re: The Vatican is Evil and it’s part

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I agree. They preach a gospel contrary to that of scripture, wherein man relies on himself in addition to Christ to be saved, and no one that preaches a gospel contrary to the one that the Apostles preached (faith alone in Christ alone) is doing anything but damning those who understand it and believe it. That is the epitome of evil.

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I don't know what the Catholic Church preaches re ultimate 'Salvation' and such being assured by "faith alone and not of works, lest any should boast".

That said, I do believe that one's relative reward in Heaven ("he that seweth sparingly shall reap sparingly" and "grace is measured") will be determined by one's works. Protestants, Catholics and any other Religions. Had a short discussion with a Catholic Priest yesterday and would have mentioned this if I had known.

Like a Poster above said, it's the 'Top' leadership that taints many in the 'chain of command'. Church and State.

IMO, the ultimate criteria of judgement will be the degree of one's Love. Universal version which Jesus taught. Love is the bottom line. The rest is nuts and bolts in the big picture.

Merry Christmas Foo.

Foo: You don't know what you're talking about. You have no real understanding at all about what the apostles and early church taught.

None.

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They preach a gospel contrary to that of scripture

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I disagree and I'll tell you why. Before the Bible, there was 'the authority'. That authority is God (revealed to us in the person of the second person of the Blessed Trinity - Jesus Christ). We're all on the same page up to this point, right?

In 1910 the protestant denominations took on the task of attempting to determine which books of the Bible were divinely inspired. After much research and effort, they concluded there was no 'authority' on earth (there's that word again) who could do that. Their effort took them to the door of the Catholic Church (the authority), where they stopped. So you see the Bible is a child of the Catholic Church. Given to humanity for its edification and holiness. Plus, it's a record of a peoples in search of God. Don't believe me? Do your own research. But please be open minded and honest.

It wasn't until Johannes Gutenburg invented the movable-type printing press (the Gutenburg Printing Press) in 1440 did the capability exist to mass produce copies of the Bible. Prior to that the job of generating copies of the Bible fell upon the shoulders of Catholic Monks who went about the painstaking labor intensive task of transcribing and binding the Books of the Bible. So instead of cursing the Catholic Church you should thank her for bringing you the Bible.

Are all the clergy in the Catholic Church perfect? Some (a few) are deeply flawed. Many many more are following in the footsteps of their Master as they tend to Our Lord's Flock. They act Personna Christi (in the person of Christ) and they receive their power when they are ordained by their Bishop. The Bishop conveys the power which Jesus himself conveyed upon the Apostle Peter which is passed on to the Bishops (in effect they help the local Bishop in the call to evangelize). So what we have here is a continuous uninterrupted conveyance of divine authority across millenia.

Having said all this, I regret Martin Luther felt compelled to nail his 95 thesis on the door at the Castle Church in Wittenburg, Germany. That action launched the Protestant Reformation. A Reformation that haunts us to this day. Remember God did not intend for us to be separated like this. Did some clergy and laity stain the Catholic Church? Absolutely. But God did send reformers - Francis of Assisi, Teresa of Avila, among many others. If only Martin Luther had been patient.

There is nothing revealed in the Bible that contradicts the teachings of my Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church. Period. Including and especially as it applies to the Holy Eucharist. Right now in Catholic Churches across the globe Jesus Christ (in the form of Living Bread) is reposed in tabernacles. Do you deny the doctrine of transubstantiation? Jesus is with us, He never left us. In the eyes of the unbeliever what is more absurd, God taking on human form, or God taking on the form of 'Living' Bread? Remember, Jesus Christ said,"Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you". - John 6:53 (King James Bible) Pretty definitive proclamation by Jesus Himself would you say?

So each Sunday our Catholic Priest (acting Personna Christi) consecrates the bread and wine, then distributes the Body of Christ (Living Bread) to the flock. Then the Priest gathers the host from the Ministers of Communion, and with much respect and awe they repose Jesus back into the tabernacle. The presence of that tabernacle in my church always reminds me of Moses and Hebrews traveling for 40 years in the desert. They carried with them the Ark of the Covenant. The Covenant was always carried at the front of the tribes as they trudged through the desert. At the end of their days journey they set the Ark of the Covenant in the middle of the camp with all the tents of tribes of Israel arrayed around the Ark. The Ark of the Covenant being a constant reminder of God's presence with and among them.

We Catholics believe in the 'New Covenant' which is Jesus himself residing with us in the tabernacle. If you ever go in a Catholic Church notice where the tabernacle is located? Right in the front of the congregation, behind the altar of sacrifice, and the center of the main isle. And get this. I can visit Him anytime I want. I can receive Him daily (providing I'm void of any serious 'mortal'sin).

Brother in conclusion, the Catholic Church is not your enemy. She is your road (your helper) to salvation. She is the Bride of Christ. That we are divided causes me much heartache and to be honest - it's a scandal. So maybe we should pray to the same God, we both worship, for each other. Fair enough?

Pater celestis destrue claustra dividentes nos.