Catholic Priest of Canberra & Goulburn, Australia.
Two types of people use Twitter: those who hide behind some fake ID and those who use their real name.
@BryanKemper Because some people cannot identify with unborn children, they think this gives them the right to kill them whilst they are in what should be the safest place for an unborn child, in her/his mother's womb.
In 2001 (exactly 25 years ago this coming Sunday) I did two things absolutely forbidden in the New Testament. I later realized both errors and had no choice but to walk away from both.
1. I started a Church and called myself the pastor of that Church. I stayed there for 12 years. There is no sanction or permission in the Bible for any person to start a Church and take to himself the role of pastor without apostolic appointment by an actual Bishop.
2. I brought that Church into a denomination founded by a woman in 1923 (Foursquare). There is absolutely no Biblical grounds for any Christian to found their own denomination and take to themself the ecclesial authority to ordain ministers.
In America and many other places…
- Anyone can start a Church
- Anyone can start a denomination
- Anyone can claim to be a pastor
- Anyone can start a seminary or ministry school
- Anyone can claim to be sent by God
- Anyone can ordain anyone else or even himself/herself
In the Bible, though, this is not possible. In fact, it is a great sin, though I was ignorant of it at the time. Once I became conscious of it, I had to walk away from the sin of schism. Jesus founded one Church. Six years after leaving that entire life, in His mercy, Jesus brought me into full communion with the Church HE founded: the Catholic Church.
@sydnamasse You have some responsibility. You are culpable to some degree, but the full force of the law will fall on the one who cut away your freedom.