The End is near here too?

[David W. Emery]

"Short paper!"

Occasionally it’s true, Mark. I read it in just a couple of minutes.

[when we were one]

LOL Candle

[Dave Armstrong]

Hey, I have two books devoted to short answers (with one- and two-page treatments) and a new one shortly coming out. I can do "short" and I can do "long." In fact (y'all will love this!) I was mocked by one opponent of the Catholic Church for the very title of one of these books: The One-Minute Apologist. His thought was that the very notion of a short, compact answer was ridiculous. I don't think so at all. I think we have to meet people where they are.

So I get criticism on both ends . . . LOL     Meanwhile, I'm trying to please everyone by writing material of all different lengths. Different strokes for different folks . . .

[Steven Barrett]

Cheri said, "we aren't as worried about being "saved" as Protestants are. Our belief is that we are already "saved" at Baptism."  Cheri I'm glad to know you haven't bought that line and thanks for focusing a flashlight on what is a rather ... lemme be polite here ... slothful way of thinking. On the other hand, while that kind of thinking reflects sloth and a lack of sufficient formation, unfortunately with far too many Evangelicals, it translates into the widely accepted notion of Once-Saved-Always-Saved.

WHen it comes to all the "end times" stuff in the media (Discovery network fellow channels are always coming up with one variation after another; nothing less sensical than what the earth will look like after people are gone. I couldn't watch the pets die slow deaths or descend into Darwinism.  Atheists, yeah, pets, my heart pumps faster.) Maybe for a spoof, EWTN could put on its own "Dies Irae" series our own DAY OF DOOM featuring critiques of Messrs LaHaye, Jenkins, Nostradamus et al and etc ad (very) nauseum! Ah, but nothing like a few re-runs of the Lord of the Rings to cure the rest of the non-Catholic doomsday stuff.

[DJR]

The Garabandal phenomena were judged not supernatural by the local bishop. The monk with the “visions of all the popes,” highly touted in the secular press (which should clue you in as to his credibility), was Nostradamus.  David

I'd like to correct the record on this.  Garabandal has never been judged "not supernatural."  There are three levels of judgment a bishop can use for apparitions:  supernatural, not supernatural, not proven to be supernatural.  The alleged apparitions at Garabandal fall into the last category, and it is a judgment that can be changed to one of the other two categories at some future time.

Of course, a bishop does not enjoy the charism of infallibility when making such pronouncements either.  The apparitions of Lipa, Philippines, were condemned a long time ago by the local ordinary.  The present bishop of the diocese has re-opened the investigation of those alleged apparitions, and he is extremely favorable towards them.  

There are many Catholics who believe in the authenticity of Garabandal.  Not that it makes any difference, but it is a known fact that Saint Padre Pio did as well.  Of course, he could have been wrong, but there is testimony to that effect by two very credible witnesses, both of whom began to believe in Garabandal as a result of Padre Pio's statements to them.

The monk who is alleged to have had a vision regarding the popes is Saint Malachy.

http://www.catholic-pages.com/grabbag/malachy.asp

[David W. Emery]

Garabandal has never been judged “not supernatural.” There are three levels of judgment a bishop can use for apparitions: supernatural, not supernatural, not proven to be supernatural. The alleged apparitions at Garabandal fall into the last category, and it is a judgment that can be changed to one of the other two categories.

This document lists the official status. Regardless of how one interprets the ruling (the editor has attached an interpretation which has no official standing), the case is officially closed without approbation, and subsequent bishops have refused to re-open it. Since it is against this forum’s Guidelines to advocate non-approved private revelations, there can be no further discussion of this topic.

The monk who is alleged to have had a vision regarding the popes is Saint Malachy.

I stand corrected. Nostradamus made numerous predictions, but the succession of popes was not among them. Again, these are alleged but unapproved private revelations; therefore, further discussion of either is prohibited by the forum Guidelines.

David

[GoodSoil]

Malachy.  That was the name I'd heard.  One of the things I found so confusing is that based on the verses about the anti Christ heading a single world government, Protestants believe work for peace among the nations is making it easier for anti Christ. I would be  EXTREMEMLY distrustful of even a loose single world government but it felt odd to think if I prayed for peace I was working against God.  And of course, anti Christ will be popular and seem benevolent so any leader who seemed too good was a candidate.