www.byzcath.org Forums General Discussions Town Hall The argument continues

Hello friends,

As Archbishop Basil said last year "May we drown in the sea that is the Great Fast".

Today, as I was leaving the medical lab, I heard an older man saying to the lady with whom he was walking, "They call him the 'Holy Father' when it says in the Bible that you are to call no man 'father'. It's okay to call your earthly 'father' 'father', but no one else!". Since it is a time of fasting, I didn't turn & engage him with the fact that no where is there a place in the Bible where it says to call our earthly father father, and I also didn't ask him who besides Catholics he hates? It ruffled my feathers, though. Since the Passion of the Christ has been hyped, many people have turned to me, a Catholic, and asked for my opinion. After I opine, they begin to attack Catholics. (An aside, a lady with whom I work says that she has heard that we Catholics believe that the Pope is the reincarnation of Jesus. She justifies this by saying that her husband used to be Catholic. Enough said about her).

Anyway, not knowing enough about the languages of Hebrew, Greek, Aramaic, or Latin, does anyone who have studied these know what was said and how it might break down in translation to English?

Lastly, as an Eastern Catholic, many Western Catholics don't consider us Catholic. Pity we don't all want to learn about our Church's history, culture, and tradition. My one good friend who is a Jew seems to understand and so we speak often.

Forgive my judgment of others, please. I'd like to hear and learn from the rest of you.

Thanks.

Rick Cooley

I'm just passable with Greek and a little better with Latin; my Hebrew never got beyong Leila Tov and my Aramaic is non-existent. But one can easily point out that Saint Paul teaches "you have many teachers, but not many fathers" in a passage where he clearly claims spiritual paternity for himself with reference to his flock. That might do for a starter!
My regards to Hagerstown - last time I was there I found a place that served deliciously memorable steamed crabs.
Incognitus

Dreadfully off topic I know - and I apologise

BUT

Dear Incognitus - is there anywhere you have not been ?

Anhelyna

It is clear that St. Paul and Timothy called each other Father and Son. Anti-Catholics are so much fun to be around, don't you think?

Do you mean that people attack the Church even after seeing The Passion? I guess hearts of stone and heads of iron remain so even when the Gospel is presented to them. Christ and the early Church knew this quite well.

Dan Lauffer

Shlomo Rick,
To your point about
I would advise that you get them �The One Church and the Communion of Churches.�

The 32-page booklet is published by the Missionaries of Faith Foundation (Eastern Catholic Pastoral Association of Southern California), 1546 East La Palma Ave., Anaheim, Calif. 92805. It costs $6.65, which includes shipping and handling. Discounts are available for multiple orders.

For more information: (949) 224-3131
Email: jbakhos@earthlink.net

Credit card orders: www.catholicexchange.com/booklet [catholicexchange.com]
(web site has summary of contents & online version of booklet)

Poosh BaShlomo,
Yuhannon

Anhelyna asks: "Dear Incognitus - is there anywhere you have not been?" Yes, many places, some of which would be quite interesting. But naturally I am far more likely to think, speak and write about places I know than about places I don't know. I've also been to some quite dull places, but I seldom think, speak or write about them! The list would include most airports (dull places indeed), train stations (marginally better than air ports), bus terminals (ugh!), plazas on major highways (which prove that one can travel inordinate distances and still go nowhere!) . . . but listing dull places is in itself a dull occupation.
Incognitus