What is the job of the Pope? What is his purpose? He is elected into office over Bishops and Cardinals? What are their purposes? Do they oversee morality in the world? Custodians of the faith? Huh? How can the faith of one person be managed by another? Why are people being elevated above people? That is what hierrchy is. Is he a Guide? Do we really need a King of Guides, then? That's what the Pope is. A Priest is a guide. Your friends are guides. Your family is Guides. Other than seeing him on TV, what has this man personally guided you with? Or if you are of another faith with a hierarchy, what have they personally guided you with? If faith is the free expression of ones devotion to a thing, can you be guided by another, or is it, as the courts say, leading the witness? (by the way, another reason why winesses are among the worst forms of evidence ever) Specifically, how can flawed men lead other flawed men? The blind leading the blind. How does one man know best God's will? How do we know God endorses the Pope on high rather than the Priest by your Grandmothers side? How do we know God endorses either of them? What makes one follower of God more important than the other, such that there is hierarchy? How can a Pope be called down? Is he not blessed by God? Why do we listen to these men? Why do we hold their word above others? How do we know he's not pretending? How do we know they are not greedy or ambitious? How do we know they love everyone, hate no one, wish the best for everyone? How do we know their passions will not lead others astray? How do we know they are not perverse in thought or action? In my opinion, the true Pope is not a Pope. A true follower is not involved in any hierarchy. He does not manage the faithful. He is faithful. He's another man walking the roads of the world, helping people. Hierarchy seems like the least of all religious things.
882 The Pope, Bishop of Rome and Peter's successor, "is the perpetual and visible source and foundation of the unity both of the bishops and of the whole company of the faithful."402 If you go to the link provided above, there is a short explanation which will answers these questions. People need guidance in the world. Those doing the guiding are not "better"--they are just guides. His example. Just like others guides in my life. Catholics believe that the Church is protected by the Holy Spirit--God, in other words. Although the Pope--our visible "guide"--is a fallible man just like the rest of us, we believe that his guidance is protected from error. It's really not the pope who leads the Church--God does--the pope is the visible authority. He is the instrument, while God is the master musician. We trust. Basically, when you cut out all the "reasons"--it boils down to we trust it is so. Also, the priest at Grandma's side very well MAY be a better man than the pope, and he also can certainly be an instrument of God (as all of us can). The difference between the pope and any regular priest is the responsibilities he performs in the world. Trust. Nothing. A position of authority does not mean one is loved more by God--in fact, it is quite a burden to carry. I'm not strong enough to carry those burdens and quite grateful that God provides men who are capable. I don't know what you mean by "called down." We are all blessed by God. Trust. Specifically, trust in God's abiding love. He could be (the man could be), but God won't let that destroy the Church. Many were! They may be. But we have faith in God--not the pope. He is those things, but a hierarchy does not negate those qualities. You're entitled to your opinion. However, 30,000+ Christian denominations all arguing different teachings doesn't ring true Christian unity, either...
Why were Aaron and the Levites priests? They didn't have to do physical work, they got the money and the best food and the virgins, and they got a fully funded retirement when they reached 55 years of age.
Now is the time for those who have not previously read this: Vatican Billions http://www.germanophobia.net/books/VB.pdf Jesus, the founder of Christianity, was the poorest of the poor. Roman Catholicism, which claims to be His church, is the richest of the rich, the wealthiest institution on earth.
More HIstory: The Criminal History of the Papacy http://www.bibliotecapleyades.net/vatican/esp_vatican30a.htm "Up until Jesus time in the ancient writings there is a flood of information on the Scribes and Pharisees. After Jesus left they quickly disappeared and the Holy Roman Catholic Church appeared, suddenly. Could it be that the Jewish Scribes and Pharisees are the ones that really created the Catholic Church just to control the people to prevent them from evolving with the teachings that Jesus brought to earth. It is now known from the angles that are communicating with man that Jesus disciples and some followers were able to do the same miracles that Jesus could do." http://www.bibliotecapleyades.net/vatican/esp_vatican43.htm
Wealth is needed to provide for the poor. The Catholic church is also the largest none profit and the largest organization involve in world wide charity works priest, nuns and lay people will brave themselves to go where no man there to go to feed, shelter and most of all give hope to those who are in despair and persecution.
What do you mean? I asked direct questions regarding the role and function of Church administration. What am I not being sincere about?
And remember a lot of that wealth is not liquid. The Church really only improved its cash flow when it started investing in financial markets in the late 70's. Even now those investments cover the majority or the massive operating costs the Church as to cover.
They may go to feed the hungry etc, but never do they tell them that the rood of their problems is over population; never do they tell them to control their breeding habits. Yeah, the Vatican needs cash for operating expenses like polishing all the ornate gold trim and cleaning and polishing the marble floors. Having new gold trimmed robes for the pope's next public appearance where he will preach the virtues of poverty to the masses.
How is the Pope any different in regards to overseeing the economics of the Church, than Joel Osteen is to his or Jerry Falwell was to his? Bills have to be paid; carpets need to be cleaned; leaking roofs need to be mended.
... I don't know what you are talking about Felicity. I know you're religious, I'm obviously not, and I'm obviously asking questions about why the heck are other people so enraptured by it. I'm not faking irritation at religion. And you don't have to answer or respond if you don't want to. My signature says it clearly, I like to argue with religious people. I really don't see why they think that way and I'll always offer debate to any who wants to debate religion. Where is the insincerity?
The Pope is just a servant with more responsability then most. Every orginisation needs a person at it head to function in todays society.
Felicity, dear, what is the point of a political forum if not to ask questions open to debate? We ask questions commonly on things we don't agree with. We do it to bat around each others ideas. It's bait if debating is baiting...
