When I type fsat...

Submitted by LDC (United States), Jul 11, 2006 at 18:12

...I make mistakes. Sorry. I'll slow down to Ecclesiastical and Caesar. I once watched a now deceased friend of mine, a world-class New Testament scholar, quickly write "resurrection" on the black board. He went on to edit the most recent one volume, Roman Catholic commentary on the Bible that was initially printed in five languages. He personally handed the original proof to the Pope. Ecclesiastical stuff. Now to your comments:

"Presumably Pope Pius was intelligent enough to realise that even if he were to make such a futile gesture..." Martyrdom on behalf of those suffering at the hands of the Nazis would not have been a "futile gesture," sir. It would have been clearly seen as a completely holy and selfless act , committed by a thoroughly Saintly man. And, I believe it would have echoed down the ages as a witness of the Faith in the tradition of Justin Martyr. The characterization of "futile" is aligned with the bureaucratic side of an ecclesiastical (lay, clergy, or neither) mindset. where decisions are guided by the pragmatic, political approach, where options are carefully weighted in the balance as to what's best for the organization. It is what brings creeping irrelevance to the church--whatever its flavor.

You write, "Let nobody forget that Nazism was born a geographical 'stone's throw' away from the birthplace of Protestantism and that Martin Luther had no little influence on Mr Hitler - considerably more than a Catholic Pope, in fact." I make no case for defending German Lutherans in Nazi Germany. It's been a while since I've read on the topic, but I seem to recall (perhaps incorrectly) that post-WWII German Lutherans were more forthcoming in their confessions of culpability for Nazi atrocities than were Roman Catholics. But I very will may not remember correctly.

You (or is it Albert?) state, "That said, I see little point in any form of organised religion. My belief is that priests, vicars, and pastors lost their relevance as soon as the Bible was translated from Latin into English. But their are millions of suckers out there that are ready to fall for a little 'after-life' insurance." I take these as your words, and not Albert's. In any regard, I am not unsympathic with the expressed sentiment. Had he seen the detailed future of the church from the cross, His last words might have said, "Oh never mind."

"The Catholic church serves as a monolithic symbol. Protestantism? How many denominations are there, exactly?" Too many in that inept herd, to answer your question. I apologize for any speling errors. And have enjoyed the exchange.

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