Don't have an anti-Catholic bone in my body Bob, no worries there. Don't jump fall into the trap that says that we must agree with Catholic doctrine or we are anti-Catholic. It simply isn't so.
One of my sons in the faith is devoutly Catholic, I do not discourage him in any way because I know also that he is firmly in the Lord's hand. We have been on many snowmobiling trips together, when we are away for the weekend we alternate, I go with him to mass on one week and he will go with me on another. I do not take communion with them because I believe that it is idolatry, realizing that it would be nothing for me, yet I decline lest I convey that idolatry is ok. This doesn't push his buttons, it surely shouldn't push yours.
I am pretty good friends with a few priests and I would not hesitate to have this conversation with them. It isn't like we don't already know that we have differences here. I have a cousin who is a brother and I have a couple of cousins who are nuns, I've even sung at mass a few times. On one occasion I had sung "O What a Savior" the priest remarked how he wished that I was on his team. I asked him if he knew of a fellow named St. Paul, then I repeated the story of
1 Corinthians 1. To which he replied, "you have me there!"
Anti Catholic? Nope not me, you have the wrong guy. Do I agree with all of their doctrine? Well of course not silly, otherwise I would be Catholic wouldn't I?
Over the top? I don't think so. Could we discuss this rationally, is that possible?
I am saying that should one consider a man made object to be God, it is necessarily idolatry. And while there may be other more subtil forms, this one is definition #1.
Originally Posted by Jim Chabot
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