Catholics believe that Mary did not sin against God. that’s
nonsense, because if she didnt sin, she would be on equal ground as
God, but she is full human, so that is absolutely important. and as
a protestant, i think that the pope is a bum whos corrupted, but it
has been mentioned countless times in the bible that there would be
false preachers throughout the world, we just have to be wary of
what is taught to us and analyse the word for ourselves to fully
understand what other people say, dont just take it as that.
for more u can read this: http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_are_the_differen…
Starting a new thread to reply to the above query.
To clarify, the Catholic belief on Mary being
sinless is not that she's able to do what God can do, but because
it's a special grace endowed upon her by God - for being
the woman who would be chosen (and who would
respond positively) to bear the Son of the Most
High.
To announce the impending birth of Jesus, the
angel Gabriel appeared to Mary and said, 'Hail Mary, full
of Grace, the Lord is with you.' When Mary visited
Elizabeth, she exclaimed, 'Blessed are you amongst
women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb
Jesus'.
Do these events hint at Mary's sinlessness? Maybe
or maybe not, but this is certainly a starting point to think
about. There's a lot to be said about
Mary's special role in God's plan for our salvation, you can refer
to www.davidmacd.com/catholic/mary_in_the_bible.htm
Yes, there
have been corrupted popes in history, but thank God that they
are the minority. The majority of them led saintly and holy
lives and inspired the masses to turn towards God (eg St Gregory I,
St Leo I, John Paul II). The
first pope, St Peter, was perhaps a classic example - he said the
wrong things at the wrong times and even denied Jesus 3 times,
but Jesus recognised in him his love
and faithfulness despite all his human failings and not
only forgave him, but even asked him to shepherd His flock
after Jesus departed physically from the world.
Which
brings me to my last point - who are the false preachers? Can't be
the popes or else Jesus was lying (Matt 16:15-19):
'He said
to them, "But who do you say that I am?" 16Simon Peter
replied,"You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."
17And Jesus answered him, "Blessed are you, Simon
Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my
Father who is in heaven. 18And I tell you, you are
Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of
hell shall not prevail against it. 19I will give you the
keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall
be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed
in heaven."'
