Decky wrote:It's a shame the Prods got their claws into you DrLee, you could have been a good Catholic.
Fucking hell Otebo long time no see.
Indeed. I trust you are well? I imagine you are busy practicing for your new career as part of Comrade Corbyn's Cheka.
Drlee wrote:I very nearly was a Catholic. If I had to choose only one church it would be that one. I still spend a few moments, from time to time, in the sanctuary of a convenient Catholic church.
Ah, Rome Sweet Home.
Here is another quote from Vatican II for you, regarding Christians outside of the Catholic Church:
Unitatis Redintegratio wrote:The children who are born into these Communities and who grow up believing in Christ cannot be accused of the sin involved in the separation, and the Catholic Church embraces upon them as brothers, with respect and affection. For men who believe in Christ and have been truly baptized are in communion with the Catholic Church even though this communion is imperfect. ...it remains true that all who have been justified by faith in Baptism are members of Christ's body, and have a right to be called Christian, and so are correctly accepted as brothers by the children of the Catholic Church.
Moreover, some and even very many of the significant elements and endowments which together go to build up and give life to the Church itself, can exist outside the visible boundaries of the Catholic Church: the written word of God; the life of grace; faith, hope and charity, with the other interior gifts of the Holy Spirit, and visible elements too. All of these, which come from Christ and lead back to Christ, belong by right to the one Church of Christ.
...
Nevertheless, our separated brethren, whether considered as individuals or as Communities and Churches, are not blessed with that unity which Jesus Christ wished to bestow on all those who through Him were born again into one body, and with Him quickened to newness of life- that unity which the Holy Scriptures and the ancient Tradition of the Church proclaim. For it is only through Christ's Catholic Church, which is 'the all-embracing means of salvation,' that they can benefit fully from the means of salvation. We believe that Our Lord entrusted all the blessings of the New Covenant to the apostolic college alone, of which Peter is the head, in order to establish the one Body of Christ on earth to which all should be fully incorporated who belong in any way to the people of God.
Out of interest, Drlee, what is it that keeps you from crossing the Tiber?