From: edjans01@orion.spd.louisville.edu (David Jansing)
Subject: Re: Kneeling/Authority
Date: Mon, 28 Sep 1992 22:15:36 GMT
Organization: University of Louisville

In <199209250706.AA00513@caritas.cotdazr.org> "(Gordon C. Zaft)" <zaft@CARITAS.COTDAZR.ORG> writes:

>On Sep 24,  2:49pm, "(David Jansing)" wrote:
>} Subject: Kneeling/Authority
>}
>} 2.  Church Authority.  There are some things that the Church as final
> authority
>}     on.  These things are called Dogma.  There are some things that the Church
>}     teaches that are meant to be guidelines in living life.  These things are
>}     called Doctrine.  Let's go back to the mindless cattle thing.  We are not
>}     simpletons anymore.  We are, for the most part, an educated culture that
>}     can figure things out for ourselves.  No Church no longer has to force us
>}     to do anything.  Fasts are our own choosing.  Mass is a privilege, and
>}     should be respected as such.  Forcing people to go, or telling them that
>}     they are going to go to Hell because they don't go, simply pushes them
>}     furthur away.  BTW, no one is going to go to Hell because they don't go to
>}     Mass.  This would mean that our Protestant brothers and sisters are going
>}     straight to Hell and we all know that this is not the case.  Ghandi wasn't
>}     Catholic.  Is he in Hell?  I think not.  If we are moved by whatever
>}     prayerform or liturgy that we attend, we can only show by our example that
>}     this is something that our brothers and sisters may find Christ.
>}-- End of excerpt from "(David Jansing)"

>	Well, it's nice to know that you know better than the Church who
>is in Hell and who isn't (*sarcasm*).  The Church doesn't claim to know
>who is in Hell, how can you?  I don't know if not going to Mass is
>sufficiently grave to send you to Hell -- I suspect it depends in part
>on your reasons.  Not going because you are ill is almost certainly
>excusable, not going because you think it's a waste of time is almost
>certainly not.

I said, "I think not."  This does not preclude knowledge of persons in Heaven
or Hell.  I am making an assumption here.  Back off.

>	As for Protestants.... well, you know the old saying about those
>to whom much has been given.  I think Catholics are held to a higher
>standard since we've been given the Real Presence of Christ in the
>Eucharist.

Are you implying that God loves some people more than others?  Once again,
I _THINK_ not.

-- 
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Dave Jansing                     | "What we call the beginning is often the end
Electrical Engineering Department|  And to make an end is to make a beginning.
University of Louisville         |  The end is where we start from . . ."
                                 |  -- T.S. Eliot, "Four Quartets"
              Internet:  edjans01@starbase.spd.louisville.edu
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