of pangs of distress. What you choose to believe is up to you.To answer your question; How do I feel when attcked ?(Isaiah 54:17 you will have no suces
Report this comment
Greenwood
Posted on December 26, 2012 at 11:22amAnd while the Catholic Church continues to lose members everyday not so for the Witnesses who continue to increase in number dispite the attacks. They are the only ones who preach God’s Kingdom to all the inhabited earth. Matthew 24:14 And the good news of the KINGDOM will be preached in all the inhabited earth for a witness to all the nations; and then the end will come. They preach in well over 200 lands and in over 400 languages. The Watchtower alone is printed in 195 languages 42,182,000 issues and the Awake 83 languages 39,913,000 issues.
Isaiah 54:17 Any weapon whatever that will be formed against you will have no sucess,………
Report this comment
snooop1e
Posted on December 26, 2012 at 11:59amJW’s deny the Divinity of Jesus Christ (that Jesus Christ is God incarnate) Enough said.
Report this comment
by faith
Posted on December 26, 2012 at 12:34pmGreenwood
“And while the Catholic Church continues to lose members everyday”
Really?
Here’s the list of the top 15, as reported in the 2011 Yearbook of American and Canadian Churches:
1. The Catholic Church, 68,503,456 members, up .57 percent.
2. Southern Baptist Convention,16,160,088 members, down.42 percent.
3. The United Methodist Church, 7,774,931 members, down1.01 percent.
4. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 6,058,907 members, up 1.42 percent.
5. The Church of God in Christ, 5,499,875 members, no updates.
6. National Baptist Convention, U.S.A., Inc, 5,000,000 members, no updates.
7. Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, 4,542,868 members, down1.96 percent.
8. National Baptist Convention of America, Inc., 3,500,000 members, no updates.
9. Assemblies of God, 2,914,669 members, up .52 percent.
10. Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), 2,770,730 members, down 2.61 percent.
11. African Methodist Episcopal Church, 2,500,000 members, no updates.
11. National Missionary Baptist Convention of America, 2,500,000 members, no updates.
13. The Lutheran Church– Missouri Synod (LCMS), 2,312,111 members, down 1.08 percent.
14. The Episcopal Church, 2,006,343 members, down 2.48 percent.
15. Churches of Christ, 1,639,495 members, no membership updates reported.
JW doesn’t crack the to 15, sorry no data for them
Report this comment
by faith
Posted on December 26, 2012 at 12:38pmI’ll save you the trouble.
68,503,456 Catholics
65,180,017 the next 14 on the list
I could not find a list with all 40,000+ denominations world wide
Report this comment
Greenwood
Posted on December 26, 2012 at 4:14pm@BYFAITH…………..the Catholic Church continues to lose members everyday”
Is that statement true or not? Are they gaining in members or are they losing members?
Most members that go probably only go on Christmas, Easter, weddings, funerals, infant baptims, other than that they are “home baptist” But nice to talk to you again. {:-)
Matthew 7:13-15 Go in through the narrow gate; because broad and spacious is the road leading off into destruction, and many are the ones going in through it;14 whereas narrow is the gate and cramped the road leading off into life, and few are the ones finding it.
15 “Be on the watch for the false prophets that come to YOU in sheep’s covering, but inside they are ravenous wolves.
So broad spacious is the road leading off into destruction, the “easy road” many finding that one.
Report this comment
by faith
Posted on December 26, 2012 at 4:37pmYour lack of reading skill is really a problem. I’ll type it slower this time.
Here’s the list of the top 15, as reported in the 2011 Yearbook of American and Canadian Churches:
1. The Catholic Church, 68,503,456 members, up .57 percent.
So, No. Not decreasing. UP .57% is more not less.
It’s funny how you “anti-Catholics” always do the same thing. You make a false statement, I point out your error, and you ignore the facts, just change the subject.
I travel the path paved by Jesus. I follow His church. I read His Bible. You follow the teachings of men who found that road too difficult, so they chose their own path. Good for you.
Catholicism is the FULLNESS of the Christian faith, it’s also a harder road to travel.
Modern day Christianity where you pick and choose what you want to believe, because it makes you feel good…that’s the easy path
Report this comment
Greenwood
Posted on December 26, 2012 at 5:52pmSNOOP……..”JW’s deny the Divinity of Jesus Christ (that Jesus Christ is God incarnate) Enough said”
Really……They believe that Jesus Christ is God’s (only be-gotten) son. So what are you talking about? They don’t believe in a Trinity if that’s what you mean.
(Webster Dictionary) Divine = a god 1.) of or like God or a god. 2.) given or inspired by God; holy sacred. 3.) devoted to God; religious. 4.) supremely great, good, etc. 5.) very pleasing,attractive, etc. a clergyman, theologian, to prophesy, to guess;conjecture, to find out by intuition,
“BEGET” where be-gotten comes from, maybe you can look that one up for yourself
Report this comment
Greenwood
Posted on December 26, 2012 at 6:26pmBYFAITH…..”You follow the teachings of men who found that road too difficult”
You say you follow the Bible and not the teachings of men. In the Bible the only event that Jesus specifically instructed his followers to commemorate was his death, not his birth, and was to be done as a simple commuion meal. (Nisan 14 the passover) The early Christians did not celebrate his birthday and not Easter which is named after the fertlity goddess Ishtar. Traditions and teachings of men.
Report this comment
Greenwood
Posted on December 26, 2012 at 9:10pmBYFAITH………”Not decreasing. UP .57% is more not less.”
I guess they don’t count the ones that renouce their faith. I haven’t gone since the mid 1990′s and informed them in writting that I no longer believe in the Catholic doctrine. They still send me envelopes for the weekly offerings and the Parable Magazine each month. I guess they should check those figures again. I know many so called Catholics who never attend mass even on Christmas and Easter. Maybe a wedding or funeral that’s it; pretty sad. Matthew 24:11,12 And many false prophets will arise and mislead many, and because of the increasing of lawlessness the love of the greater number will cool off. Is that what is happening FAITH ?
Report this comment
by faith
Posted on December 27, 2012 at 9:18amMatthew 24:11,12 And many false prophets will arise and mislead many, and because of the increasing of lawlessness the love of the greater number will cool off. Is that what is happening FAITH ?
Yes that is what is happening. Jesus came, hand picked His deciples, taught them for 3 years, He taught them many things that are not in the Bible (at least thats what the Bible says) promised them to build His church with them as the earthly leaders (Peter as the leader), also promised to send a helper to guide this church so it would not fall to satan.
EVERY other Christian church broke away from this church because many false prophets arose and mislead.
Your faith is based on the fact that you think Jesus was wrong…”I will buld My church and the gates of hell will not prevail against it”
You left His church, because the new church they opened in the old grocery store was all huggs and happy rainbows.
Jesus gave us a Church first, then through this Church gave us the Bible. 1,500 years later men changed the church and the Bible.
You imply that all Catholics are responsible for all fallen or lapsed Catholics. If this is true, then you are responsible for all the actions of non-catholics. No, that can’t be. The only thing you non-catholics can agree on is your hatred of the original christian church.
Because “many false prophets will arise and mislead many”
Do you know how many denominations these false prophets have crated in this world toda
Report this comment
by faith
Posted on December 27, 2012 at 9:24amBYFAITH………”Not decreasing. UP .57% is more not less.”
I guess they don’t count the ones that renouce their faith
Here we go again, once again you are proven WRONG.
I’ve lost count of how many that is
What do you do?
Change the subject don’t acknowledge your error.
It’s kinda funny, sad, but funny
Report this comment
snooop1e
Posted on December 28, 2012 at 10:46am@Greenwood – It seems you either didn’t understand what I was saying or you don’t understand what DIVINE means or both. JW’s deny that Jesus Christ is God incarnate. Christians believe that Jesus Christ is God incarnate and that God is 3 persons (Father, Son and Holy Spirit) Christians believe that you cannot separate one from the other. I normally don’t spend much time countering JW’s because their doctrines are so obviously false but for the sake of those in this forum who might not be familiar with the false teachings of JW’s I’ll humor you. Scritpure says that God and God alone is worthy of worship. The Angels who fell from grace and were kicked out of Heaven were kicked out for refusing to worship Jesus Christ. If Jesus Christ is not God why does scripture say that Angels are to “WORSHIP” Jesus? Also, JWs believe Jesus was Michael the Archangel but in Jude 1:9, Michael does not dare to rebuke Satan saying that ONLY the Lord could rebuke him. Nevertheless, Jesus did rebuke Satan in Matt. 4:10 and Mark 8:33, proving that he is different than Michael and that He had authority only held by God. There are many other verses that I can point to but I’ll start with these. PAX CHRISTI
Report this comment
BODYBAG
Posted on December 24, 2012 at 8:37pmLt Dan Taylor:
“So, Gump, have you FOUND Jesus yet?”
Forrest Gump:
“I didnt know I was supposed to be looking for him Lt Dan”
Report this comment
FooFighter
Posted on December 24, 2012 at 8:27pmAaand here we go again with the Catholic persecution.
Report this comment
LeadNotFollow
Posted on December 24, 2012 at 8:17pmThere is enough gold in the Pope’s Vatican, that he could buy a lot of food for the hungry, if the Catholic church would just cash in all that gold.
Report this comment
Gr8ful1jim
Posted on December 25, 2012 at 7:11amThe treasures of the Vatican are not the Vatican’s to sell. They are in care of the Vatican and belong to the people of the world. If the the Vatican had not cared for these treasures, they would have been lost to mankind.
Report this comment
LeadNotFollow
Posted on December 24, 2012 at 7:56pmI’m not a big fan of the Pope or the child molesting Priests, but I totally agree with the Pope’s statement. We are so full of ourselves, that there is no room left for God or for each other.
The reason I’m not a big fan of the Pope, is because he’s worshipped and treated like a God, and he travels in a bulletproof Pope-mobile.
A true man of God, who is supposed to have so much faith, should not be afraid of being attacked and killed. He seems a bit paranoid. He seems out of touch with the people. He seems a bit full of himself.
Report this comment
haytanimore
Posted on December 24, 2012 at 9:20pmI am orthodox Catholic and I’ve never met one Catholic who worships the pope, statues, or Mary. And if there was no bullet proof pop mobile, there would be a much greater risk of him appearing in public. Also think of another reason to hate the Church than the several molesterers from the church of a billion.
Report this comment
SonOfThunder
Posted on December 25, 2012 at 9:10amI was a practicing catholic for over forty years and yes they do worship Mary. Did you ever hear of the “hail Mary”? They worship their patron saints. You ever hear of all saints day. You worship your eucharist every day at your mass. In that blasphemous act, you say that Jesus dies for our sins daily.
Sorry Catholics Jesus died once for our sins. It is all idol worship and breaks the first and second commandment. Oh that is right the Catholics took out the second commandment and split the 10th commandment which is the coveting commandment. The second commandment in my bible says you should not worship graven images like statues. Catholics could not have that because that is what they do. I am sure all you Catholics got statues of Mary Joseph and Jesus , etc all over your house.
Catholicism is a hoax and anti Christ. The catholiic church is an evil place. The anti Christ will probably come from Rome.
Repent and trust in Jesus alone and not in your statues.
Report this comment
Rock_Paper_Bullets
Posted on December 25, 2012 at 1:37pm@SONOFTHUNDER. Soooo, what you are saying is that you are forgiven once in Christ, because as the song goes “I’ve got a friend in Jesus…”, but not culpable for your sins after that? How is that accountable?
BTW Interesting pagan handle you have there…throw stones much?
Report this comment
SonOfThunder
Posted on December 25, 2012 at 4:04pmRock scissors, typical catholic that does know Jesus called James and John sons of thunder. BTW you can’t find a bible in a catholic church. That is why you you don’t know what is in it because you are not taught. You might look at your own history of how many martyrs where burn at the stake by the RCC for translating the bile in their native languages. For instance Tyndale was burned at teh stake for translating the Bible into English. It was not till the 1950 where Catholics even allowed to have a bible in. US church. They wanted all in Latin so the sheep your parishioners would actually learn the truth of your false religion.
BTW your Jesus comment does not make any sense at all. Jesus died once for our sins. The Catholics perform that goofy cannibalistic ritual of Jesus dying again and again. You are not eating and drinking Jesus blood at every mass. That is sick.
Repent my friend and trust in the real Jesus.
Report this comment
Rock_Paper_Bullets
Posted on December 25, 2012 at 7:17pmSONSOFTHUNDER: Ok, ill bite…James and John can be referred to by the title “Sons of Thunder” but the Catholic Church refers to titles and we are bad. I was raised Protestant and never heard of the Sons of Thunder, so where exactly are you drawing this reference?
You are quite a bit more intolerant than you would like people to see. You must “Love your neighbor” only when its convenient or when you will be noticed for your generosity. Your Faith rings hollow, my friend
Report this comment
RandyLee7
Posted on December 25, 2012 at 11:11pmRock…..Sonofblowhards is a militant Catholic-Hater so dont waste your keystrokes on him. He wants to trick and direct weak catholics to websites that call them to question their faith and be “saved”. Hey Sonofthunder did you vote for Romney the Mormon and Ryan the Catholic or did you stay home like 4 million other americans that helped reelect Obama. Because of Hate we have 4 more years.
Report this comment
RandyLee7
Posted on December 25, 2012 at 11:19pmSon of Thunder studied his way out of the Catholic Church and seeks to help as many Catholics into his percieved “truth” as possible. He is soooo smart. And Rock “love your neighbor” does not apply to Catholics. I have gone a round or two with him before. I am a convert too. I was pentecostal.
Report this comment
SonOfThunder
Posted on December 26, 2012 at 5:06pmRock, in the Gospel of Mark 3:16, 17 in the reference. “These are the twelve he appointed: Simon (to whom he gave the name Peter; James son of Zebedee and his brother John (to them he gave the name Boanerges, which means Sons of Thunder);”
It goes to show you that you are not taught the Bible in Catholicism.
Poor Randylee was a Pentecostal. If it is a oneness Pentecostal like td jakes that would not be a Christian. They would be in the same boat as Catholics which is unsaved and headed to the lake of fire. It is simple for you guys to know you are going to heaven. Repent and trust in Jesus alone and not in your rituals, statues, indulgences, popes, Virgin Mary and on and on and on.
Rock check this website out. Mike Gendron was even in your Catholic magazine. You will get the truth on the Catholic Church. By the way I say all this because a heart for Catholics and I love my neighbors.
Randylee has a problem because he can not refute what I say.
Check it out http://proclaimingthegospel.org/
Report this comment
RandyLee7
Posted on December 26, 2012 at 11:08pmWhat you say is senseless. When you argue with idiots they drag you down to their level and beat you with experience. Your skewed views on scripture that you and others use to fuel hate are meaningless to me and one day you will be judged. Its just odd that you have a problem with fundamentalist denominations like pentecostals too. I was taught over and over how evil the catholics were as a child. I found peace as an adult 5 years ago in the Catholic faith. I do not hate you but you are terribly misguided because hate has no place in Gods will.
Report this comment
freeberty
Posted on December 24, 2012 at 7:33pmPOPE WORRIES WE ARE SO FULL OF OURSELVES ‘THERE IS NO ROOM LEFT FOR GOD’
I would say that pretty much sums it up for the Pope and Catholic Church. Nice to see him pointing that old craggy finger at himself this time of year.
Report this comment
TIME_2_END_THE_PAUL_CAMPAIGN_IN_12
Posted on December 24, 2012 at 7:30pmAnd…
As the Apostle Paul so rightly warned, “in the last days perilous times shall come. For men will be lovers of their own selves … lovers of pleasures rather than lovers of God” (2 Timothy 3:1-4).
Report this comment
civilwarcometh
Posted on December 24, 2012 at 7:20pmAfter what the catholic preists did to the children and covered it up to this day. I don’t give a crapp what they say. Anyone who would take their children into these churches after what we know now are completely blinded by faith as any muslim who would practice islam….
Report this comment
Dudley Do-Right
Posted on December 24, 2012 at 8:44pmSexual Abuse of Minors in Protestant Churches
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,286153,00.html
Should I break them down by denomination for you?
http://www.reformation.com/
The Watchtower Society has condemned the Catholic Church for over 15 years because of their pedophile cover-up — NOW, the Watchtower Society is trying to make a defense of their OWN pedophile cover-up by claiming that they are “No worse than any other religion”!
http://www.jehovahs-witness.net/jw/friends/48389/1/Watchtower-Condemns-Catholics-for-Pedophile-Cover-Up
Five minutes of research shows that the Mormon Church – like the Catholic Church – has covered up for its pedophiles.
http://georgewashington2.blogspot.com/2010/04/not-just-catholic-church-mormon-church.html
Report this comment
BODYBAG
Posted on December 24, 2012 at 8:58pmDont you know yet that you can find ANYTHING on the internet?
I try to give people more credit for intelligence than that —- its getting tougher to do.
Report this comment
truthnstuff
Posted on December 24, 2012 at 9:25pmYou can’t put anything on the internet that isn’t true. :)
Report this comment
Greenwood
Posted on December 24, 2012 at 10:00pmDUDLEYDON’T you know yet that you can find ANYTHING on the internet? Like BODYBAG said I’ll try to give you more credit for intelligence than that. I will asked if it REALLY is true, did it say they moved the individual to an other congregation or was the person disfellowshiped ? The JW’s would have as 1 Corinthians 5:13 ……….”Remove the wicked [man] from among yourselves.” not move him to another church to do it again as the Catholic Church did so many times.
Report this comment
strawberry411a
Posted on December 24, 2012 at 10:20pmNaw..it’s not the sex…it’s that darned Hitler Youth thing that keeps coming back…kind of hard to take Gunther too seriously after that MISTAKE.
Report this comment
strawberry411a
Posted on December 24, 2012 at 10:23pmAre you kidding ?????Mormon church sex crimes? That’s a daily issue out here…and I mean DAILY. It is such an expected event the newspapers rarely report on it unless it involves a law enforcement officer or politician. The only reason a recent scandal was exposed in the police department here was because the attempt to cover it up back fired. The Catholics have nothing on the mormons.
Report this comment