There are advantages to EWTN. Some of the commentators know Latin. :)

Lights! We have lights! No clue who the Pope is going to be. I would love Burke. But probably no chance there. Whoever it is -- Habemus Papam! Deo Gratias!

Hurray! I can't wait to see him.

Not a fan. I am not ashamed of them by any means, but I don't need to be strictly defined by them either. I think it will end with some stereotyping and disregarding of people solely based on their affiliations. And some people will be reluctant to join social groups like the religious searching ones because they don't want the whole board automatically knowing they have questions. I know the groups were open to being read by non-members, but it was not being advertised publicly that you joined one. My 2 cents anyhow.

http://www.catholic....discipline-7956 http://www.catholic....anathema-becaus http://www.newadvent...then/01455e.htm http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/05089a.htm

You really think a blog by the teaching fellowship of R.C. Sproul is an impartial source? The people involved seem to want to talk people out of coming into communion with the Church. They have an agenda. It is not some great discussion with open sharing. It is a bunch of articles pointing out all the "flaws" of the Church with absolutely no source references and all their interpretations and opinions. I can't even go back and check where they get their "information." So I agree with Chucki. It is a blog set up to give their opinions on a Church they don't understand, with no attempt to give accurate information or accurately understand what they talk about. It is a one-sided diatribe on why you don't want to be Catholic.

I can't find anything post-1962 on semper idem. Which is why it is SO important to check your sources when looking for information on the internet. There is so much bad information out there. The Catholic Church has an official guide in the CCC that explains what we believe. It is not some big secret.

You are going to have to explain further the "claim of semper idem," since it is not something any of us are finding in any official Catholic sources. And the Church has NOT changed its stance on justification either. Dogma does not change. Practices can change, but official dogma will not and does not. No Pope has the power to change dogma.

The Hive can't manage a civil conversation about K-cups or crockpots, let alone anything important. How about a civil conversation on gay marriage? Or obesity? Or abortion? Or politics? Oh wait ... That is against board rules.

I am mourning the loss, and I am at zero tolerance for Catholic bashing right now. I know the Holy Spirit is at work, and we will soon have a new Pope. But I will feel more settled when we see that white smoke.

Absolutely. Discussed to death on more than one thread and social group. So tired of the Catholic bashing. We know people don't like the Pope. Or the Church. Or lots of other things. If you hate us, it really is ok to keep those tidbits to yourself now instead of further schooling us. Bring on the kilts and cupcakes.

Confession time about confession: I always forget the Act of Contrition. It is a combination of nerves and having to memorize different versions with each kid for theirs. ;). I try to carry a card with it on there now. Or I have to make one up on the spot. And I have been doing this pretty regularly for 17 years now. But Reconciliation leaves me with such peace. It is such amazing thing to confess, get counsel, and actually hear you are forgiven. And it helps me to be accountable.

And it is a little different if we are discussing Catholics. If you tell me that Catholics worship Mary and you know this because your neighbor (friend, aunt, lady at Walmart) Susie (who self-identifies as Catholic) says so, I can completely and authoritatively tell you the Catholic Church does not teach that. We have an official book, the Catechism of the Catholic Church, that explains what we teach and what all Catholics are called to believe. If Susie worships Mary, she has seriously misunderstood the Church on that and is speaking only for Susie. And I can show you in print exactly what it is the Church does teach about that. If you are, for example, non-denominational, you can't really do the same thing. You can say that you don't believe X and that your local church that you attend does not teach X. And I will completely believe you. But you can't really say that non-denominational churches don't believe or teach X, because each pretty much decides that on its own. That does mean we should use that as an excuse to misunderstand or misrepresent each other. And if you tell me that you don't believe whatever it is we are talking about, I will completely take you at your word. And if you say you are Christian, I will take you at your word on that too. But I think that is a large part of how people end up defensive about it. And religion and beliefs are a very personal thing, after all.

Trying to have this conversation is like trying to nail jello to the wall. If you try to be specific and label groups, you will immediately get people who identify as that group piping in to explain thatbtheir church does not teach whatever it is you are discussing. And they are right. But who can survey all the 33,000 groups and however many churches to be accurate about it? If I say, when I was Baptist, the churches I went to taught and believed X, people still jump in to disagree. Or accuse me of misrepresenting them, even if all I am doing is descrbing what I believed when I self-identified as that. If I try to be less specific and just try to discuss the doctrine, it still falls apart because there are fundamental differences in how we define things and we cannot agree on terms without people getting defensive and accusing whoever is trying to have the conversation of slandering them. Sola Scriptura can mean several different things depending on who you ask, for example. But just try to discuss it, and people get nasty, accusing you of tarring their beliefs if you want to talk about one subset and they belong to another. Here, there is no way to approach it without people assuming the absolute worst motivations. I don't know why that is. No matter how you approach it or what you call it, people get defensive and upset.

Just an FYI on the FB group: I have responded to everyone who has PMd me. I am going to be at an AHG campout all day, so it will be late tonight or tomorrow before I can add anyone else. You are all welcome join, but I just won't be home to do it! Parrothead and Justamouse can also add you if you need in today. And again, we are not shutting down over here. Just giving another option with increased privacy for those who want that. :)

Yup! All hail Admin Chucki! You can't break Facebook. It is indestructible. Kind of like a cockroach.

What a beautiful testimony, Speedmom. God loves us and wants to reconcile with us. I think us not being able to trust Him and forgive ourselves is often what holds us back there.

I have everybody who PMd me responded to or added. To make the FB group Secret (and not readable by your family and friends), it meant you all have to friend someone who is already a member and then that person will add you to the group. So if you want in, PM me for my FB page link and let me know your name (so I know who to look for). Then add me as a friend (you don't have to keep me as one if you don't want to ;) ) I will accept the friend request and add you in to the group. I am sorry if I have missed anybody. The ipad is glitchy sometimes. Justamouse and Parrothead can also add people, if I don't get to you quickly enough.

It does not have to be either/or. But even when the social groups are up, we are still open enough that some people might feel more comfortable asking questions where they don't have an audience. So really, just another option. I would really, really, really love Chucki to get on Facebook though. :)

I started the FB group. PM me if you want in. :) I may have to beg and plead with Parrothead because I know she hates Facebook. I just want somewhere less exposed.

Would anyone be interested in a CTT group on Facebook? I have just about given up hope that our actual Social Group is coming back.

I am doing it with a 9th grader. They offer it as IPC for high school, and we are taking that.

I am doing this course next year. The texts are secular. You don't have to enroll. You can just buy the lesson plans and books. The texts are secular. Kolbe adds Catholic content occasionally in the lesson plans, but you could very easily skip that part. It is commentary more than anything else.