From: timk@world.std.com (Tim King)
Subject: Re: Seeking a Catholic Perspective
Organization: The World Public Access UNIX, Brookline, MA
Date: Sat, 12 Sep 1992 02:31:59 GMT

MICHELE LOFTON <MLOFTON@USMCP6.BITNET> writes:

>I think agreeing with every point any church makes would be difficult, a
>church member should, however, believe in the basic "Creed" of the Church.

You mean agree with what the church teaches as fundamental to salvation?
Yes, this sounds reasonable.  So then, what was my original question?

Oh yes, does the Catholic Church teach the Sacrement of Confession to be
this kind of fundamental doctrine?  If so, how can a Protestant who doesn't
accept this Sacrement be exempt from this rule?  In other words, if
confession is required to be saved, how can anyone who doesn't subject
themself to it be saved?

Am I going around in circles here?  I think so.  The basic question is
"Is confession necessary for salvation?".  If the answer is "Yes," then
I don't understand how anyone can reject the sacrement and still be saved.
If, however, a clear conscience concerning the sacrement is what justifies
one before God, confession itself is not necessary, but a clear conscience
is.

In short, it seems like the Catholic church is drawing a line between
Catholic christians and non-Catholic christians.  Everyone who is a non-CC
is exempt from this particular Catholic teaching.  But everyone who is a CC
is not.  My point is that this renders the teaching meaningless except as a
means of social manipulation.  It has no real spiritual value because non-CC's
can deny the authority of the Catholic church and still be saved.  However,
catholics must accept this authority or risk giving up their salvation.
This is a common cultic practice called sensationalism.  Its intent is to
keep people in a social cult by means of intimidation. (See
_Combatting_Cult_Mind_Control_, Steven Hassan, Park Street Press, 1990).

Now I am not wanting to suggest that the Catholic church is a mind control
cult.  I know people who I believe to be true christians who are also
Catholic.  I know a man who has a powerful ministry and who is a Catholic.
However, if these things you're telling me are true, then the only
conclusion I can come to is that the Catholic church does in fact
facilitate the use of mind control techniques!  Does God use these same
techniques???  If so, I think we're in BIG trouble!


>On your other question on additional Grace, a priest is a tool of God's
>word, just as any minister.  He is a "father figure" to give advice on
>spiritual matters based on the doctrine of the Church and will pose into
>words the forgiveness of God when we ask for it.  Being a representative of
>God, a priest CANNOT look down upon the person asking forgiveness nor
>repeat anything said to him.

So then what's the difference between a Catholic priest and a Protestant
minister.  The latter can also perform all of these tasks!

-TimK
-- 
Tim King                  |  Some of us favor logic in making decisions.
24 Myrtle Street          |  Some, emotions.  I, personally, get very    |\
Dedham, MA 02026          |  emotional about faulty logic! :-)           | >
timk@world.std.com        |                                             <>
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