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The Goddess & the Pedophiles
Ryan writes: MARY WAS NOT THE ONLY WOMAN BLESSED In Judges 5:24 we read, "Blessed above women shall Jael the wife of Heber the Kenite be, blessed shall she be above women in the tent." Then in Luke 1:28 we read about Mary, "And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women." Notice here that Mary was only blessed AMONG women, not above them. Why then do Catholics not worship and pray to Jael? She was blessed ABOVE women, and should be considered an important idol in the Catholic church. It would be better if anyone that wants to be saved would do what the Bible requires and truly repent of (confess and forsake) their sins, thus leaving the wicked, soul-damning cult of Roman Catholicism. Then you could worship the Living Lord of the Universe, and not a mere creature like Mary (Romans 1:25). Andrew responds: The Catholic Church does not deny that God had blessed other holy women. The singular favor of Mary is that she is graced to be the mother of the Savior. This is part of the message of the Annunciation in Luke that you quote. She comes at the end of a long line of heroic and prophetic women in Israel. You are correct that she should be seen in this light, and not as an object of idolatry. The image of Our Lady of Guadalupe, posted at your web site, is considered a religious icon (using symbolic and pictorial language) to transmit meaning. This image would be influential in ending the holocaust of human sacrifice in Mexico and lead to the conversion and faith of millions of Indians. Notice that she blocks the sun (a false deity) and the stars adorn her cloak. The pagan gods were thus understood as nothing compared to that of Christians. Mary is not imaged as the deity, but we are drawn to the unseen Christ in her womb. The image is that of a pregnant Mary. Sometimes Mary is understood as a figure for the Church that needs to give birth to Christ-- witness to him and his saving presence-- all over the world and in every generation. This message was doubly potent in that they sacrificed their young in pagan worship. The child of Mary was immediately associated with the Gospel of Life. It is for this reason that Mexico still outlaws abortion. The honor that is given Mary is immediately dependent upon the greater honor, AND TRUE WORSHIP, that must be given to God alone. After all, Mary is a creature. Jesus is God made man. The center of gravity must always turn towards him. Your view of Mariology does not seem to reflect Catholic teaching. Yes, we love Mary, because she was the mother of our Lord. But every Catholic must hold that Jesus is our Savior and Mediator to the Father. The Catholic Church also teaches that we must repent of our sins and place a true and living faith in Jesus Christ. Jesus is the name that saves. Ryan writes: DOES MARY HAVE SPECIAL ACCESS TO JESUS? The Roman Catholic Church and many Roman Catholics claim that Mary has special access to Jesus that no others can have. She has this supposed special access because she gave birth to the Son of God. Thus, she is the Catholic's co-redemptrix (co-redeemer). Yet, the Lord Jesus Himself revealed that Mary has no greater access to Him than anyone else who does the will of God. The Scriptures saith, Mark 3:31-35 (31) There came then his brethren and his mother, and, standing without, sent unto him, calling him. (32) And the multitude sat about him, and they said unto him, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren without seek for thee. (33) And he answered them, saying, Who is my mother, or my brethren? (34) And he looked round about on them which sat about him, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren! (35) For whosoever shall do the will of God, the same is my brother, and my sister, and mother. This thoroughly destroys the tradition of devils and men that the Roman Catholic Church has dreamed up about Mary having some supposed special access to Jesus. You can only go to Jesus by going directly to Him! Not through a saint or your pagan goddess "The Queen of Heaven" that you call "Mary." You also can only get to God the Father through Jesus alone (John 14:6; 1 Timothy 2:5). Andrew responds: Does Mary have special access to Jesus? Catholics do believe that the mother-son relationship remains as a hallmark of the incarnation. However, there can be no competition with the will of Christ. Sometimes various devotions, not all approved by the Church, have blurred this fact. For instance, Mary does not literally hold back the vengeful arm of her Son. The very definition of a saint, of holiness itself, implies putting on the mind of Christ. What Jesus wants, Mary wants. All prayer is properly directed to God, even Marian orations find their object in the Lord. The role of Mary emerges in Catholicism as a safeguard to the identity of Christ and as a sign of our unity with Jesus in the family of faith. Each of us is called into a saving relationship with Christ and that necessarily binds us with Mary and all others who are true disciples of the Lord. We pray with each other and for each other. We are one in the Lord. The technical term "co-redemptrix" is not the same as the word co-redeemer. Your assumption otherwise is false. Jesus is the Redeemer. Even Mary calls God her Savior. The cross and resurrection of Jesus is the saving mystery for us all. Even Mary does not save herself. At the price of his mortal life, Jesus alone buys us back from the devil. The term "co-redemptrix" has not been defined as Catholic teaching and recently the Congregation for the Faith said it had not intention of doing so. Why? It is because the term is too easily confused with the singular redemptive work of Christ. Pressed to give a definition, it simply refers to Mary's special solidarity with Christ on the cross. She is a mere creature, but she will hold the crucified Savior in her arms and cry tears for her Son who suffered so much. And yet, the same woman who said yes to God at the Annunciation did not, herself, run away from the cross. She cradles in her arms, no longer her infant Son, but our crucified Lord. This role she plays is singular. She offered the world, through the intervention of God, its Savior-- both in Bethlehem and at Calvary. We imitate Christ. He had a special love for her. Thus, we do so as well. If we have been made into new Christ's, in other words, given a share in divine life, then she also sees something of her Son in us. Mark 3:31-35 offers no direct insult to Mary. When he is told that Mary and his brethren are looking for him, he is merely saying that his current listeners also have a right to his presence-- that they are ALSO (not instead of) his brothers and sisters-- his family. Mary and the family are not excluded. Before Mary gave birth to Jesus in the flesh, she was already kin to Christ in the spirit. The Church speaks of her as his first disciple. She is a simple woman, loving her Son, maybe anguishing early on in her mother's heart over what her Son must endure. Ryan writes: THE BLESSED MOTHER MARY? The pagan church, the Roman Catholic Church, has exalted Mary, Jesus' mother, unto a place of a goddess or semi-deity. They call her the Queen of Heaven in the face of the Scriptures clearly showing the Queen of Heaven to be a pagan goddess (Jeremiah 7:18; 44:17-19, 25). They assume that she is blessed above all people and has special access to Jesus. Yet, when the Bible is examined we find that Jesus destroys the idol "Mary" and reveals that the true Mary, the humble, human Mary of the Bible is no greater than anyone else that believes on the Lord Jesus Christ. This is clearly seen in the Scripture below. Luke 11:27-28 (KJV) (27) And it came to pass, as he spake these things, a certain woman of the company lifted up her voice, and said unto him, Blessed is the womb that bare thee, and the paps which thou hast sucked. (28) But he said, Yea rather, blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it. Andrew responds: Similar to a previous citation, Luke 11:27-28 raises spiritual kinship of Christ over any physical relation. The importance of God entering the human family is not denounced. Rather, the kinship of faith is seen as more crucial. Mary heard the Word of God from an angels' lips and responded on behalf of her Jewish nation and all of us besides. Her FIAT allows the Word of God to take flesh in her. She humbly cooperates with God's almighty power. She is not excluded in Jesus' words about keeping his word. Is Mary a queen? Such can be argued only because her Son is our heavenly king. It does not imply that she has any divine power proper to herself. The English call the mother of the king, the Queen Mother. The honor is more to her son than upon herself. Strip away his glory, and she is nothing. Such is the case with Jesus and Mary. Her Son's brilliance is reflected off of his mother-- and us besides-- if we hear the Word and keep it. We are invited to become a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people set apart. May we all find ourselves firmly aligned with the kingdom of God. Ryan writes: IS "CATHOLIC PRIEST" ANOTHER WAY OF SAYING "PEDOPHILE?" OR "SEXUAL ABUSER?" The Roman Catholic Church is famous for its murders, rapes, attempted destruction of the Bible, and many other wicked acts. In modern times their ministers have been exposed to be mostly pedophiles, sexual predators, and child pornographers. The Roman Church's response and defense of these pedophiles and sexual abusers is appalling to anyone, Catholic and non-Catholic. If my church responded like that I would know that they were backslidden to hell and would avoid them at all costs. The God of the Bible and His people DO NOT make excuses for people who rape, murder, molest, commit adultery, and do all manner of wickedness. God and His people are united 100% against such wickedness and they rebuke it in anyone that it is found, not just in non-Catholic's like the Catholic Church does. Any fair minded Catholic that is truly seeking God will look at the list below and realize that they need to obey the following Scriptures which say, 2 Corinthians 6:14-18 (14) Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? (15) And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? (16) And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. (17) Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, (18) And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty. Revelation 18:4-5 (4) And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues. (5) For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities. Look at the long list of pedophiles and sexual abusers (or supposedly accused?!) that are called ministers in the Roman Catholic False Church: (list not included) Andrew responds: It is not possible to respond to the general charge you make against Catholicism in its overall history. I can only say, that along with the rest of the world, she has had her sinners and her saints. The priesthood is no different. In days past the issue of pedophilia was treated as a violation of discipline that might be corrected. We now know that such an understanding was naïve. We know more today about psychology and the clinical nature of such a problem. Having said this, the Church has always taught that perverse sexual acts, indeed, any genital activity outside of marriage was seriously wrong and sinful. Yes, the violations against children, fornication, homosexuality, adultery, etc. are all serious wrongs condemned by God. The Church teaches this as well. The fact that some clergy have scandalized does not eradicate the truth taught by the Catholic faith. Indeed, anyone (clergy included) who commits foul deeds of this sort has sinned grievously. This, no decent person can deny. But not all priests are sex criminals. I have known many priests, faithful to the Gospel and to their promise of chaste love. They follow the admonition of St. Paul as well as the example of Christ. You wrong them and their sacrifices for God and his people. I, myself, have surrendered my life to God as his servant. Have I known priests who failed? Yes, I even know one who failed on your list, Fr. Brett. He was an incredible preacher and was accomplished in Scripture study. But, he was personally very flawed. We did not know how much so until we saw the terrible news in the papers. The Church sought to heal the harmed families with restitution and pastoral care. It was a difficult, dare I say an impossible task, and yet the Church had to try. Lost innocence and betrayed trust are hurts that fester, resisting any healing. The Church has also had to respond to the priests. Men have gone to prison as well as to special institutions that treat such disorders. Many will remain there for the rest of their lives. And yet, Christ would want the Church to offer them reconciliation and healing, too. Many of these sick men have seemed to offer genuine repentance and have sought forgiveness. If Christ can forgive them, should we not try? They will never function as priests again, but can they not yet be saved? I believe so. Ryan writes: AND THE LIST GOES ON AND ON . . . In the vast majority of these case the branch of the Roman Catholic Church that allowed the pedophiles to do their molesting and the pedophiles themselves were being sued or investigated. Why would anyone want to take their children to a Church of pedophiles and sexual predators? Would you want your son or daughter to have some counseling time with one of these sicko priests? These priests molesting ways can be attributed to their lack of salvation and true religion and to the Catholic Church's godless teaching on celibacy for the priest (Cp. 1 Timothy 4:1-3). This causes those men that burn with lust not to be able to marry (Cp. 2 Corinthians 7:8-9) and leaves the door open for the devil's temptation. Also, with the Catholic Church holding to celibacy for the priest, it is a welcome mat for the sodomite and child molester, because then their lack of marriage is not questioned. Thus, they have a covering for their sodomite ways in the Catholic Church. This is all helped by having other sodomites in high positions in the Catholic Church so that the Catholic Church just moves them around until they go to prison or are sued. Your children would be safer with Mormons, Jehovah Witnesses, most Satanists, and rank pagans, than to be with the pedophiles and sexual abusers... err, I mean Catholic priests. Andrew responds: It is correct that when a priest commits misdeeds, the Church finds itself in litigation. However, this has to do with the canonical role of the priest and his relationship to the bishop and the diocese as a whole. Corporations can find themselves in similar circumstances. You are quite wrong that the mandate for celibacy is the root cause of the problem. Statistics show that Protestant ministers (most of whom are married) have a slightly higher incidence-- often in the tragic form of incest. Such is also the case nationwide and even women are not exempt. The reason why Catholic priests are so often in the news and ministers and rabbis are not is because the Church is because she expects more from her vocations and is such a consistent voice against sexual sin. Indeed, such would also include the evil of contraception (a handmaid to fornication and abortion) and widespread divorce (nothing more than serial polygamy). The Church preaches the Gospel. When her ministers fail the hypocrisy and scandal is big news. The fact that most priests are faithful to their promises, help the poor, preach the Good News, and love as Christ loves-- is often brushed aside. But that is okay. We do what we do not for money or human acclaim, but because we have been summoned by Christ. We may sometimes be poor instruments, but we are wholly his. Coincidentally, only Roman Catholics have mandated celibacy. Eastern Catholic priests, fully part of the Church and in union with the Pope, have optional celibacy. Indeed, I have a friend who is a married priest, in good standing, in the Catholic Church. And yes, he has kids, too. Ryan writes: An Interesting Tale of the Eucharist (Anti-Catholic poem not recounted here.) Andrew responds: I have read it before. Beyond the mockery is the sad fact that the maid sought to poison the priest. As for the arsenic, the Congregation for Worship and Sacrament has spelled out that any additive makes the sacrament dubious. Further, the change in the bread and wine at Mass into the body and blood of Christ is a sacramental mystery, not a coarse form of cannibalism. It is not the dead Christ, but Jesus risen that is made present, whole and complete. We see the Eucharist as the renewal of the new covenant. The poem fails because it is a miracle that is presumptuous of faith. Crudely understood, it could hardly prevail against a hardened bigotry. In any case, the Church respects that some people, in good conscience, may not believe as we do. However, we still pray and love our Protestant brethren.
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