These Catholics died for the faith. The Blood of the martyrs are the seeds of the church and may God grant then eternal rest. The Catholic Church has been in Bagdad 400 years before Mohammed corrupted the Arab people. May Christ have mercy on Them!

Believer, Yes mixing Catholicism and Voodoo does happen in third world countries and it is a problem. The only thing you can do is preach the Good News and the let the Holy Spirit do the rest to correct their error. If you have been to Latin America like I have you will know that this is a small minority of the general Catholic population. You will also note that equally troublesome are the one...more

Believer, Yes mixing Catholicism and Voodoo does happen in third world countries and it is a problem. The only thing you can do is preach the Good News and the let the Holy Spirit do the rest to correct their error.

If you have been to Latin America like I have you will know that this is a small minority of the general Catholic population. You will also note that equally troublesome are the oneness Pentecostals who deny the Trinity and mix handling snakes with church services. Very scary stuff. You will also note the some AOG and Baptist Churches that do many "fake" healings at revivals to take money from poorly educated people.

What Latin America and third world places need are solid Catholics, Baptists, Reformed to purge these type of practices from the people and preach the Good News of Christ.less

Ketch, I grew up in a strong Christian/baptist home and accepted Jesus fully into my heart as my Lord and Savior when I was about 8 years old.

Before I became Catholic I was a Reformed Minister and served in Haiti for 3 months. The intermingling of Voodoo with Catholicism is a problem, but this article makes it sound like everyone who is Catholic also practices Voodoo. This is not the case. The vast majority of Catholics do not intermingle voodoo in Haiti, while a minority do. These people who intermingle never show up at a Catholic Chur...more

Before I became Catholic I was a Reformed Minister and served in Haiti for 3 months. The intermingling of Voodoo with Catholicism is a problem, but this article makes it sound like everyone who is Catholic also practices Voodoo. This is not the case. The vast majority of Catholics do not intermingle voodoo in Haiti, while a minority do. These people who intermingle never show up at a Catholic Church.

I hope this pastor also reaches out to Pentecostals in Haiti who have mixed their speaking in tongues with using snakes in their services. It is an equally profane sight to see. If you went into a voodoo community where they used Catholic images or a Pentecostal community where they have a bizarre sense of worship you wouldn't be able to tell the difference between them as they both look posessed. By contrast, walk into a normal Catholic Church in Haiti and it is exactly that...normal.less

If you can stomach reading the Truth of how History supports the Catholic position read all my posts. Chances are the Truth is very scary for those who are not Catholic. Convert to the Truth like I did. When ancient Christians believed and worshipped like Catholics, then why don't you since this is the authentic Christian witness confirming scripture?

St John Chrysostom "In ancient times, because men were very imperfect, God did not scorn to receive the blood which they were offering . . . to draw them away from those idols; and this very thing again was because of his indescribable, tender affection. But now he has transferred the priestly action to what is most awesome and magnificent. He has changed the sacrifice itself, and instead of the ...more

St John Chrysostom
"In ancient times, because men were very imperfect, God did not scorn to receive the blood which they were offering . . . to draw them away from those idols; and this very thing again was because of his indescribable, tender affection. But now he has transferred the priestly action to what is most awesome and magnificent. He has changed the sacrifice itself, and instead of the butchering of dumb beasts, he commands the offering up of himself" (ibid., 24:2).

"What then? Do we not offer daily? Yes, we offer, but making remembrance of his death; and this remembrance is one and not many. How is it one and not many? Because this sacrifice is offered once, like that in the Holy of Holies. This sacrifice is a type of that, and this remembrance a type of that. We offer always the same, not one sheep now and another tomorrow, but the same thing always. Thus there is one sacrifice. By this reasoning, since the sacrifice is offered everywhere, are there, then, a multiplicity of Christs? By no means! Christ is one everywhere. He is complete here, complete there, one body. And just as he is one body and not many though offered everywhere, so too is there one sacrifice" (Homilies on Hebrews 17:3(6) [A.D. 403]).

Augustine
"In the sacrament he is immolated for the people not only on every Easter Solemnity but on every day; and a man would not be lying if, when asked, he were to reply that Christ is being immolated. For if sacraments had not a likeness to those things of which they are sacraments, they would not be sacraments at all; and they generally take the names of those same things by reason of this likeness" (Letters 98:9 [A.D. 412]).

"For when he says in another book, which is called Ecclesiastes, ‘There is no good for a man except that he should eat and drink’ [Eccles. 2:24], what can he be more credibly understood to say [prophetically] than what belongs to the participation of this table which the Mediator of the New Testament himself, the priest after the order of Melchizedek, furnishes with his own body and blood? For that sacrifice has succeeded all the sacrifices of the Old Testament, which were slain as a shadow of what was to come. . . . Because, instead of all these sacrifices and oblations, his body is offered and is served up to the partakers of it" (The City of God 17:20 [A.D. 419]).less

And more...Isn't it amazing that in the first 400 years of the Church there is 100% agreement on the Sacrifice of the Mass and true presence of Christ in the Eucharist? As a Protestant, I could no longer accept the view of Calvin when history supports the Catholic interpretion and ours' was a "Tradition of men"-Calvin to be specific. "To be steeped in history is to cease to be Protestant" John ...more

And more...Isn't it amazing that in the first 400 years of the Church there is 100% agreement on the Sacrifice of the Mass and true presence of Christ in the Eucharist? As a Protestant, I could no longer accept the view of Calvin when history supports the Catholic interpretion and ours' was a "Tradition of men"-Calvin to be specific.

"To be steeped in history is to cease to be Protestant" John Cardinal Henry Newman-Greatest Anglican Theologian of his day who tried to prove Catholicism was false and became Catholic in the Process.

John Chrysostom
"When you see the Lord immolated and lying upon the altar, and the priest bent over that sacrifice praying, and all the people empurpled by that precious blood, can you think that you are still among men and on earth? Or are you not lifted up to heaven?" (The Priesthood 3:4:177 [A.D. 387]).

"Reverence, therefore, reverence this table, of which we are all communicants! Christ, slain for us, the sacrificial victim who is placed thereon!" (Homilies on Romans 8:8 [A.D. 391]).

"‘The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not communion of the blood of Christ?’ Very trustworthy and awesomely does he [Paul] say it. For what he is saying is this: What is in the cup is that which flowed from his side, and we partake of it. He called it a cup of blessing because when we hold it in our hands that is how we praise him in song, wondering and astonished at his indescribable gift, blessing him because of his having poured out this very gift so that we might not remain in error; and not only for his having poured it out, but also for his sharing it with all of us. ‘If therefore you desire blood,’ he [the Lord] says, ‘do not redden the platform of idols with the slaughter of dumb beasts, but my altar of sacrifice with my blood.’ What is more awesome than this? What, pray tell, more tenderly loving?" (Homilies on First Corinthians 24:1(3) [A.D. 392]).less

OH and yes there is more....I"m loving how history always supports the Catholic position. I was a former Reformed Pastor for 20+ years, by the way. Gregory Nazianzen "Cease not to pray and plead for me when you draw down the Word by your word, when in an unbloody cutting you cut the Body and Blood of the Lord, using your voice for a sword" (Letter to Amphilochius 171 [A.D. 383]). Ambros...more

OH and yes there is more....I"m loving how history always supports the Catholic position.
I was a former Reformed Pastor for 20+ years, by the way.

Gregory Nazianzen
"Cease not to pray and plead for me when you draw down the Word by your word, when in an unbloody cutting you cut the Body and Blood of the Lord, using your voice for a sword" (Letter to Amphilochius 171 [A.D. 383]).

Ambrose of Milan
"We saw the prince of priests coming to us, we saw and heard him offering his blood for us. We follow, inasmuch as we are able, being priests, and we offer the sacrifice on behalf of the people. Even if we are of but little merit, still, in the sacrifice, we are honorable. Even if Christ is not now seen as the one who offers the sacrifice, nevertheless it is he himself that is offered in sacrifice here on Earth when the body of Christ is offered. Indeed, to offer himself he is made visible in us, he whose word makes holy the sacrifice that is offered" (Commentaries on Twelve Psalms of David 38:25 [A.D. 389]).less

A consistent story of the Sacrifice of the Mass. I guess Calvin and Protestants had it correct more than those who knew the Apostles and their direct successors....NOT> Justin Martyr "God speaks by the mouth of Malachi, one of the twelve [minor prophets], as I said before, about the sacrifices at that time presented by you: ‘I have no pleasure in you, says the Lord, and I will not accept y...more

A consistent story of the Sacrifice of the Mass. I guess Calvin and Protestants had it correct more than those who knew the Apostles and their direct successors....NOT>

Justin Martyr
"God speaks by the mouth of Malachi, one of the twelve [minor prophets], as I said before, about the sacrifices at that time presented by you: ‘I have no pleasure in you, says the Lord, and I will not accept your sacrifices at your hands; for from the rising of the sun to the going down of the same, my name has been glorified among the Gentiles, and in every place incense is offered to my name, and a pure offering, for my name is great among the Gentiles . . . [Mal. 1:10–11]. He then speaks of those Gentiles, namely us [Christians] who in every place offer sacrifices to him, that is, the bread of the Eucharist and also the cup of the Eucharist" (Dialogue with Trypho the Jew 41 [A.D. 155]).

Irenaeus
"He took from among creation that which is bread, and gave thanks, saying, ‘This is my body.’ The cup likewise, which is from among the creation to which we belong, he confessed to be his blood. He taught the new sacrifice of the new covenant, of which Malachi, one of the twelve [minor] prophets, had signified beforehand: ‘You do not do my will, says the Lord Almighty, and I will not accept a sacrifice at your hands. For from the rising of the sun to its setting my name is glorified among the Gentiles, and in every place incense is offered to my name, and a pure sacrifice; for great is my name among the Gentiles, says the Lord Almighty’ [Mal. 1:10–11]. By these words he makes it plain that the former people will cease to make offerings to God; but that in every place sacrifice will be offered to him, and indeed, a pure one, for his name is glorified among the Gentiles" (Against Heresies 4:17:5 [A.D. 189]).less

This is what was said thousand plus years before there was a Protestant. All these statements by the earliest Christians confirm the Catholic Biblical presentation of the Mass. The Didache "Assemble on the Lord’s day, and break bread and offer the Eucharist; but first make confession of your faults, so that your sacrifice may be a pure one. Anyone who has a difference with his fellow is not...more

This is what was said thousand plus years before there was a Protestant.
All these statements by the earliest Christians confirm the Catholic Biblical presentation of the Mass.

The Didache
"Assemble on the Lord’s day, and break bread and offer the Eucharist; but first make confession of your faults, so that your sacrifice may be a pure one. Anyone who has a difference with his fellow is not to take part with you until he has been reconciled, so as to avoid any profanation of your sacrifice [Matt. 5:23–24]. For this is the offering of which the Lord has said, ‘Everywhere and always bring me a sacrifice that is undefiled, for I am a great king, says the Lord, and my name is the wonder of nations’ [Mal. 1:11, 14]" (Didache 14 [A.D. 70]).

Pope Clement I
"Our sin will not be small if we eject from the episcopate those who blamelessly and holily have offered its sacrifices. Blessed are those presbyters who have already finished their course, and who have obtained a fruitful and perfect release" (Letter to the Corinthians 44:4–5 [A.D. 80]).

Ignatius of Antioch
"Make certain, therefore, that you all observe one common Eucharist; for there is but one Body of our Lord Jesus Christ, and but one cup of union with his Blood, and one single altar of sacrifice—even as there is also but one bishop, with his clergy and my own fellow servitors, the deacons. This will ensure that all your doings are in full accord with the will of God" (Letter to the Philadelphians 4 [A.D. 110]).

John Knox who?less

The WATERING DOWN OF WORSHIP. The Apostles center of Worship was the Eucharist and reading some letters of the Apostles, Old Testament Prophets and the Gospels. Catholic and Orthodox Churches maintain this today. Lutherans and Anglicans Maintain most of this Liturgical worship, while saying the Eucharist is only a symbol now. They still celebrate each Sunday as the apostles did. Metho...more

The WATERING DOWN OF WORSHIP.

The Apostles center of Worship was the Eucharist and reading some letters of the Apostles, Old Testament Prophets and the Gospels.

Catholic and Orthodox Churches maintain this today.

Lutherans and Anglicans Maintain most of this Liturgical worship, while saying the Eucharist is only a symbol now. They still celebrate each Sunday as the apostles did.

Methodists are a middle position between Lutherans, Anglicans and Reformed Churches.

Presbyterians and Reformed have mainted even less Apostolic Liturgy, and now the Eucharist is only a symbol and they do not celebrate it every Sunday but once a month.

Baptists and Pentecostals and evangelicals have no concept of Liturgy of Worship from the Apostles, each church makes it up as they see fit, communion service is once a quarter or once a month and it is only a symbol and baptism is only a symbol too and does nothing for you.

The Watering down of the Gospel and of Worship continues. Today, emergent churches like Hillsong have substituted Churches for auditoriums,communal pews for independant chairs, Altars for stages, songs solely praising God for songs praising God, self, ability, prosperity, health, etc. They have turned authentic Christian worship into a spectacle or a show.

Where celebrating the Eucharist was the summit of all Chrisitan worship has now been replaced by charismatic preachers who can keep them coming in the door. Now it is about selling Christianity rather than evangelizing.

WATERING DOWN OF CHRISTIANITY.less

Nothing like watering down worship and the gospel. I've seen Hillsong on TV and it is a show, it is entertainment and it is all about me instead of it being about Christ. Is it better that these young adults being doing this than something else? Yes, but at what cost to true Christianity?

I'm with the Bishops!

By Baptism we all are made into a royal priesthood, but some of us are called to full ordained ministry as a Priest. The average baptised person does have the saving grace of Christ in them, but depending on where they are in their walk with Christ may not be able to handle a minor demon. While on the other hand, minor demons can be exorcised by an average person if that person is holy and in God'...more

By Baptism we all are made into a royal priesthood, but some of us are called to full ordained ministry as a Priest. The average baptised person does have the saving grace of Christ in them, but depending on where they are in their walk with Christ may not be able to handle a minor demon. While on the other hand, minor demons can be exorcised by an average person if that person is holy and in God's will with strong faith. Only a Catholic or Orthodox priest with apostolic authority has the power to dispel major demons. The Rite in itself is a path to holiness rather than just a specific set of rules. These rules of exorcism have been handed down from the Apostles and over time the specifics were finally written down.

A Priest who has the authority by his bishop to expel Major demons does the following each day; celebrates Mass, prays on average 3 hours per day, reads and prays over scripture for 2 hours and spends time in front of the Blessed Sacrament and receives confession many times during the week. This type of Green Beret style holiness training makes a man ready to combat a truly Major demon.

I've read a lot on this topic, and I can tell you there isn't one person on this board who would want to encounter a Major Demon. A Major Demon makes the movie the Exorcist look like child's play. Only those who are fully prepared and one with God's will can take on such a demon. The Apostles were able to take on Major demons because they were Holy and had God's direct authority. Minor demons can be expelled by the average baptised person, but they will be the first to tell you that they would never want to go against a Major demon ever.

If you don't know the difference between a major and minor demon, then do your research. With one you could stand your ground and say in the name of Jesus, and with the other you would have wished you had not entered their company....run run while saying Jesus' name and get a Catholic Priest ASAP.

Even in the south of the US, many true demon possessed people are referred to Catholic Priests from Pentecostal and Baptist churches because they just don't have the authority to expel a major demon and they know it.less

Anyone interested to know how "Under God" got put into the pledge in 1951? http://st-raymond-dublin.org/kc/undergod.shtml Answer: The Knights of Columbus, a Catholic fraternal organization.

Unfortunately, he will learn from you an error that he is saved by Faith alone which may send him to HeII. While we all sin, it is our intention to repent and be saved. Without a heart of repentence and the WORK to show it, you have no faith that will save you. Only by Grace you will be saved through faith WORKING in love. Faith, hope and love all work together. Faith alone is useless since even ...more

Unfortunately, he will learn from you an error that he is saved by Faith alone which may send him to HeII. While we all sin, it is our intention to repent and be saved. Without a heart of repentence and the WORK to show it, you have no faith that will save you. Only by Grace you will be saved through faith WORKING in love.
Faith, hope and love all work together. Faith alone is useless since even the devil believes in Jesus. 80% of all Christians believe that you can lose your salvation and those same 80% believe that your works will be judged.

I will pray for him to come home and for you as well.less

Praise the Lord, these Anglicans have accepted the fullness of Truth. YEAH HOLY SPRITI! Another victory for God! Being a Reformed Minister for many years, I am so happy for these Priests to make the swim across the Tiber as I did. Anglicans are much closer to Catholic belief than us Reformed were, but I made the arduous trip of Truth and found out I needed to be Catholic. What a shock! Today,...more

Praise the Lord, these Anglicans have accepted the fullness of Truth. YEAH HOLY SPRITI!
Another victory for God!

Being a Reformed Minister for many years, I am so happy for these Priests to make the swim across the Tiber as I did. Anglicans are much closer to Catholic belief than us Reformed were, but I made the arduous trip of Truth and found out I needed to be Catholic. What a shock! Today, all my family is now Catholic by the Grace of God.

I look forward to the reunion of Anglicans coming home to the Catholic Church as well as many Lutherans too. Right now, the Orthodox Churches representing the second largest body of Christians in the World are working day and night with Catholics to overcome our disunity with each other and forge ahead with Christ prayer for unity.
The saddest division in Christianity is that between Catholics and Orthodox. May the East and West be one again, and may this sign of unity of the two eldest apostolic churches be a sign of blessing to the many sepparated Protestants and Evangelicals to come home.

May God receive all the Glory!less

I met President Bush on his second run for President here in Seattle's suburb of Bellevue at a fundraising dinner. He was not the best President we ever had nor was he the worst. I think he did what he thought was best and only later will be really able to judge him. One thing I can tell you for certain is that he is an extremely likeable guy. I had a great one on one conversation with him abou...more

I met President Bush on his second run for President here in Seattle's suburb of Bellevue at a fundraising dinner. He was not the best President we ever had nor was he the worst. I think he did what he thought was best and only later will be really able to judge him.

One thing I can tell you for certain is that he is an extremely likeable guy. I had a great one on one conversation with him about my conversion from Reformed Ministry to the Catholic Church and he said how many in his family were either converting to Catholicism or were considering it. He was extremely fond of the Catholic Church's stance on pro-life, marriage and many other issues. It was wonderful to have almost 10 minutes to talk to him without interuption.

He is truly a wonderful man who has a heart for Christ.less

For all those who don't have a logic background, read my post three times then rest a bit. Then read it again, go get your bible and see if my posts are all correct and formed in logic. So, as not to illuminate any more misinformation that you believe incorrectly, DO YOUR HOMEWORK. I am not interested in your own personal interpretation since scripture says NO PROPHESY OF SCRIPTURE IS OPEN TO P...more

For all those who don't have a logic background, read my post three times then rest a bit. Then read it again, go get your bible and see if my posts are all correct and formed in logic. So, as not to illuminate any more misinformation that you believe incorrectly, DO YOUR HOMEWORK.

I am not interested in your own personal interpretation since scripture says NO PROPHESY OF SCRIPTURE IS OPEN TO PERSONAL INTERPRETATION. My opinion is 100% what the Catholic Church teaches and therefore lead into all Truth, since this gift was given to my church alone.

Lastly, every Christian church today Protestants included have their basis of faith because of the Catholic Church. It was our councils, like the first in Jerusalem where the faith was defined. The Trinity is not explicit in scripture, nor was the dual natures of Christ, or the incarnation but we defined it and it is so. We also after 400 years defined what is Scripture and what is not. It is the Catholic Church's authority by Jesus to the Apostles where we are laid on solid rock.

When all the heresies came up; Arians, Donatists, Monophysytes, etc, who preserved true Christianity? The Catholic Church. The Bible is a product of the Catholic Church. Now with the dead sea scrolls we see Luther was wrong in throwing out the 7 deutero-canonical books, since now 5 of them have been found to be in Hebrew and the other two found in an earlier form of Aramaic. Sorry Luther.

The Catholic Church, founded personally by Christ will never fall into error nor will it ever fail. If you believe it has, then you don't believe Christ words where He tells His Church the gates of HeII shall never prevail against it and it will be lead into all truth and whoever hears you hears me. It is the only church with history dating to the Apostles. So, either Christ is God and keeps His promises or He is not God. It doesn't mean his church will be perfect, in fact their will be traitors to the faith like Judas, 12 Popes, Luther, Calvin, Henry 8th, etc. The True Church of Christ is the Catholic Church and no other group can lay claim to this fact, since they do not have apostolic succession or the fullness of the Sacraments.less

Jesus is the only Mediator(something we taught a one thousand five hundred years before evangelicals), but we Saints are all intercessors. Saint Paul tells us to offer prayers for one another does he not?Rom 15:30, Col 4:3; 1Thes 5:25, 2 Thes 1:11, 2 Thes 3:1, Eph 6:18-19 Why do Evangelicals ask(pray) their friends to pray for them if Jesus is the only Mediator? Because, a prayer of a righteous...more

Jesus is the only Mediator(something we taught a one thousand five hundred years before evangelicals), but we Saints are all intercessors. Saint Paul tells us to offer prayers for one another does he not?Rom 15:30, Col 4:3; 1Thes 5:25, 2 Thes 1:11, 2 Thes 3:1, Eph 6:18-19

Why do Evangelicals ask(pray) their friends to pray for them if Jesus is the only Mediator? Because, a prayer of a righteous person avails much and we are all called to intercede for one another are we not?

For the word PRAY has two meanings and it is an ancient word and is not an english word in origin, but maybe you don't know that. It means to request, but also means to worship. Two sepparate meanings that a sophisticated person would understand or at least research. You can only Trust the Word of God because God gave the Catholic Church the authority to write it and define what books belong in it. 1Tim 3:15 "The Church is the pillar and bulwark of Truth. God gave his church authority 400 years before there was a bible. The Church will never do anything contrary to scripture because it is our book and God gave the Holy Spirit to this Catholic Church to define the Christian faith, which it infallibly did; like the Trinity, incarnation, Virgin Birth, two natures of Christ, etc, etc.

After Seminary and 20+ years of being a Pastor and attaining 2 masters degrees and recently a PhD, I can tell you that you have no clue what the Catholic Church teaches, but rather you are a shining example of poor catechesis. Saying something like, "If it isn't in the bible it isn't true" truly gives a glimpse to your education level and illuminates why I am not surprised you left. For it is easy to gain the attention of someone who doesn't know something.

Does scripture say the dead in Christ can hear us? How about when Jesus speaks to Elijah and Moses? Or how about Hebrews 12:1 "we are surounded by a cloud of Witnesses or in Rev 6:9-11 where the martyrs(this means dead people in Christ) under the altar want earthly vindication or Rev 20:4 where we see the souls of the beheaded or how about in Rev 5:8 our prayers being given by angels. Luke 16:19-30 where the Rich man tries to interceded for his brothers.(even the damned want to intercede but only God listens to the faithful departed)

We clearly see in scripture that those in Heaven are aware of us and in fact offer bowlfuls of prayers of the faithful with the angels to God. . Death cannot sepparate the body of Christ, for we are one body in Christ. A prayer of a righteous person avails much, so the prayers of the Saints in Heaven are far stronger than those Saints on Earth.less