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Pope Benedict XVI Reaches Out to Europe's Disillusioned Catholics in Austria Visit.
Pope Benedict XVI, reaching out to disillusioned Catholics across Europe, ended a three-day Austria pilgrimage Sunday with a Mass in Vienna and a stop at a medieval abbey that drew tens of thousands of cheering faithful.
Driving rain that had drenched pilgrims and Benedict's entourage since his arrival on Friday fell intermittently, forcing about 20,000 believers in throwaway plastic raincoats to huddle beneath umbrellas as they packed the square outside Vienna's downtown St. Stephen's Cathedral.
Location: Somewhere along the path to where I'd like to be.
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Why not?
I'm not sure how to view your response. Are you saying the American Catholics aren't worthy of having their highest leader come visit them, encourage them, teach them, and all-around address them so that they know he cares?
Or do you mean the American Catholics are in good enough condition, and the pope thinks the situation with Catholics in other parts of the world is worse?
I'm not sure how to view your response. Are you saying the American Catholics aren't worthy of having their highest leader come visit them, encourage them, teach them, and all-around address them so that they know he cares?
Or do you mean the American Catholics are in good enough condition, and the pope thinks the situation with Catholics in other parts of the world is worse?
I shutter to think the Seat of Peter has written us off. And I seriusly doubt it.
Nevertheless, he's getting up there in age and has alot on his plate.
I don't know, I can only venture a guess as to why. Maybe there are other parts of the world where he can most effective?
Location: Somewhere along the path to where I'd like to be.
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I thought I heard somewhere early in his papacy that it was said he would not be visiting America. I may be wrong. Just made me wonder why. It would be an awful feeling if he abandoned American Catholics. I hope he hasn't.
JMHO... and please don't flame. This is just my obersvation and understanding, but I think the Catholics need to get back to preaching the meat of the Word. I think this pope has made some progress in that direction, but more needs to be done, IMO.
I don't think he's written off Catholics in the USA, but he already knows the USA branch, if you will, is more liberal than the European branch and they're in his back yard, so to speak.
JMHO... and please don't flame. This is just my obersvation and understanding, but I think the Catholics need to get back to preaching the meat of the Word. I think this pope has made some progress in that direction, but more needs to be done, IMO.
I don't think he's written off Catholics in the USA, but he already knows the USA branch, if you will, is more liberal than the European branch and they're in his back yard, so to speak.
Mams what do you mean by the meat of the word exactly? Not starting anything but I'm trying to decide if my church does that or not. I think they do but maybe not.
Mams what do you mean by the meat of the word exactly? Not starting anything but I'm trying to decide if my church does that or not. I think they do but maybe not.
<note: this can also apply to other churches/denoms, not just Catholics>
Well, what I mean by the "meat" of the Word is I have had experiences in which the Sunday sermons are only feel good, we're okay, you're okay, everyone's okay type of sermons. They don't get into the Word and flesh out the tough stuff, the passages and verses that make people examine their actions, their lives and actually make people think about their faith and what it is they're believing in and why.
I've heard sermons and masses that stick to the milk, the easy-going, fuzzy happy passages. And not just once in a while, but week after week. The entire Bible is applicable in all aspects of life, IMO. But the more difficult parts are glossed over or not addressed at all. If you give people nothing but milk, they won't grow and mature in their walk with Christ, again, IMO.
And, also, this is not a blanket statement to mean all of any particular denomination or anything like that. I'm sure there are churches out there that do very well at preaching the Word.
<note: this can also apply to other churches/denoms, not just Catholics>
Well, what I mean by the "meat" of the Word is I have had experiences in which the Sunday sermons are only feel good, we're okay, you're okay, everyone's okay type of sermons. They don't get into the Word and flesh out the tough stuff, the passages and verses that make people examine their actions, their lives and actually make people think about their faith and what it is they're believing in and why.
I've heard sermons and masses that stick to the milk, the easy-going, fuzzy happy passages. And not just once in a while, but week after week. The entire Bible is applicable in all aspects of life, IMO. But the more difficult parts are glossed over or not addressed at all. If you give people nothing but milk, they won't grow and mature in their walk with Christ, again, IMO.
And, also, this is not a blanket statement to mean all of any particular denomination or anything like that. I'm sure there are churches out there that do very well at preaching the Word.
Oh ok then my church does this...and at times I wish they had more feel good in there. Which church did you go to maybe I could switch...
Actually my last church of 10 years and the one I just switched to have always had sermons that explain in detail how the scripture pertains to life today. The only exception is Christmas mass...they are always light hearted and fun, as I personally think they should be on Christmas.
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Which church did you go to maybe I could switch...
