I am just wondering why this group does not call itself...The Orthodox Catholic Forum. Is there a reason for that?

After reading Jeff's comments seeking orthodox statistics I realize that there is a recognition of orthodox catholics vs other catholics and wonder why this forum which tries to chew and spit out the "other catholics" doesn't just call it what it is. It seems then visitors would understand why the rabid defense system here. And it also seems that those who are not orthodox catholics would not be drawn to entering this zone. Joan

-- JOAN STOREY (godessss@mindspring.com), April 21, 2002

Answers

I guess good Catholics just don't want to resort to the kind of fear, ignorance and bigotry that forces people into certain categories or groups. =)

Listen, you are either Catholic or you aren't; I mean come on Joan, being the intellectual you should know what the word Catholic means. Any with half a wit and a search engine could identify the kind of 'catholic' you talk so much about as being Wiccan.

If you really dig into it you will find that people's hardcore defense and commitment to the true principles of Catholicism is something that is the result of suffering and real sacrifice. Why wouldn't they put up resistance? Anyone whose private space is violated is going to go on the defensive.

-- Emerald (emerald1@cox.net), April 21, 2002.

Hi Joan:

I just wonder -- and I really don't intend to sound uncharitable, mean or bigoted -- but in all honestly, Why would you want to align yourself with a church whose teachings you cannot tolerate? I mean, there are plenty of other groups that believe the way you do, why not join them?

Orthodoxy is just a term to describe those who adhere to the church's teaching, as opposed to those who do not, but yet 'call themselves' by the name. That's all. The fact is that either you are a believer, or you are not. There really is no in between. There are certain tenets of christianity which DEMAND your admission. Christianity is not a 'relative' religion, it is based on evidence, truth, and faith.

You are certainly welcome in this forum, and but don't be offended when your beliefs are not accepted as 'christian'. They simply are not.

With all sincerity,

Gail

-- Gail (rothfarms@socket.net), April 21, 2002.

As a new convert, one of things I have been taught, and believe wholeheartedly, is that this is NOT a pick and choose faith. It is what God intended it to be 2000 years ago. Basic theology does not change over time. The bastardizing that you are proposing to this faith appalls me. If you are so uncomfortable with the Catholic faith, please feel free to find a religion that is more in line with what you think, recognizing of course, that what you THINK is not Catholicism.

-- Carolyn (fcbishop@globaleyes.net), April 21, 2002.

I gave up hyphenation for lent.

-- JRC (me@nospam.net), April 21, 2002.

Let's look at it this way. If I called myself a Buddhist, but decided that the noble eightfold path was a bunch of hooey, and I didn't really agree with the four noble truths either, I wouldn't really be a true Buddhist, would I?

If I wanted to be a Hindu, but decided I didn't believe in the Hindu notion of karma, I wouldn't really be a Hindu, would I?

If I wanted to be an atheist, but decided I believe in God, I wouldn't really be an atheist, would I?

So it is with Catholicism. It's not a matter of orthodoxy/liberalism, in my view it's a matter of categorizing beliefs properly. If you believe in some of what the Catholic Church teaches, but want to include some Hindu beliefs, fine, go start your own religion, just don't call yourself Catholic, because that would be an error in categorization. (i.e., false advertising)

Simple logic.

And if you're not sure or can't (or won't) commit to what you believe, God help you.

-- (useyourbrain@mindthing.com), April 21, 2002.

Just some clarification--when I was asking about how many Orthodox Christian priests were married, I was referring to the Eastern Orthodox Church.

-- Jeffrey Zimmerman (jeffreyz@seminarianthoughts.com), April 21, 2002.

Joan,

As my spiritual director tells me, "Don't check your brain at the door." I forget the name of the heresy that the Church condemned in the 19th century--the one where someone believes that there are two truths? It was a flawed attempt at trying to make a reconciliation between science and faith that never needed to be made in the first place.

Anyway, the Truth is One and Whole, and relativism is an ever- screeching enemy of truth.

But--We must always always always remember our charity and love, without which correct belief can do nothing to save us.

-- Jeffrey Zimmerman (jeffreyz@seminarianthoughts.com), April 21, 2002.

Dear friends,
I know that some of you have been wondering what Joan "goddessss" Storey is all about, since she is so radically different from all other non-Catholics that have passed our way.

I have known all along (actually, since the mid-1980s), but didn't quite know how to put it into words for you. That's all right. The good Lord has taken care of it the problem by letting me know about the existence of an expose' of the heart of the Storey.

It is a book with a brilliant author -- presented in two hours of interviews just broadcast on EWTN ("The Abundant Life") last week and this week. The work is "Goddess Unmasked: The Rise of Neopagan Feminist Spirituality" by Dr. Philip Davis, a professor at the University of St. Edward Island. Through painstaking research, he has uncovered the origin of the myths, the new (1950s) false religion, how and why it is being used, etc.. Here is a brief review and offer of the book.

Mrs. Storey and her cronies have put their souls in deep jeopardy. Her attempts to seem Catholic (at least on the fringe) are only an abominable pretense, as you will see if you watch "The Abundant Life" or obtain the book. We must really pray for Mrs. Storey. Few people are so lost as she. For most women like her, the roots are in a catastrophic relationship (or lack of any relationship) with their fathers. This results in a hatred of all father-figures in their lives (sometimes all men), as well as a rejection of religions that have human male leaders and a deity that seems to have a "male" Name.

Mrs. Storey needs the most radical of healings.

God bless you.
John

-- (jfgecik@hotmail.com), April 21, 2002.

Folks, I just found that there are a couple of alternatives to watching the interviews and buying/reading the whole Dr. Davis book.

(1) I discovered a series of three articles of moderate length that the professor published (in 2001) in a magazine -- now available for reading on the Internet:
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3

(2) There are a couple of brief articles on this topic, in which Dr. Davis's work is mentioned approvingly:
Article 1
Article 2

God bless you.
John

-- (jfgecik@hotmail.com), April 21, 2002.

John, I have read some of your posts here, and I value your opinion. I think there may be something to what you say, but I also think one can't know for sure the details, and perhaps it would be best to just to answer things as they come up, rather than try to analyze someone, but perhaps I am wrong. I am sure Ms Storey will chime in. The problem is, its not simply a discussion between friends, but a public forum, so it is important to refute. Anyway, prayer is always the answer. Sometimes people just get off on the wrong track. Sometimes people have no intention of listening to truth. But Christ can do anything, maybe an internet prayer campaign? :)

-- JRC (me@nospam.net), April 21, 2002.

Joan, your interpretation of what the Catholic faith is (or in your world, should be) is deplorable, and irritating to my mental acumen. Why should we refer to our faithful, complete adherence to the teachings and beliefs of Catholicism as Orthodox Catholicism? If a person wishes to modify any facet of the Faith, then *THEY* are the ones to adopt a new moniker...Protestant. Catholic interpretations and practices are not malleable. To fold the Church to fit your personal ideologies separates you from full communion. You are, as a result, both a heretic and excommunicated through your self-guided adaptations. I'm already visualizing the duct tape over your mouth.

-- Melissa Wilson...actual Catholic (holy_rhodes@earthlink.net), April 21, 2002.

Joan,

If you want to have us pigeonhole our beliefs into "orthodox Catholicism", than YOU should make a subdivision for YOUR beliefs. Since you feel you have the right to define my beliefs, let me define yours. From now on your "interpretation" of Catholicism shall be termed "Heretical anti-Catholicism". When someone asks your religion, just say you are a "heretical, anti-Catholic" and people will know you.

Frank

-- Someone (ChimingIn@twocents.cam), April 22, 2002.

A dominican eh? Hmm, that means double the rosaries. Saint Dominic send your 'dogs of Christ' to persue your daughter and bring her back to the fold. St Thomas, St Catherine, all you Domincan saints pray for us.

:)

-- JRC (me@nospam.net), April 22, 2002.

Hi, JRC.
Thank you for saying that you value my opinion! I have enjoyed reading your various comments in these first days of your joining in at the forum. Hope you stay for years!

I think that you need to spend more time reading Mrs. Storey's many posts of the past two weeks before you can say whether or not my comments above are appropriate or not. Please note that what I said about radical feminists and bad, or missing, relationships to men pertains to "most women" who write like Mrs. Storey. She may herself be one of the rare exceptions.
You need to know that she revealed here that she is a "death-scort," an escort of expectant mothers into an abortion mill, taking them past the pro-life demonstrators and counselors whom she loathes. Thus, she has been automatically excommunicated.

God bless you.
John
PS: We share a very special diocese.

-- (jfgecik@hotmail.com), April 22, 2002.

You know Joan, It's rather interesting to create Cathodox chirch

-- Alexander Nevzorov (dalm2000@mail.ru), May 06, 2002.