(Trolls: Off topic or offensive remarks will be deleted. If you don't like it, GET YOUR OWN BLOG)
Just to show you that I am not all seriousness 100% of the time, I looked at that photo and thought "The Pope went to meet Santa Claus?"
Well, I've finally made it over to your site, after having seen you as a frequent commenter over at Seth's.
I am encouraged that the Pope during his trip to Turkey has continued to evidence a consistent direction forward towards strengthening and renewing the Catholic Church, seeking to reclaim Europe as well as looking to the new peoples the "South" coming to Christ.
I would also like to direct readers to the original source of Josh Trevino's article that you've quoted from, Pope and Patriarch. This site has other excellent articles, including a historical review of the Orthodox-Catholic Schism.
They say every dark cloud has a silver lining. Well, maybe the dark cloud known as Islam has a silver lining after all-ending the schism in the Church. That would be something to see happen. Nobody ever expected the Soviet Union to collapse and die relatively peacefully so this too might just come to pass.
OMG atheling. This gave me goosebumps. Thank you for writing this up so beautifully. The Pope perceives the problem.
I am glad that the Pope is out of Turkey. I will pray for that guy (okay - not 'that guy' - I mean the Patriarch...) whose job it is to remain and lead the worship in the shadow of the maniacs.
(PS - Mike, you're so bad! LOL!)
What? The Pope eats Turkey - oh, went to Turkey. Whew. I'm a real Ham. (trying to get both Christmas foods into this one) - it is the Vatican's goal to unite all faiths. Proof is on their website. Pray for the Church - pray for revival. Perhaps this will help with the front on Islam. Perhaps.
Mike:
LOL! You booger! Now I can't look at that photo without laughing!
civiltruth:
Funny when you brought up that website, I had been looking at it! I've added to my blogroll. Thanks for the visit. We should all pray for Europe to turn back to her heritage.
Islamsforlosers:
Indeed, we do hope for some positive outcome. The best would be to see Islamism reformed and come to union with Christianity and accept Christ as their Saviour!
Monica:
You're right, we need to pray for the Patriarch and the folks there. In fact, we should be praying for all oppressed people of faith in the world. We are so fortunate that we have freedom of religion in America!
Doug:
Indeed, it is the Church's goal to unite all with Christ our Saviour. If Muslims converted, wouldn't that be wonderful? I think when the Pope prayed in the Mosque, that is what he prayed for!
You turkey! LOL!
The Pope sure has his hands full, and I can't see him ever uniting christians and muslims. They have only one desire, which is in their teachings, and that's domination.
I wish that the Catholic Church in America would recognize the need to continue offering a Catholic education. So many parish schools around me have been closing. It's a shame and also a shame that the hierarchy won't support the struggling parishes so that they can continue to offer a Catholic education throughout America.
It is... SANTA!!!
Monica,
I hear ya! I came from a Catholic School.
ABF:
You're right. I can't see the Pope converting Muslims to Christianity either, but he (and we) must try. It's up to God to "convert" them.
Monica:
The parishes must sustain themselves. Money doesn't come from the Vatican. It comes from the parishioners. If there is no money, then that means that parishioners are not tithing, dwindling membership, and lawsuits from corrupt priests and scandal.
dcat:
Yeah, Mike is right, it DOES look like the Pope and Santa!
Recalling Europe to its Christian Heritage is an uphill battle but like you said we must try.
I'm afraid I agree with Ab; the Pope has a very difficult task and it doesn't look promising, but I also agree with you in that it is up to God to convert them. From what I've read, evan at the risk of death many people in Iran are converting to Christianity. But private citizens are one thing; islamofascists quite another.
Blessings.
LMC:
Maybe Europe will wake up and retake their country and their heritage. I hope so. If not, the outlook for the entire world looks gloomy.
Gayle:
Well, yes, I personally don't see Muslims converting, but there are miracles to hope for. Remember the conversion of St. Paul?
Atheling2 --
I agree with Monica-Philadelphia, this post was beautifully done.
Given the extent to which Europe has turned away from religion -- precisely the way our liberals are attempting to accomplish the same here (funny, here we are, the world leader in every way, and our own left is trying to induce us to be followers of the EU) -- the Pope has imposed a superhuman task upon himself, and G-d bless him for it.
I believe that the one thing he has going in his favor is that Catholics seem to remain true to their faith in much higher frequency than many other Christian sects, and the very existence of the Pontiff provides a central human figure (rallying point?) that other western religions don't have.
With this loyal constituency "put to work", as it were, and the influence of his own force of charactar (this one's got lots of that) he may well be the last chance Europe has to return to its belief in G-d ... Before they allow Islam to root itself too deeply on that oblivious continent.
Your reply to M-F's comment was spot on, by the way; I grew up with a number of children who went to Catholic parochial schools, and all of those with whom I've had or remained in contact with over the years, without exception, grew up to lead good and successful lives.
Why they have been closing so many of them is beyond me. Perhaps the Vatican does need to apply more assets to its U.S. Catholic constituency.
Mike --
I thought that was Jerry Garcia!
I wear diapers.
Edited By Siteowner
Great piece.
Seth,
You've hit the nail on the head regarding the need for a central figure in Christianity. The Pope is a unifying figure, and very necessary. "The buck stops here."
The Vatican doesn't really have a lot of assets besides its artwork and other treasures of civilizations (i.e. the Vatican Library and museums). I would hate to see them sell that to sustain the parishes. The parishes must sustain themselves. It'd be like asking the government to subsidize them.
I'm still busting up over Santa and the Pope.
Commenting by HaloScan
