Allen Hunt's Blog

Congrats on your conversion to Catholicism...We always need another Notre Dame Fan! GO IRISH!!!

We always need another Notre Dame Fan! GO IRISH!!!

I ain't Catholic, but I have been a Notre Dame fan since birth. I can only hope Allen becomes a Notre Dame fan, but something tells me he won't betray his beloved SEC.

For somebody who's supposed to be all about the faith it sure took a while to offer an explanation of his. What the heck though. Let's see where this takes us.

I have received innumerable emails and inquiries.

I'll just bet he has. If there's one thing the faithful can't stand it's somebody ELSE'S idea of faith.

I do very much believe in the real presence of Christ in communion. I believe that the body and blood of Jesus are just that: His body and blood.

Oy ve. Doesn't he get it? Jesus assumed we were smart enough to think on a metaphorical level. That's why all the parables. " 'Good master what is the kingdom of heaven like?' 'Well, it's sort of like a field...' "
What he meant at the last supper was: "This is just like my blood. This is just like my body." God almighty, even I understand that much. "This is your brain. This is your brain on drugs." "Hey, that's not my brain..." Woe unto you literalists.

The fact that there are 30,000 branches of Christianity in America alone grieves my heart.

It's an embarrassment, sure, but that just shows you how subjective this faith stuff is. I was in the UGA library the other day and found a directory of all the Protestant denominations in the US. Thick book. Very interesting though. Did you know there is a denomination for gay pentecostals? I'm not kidding. Look it up. Can you imagine the revivals?

Finally, I have always struggled with the idea I call “doctrine by democracy.” I simply struggle with the concept that we Protestants vote on certain things to decide what is true.

How is this any worse than doctrine by autocracy? Oh wait, I forgot, the Pope is perfect. Because otherwise we have to think for ourselves.

Congratulations and welcome home. It took me a long 59 years to work my way past the anti-Catholic shibboleths that I had grown up with and discover the true riches of the Catholic Church. Thanks be to God, I've been a Catholic for 10 years now and the more I worship there, the better it gets.

"I think God has led me to a new home where I have experienced grace and peace" - Allen Hunt

"grace and peace" - Allen Hunt

Who offers grace and peace? The Roman Catholic Church (RCC) or Jesus Christ?

Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." (John 14:6)

The RCC claims it's "the place where humanity must rediscover its unity and salvation." (CCC 845)

Well Mr. Hunt, you can have the RCC along with it "entire organization." (CCC 837) You can be a voice for this diabolical institution calling for unity - ecumenism - with the other "Christian communities" and religions of the world. You can take her word for it. You can begin to spread the lies about the sacraments over the airwaves. But where does that lead: "wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction." (Matt. 7:13) I'll take the "narrow gate...which leads to life." (Matt. 7:13-14) How can you find grace in a Church that says the "Lord tied the forgiveness of sins to faith and Baptism?" (CCC 977) Immediately following CCC 977, CCC 978 says "the grace of Baptism delivers no one from all the weakness of nature." Delivers "no one!" So, that only leaves you with faith, right? No, for there is another work (sacrament) called Penance. It is necessary for salvation.

CCC 979 states, that it is "through the sacrament of Penance that the baptized can be reconciled with God and with the Church: Penance has rightly been called by the holy Fathers ‘a laborious [Now doesn’t that sound like work] kind of baptism.’ This sacrament of Penance is necessary for salvation for those who have fallen after Baptism, just as Baptism is necessary for salvation [… “Yet the grace of Baptism delivers no one from all the weakness of nature”] for those who have not yet been reborn [Is a person actually reborn by the Rite of Baptism? I think not!!!!]

Faith in Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God, is all one needs: "Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." (Romans 5:1) He did all the work. You don't need the Church. It is NOT necessary for salvation. The RCC is a sham, a diversion that is leading people astray, into the wide gate of destruction.

The "grace and peace" the RCC offers is death and defeat.

I have 2 comments - one before joining the catholic church, I suggest you look closely at its past and the things it has done in the name of religion! And in some cases not done. I believe you are trying to be a "good Christian" however I suggest you read 2008 God's Final Witness, and what the Roman Catholic Church in its "benevolence" has done to Christianity and its followers!
Two, and I think you were the narrator before 6 PM on WOKV and the man speaking about why Islamists hate the US - He mentioned abunch of political reasons but no where was it mentioned that fact that we are infideles and that they are bound the Koran to kill us and all people who do not believe in the Koran - started back at Abraham and Isaac and Ishmal. It is not just political but it is religious too and not just USA they hate but anyone who is not with them!

I'm confused. What do you believe then about the virgin Mary? Do you agree with Catholinc tradition that she is holy, in a sense a deity? I still can't find that mentioned anywhere in the New Testament. Last time I checked Jesus was the bridge between sinners and God, not Mary. And when Jesus was asked how to pray, He didn't seem to mention anything about praying to Mary or any other saints but directly to the Father. I love tradition, pomp and circumstance, and Catholic traditions are beautiful in their way, but each time I walk into a Catholic church lined with saints, candles and prayers at their feet, I get a feeling. Its the same feeling when I walked into eastern religious temples lined with multiple gods with Hindu gods and buddhas. The feeling of polytheism. God is God, and the rest are saints or the mother of God, I understand but they are treated almost as if they were Jesus Himself.

The feeling of polytheism.

It's more than a feeling. Ever since the time of Akhenaten the religious proletariat has been dissatisfied with monotheism. We want so badly for there to be a saint of this-or-that problem for us to call on it times of trouble. It's not in the Bible but who cares. People see what they want to see.

KC and Erik,

Thank you for commenting. A couple of thoughts for consideration.

1) Mary - I just blogged about her today. Catholics do not pray TO Mary but rather INVITE Mary to pray WITH us. Of course, Mary is not God. Nor is she Christ. At the same time, she is exalted for her special role as the mother of Jesus. That special role IS accentuated in Scripture both in how Gabriel treats her (O favored one!) in Luke and in the woman crowned in Revelation.

2) The Saints are not other gods. Catholics are not polytheistic in any way. Remember, all Christians came from the Catholic Church in the first place. The throne vision of John in the Book of Revelation describes the prayers of the saints as being before the throne of God Himself. Hebrews describes the saints as our cloud of witnesses. If the saints are on our same spiritual "team," why not invite them to pray WITH us? There is great power in that just as when I ask friends and fellow believers to pray with me. Saints are close to God, and they are spiritual allies.

It's a rare statement of actual theological beliefs by the Bishop of Broadcasting. Let's parse, shall we?

Catholics do not pray TO Mary but rather INVITE Mary to pray WITH us.

Official Catholic prayers:

Prayer to Our Lady Immaculate

Most holy Virgin, who wast pleasing to the Lord and became His
Mother, immaculate in body and spirit, in faith and in love, look
kindly on the wretched who implore thy powerful patronage

Most Holy Virgin Mary, Help of Christian, how sweet it is to come to your feet imploring your perpetual help. Grant then to me, I implore you, your perpetual help in all my necessities, in every sorrow, and especially in all my temptations.

Prayer to Our Lady of Perpetual Help:

O Purest Mary, O Sweetest Mary, let thy name henceforth be ever on my lips. Delay not, O Blessed Lady, to help me whenever I call on thee, for, in all my needs, in all my temptations I shall never cease to call on thee, ever repeating thy sacred name, Mary, Mary.

An Election Prayer to Mary:

O Merciful Mother, give us the courage to reject the culture of death and the strength to build a new Culture of Life.

The Saints are not other gods.

No, they just function as such.

Catholics are not polytheistic in any way.

Dogmatic assertion.

Remember, all Christians came from the Catholic Church in the first place.

Irrelevant
information.

The throne vision of John in the Book of Revelation describes the prayers of the saints as being before the throne of God Himself.

Ambiguous statement from book of dubious origins.

Hebrews describes the saints as our cloud of witnesses.

See above comment.

If the saints are on our same spiritual "team," why not invite them to pray WITH us?

Here is an example of how to pray "with" them.

From the Catholic Doors ministry website:

UNFAILING PRAYER TO
ST. ANTHONY # 2

O good and gentle St. Anthony,
your love of God and concern for His creatures made you worthy, while on earth, to possess miraculous powers.
Come to my help in this moment of trouble and anxiety. your ardent love of God made you worthy to hold the Holy infant in your arms. Whisper to Him my humble request,

State your request here...

if it be for the greater glory of God, and the salvation of my soul. Amen.

Makes you wonder- if it's unfailing how come you need a #2? It's no different than the magic spells that
are supposed to grant your wishes.

There is great power in that just as when I ask friends and fellow believers to pray with me

Dogmatic assertion without proof. I love that Catholics picture heaven like some giant government bureaucracy where you have to know special people to get favors.

Saints are close to God, and they are spiritual allies.

Whatever you gotta tell yourself, Allen.

Erik,

You say you are rejecting dogmatic assertions while you are actually rejecting the authority of Scripture and the authority of the Church. That is a fine assumption, and one made by most materialists, but it is important to note.

Nevertheless, at the end of the day, where you and I differ is that I recognize faith as a legitimate mode of knowing. You reject that premise; I embrace it. That is OK. You are who you are.

However, it is important for me to point out that things spiritual and things of faith cannot be comprehended solely by a materialist world view. Scripture, revelation, and the historical teaching of the Church are sources of authority. You can reject those, but I reject the premise that all things can be explained by relying solely on a material view.

In the end, the good news is that those sources of spiritual authority reveal that God loves you Erik. And there is nothing you can do about it. Pretty remarkable stuff, that God.

"Catholics do not pray TO Mary but rather INVITE Mary to pray WITH us" - Allen Hunt

For this I join you today in praying: Grant, O Mother of Calvary, "that we may be one among ourselves and one with you".

5. "Turn, then, most gracious Advocate,
Thine eyes of mercy towards us,
and, after this our exile, show unto us
the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary!"
Lady of graces, look upon this people
which for centuries has remained faithful to you and to your Son.
Look upon this nation,
which has always placed its hope in your maternal love.
Turn your eyes of mercy towards us,
obtain what your children most need.
Open the hearts of the prosperous to the needs of the poor and the suffering.
Enable the unemployed to find an employer.
Help those who are poverty-stricken to find a home.
Grant families the love which makes it possible to surmount all difficulties.
Show young people a way and a horizon for the future.
Cover children with the mantle of your protection,
lest they be scandalized.
Confirm religious communities with the grace of faith, hope and love.
Grant that priests may follow in the footsteps of your Son by offering their lives each day for the sheep.
Obtain for Bishops the light of the Holy Spirit, so that they may guide this Church to the gates of your Son’s Kingdom by a single, straight path.
Most Holy Mother, Our Lady of Calvary,
obtain also for me strength in body and spirit,
that I may carry out to the end the mission given me by the Risen Lord.
To you I give back all the fruits of my life and my ministry;
to you I entrust the future of the Church;
to you I offer my nation;
in you do I trust and once more to you I declare:
Totus Tuus, Maria!
Totus Tuus. Amen. - From John Paul II

"To you (MARY) I give back all the fruits of my life and my ministry;
to you (MARY) I entrust the future of the Church;
to you (MARY) I offer my nation;
in you (MARY) do I trust and once more to you (MARY) I declare:
Totus Tuus, Maria!


Nice try Allen. Catholics pray to Mary, prostrating themselves before her image (e.g. a statue) in worship to the "Queen of Heaven."

www.vatican.va/holy_father/john_paul_ii/homilies/2002/documents/hf_jp-ii_hom_20020819_kalwaria_en.html

Parsin' the Parson:

You say you are rejecting dogmatic assertions while you are actually rejecting the authority of Scripture and the authority of the Church.

The books in question- Hebrews and Revelation- were similarly rejected by a good part of the early church as well as by Martin Luther later. Even if I did accept them as authoritative the passages referenced are extremely weak and ambiguous, a desperate proof-texting of a cherished traditional belief.
And I do consider it to be a virtue to question the dogmatic assertions of any person or organization, no matter how well-intentioned. Do you accept the authority of the Church in all matters? I doubt it very much. What about the "grave sin" of birth control? Let's be serious. When it comes to religion everybody orders a la carte.

where you and I differ is that I recognize faith as a legitimate mode of knowing.

Very post-modern. Very Emory. But faith is by definition not knowledge. And that's a good thing. If it were knowledge then it would have the same spiritual value of knowledge- which is to say, not much. More blessed are those who have believed without seeing- something like that.

spiritual and things of faith cannot be comprehended solely by a materialist world view.

They can be comprehended ok, but not tested or verified. They remain entirely subjective. And this is the mess the
world is in. No matter how badly we wish it were otherwise, faith is entirely subjective.

Scripture, revelation, and the historical teaching of the Church are sources of authority.

So is the Koran and Hadith, so what? One man's scripture is another man's heresy. Ask Calvin. One man's revelation is another man's blasphemy. Ask Jesus.

The Bible is a total mess. Even if we could excavate all the layers of interpolation and redaction, the underlying claims would still likely be contradictory and confusing. There is no there there.

You can reject those, but I reject the premise that all things can be explained by relying solely on a material view.

Sounds like a false dichotomy, viz.: "Either everything can be explained by materialism or my faith is true. Everything can't be explained, therefore my faith is true."
I don't know that "everything" is explainable by materialism either. That is to say I don't know that our finite minds can comprehend some things. Yet, as Wittgestein said, "What we can not speak of we must pass over in silence." In other words I don't go around telling other people they have to sign on to whatever ineffable hokum I find appeals to me personally.

In the end, the good news is that those sources of spiritual authority reveal that God loves you Erik. And there is nothing you can do about it.

He loves me so much he is going to send me to hell for failing to applaud a human sacrifice. He loves me so much he will condemn me to the eternal oven for refusing to follow just any old God without some proof.

Pretty remarkable stuff, that God.

Indeed.

This is the beginning of the end. Rome is spreading its legions from afar. Its dioceses have encircled the globe, from sea to sea. Its Caesar is coming to America with the hope of spreading the message of peace, ecumenism and environmental awareness. Allen Hunt, the latest convert to Rome, will glorify this man on his show when his Caesar arrives and when he departs.

On April 17, 2008 the Caesar of Rome will meet 200 religious leaders who are to answer the call to the "Heart of all Religions." "Peace" is the calling but Jesus said He didn't come to bring "peace," but a "sword" (division).

"Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword." - Matthew 10: 34

Look how the Church of the Antichrist is bringing the nations together for the sake of peace and safety (security)." (1 Thess. 5: 3)

See "Heart of all Religions" by visiting http://www.zenit.org/article-21984?l=english


"PS - A helpful resource on the Catholic faith has been written by Scott Hahn, Reasons to Believe. I recommend it for anyone who would like to learn or discover more about the Catholic Church and her beliefs." - Allen Hunt

Her beliefs can be seen without any need for investigation (i.e. for those who have the Spirit of Christ). Catholic apologist Scott Hahn also has a book called, "Hail, Holy Queen: The Mother of God in the Word of God." Another one is titled, "Rome Sweet Home: Our Journey to Catholicism." Here are Scott Hahn's own words concerning the Eucharist:

"We're going to be focusing on the very center of the faith this morning, and I feel so woefully inadequate because there is just so much to say about the Blessed Sacrament. It's a sacrament and it's a sacrifice in which Our Lord Jesus Christ not only establishes a covenant, but really, is the covenant. And the sacrament contains our Lord Jesus Christ, body, blood, soul and divinity; but it's also an offering. So in the Eucharist Our Lord Jesus Christ body and blood, soul and divinity is offered to the Father continually in an unbloody manner. Then, finally, it's not just contained. It's not just offered but it's received. All three of those elements are crucial to understanding how the Eucharist is both a sacrifice and a sacrament. And when it's received, we call that Holy Communion. All three of those belong together. They are inseparable. They are critical."

"We're going to be focusing on the very center of the faith..."

"It's a sacrament and it's a sacrifice..."

"So in the Eucharist Our Lord Jesus Christ body and blood, soul and divinity is offered to the Father continually in an unbloody manner."

"...it's not just contained. It's not just offered but it's received."

Yes, this is the "center of the faith" for Roman Catholics: The Eucharist. It's not the Lamb of God - Jesus Christ - who shed His blood on the cross, raised and seated in Heaven, but a piece of bread contained in a little box in every Catholic diocese throughout the world. The bread (wafer) is to be worshiped "with the highest adoration." Canon 898 states:

"The Christian faithful are to hold the Most Holy Eucharist in highest honor, taking an active part in the celebration of the most august sacrifice, receiving this sacrament most devoutly and frequently, and worshiping it with the highest adoration. In explaining the doctrine about this sacrament, pastors of souls are to teach the faithful diligently about this obligation."


From "Eucharist, Holy Meal" (Google the title "Eucharist Holy Meal")

www.catholiceducation.org/articles/apologetics/ap0092.html

Allen,
My husband made a comment today about the Catholic TV channel. He said that it seems like every time he turns the channel Mary is always mentioned. So we decided to test his claim and randomly turn the channel and see if it's true that he'd hear a reference to Mary, the blessed mother, etc. within 5 seconds of changing the channel. Maybe it was whatever shows were on, but each time he did it, sure enough, Mary was mentioned within 5 seconds. The only time Jesus was mentioned was in reference to being her son, 1 time, and not even by name but as "Her son".

Christianity did NOT start from Catholicism. Catholicism (however you spell it) came from Christianity. The Church was started in homes and small group meetings, from followers of Christ. CHRIST. Not Mary. She became holy somewhere down the line, years later. Jesus didn't say that. Sure, she was His mother, and she was closest to Him, and that was said. But he never once said she was holy, or greater than Himself. Only God. Only God can be holy or our entire beliefs are thrown out the window. If Mary, a human, can be holy, then why can't I or anyone else. We can't. But what's important isn't Mary's status, it's that God gave her the job to birth the Son of God, who became flesh so that He could take our place (including Mary's) for sin's payment. Because He was the only one holy, who could fulfill that payment.

About praying to Mary:
See, it may be that the Church's got it written down somewhere that we are inviting her to pray with us, but tradition is that she is actually being prayed to, and as a replacement of Christ. Believers may not intentionally be replacing her with Christ Jesus, but in fact that is what is happening when we pray to her for comfort, etc. and praise her for her grace and mercy. Yes she was mentioned as special in the Bible, but it is in fact GOD not Mary, who had mercy on us, and the Holy Spirit who comforts us, not Mary. She was very special because she was the mother of God. But Eric is right that we as human beings as is our nature,like to exhault others for what they have done, or what has happened to them. The saints are the Christians, brothers in Christ. Yes, we share and pray together which is extremely important. But not TO them. Wehn we ask St. Michael for protection, or Mary for comfort, we are in fact praying to them, not to God through them.

However the Church words it, that's what we're doing. We're inviting them to pray with us.....That's hogwash. If that's what you're doing, then say it when you're praying. It's that simple. Say what you mean so those of us who just don't get it can understand. I am a believer, and I will be with the Saints, and Mary and Jesus and the Father some day. I have no doubt of that. And hopefully I will see you and many others that you reach through your radio show. We will just have to disagree on one thing. I can never be a Catholic because of the deification of Mary, intentional on the Church's part or not, I cannot participate in it. If on the other hand I found a Catholic church with a priest that taught salvation through faith in Jesus Christ and made Him the emphasis of his teachings, then I wouldn't have a problem. There is nothing un-Catholic about that. It just doesn't seem to happen much.

Thanks :)

KC, Allen has a post to fill. His show is growing. People are calling him for advice and, of course, Allen is always right. But those of us with the Spirit of Christ can see that Allen is - wrong! His decision to join the "Mother Church" is evidence that Allen is lost. His testimony is from this world, in the Tradition (i.e. the Church Fathers, the Magisterium, the Catechism etc.). He has the Church in his heart, but not God. Tonight he'll say that pope John Paul II was the greatest man to live in the 20th Century. Pope John Paul II was a fraud, a false teacher, a leader of lost souls who sought Mary's divine help :

Most Holy Mother, Our Lady of Calvary, obtain also for me strength in body and spirit, that I may carry out to the end the mission given me by the Risen Lord. To you I give back all the fruits of my life and my ministry; to you I entrust the future of the Church; to you I offer my nation; in you do I trust and once more to you I declare:
Totus Tuus, Maria!
Totus Tuus. Amen. - From John Paul II
------------------------

“I’m home and glad to be home. I have a deep, deep sense of interior peace,” said Hunt about joining the church. “It’s where God wants me to be. I have no doubt.” - Allen Hunt (from The Georgia Bulletin)

"And Hunt was attracted to the Catholic belief in the real presence of Jesus in the Eucharist.

“When my heart changed on that, I pretty much had to become Catholic,” he said.

Also he said it “grieves my heart” that there are 30,000 branches of Christianity in America.

“I believe that continuing division and debate over essentials provides a poor witness to the world about our Christian unity in the one Lord,” he wrote in his blog." - Allen Hunt (from The Georgia Bulletin)

"...the real presence of Jesus in the Eucharist." - Allen Hunt
------------------------

KC, My advice to you and to every Christian is this: Stay out of church. The poison being fed to the flock (if you can call it that) is: May they all be one!...Unity!...Solidarity!...Ecumenism!

If you listened to Mr. Hunt's show last night, he mentioned that he will be one of 200 guests to attend a B-Day party at the Whitehouse for Benedict hosted by Laura Bush. Of course, he failed to mention that on the very next day (April 17), the pope will be holding an ecumenical (interreligious meeting) gathering with 200 religious leaders. Here's a sample from a Zenit article:

"Following the theme, "Religions Working for Peace," the Holy Father will meet and address members of Jewish, Islamic, Buddhist, Jain and Hindu communities at the Pope John Paul II Cultural Center in Washington, D.C."

He'll then receive gifts from each member of the religions mentioned above (e.g. the Quran [Koran] from the Islamic community, a "bronze bell" from the Buddhist community that "marks off times of meditation, which lead to inner peace and enlightenment.")

http://www.zenit.org/article-21984?l=english
(Google "Heart of all religions and zenit")
----------------------------
Btw, our President (another impostor of Christendom) shares the same views/goals as Benedict and they will discuss them when he comes to America:

"President and Mrs. Bush will welcome His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI to the White House on April 16, 2008, during his first visit to the United States as Pope. The President and the Holy Father will continue discussions, which they began during the President's visit to the Vatican in June 2007, on their common commitment to the importance of faith and reason in reaching shared goals. These goals include advancing peace throughout the Middle East and other troubled regions, promoting inter-faith understanding, and strengthening human rights and freedom, especially religious liberty, around the world."

http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2008/02/20080215-1.html

Is this Right or is this Wrong Mr. Hunt?

"Wake up and smell the Koran. Join the conversation as we look at how to protect us from Islam's continual push to the West." - Allen Hunt (from last night's show description "Stop the Bus" - 04/05/08)

Hey Allen, what do you think about your beloved leader - that is, the leader of the false church, Pope Benedict XVI - receiving a Quran (Koran) on his visit to America?

What do think about your beloved John Paul II kissing the Koran?

Google "John Paul II and kissing Koran"

Is this Right or is this Wrong Mr. Hunt?

Allen
I believe in Christianity straight from the Bible, not filtered by either the Pope or
Protestant polls. I doubt I will change your view and that is not my purpose.
What I am interested in (1) is your career as a radio minister continuing? (2) does the Catholic
church recognize your academic
work or degrees in religion? (3)
are you considering Holy Orders as a married man?
May God bless you in the good things you have done in your radio ministery and may He bless your family.
Warren

I hate it when folk chime in and answer questions that weren't asked of them, but I feel compelled to answer Mr. Coleman's since Allen is generally loath to explain himself.

(1) is your career as a radio minister continuing?

Unfortunately , yes.

(2) does the Catholic
church recognize your academic
work or degrees in religion?

One of Allen's buddies from the Yale program was a Catholic priest, so yes, they do recognize a PhD in New Testament- although most mainstream scholars consider it just a glorified form of
Sunday school.

are you considering Holy Orders as a married man?

Since most married men are celibate anyway, what's the difference? Actually Allen wants to be the first American pope.

Erik,
Thanks for answering. You are correct on #1 and partially correct on #2. The Catholic Church recognizes the degrees on the one hand although it is my understanding that they generally require degrees from a handful of Pontifical Faculty schools in order to teach in Catholic seminaries. Not real sure on that because that is not something I have really explored although I did have to learn Latin, Greek, Hebrew, French and German for my Sunday School degree of which Erik is devilishly envious.

It is theoretically possible for a former Methodist pastor to become a Catholic priest. A number of former Episcopal priests have done that and a few Methodists. Most of these were married. I do not know the details of what would be required for me to do that myself to be honest.

Thanks for asking and for praying. I appreciate it.

Allen,

I was wondering why you didn't believe in the real presence of Christ when you were a Methodist. When we take communion, we say "This is the body and blood of Christ" I have attended Lutheran and Episcopal churches, and now attend a Methodist Church and have always believed that the bread and wine in communion was the true body and blood of Christ(Jesus tells us this in the Bible at the last supper)

I was wondering about the rest of your family...are they still at Mt. Pisgah, or have they also converted?

My husband was raised Catholic, so I am pretty knowledgeable about the faith (I also have taught religion in a Catholic school). I think the problem many people have with the CC is the equal weight given to "Church Tradition" (encyclicals, writings from history, papal writings, etc) and the Bible. When Martin Luther started the protestant reformation, anything not directly in scripture was not part of the reformation. SO... to the protestant who says "It's nowhere in the Bible"...they're right. Most of the beliefs about birth control, Mary, the saints, etc. are in the traditional writings, which are given equal authority as the Bible. This is where Catholics and other Christians differ.

I have no problem with Catholics having their beliefs. It is the belief that they are the "one true church", and their denial of Holy Communion to other Christians while visiting in their churches that I find offensive. Our church offers communion to all Christians every time it is served. Don't you think Jesus would share Himself with all who believe in Him? Or are only the "worthy" members of the "club" invited? What would Jesus do???

Also the belief that there are no marriages recognized outside the RCC. NO ONE has the right to deny another communion, or deny other Christians' sacraments. To me this is both devisive and decidedly UNCHRISTIAN.

Please respond.

Wendy