5. It's not hard. Freedom means being able to do what you will within the commands of the gospel. If my weaker brother asks me not to eat or drink for his sake, his needs are greater than my freedom. I've done this a million times. If you struggle with a sin in some area, you are not as free as the man who doesn't. You are bound by the chains of the gospel, even if another finds your self-imposed restrictions limiting for him. He cannot tell you to adopt his standard if this would harm you, and you can't judge him for his, either. We've got to back each other up in our mutual pursuit of holiness. This is charity, and this is what St. Paul was getting at. I think some of you in regard to drinking give cautions to other Christians in order to protect weaker brothers, but the truth is, you actually are that weaker brother. If you believe a brother or sister has sinned, tell him or her. There is no need for general "cautions." The strong Christian worries about himself, primarily, and not what others might do. (And I do not like to make subjective anecdotal statements relating to the alleged superiority of Catholicism, but if I did, food and drink would be at the top of that list. We're just healthier about these things; we don't bother people about those judgment call kind of things.
4. The Catechism is for all of us, of course, but did you know it was envisioned as kind of like Cliff's Notes for the bishops? Maybe some American bishops are not as good as they could be simply because they have not read it consistently, or they think they're too good for the basics. Pope Francis is who he is because he's never thought he was too good to go back to the beginning. Maybe the life of continual conversion is really just getting better and better at the basics. Whoa. Stew on that for awhile.
3. Yes, in fact, I unreservedly love Pope Francis. Let the books be written long after he has left us. We can see he loves Christ and the Church; let us remember that we have endured far worse, despite whatever quibbles we might have. I'll take "Borgia Popes" for $1000, Alex.
2. You might want to properly define semi-Pelagianism before you go tossing it around. I have no trouble at least imagining that the Catholic view of salvation ascribes too much to human ability; it is not the fact of co-operation that makes Pelagianism and semi-Pelagianism false; it is rather the basic contention that man is able to make the first move on the supernatural level without grace. There is a 92.4% chance you've gotten this wrong if you are a Calvinist. I did it, too. Everyone together: "The Catholic Church believes salvation is ever and always by God's grace." You don't have to like the system, but there ain't Pelagius anywhere in it. Trust me, I looked.
1. No, seriously. Someone stole our antiphons, and it's no longer amusing.
4. The Catechism is for all of us, of course, but did you know it was envisioned as kind of like Cliff's Notes for the bishops? Maybe some American bishops are not as good as they could be simply because they have not read it consistently, or they think they're too good for the basics. Pope Francis is who he is because he's never thought he was too good to go back to the beginning. Maybe the life of continual conversion is really just getting better and better at the basics. Whoa. Stew on that for awhile.
3. Yes, in fact, I unreservedly love Pope Francis. Let the books be written long after he has left us. We can see he loves Christ and the Church; let us remember that we have endured far worse, despite whatever quibbles we might have. I'll take "Borgia Popes" for $1000, Alex.
2. You might want to properly define semi-Pelagianism before you go tossing it around. I have no trouble at least imagining that the Catholic view of salvation ascribes too much to human ability; it is not the fact of co-operation that makes Pelagianism and semi-Pelagianism false; it is rather the basic contention that man is able to make the first move on the supernatural level without grace. There is a 92.4% chance you've gotten this wrong if you are a Calvinist. I did it, too. Everyone together: "The Catholic Church believes salvation is ever and always by God's grace." You don't have to like the system, but there ain't Pelagius anywhere in it. Trust me, I looked.
1. No, seriously. Someone stole our antiphons, and it's no longer amusing.
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