I personally am a member of a Southern Baptist church, and while I can't speak for everyone else of my faith, I can say that the Pope doesn't really bother me all that much.  I don't agree sometimes with some of the things he says, and I don't consider him to be infallible, but he also certainly doesn't bother me when he teaches the theology of the Roman Catholic Church.  That's his right and the right of the Church to do so!

As a conservative Episcopalian I have much respect for the Pope and his teachings and listen and ponder his teachings seriously,i,m usually in agreement with his moral pronouncements,i,d even go so far as to call him first among equals, but not infallible or the vicar of Christ on earth.  In unity, Gael

Funny, when I looked up justforCatholics.com, the site was for sale. What bothers me the most is that some (not all) non-Catholc rely on information from other, possibly misinformed non-Catholics but will deny any information given by a well-informed Catholic. I just don't understand that.

friendofsaints&angels wrote:

No mincing words indeed. His words hit me like a 2by4 between the eyes. P.S. I quit going on the catholic debate board. Way to much catholic hate on there for me. I love my faith and sometimes feel a need to defend it, But when you state a point on there most of the time you just get back hatred, and ignorrance. You can't bring people back to the catholic faith kicking and screaming, all you can do is pray for them. GOD is power absolute, and Prayer is absolute power. with Prayer you have everything, and without Prayer you have absolutely nothing.

I have gone onto the Christian debate board & was astounded by the Catholic hate...
It also seemed like there were more non-christians posting on those threads then Christians.

It feels nice to be reading posts placed by people I hold similar beliefs or are experience what I am  as a Catholic.

friendofsaints&angels:

Good observations!

Not only majesterily, but inspirationally from the Holy Spirit. The Pope is allowed to have a personal opinion, but when it comes to doing the Boss's work to send messages to us, he does so out of inspiration in decrees and bulls.

The Pope, and more directly the Catholic church is a threat. It is also not an easy religion to follow. It requires an obligation and imposes sacrifices and demands conformity on it's subjects. Conformity in a democratic era in the midst of man made institutions under his control is not well received. The error is there becomes the tendency in this case to mirror all institutions in this fashion.

There are other religions that provide what the Catholic church will not offer. These churches claim to have God's sanction but they don't because they serve to delay the Church's calling. They provide entertainment value for those who are easily bored, there are hate and war theme religions that cater to those with a chip on their shoulders (Satan loves these.)There are those who need a charismatic leader and are drawn to cults with disatasterous results. Our Church looks on sadly because it has the answer.

The Pope brings on a something of peace in people in his immediate vicinity they can't explain. Muslems roll out the carpet and he kisses the Koran, as a  true heaven sent Ambassador would. Why shouldn't he inspire awe?  Every Pope receives the initiating bestowage as did Peter, and we are graced to have a deciple of Christ in our midst who has with him the Holy Spirit. Every God given conscience without control of it's owner comes alive and is sparked to excitement in his presence regardless of religious affiliation.

It is a message that tells his host, "See, he is the way",
just has John the baptist instructed his followers to follow Jesus. 

FirstBase