tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9198191510592777321.post3284526095227956268..comments2023-09-18T05:46:59.633-07:00Comments on The Benedictine Lutheran: Patterns (Monday Morning in the Desert)Jayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00506485333743516883noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9198191510592777321.post-88044203656394627272014-11-21T16:59:51.843-08:002014-11-21T16:59:51.843-08:00Paul, thanks for responding. The Catholic Church ...Paul, thanks for responding. The Catholic Church has had countless millions of members in 2,000 years. Each one of us has an opinion. Martin Luther had an opinion. That is not the point. It is the Magisterium, together with the entire Church, that decides Doctrine.<br /><br />What is the alternative? Well, for example, the Assemblies of the ELCA -- quota-based and democratic.<br />Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14830527089157124908noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9198191510592777321.post-77635068006382530732014-11-20T18:36:26.333-08:002014-11-20T18:36:26.333-08:00Kathy, there are many Church Fathers who disagree ...Kathy, there are many Church Fathers who disagree with such a reading of the text. Check out the link.<br /><br />http://www.tdaviddemarest.com/2013/06/08/the-church-fathers-interpretation-of-the-rock-of-matthew-1618-an-historical-refutation-of-the-claims-of-roman-catholicism/Paulhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11411185552998416865noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9198191510592777321.post-18038363591168353402014-07-19T13:01:42.307-07:002014-07-19T13:01:42.307-07:00Good post. True -- we are all different. My ques...Good post. True -- we are all different. My question: Is it possible to have Unity and Diversity in the Church? If it is possible, how can this be achieved in practical terms?<br /> <br />Diversity within Unity. In the Catholic Church there are diverse religious orders: Benedictines, Jesuits, Franciscans; there are Liberals and Conservatives; but they are all in unity within the Church under the Unity of Peter.<br /> <br />As I see it, the only way Unity can be achieved in the Church is to follow a plain-meaning reading of Mt 16:18 and allow Peter to be the Rock of Unity. Anyone who may think "Peter" is in error can dissent and work for reform within the Church, as the Saints did. As always, on another level, Christ is the Unity of All Christians.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14830527089157124908noreply@blogger.com