Post
by Coito ergo sum » Thu Jan 20, 2011 8:17 pm
They don't see making shit up as hypocritical.
Quick lesson in how things work in Catholicism.
The Catholic Church traces itself back to Peter, renowned as the first Pope. Peter, you are my rock, and upon this rock I will build my church. Matthew 16:17-21
So, Jesus (or Hay-Zeus to our Hispanic members) was talking to Peter - the first Pope - and after telling Pete that Jesus' church would be built on him, he added, "I will give you the keys of the kingdom of Heaven: whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven; whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.'"
So - that's where the Catholics get the idea that the Catholic Church is the "One True Church." Each succeeding Pope is a successor to Peter. Each successive Pope is handed the "Keys of Peter." He becomes "The Vicar of Christ."
One of the symbols worn and brandished by the Pope are the "Keys to the Kingdom of Heaven", an image of two keys, one gold and one silver. The silver key symbolizes the power to bind and loose on Earth, and the gold key the power to bind and loose in Heaven.
That this means - what they really believe - what they really think is true - is that the Pope, by virtue of the "keys of Peter" can -- by decree -- make things true on Earth, and make things true in heaven. Jesus said so in Matthew 16 - what the Pope holds true on Earth, J.C. will make it happen in heaven.
If the Pope makes a person a Saint, he's a Saint. It doesn't really matter why. The Pope holds the Keys of Peter, and if Benedict says Joe Dickhead is Saint, then Jesus promised that it will be so bound in heaven.