And I apologise sincerely if it seems I have been disrespectful of someone's beliefs. It hasn't been my intention to be disrespectful. I believe what I believe, but I wouldn't claim it is the "absolute truth". An absolute truth is a fact, and there can't be faith where there is fact. Our faith in Christ is just that - faith. Beyond the BIble, there is no real proof even that he lived. Because my beliefs are my beliefs, I wouldn't say you are damned because you don't share them. That is not within my power. God will judge, not I.

Prots say that the Bible alone is necessary, but the many Prot denominations clearly show they can't agree on what it says. This is partly why I also am Catholic. I believe that God would leave us some human to be our leader. Christ gave the "key to heaven" to Peter, and Catholics believe that the Pope is the God appointed head of the Church so that we have a leader. God knows we need leaders and guidance.

That doesn't mean I agree with everything the Pope says, but in all honestly I agree with 99% of it. You were saying that we mustn't shape God to our own liking, but I do believe that is part of the problem in Protestant circles. Something comes up they don't like or understand so they go off and set up their own church shaped to their liking, or drop books from Scrpture like Maccabees which support things they don't believe in (objecting to Purgatory). Now, as people don't like so many different things, they have so many different churches, and the "truth" is anyone's guess. Interpretation is subjective.

I have learnt in life that I can't be responsible for someone elses choices, be it religion or dental preferences. If you believe it is your duty to convert people to your particular expression of Christianity, I respect that. I just don't feel it is my duty to try to get every Christian I meet to see things exactly my way. Who knows, I may be wrong. I've also learnt that calling people up on what I perceive to be immoral or wrong beliefs only serves to alienate them i.e. on morality things. People respond to acceptance and to love, and I do believe that in life the harshest critcs and judges we face are our own selves. I never felt accepted or loved by Protestants, who really made me feel bad if I didn't believe "exactly" as they did i.e. my belief in Immaculate Conception. And, my experince here is the same, in that I don't feel accepted unless I conform to what your beliefs are. Prots always make me feel that way. That isn't to say it doesn't go on in Catholic circles aswell, though, but as I agree with far more than I don't, it's easier. I don't go to church, though, at least not yet. I wouldt try Anglican church as they are Catholic, but also Protestant, but they accept abortaficient birth control, which makes me think they can't speak for God. I do believe the pill has caused millions of abortions, and that God wouldn't allow that. I know Catholics in the past have burnt heretics, but it was a long time ago. I really can't understand how God would allow all the Protestant churches to have used hormonal birth control and have so many of them continue to say it's ok causing mass termination of life pre-implanation. I really don't understand that, Dallas. This is a problem for others in the pro-life movement too, how they could make such a mistake. Catholics and Orthodox never made it, and now that we know of iit, some are thinking condoms ok. This makes me think God protected the "true" church from this terrible error, to show us which one teaches more truths. Also, it wasn't long after Pope confirmed Immaculate Conception that St Bernadette was visited by Blessed Mother who said "I am the Immaculate Conception". In this way God reassures us that the church is not lost. It may have become tainted by human corruption i.e. priestly celebacy and elevation of the Pope beyond dues (in my opinion) aswell as exclusion of women, but in the doctrine, I think the Catholic church is right.

This is my honest opiinion. If it is offensive, I really can't help that. But is one reason I think keeping opinions to onesself is not a bad thing. Most Prots don't care about things that are important to me, and that's ok, because they are not me, and we all have to make choices. But like a lot of pro-lifers, the birth control issue is an important question on how the churches got it so wrong. Of course, I guess they say they were not wrong, and hence life doesn't begin at conception but an implanation (the abortionists arguing it is at various other times) all for the sake of their sex lives. And, because a lot of American men are circumcised, they find condom use difficult, so they are left with few choices other than the pills. Also, anything is seen as right by some Prots in marriage, wheras Catholics believe the nature of the sex matters. I believe the RC goes too far in some teachings, but at least establishes boundaries. Some Prots support kinky sex and so forth so long as the couple are married. They want no restrictions on sex, like they are beasts to be satisfied, rather than humans with brains and sexual control. RC values marriage and celibacy, and teaches sexual control, which is no bad thing. My ex-pastor actually supported a woman's decision to abort out of wedlock. I was disgusted and could never trust him on anything spiritual ever again.