: Robert M. Haddad
: 1001 Reasons Why It's Great to be Catholic!
: Beacon Publishing
: 9781942611127
: 1
: CHF 10.50
:
: Christentum
: English
: 215
: DRM
: PC/MAC/eReader/Tablet
: ePUB
YEARS AGO I SAW A NEWS REPORT about the growth of Pentecostalism in Latin America. One fiery pastor had a pamphlet at the back of his church entitled, 'Twenty-five reasons why you are no longer Catholic.' I became upset when I saw this and wanted to produce my own response. Naturally, I wanted this response to be both comprehensive and overwhelming-hence the thought of collecting and publishing 1001 reasons why it's great to be Catholic! More than most, non-Catholics should find this book of great interest. This book does not want to hide the bad things that have happened in the Catholic Church; rather, it simply wants to proclaim to the world some of the great things about her. In the age of the 'new evangelization' we should no longer simply cower under the relentless attacks against our Church and Faith, but be willing and able to stand confidently and proclaim loudly why it's great to be Catholic. It's not about triumphalism; it's about truth, and it's always a great time to proclaim the truth! - ROBERT M. HADDAD

Chapter 1

Great Church!

Preliminary

The Catholic Church has for over 2,000 years attracted either the love or hatred of countless millions of people. To her enemies, she is an obscure sect, a den of iniquity and corruption, an impediment to any real relationship with Christ, the “whore of Babylon” (Rev. 17:9), or the purveyor of superstition and ignorance. These same enemies would be glad to see the end of the Catholic Church, hoping to poach all her members, cause her to be outlawed and forcibly repressed, or watch her slowly wither and die.

However, to those who know and love her, the Catholic Church is something altogether different. Scripture makes it clear that Christ founded a church which would be his “Body”, his “bride”, “the Israel of God.” It would be a visible and spiritual community built on the “rock” of St Peter who would govern it with the power of the “keys” as Christ’s ‘Prime Minister’. The other Apostles would also have power to “bind and loose” in union with St Peter and their respective successors would provide central and united government over the millennia under the protection of the Holy Spirit. It would be a church with a triple hierarchical structure of bishop, presbyter and deacon, would evidence this structure over its entire history, would spread its branches across the entire world to encompass all peoples, would require obedience from all her members, and would comfortably embrace diversity within unity. The protection of the Holy Spirit would enable this church to be the “pillar and bulwark of truth”, to withstand the “powers of death”, and ensure her survival until the end of the world.

Only the Catholic Church has the necessary 2,000+ year history to prove an historic link with Christ and qualify as the church founded by him. Only the Catholic Church can show it has all the qualities and attributes mentioned above. Only the Catholic Church can, therefore, be the recipient and beneficiary of Christ’s promises and protection. Only those who belong to the Catholic Church, therefore, can comfortably say they belong to the one true Church of God, the one true ark of salvation.

Reasons

1.    The Catholic Church is the only church that can show that it is over 2,000 years old and hence the only church that can establish that it was founded by Christ h