We must focus on unity not divisions .

[Paulus]

In a private meeting with leaders of the inter-denominational Ark Community, Pope Francis said Christians should not wait for theologians to reach agreement, but should walk, pray and work together now. His words came during an October 10th encounter at the Casa Santa Marta with members of the community founded by Evangelical leader Tony Palmer who was killed in a road accident last July. Palmer became friends with Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio when he worked in Buenos Aires as international ecumenical officer of the Communion of Episcopal Evangelical Churches, a growing movement of charismatic and evangelical Christians seeking reconciliation between their divided communities.

http://en.radiovaticana.va/news/2014/10/28/pope_to_ark_community_we_must_focus_on_unity_not_divisions/1109609

[JERRY C]

 

not a RC, but this rings true.

I knew a lady, in the 1980's, whose husband was stationed in India for business purposes.

They worshiped with a mixed-group of various stripes of Christians, since most folks around them were Hindu.

The RC's and Lutherans, the Baptists and the Pentecostals, the Anglicans and the Methodist ... had more in common than any had with the unbelievers around them!

She said it was a very rich spiritual experience.

[Alan]

Thanks Paulus, my sentiments exactly 

[Amo]

To forsake the truth for the sake of unity, can only lead to apostasy.

1 Th 5:3  For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.

[Paulus]

JERRY C , you say : " not a RC, but this rings true.

I knew a lady, in the 1980's, whose husband was stationed in India for business purposes.

They worshiped with a mixed-group of various stripes of Christians, since most folks around them were Hindu.

The RC's and Lutherans, the Baptists and the Pentecostals, the Anglicans and the Methodist ... had more in common than any had with the unbelievers around them!

She said it was a very rich spiritual experience. "

Thanks for your encouraging and positive contribution . 

You say that you are not RC . If you are Protestant  you are like the Protestants I know , not like some who come on here merely to spout their unrepresentative anti-Catholicism .

[Amo]

Ah yes, unity with Rome. Unity with Rome simply means submission to the same. Perhaps according to the results of the following prayer to Mary.

A PRAYER FOR
THE CONVERSION OF AMERICA

O Mary, Mother of Mercy and Refuge of sinners,
we beseech thee, be pleased to look with pitiful eyes
upon poor heretics and schismatics.

Thou who art the Seat of Wisdom,
enlighten the minds that are miserably enfolded
in the darkness of ignorance and sin,
that they may clearly know
that the Holy Catholic and Apostolic Roman Church
is the one true Church of Jesus Christ,
outside of which neither holiness nor salvation can be found.

Finish the work of their conversion
by obtaining for them the grace
to accept all the truths of our Holy Faith,
and to submit themselves to the Supreme Roman Pontiff,
the Vicar of Jesus Christ on earth;

that so, being united with us in the sweet chains of Divine charity,
there may soon be one only fold
under the same one Shepherd;
and may we all,
O Glorious Virgin,
sing forever with exultation:
Rejoice, O Virgin Mary,
thou only hast destroyed all heresies in the whole world.

Amen.

[Amo]

http://acatholiclife.blogspot.com/2013/01/prayer-for-conversion-of-american.html

http://www.therealpresence.org/archives/Eucharist/Eucharist_026.htm

http://lordcalls.com/mother-mary-prayers/prayer-to-our-lady-of-guadalupe-for-the-conversion-of-the-americas-and-the-whole-world

http://campus.udayton.edu/mary/prayers/jppray02.html

[MeMyself]

You say that you are not RC . If you are Protestant  you are like the Protestants I know , not like some who come on here merely to spout their unrepresentative anti-Catholicism .

The only place I have seen such spouting about Protestants from Catholics is here...and a lot of it comes from you, Paulus, if I am to be honest.

I look very much forward to posts here focusing on our unity in Christ in the future! (on both sides) 

[Paulus]

MeMyself , you say : " The only place I have seen such spouting about Protestants from Catholics is here...and a lot of it comes from you, Paulus, if I am to be honest.

I look very much forward to posts here focusing on our unity in Christ in the future! (on both sides) . "

I too look forward to such posts .

However such posts are made well nigh impossible by the blatant anti-Catholicism of a few who come on this Catholic forum .

I will continue to fiercely oppose in the way I choose this anti-Catholicism which is here simply to mock , scorn , scoff at , treat with contempt ( call it what you will , but it is here ) anything Catholic .

As I am continually saying , they are few in number , but they are not here to focus on our unity in Christ .

They are not here to dialogue .

They are not here to share in a discussion , and I accept that discussions can get heated . But these have no intention to discuss .

They are here with one agenda . That agenda is to be anti-Catholic , and nothing you or I or anyone else may say to these few will deter them .

That unfortunately is the sad situation . And I will deal with it in a way I feel fitting .

[MeMyself]

MeMyself , you say : " The only place I have seen such spouting about Protestants from Catholics is here...and a lot of it comes from you, Paulus, if I am to be honest.

I look very much forward to posts here focusing on our unity in Christ in the future! (on both sides) . "

I too look forward to such posts .

However such posts are made well nigh impossible by the blatant anti-Catholicism of a few who come on this Catholic forum .

I will continue to fiercely oppose in the way I choose this anti-Catholicism which is here simply to mock , scorn , scoff at , treat with contempt ( call it what you will , but it is here ) anything Catholic .

As I am continually saying , they are few in number , but they are not here to focus on our unity in Christ .

They are not here to dialogue .

They are not here to share in a discussion , and I accept that discussions can get heated . But these have no intention to discuss .

They are here with one agenda . That agenda is to be anti-Catholic , and nothing you or I or anyone else may say to these few will deter them .

That unfortunately is the sad situation . And I will deal with it in a way I feel fitting .

As is your prerogative...just find it interesting that how you view "them" is how you come across in your zeal...just FYI.

[Paulus]

Thanks , MeMyself . I will bear your words in mind .

[Alan]

MeMyself , you say : " The only place I have seen such spouting about Protestants from Catholics is here...and a lot of it comes from you, Paulus, if I am to be honest.

I look very much forward to posts here focusing on our unity in Christ in the future! (on both sides) . "

I too look forward to such posts .

However such posts are made well nigh impossible by the blatant anti-Catholicism of a few who come on this Catholic forum .

I will continue to fiercely oppose in the way I choose this anti-Catholicism which is here simply to mock , scorn , scoff at , treat with contempt ( call it what you will , but it is here ) anything Catholic .

As I am continually saying , they are few in number , but they are not here to focus on our unity in Christ .

They are not here to dialogue .

They are not here to share in a discussion , and I accept that discussions can get heated . But these have no intention to discuss .

They are here with one agenda . That agenda is to be anti-Catholic , and nothing you or I or anyone else may say to these few will deter them .

That unfortunately is the sad situation . And I will deal with it in a way I feel fitting .

But why do we all need to suffer through hurtful words due to a few that are militant anti-Catholic?


Perhaps some moderation may be helpful.

[mclees8]

Ah yes, unity with Rome. Unity with Rome simply means submission to the same. Perhaps according to the results of the following prayer to Mary.


A PRAYER FOR
THE CONVERSION OF AMERICA

O Mary, Mother of Mercy and Refuge of sinners,
we beseech thee, be pleased to look with pitiful eyes
upon poor heretics and schismatics.

Thou who art the Seat of Wisdom,
enlighten the minds that are miserably enfolded
in the darkness of ignorance and sin,
that they may clearly know
that the Holy Catholic and Apostolic Roman Church
is the one true Church of Jesus Christ,
outside of which neither holiness nor salvation can be found.

Finish the work of their conversion
by obtaining for them the grace
to accept all the truths of our Holy Faith,
and to submit themselves to the Supreme Roman Pontiff,
the Vicar of Jesus Christ on earth;

that so, being united with us in the sweet chains of Divine charity,
there may soon be one only fold
under the same one Shepherd;
and may we all,
O Glorious Virgin,
sing forever with exultation:
Rejoice, O Virgin Mary,
thou only hast destroyed all heresies in the whole world.

Amen.

As usual AMO you are right on top of it. Ecumenism is an effort not just simply to have dialogue but to bring protestants back to Mother church and back to papal recognition. This effort is working in some protestant churches who now visit the Vatican. 

This prayer you posted really caught my Eye. In the other threads that have been saying Catholics don't pray to Mary like she is deity  Jesus is lost somewhere when you read this.   I'm sorry Brothers but the truth is always going to be an offense to you. It just goes with the territory

[chosenone]

Ah yes, unity with Rome. Unity with Rome simply means submission to the same. Perhaps according to the results of the following prayer to Mary.

A PRAYER FOR
THE CONVERSION OF AMERICA

O Mary, Mother of Mercy and Refuge of sinners,
we beseech thee, be pleased to look with pitiful eyes
upon poor heretics and schismatics.

Thou who art the Seat of Wisdom,
enlighten the minds that are miserably enfolded
in the darkness of ignorance and sin,
that they may clearly know
that the Holy Catholic and Apostolic Roman Church
is the one true Church of Jesus Christ,
outside of which neither holiness nor salvation can be found.

Finish the work of their conversion
by obtaining for them the grace
to accept all the truths of our Holy Faith,
and to submit themselves to the Supreme Roman Pontiff,
the Vicar of Jesus Christ on earth;

that so, being united with us in the sweet chains of Divine charity,
there may soon be one only fold
under the same one Shepherd;
and may we all,
O Glorious Virgin,
sing forever with exultation:
Rejoice, O Virgin Mary,
thou only hast destroyed all heresies in the whole world.

Amen.

Yikes, that prayer is VERY disturbing.   Not only is it praying to someone who is dead(forbidden)instead of to God through His Son(as we are told to do),  but its very cult like in wanting those who are already part of the body of Christ to leave their churches and join one that is full of error. There can be no unity ever with a church that is so deceived. 

[Paulus]

Alan , you ask : " But why do we all need to suffer through hurtful words due to a few that are militant anti-Catholic? "

That's a fair question .

Well worth pondering .

It is unfortunate that few militant anti-Catholics do try to mess things up .

[Amo]

Alan , you ask : " But why do we all need to suffer through hurtful words due to a few that are militant anti-Catholic? "

That's a fair question .

Well worth pondering .

It is unfortunate that few militant anti-Catholics do try to mess things up .

Yes, and when you obtain the unity you seek and therefore the power also, you shall have to silence these few as you have all throughout history. Your hate crime bills will come in handy at that time. As a matter of fact though, much of what is written on these boards is not an attack on Catholicism, but responses to the false doctrines and what many consider the presumptions of the Roman Catholic church being promulgated on this board. Therefore, what are you really suggesting above, but that all who disagree with Rome and would actually dare to contest her claims are militant anti-Catholics that should not be tolerated. Go to and finish your work, reestablish the power you enjoyed during the dark ages, heal the deadly wound of that beast on a global scale. The sooner you do so, the sooner biblical prophecy is fulfilled, and the sooner my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ returns to put down all usurped authority. Then we may all submit to Him alone who is worthy of all praise, acclamation, and trustworthy authority.

[Paulus]

Amo , unfortunately your rant justifies all I have said .

That is sad .

[Alan]

It's certainly not like there was rebellion against the church for 1500 years prior to the reformation. All Christians should be thankful for due diligence in the church prevailing all of those centuries, doing what they perceived to be correct while allowing room for some grace of human error. 

[Amo]

Amo , unfortunately your rant justifies all I have said .

That is sad .

Its a good thing I said it then. Wouldn't want to leave all your claims unjustified. See, what would you do without me? Your present and future actions would be unjustified without me. Why so sad?

[Amo]

It's certainly not like there was rebellion against the church for 1500 years prior to the reformation. All Christians should be thankful for due diligence in the church prevailing all of those centuries, doing what they perceived to be correct while allowing room for some grace of human error.

Ignorance is as ignorance does I suppose. One ignorant statement after another, and anyone who will contest such ignorance is a militant anti-Catholic. Dare I say it, "your rant just justified everything I've said". Your church received its power through Constantine a pagan Emperor who embraced "Christianity" to fulfill political ambitions. It began persecuting all dissenters immediately, and continued to a greater or lesser extent until overthrown by those who were tired of its abuse and persecution and finally prevailed over the same.  I could now present the historical evidence of the many dissenters that existed and were persecuted during the 1500 years you claim to be rebellion free, but you would just deny or ignore all of the same. Yet, I am the one who should not be tolerated for speaking these truths. Go figure.

[Alan]

Amo, the OP was a call to unity, an oasis in this sea of adversity. Why in the world would you desire to come to the Catholic board specifically to show discord to the Catholic members? Surely they do not need educating by your burden of proofs. This is just distasteful, if you don't like what the Catholics are saying, stay away from them, it'll make your life much more peaceful. 

[kensington]

It's certainly not like there was rebellion against the church for 1500 years prior to the reformation. All Christians should be thankful for due diligence in the church prevailing all of those centuries, doing what they perceived to be correct while allowing room for some grace of human error. 

Yes, yes indeed.  The True Church...  which would not be the Catholic Church. 

[Amo]

Amo, the OP was a call to unity, an oasis in this sea of adversity. Why in the world would you desire to come to the Catholic board specifically to show discord to the Catholic members? Surely they do not need educating by your burden of proofs. This is just distasteful, if you don't like what the Catholics are saying, stay away from them, it'll make your life much more peaceful.

Who do you think the Catholics on this board are talking to? These boards are for discussion, even between those of differing views, not just for those of like faith to pat each other on the back. They post here to present what they believe. If they and you are going to cry and whine when those who disagree do so, then why post here in the first place?