tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-41879246776602934152024-03-05T22:17:23.199-08:00The JackhammerDemolishing any trace of heresy and misconceptionIJRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02294057859963145663noreply@blogger.comBlogger135125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4187924677660293415.post-88710086640903459642012-02-07T21:30:00.000-08:002012-02-07T21:30:55.059-08:00Halo-halong ewan....A lot of things (and I mean A LOT) happened during the interval between this post and my previous one.<br />
<br />
-the Liturgy discrepancy...<br />
-the earthquake in Visayas...<br />
-the upcoming presidential elections in the United States...<br />
-Pro-life month...<br />
-the Chief Justice Corona Impeachment saga...<br />
-tons of schoolwork and extra-curriculars...<br />
-and those I have no freakin' idea of.<br />
<br />
Anyway, this post just shows how bored I am, and how I waste my time in a mandatory seminar. What a way of wasting time, eh.<br />
<br />
Sorry for the sarcasm.IJRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02294057859963145663noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4187924677660293415.post-45694279040855133872012-01-10T16:36:00.000-08:002012-01-10T16:38:10.172-08:00THE IGNORANCE AND ARROGANCE OF ABBEY B. CANTURIAS REGARDING THE BLACK NAZARENEAs expected, anti-Catholic sentiments attacked in the Internet in the feast of the Black Nazarene. One of the cases is the person refuted in this repost from Atty. Llasos' blog:<br />
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</div><div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><b><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 8.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Tuesday, January 10, 2012<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 15.0pt; mso-line-height-alt: 12.0pt; mso-outline-level: 3;"><a href="" name="3286107923503800580"></a><b><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">THE IGNORANCE AND ARROGANCE OF ABBEY B. CANTURIAS REGARDING THE BLACK NAZARENE<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgboSJuSSvzCuq97q1tRXwNEd_bsFlp2bCEc2WOHqWwvHqPNgis0jW4DOsxAIsW-eap0nzb4B-S5IAlwgyoAtVToBKlWZNO-2MOcieUCEGJAlywW5f7gL6vvFIqc9yMNnShoof9aY9WyJI/s1600/10_01_2012_001_005_004-300x279.jpg"><span style="color: #b87209; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-no-proof: yes; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shapetype
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</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.45pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">THE IGNORANCE AND ARROGANCE OF ABBEY B. CANTURIAS REGARDING THE BLACK NAZARENE</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.45pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.45pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></b><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_2" o:spid="_x0000_i1038"
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.45pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></b><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.45pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></b><b><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">A former Catholic named</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><b><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">ABBEY B. CANTURIAS</span></b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">, managing director of Campaigns and Image Group based in Cebu City, recently posted in his Facebook wall the following scathing indictment of the Filipino masses:</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.45pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.45pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“The Black Nazarene represents God? Who says so? Not even a bishop or the pope will tell you that. But the Filipino masses, so accustomed with pagan practices, wanted a spectacle of a grand parade to honor the Lord they thought to dwell in a black, sculpted image of a bruised and wounded son of a carpenter which has ears that cannot hear, eyes that cannot see, and a form that is so helpless and powerless that it has to be wheeled around on a device that's meant for the injured and the dead. You think God is honored with such a degrading act? Haven't you realized that He is a spirit (John 4: 23-24), and that He is to be worshiped in spirit and in truth? That God dwells in a stone image? That's a lie. That God should be served with human hands? Another lie. How much longer must this pagan nation do comic things in its desire to worship the God they don't know who? Blame it on ignorance, spiritual blindness, and a religious hierarchy that must foster ignorance to keep its hold on people.”<a href="" name="_ftnref1"></a><a href="file:///C:/Users/user/Documents/THE%20IGNORANCE%20AND%20ARROGANCE%20OF%20ABBEY%20B.docx#_ftn1" title=""><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">[1]</span></a></span><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.45pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.45pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_3" o:spid="_x0000_i1037"
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o:title="261430_2075857907458_1575287615_2042134_5484288_n"/> </v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><img alt="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBnFmDQlCf0qJNKARBKisQvqujt2l5NUYfsEhHm38NseRh5r_LXN9JriRRBn56wNoc3kD68KpFS3ceD53Affyz3f5TyNnuMcauvh2IoqAlArRPO_ArXCL6Dx00y76Mvdiw1gA5uljEiqg/s320/261430_2075857907458_1575287615_2042134_5484288_n.jpg" border="0" height="312" src="file:///C:\DOCUME~1\Admin\LOCALS~1\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image004.jpg" v:shapes="Picture_x0020_3" width="320" /><!--[endif]--></span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.45pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;"><b><i><span style="color: #660000; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Abbey B. Canturias insults the Filipino masses and calls the Philippines a "pagan nation"</span></i></b><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.45pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;"><b><i><span style="color: #660000; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(Source: </span></i></b><span style="color: #660000; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/abbey.canturias"><span style="color: #b87209; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">https://www.facebook.com/abbey.canturias</span></a>)</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.45pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.45pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></b><b><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">This profile was referred to me by a Facebook friend for comment. I believe that as a Christian Mr. Canturias wants to know the truth, I will make my comment public so that more people will know the truth that sets men free (<i>cf.</i></span><i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Jn. 8:32).</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.45pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.45pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> Mr. Canturias’ comments are in</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><b><u><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">red</span></u></b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">while mine are in</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><b><u><span style="color: #002060; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">blue</span></u></b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">.</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.45pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.45pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The Black Nazarene represents God? Who says so? Not even a bishop or the pope will tell you that.</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.45pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.45pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #002060; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Mr. Canturias is aware that not even a bishop or the Pope says that the Black Nazarene represents God. If that is the case, what is he then trying to refute? It is foolhardy on Mr. Canturias’ part to refute a non-issue. He is going after the wind which will get him nowhere. Given that it is not the Pope’s or any bishops teaching that the Black Nazarene represents God, all the subsequent comments of Mr. Canturias have been rendered irrelevant.</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.45pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.45pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">But the Filipino masses, so accustomed with pagan practices …</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.45pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.45pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #002060; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I love the Marxist touch here of Mr. Canturias. This eerily sounds like Marx’s</span><span style="color: #002060; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><i><span style="color: #002060; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“religion is the opium of the masses.”</span></i><span style="color: #002060; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="color: #002060; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Notice the condescending, elitist attitude of Mr. Canturias to the “Filipino masses.” Notice, too, the sweeping generalization and indictment of the Filipino masses as being so accustomed with pagan practices. Where is Mr. Canturias’ proof for his judgment that the Filipinos are so accustomed with pagan practices? Thank you, Mr. Canturias for insulting the masses of our Filipino people.</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.45pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.45pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">… wanted a spectacle of a grand parade to honor the Lord …</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.45pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.45pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #002060; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">How does Mr. Canturias know that the Filipino masses want a spectacle to honor the Lord? Did he do a headcount? Those who attend the Black Nazarene procession do not represent the entirety of the Filipino masses who Mr. Canturias label as “so accustomed to pagan practices.”</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.45pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.45pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #002060; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">By the way, Mr. Canturias uses the word “parade.” I think that is deficiency in vocabulary. Well, the proper term is “procession.” If Mr. Canturias has the habit of reading his Bible, he would have known that religious processions are grand. Psalm 64:24-27 states –</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.45pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.45pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Your</span><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><b><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">procession</span></b><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">, God, has come into view,</span><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br />
the</span><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><b><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">procession</span></b><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">of my God and King into the sanctuary.</span><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br />
In front are the</span><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><i><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">singers</span></i><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">, after them the</span><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><i><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">musicians</span></i><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">;</span><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br />
with them are the young women playing the timbrels.</span><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br />
Praise God in the</span><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><i><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">great congregation</span></i><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">;</span><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br />
praise the LORD in the</span><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><i><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">assembly</span></i><i><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></i><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">of Israel.</span><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br />
There is the little tribe of Benjamin, leading them,</span><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br />
there the</span><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><i><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">great throng</span></i><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">of Judah’s princes,</span><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br />
and there the princes of Zebulun and of Naphtali” (NIV).</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.45pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis6_tqzvckKIkWrhihWWjAP7YzZEH2fZkf3gkUAr6sg4xcI7xK8EhDOwcQ9sRcYwnI88e6ANwFQcK0BSV0rPlcEmc-kzVr6FE0yz6xt0cHqG8SvO73wbB0fyBXj6YI3gJC2IM-lH-jha0/s1600/ARK+IN+PROCESSION+5.jpg"><span style="color: #b87209; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-no-proof: yes; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape
id="Picture_x0020_4" o:spid="_x0000_i1036" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis6_tqzvckKIkWrhihWWjAP7YzZEH2fZkf3gkUAr6sg4xcI7xK8EhDOwcQ9sRcYwnI88e6ANwFQcK0BSV0rPlcEmc-kzVr6FE0yz6xt0cHqG8SvO73wbB0fyBXj6YI3gJC2IM-lH-jha0/s400/ARK+IN+PROCESSION+5.jpg"
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o:button="t"> <v:imagedata src="file:///C:\DOCUME~1\Admin\LOCALS~1\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image005.jpg"
o:title="ARK+IN+PROCESSION+5"/> </v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><img alt="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis6_tqzvckKIkWrhihWWjAP7YzZEH2fZkf3gkUAr6sg4xcI7xK8EhDOwcQ9sRcYwnI88e6ANwFQcK0BSV0rPlcEmc-kzVr6FE0yz6xt0cHqG8SvO73wbB0fyBXj6YI3gJC2IM-lH-jha0/s400/ARK+IN+PROCESSION+5.jpg" border="0" height="258" src="file:///C:\DOCUME~1\Admin\LOCALS~1\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image005.jpg" v:shapes="Picture_x0020_4" width="400" /><!--[endif]--></span></a><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="color: #660000; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The Ark of the Covenant with the two images of cherubims in procession</span></i></b><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.45pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.45pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #002060; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I wonder if Mr. Canturias has ever read that passage. The religious procession depicted there is grand – with singers and musicians – attended by a great congregation and great throng. Perhaps Mr. Canturias should also consider God’s people in the Old Testament as “accustomed to paganism” for having that spectacular and grand parade to honor their Lord.</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.45pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.45pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">….the Lord they thought to dwell in a black, sculpted image of a bruised and wounded son of a carpenter which has ears that cannot hear, eyes that cannot see, and a form that is so helpless and powerless…</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.45pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.45pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #002060; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">How does Mr. Canturias know that the Filipino masses think the Lord dwells in a black sculpted image? Does Mr. Canturias have the power to read the mind of each and every person who attends the Black Nazarene procession? Mr. Canturias is clearly playing God. For him to judge that the Filipino multitudes who flock to the Black Nazarene procession really think that Jesus Christ dwells in the image smacks of arrogance and delusion. He is in fact usurping the prerogative of God. It is God alone who is privy to our innermost thoughts. He alone can see what is in our mind and in our heart. Mr. Canturias simply does not have that power. Mr. Canturias, in his rash judgment on other people, has conveniently forgotten the Biblical teaching that</span><span style="color: #002060; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="background: white; color: #002060; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">that</span><span style="color: #002060; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><b><i><span style="background: white; color: #7030a0; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart”</span></i></b><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="background: white; color: #002060; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(1 Sam. 16:17).</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.45pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="background: white; color: #002060; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br />
<!--[endif]--></span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh76_dClkIW1n1KTB5AYDKR6g_oiP_p4F9MF47DLyEY3AFk_VClCXMUBg1e0zJj0qJTD4Kth1WOxAwVkPFuCjVYU8yw_yq3ROdTouwob7S-GZzg1ftlmTyZejgnx7hf92ajkHNjKvMa08o/s1600/ARK+IN+PROCESSION+4.jpg"><span style="color: #b87209; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-no-proof: yes; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape
id="Picture_x0020_5" o:spid="_x0000_i1035" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh76_dClkIW1n1KTB5AYDKR6g_oiP_p4F9MF47DLyEY3AFk_VClCXMUBg1e0zJj0qJTD4Kth1WOxAwVkPFuCjVYU8yw_yq3ROdTouwob7S-GZzg1ftlmTyZejgnx7hf92ajkHNjKvMa08o/s400/ARK+IN+PROCESSION+4.jpg"
href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh76_dClkIW1n1KTB5AYDKR6g_oiP_p4F9MF47DLyEY3AFk_VClCXMUBg1e0zJj0qJTD4Kth1WOxAwVkPFuCjVYU8yw_yq3ROdTouwob7S-GZzg1ftlmTyZejgnx7hf92ajkHNjKvMa08o/s1600/ARK+IN+PROCESSION+4.jpg"
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o:title="ARK+IN+PROCESSION+4"/> </v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><img alt="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh76_dClkIW1n1KTB5AYDKR6g_oiP_p4F9MF47DLyEY3AFk_VClCXMUBg1e0zJj0qJTD4Kth1WOxAwVkPFuCjVYU8yw_yq3ROdTouwob7S-GZzg1ftlmTyZejgnx7hf92ajkHNjKvMa08o/s400/ARK+IN+PROCESSION+4.jpg" border="0" height="293" src="file:///C:\DOCUME~1\Admin\LOCALS~1\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image006.jpg" v:shapes="Picture_x0020_5" width="400" /><!--[endif]--></span></a><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="color: #660000; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The Ark of the Covenant carried on the shoulders</span></i></b><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;"> </span><span style="background: white; color: #002060; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.45pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">… it has to be wheeled around on a device that's meant for the injured and the dead.</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.45pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.45pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #002060; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">This clearly betrays Mr. Canturias’ gross ignorance of the Bible. Where in the Bible does it say that carts are meant only for those who are injured or the dead, Mr. Canturias? Chapter and verse please? I am sure that he cannot give any, given his palpable illiteracy of Scripture.</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.45pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.45pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #002060; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Because Mr. Casturias seldom reads his Bible, he doesn’t know that carts (karo in Tagalog), far from merely being used for the injured and the dad, are used also for religious processions involving a sacred image. Will Mr. Canturias bother to read this passage:</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.45pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.45pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="background: white; color: #7030a0; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“David again brought together all the able young men of Israel—thirty thousand.</span><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="background: white; color: #7030a0; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">He and all his men went to Baalah</span><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="background: white; color: #7030a0; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">in Judah to bring up from there the</span><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><b><span style="background: white; color: #7030a0; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">ark of God</span></b><span style="background: white; color: #7030a0; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">, which is called by the Name,</span><b><sup><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></sup></b><span style="background: white; color: #7030a0; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">the name of the LORD Almighty, who is enthroned between the</span><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><b><span style="background: white; color: #7030a0; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">cherubim</span></b><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="background: white; color: #7030a0; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">on the ark.</span><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="background: white; color: #7030a0; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">They set the ark of God on a</span><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><b><span style="background: white; color: #7030a0; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">new</span></b><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><b><span style="background: white; color: #7030a0; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">cart</span></b><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="background: white; color: #7030a0; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">and brought it from the house of Abinadab, which was on the hill. Uzzah and Ahio, sons of Abinadab, were guiding the</span><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><b><span style="background: white; color: #7030a0; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">new cart</span></b><b><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></b><b><span style="background: white; color: #7030a0; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">with the ark of God on it</span></b><span style="background: white; color: #7030a0; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">,</span><b><sup><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></sup></b><span style="background: white; color: #7030a0; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">and Ahio was walking in front of it.</span><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> <b><sup> </sup></b></span><span style="background: white; color: #7030a0; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">David and all Israel were</span><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><b><span style="background: white; color: #7030a0; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">celebrating</span></b><span style="background: white; color: #7030a0; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">with all their might before the LORD, with castanets,</span><b><sup><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></sup></b><span style="background: white; color: #7030a0; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">harps, lyres, timbrels, sistrums and cymbals” (2 Sam. 6:1-5).</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.45pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="background: white; color: #7030a0; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br />
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o:title="2+sam+6+-+5+so+david+l+brought+up+the+ark"/> </v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><img alt="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyfqZEkcF6ZLjUgfBQeZgF3jaxa6j_teqs-iQKIJAiQghPKvu5kc3YPmRcvmkir5HO6Wi1Gv0-DEpwsRrqEWN2pmXtFVqms2xFLUmSmesrmYRllQ0jcVQAh872e_nViBU36g4qC_pm0h8/s400/2+sam+6+-+5+so+david+l+brought+up+the+ark.jpg" border="0" height="287" src="file:///C:\DOCUME~1\Admin\LOCALS~1\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image007.jpg" v:shapes="Picture_x0020_6" width="400" /><!--[endif]--></span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.45pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;"><b><i><span style="background: white; color: #660000; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The Ark of the Covenant with the images of cherubims in the cart during procession</span></i></b><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.45pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.45pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="background: white; color: #002060; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Perhaps, Mr. Canturias would better understand Tagalog:</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.45pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.45pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="background: white; color: #7030a0; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“</span><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">At pinisan uli ni David ang lahat na piling lalake sa Israel, na tatlong pung libo. At bumangon si David at yumaon na kasama ng buong bayan na nasa kaniya, mula sa Baale Juda, upang iahon mula roon ang <b>kaban ng Dios</b>, na tinatawag sa Pangalan, sa makatuwid baga'y sa pangalan ng Panginoon ng mga hukbo, na tumatahan sa gitna ng mga <b>querubin</b>.</span><b><span style="color: #7030a0; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"> </span></b><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">At kanilang inilagay ang <b>kaban ng Dios</b> sa isang<b>bagong karo</b>, at kanilang inilabas sa bahay ni Abinadab na nasa burol: at si Uzza at si Ahio, na mga anak ni Abinadab, ay siyang nagpatakbo ng <b>bagong karo</b>. At kanilang inilabas sa bahay ni Abinadab, na nasa burol, pati ng kaban ng Dios: at si Ahio ay nagpauna sa kaban. At si David at ang buong sangbahayan ni Israel ay nagsitugtog sa harap ng Panginoon ng sarisaring panugtog na kahoy na abeto, at ng mga alpa, at ng mga salterio, at ng mga pandereta, at ng mga kastaneta at ng mga simbalo” (2 Sam. 6:1-5).</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.45pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="background: white; border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: #7030a0; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; padding: 0in;"><br />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br />
<!--[endif]--></span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.45pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="background: white; border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: #7030a0; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-no-proof: yes; padding: 0in;"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_7"
o:spid="_x0000_i1033" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlQL9a4hbuQbkrz3dRRs2Lr2PlmfEPKxTyXFg1zZr8JdWuZ_nDXZaZH5W1HjpF8V14l851856tsFwn0OU9mjVG_Hv_qPVbNSz19v9aCa6qa5KSYzSLZbwKfFJicCg7xiKeoobWgMpMuG4/s400/Jerycho_ark.jpg"
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o:title="Jerycho_ark"/> </v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><img alt="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlQL9a4hbuQbkrz3dRRs2Lr2PlmfEPKxTyXFg1zZr8JdWuZ_nDXZaZH5W1HjpF8V14l851856tsFwn0OU9mjVG_Hv_qPVbNSz19v9aCa6qa5KSYzSLZbwKfFJicCg7xiKeoobWgMpMuG4/s400/Jerycho_ark.jpg" border="0" height="251" src="file:///C:\DOCUME~1\Admin\LOCALS~1\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image008.jpg" v:shapes="Picture_x0020_7" width="400" /><!--[endif]--></span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.45pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;"><b><i><span style="color: #660000; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The Ark of the Covenant encircling the walls of Jericho</span></i></b><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.45pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.45pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #002060; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">If that is not enough, here is the Cebuano translation to help Mr. Canturias understand the passage even more:</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.45pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.45pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="background: white; color: purple; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Ug si David nagtapok pag-usab sa tanang mga piniling tawo sa Israel, katloan ka libo.</span><span style="color: purple; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="color: purple; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Ug si David mitindog, ug miuban sa tibook katawohan nga didto uban kaniya, sukad sa Baal sa Juda, aron sa pagdala gikan didto sa</span><span style="color: purple; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><b><span style="color: purple; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">arca sa Dios</span></b><span style="color: purple; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">, nga gitawag sa Ngalan, bisan sa ngalan ni Jehova sa mga panon nga naglingkod sa ibabaw sa mga</span><span style="color: purple; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><b><span style="color: purple; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">querubin</span></b><span style="color: purple; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">. Ug ilang gipahaluna ang arca sa Dios sa ibabaw sa</span><span style="color: purple; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><b><span style="color: purple; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">bag-ong carromata</span></b><span style="color: purple; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">, ug gidala kini gikan sa balay ni Abinadab nga didto sa bungtod; ug si Uzza ug si Ahio, ang mga anak nga lalake ni Abinadab, nagtulod sa</span><span style="color: purple; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><b><span style="color: purple; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">bag-ong carromata</span></b><span style="color: purple; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">. Ug gidala nila kini gikan sa balay ni Abinadab, nga didto sa bungtod, uban sa arca sa Dios: ug si Ahio miuna sa arca. Ug si David ug ang tibook balay sa Israel nanaghoni sa atubangan ni Jehova sa nagkalainlaing mga tulonggon nga binuhat sa kahoy nga haya, ug uban ang mga alpa, ug uban ang mga kinuldasan nga tulonggon, ug mga pandaretas ug uban ang mga castañetas ug mga piyangpiyang.”</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.45pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.45pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #002060; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">When Mr. Canturias criticizes Catholics, it is his own Biblical illiteracy that is exposed. And by the way, God’s people had a spectacular grand parade in that passage. Go ahead, Mr. Canturias, accuse David and the people of God of being accustomed to pagan practices, too.</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.45pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.45pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_8" o:spid="_x0000_i1032"
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o:title="King-David-dancing-before-the-Lord-2-Sam-6-16-300x188px"/> </v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><img alt="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOiAUIfqd0P8cjHjiDj0mMgKgp7AqVg95OflyTbxVvK3J_PJpsh2FoSFN1WoyWrS0e82GrobEQUWXb-qVll3j0weT2P_eNyiVj7CVfWfGePd8hOiHuTDkyQDJOh_XIf63kHw3hm0s6pqE/s400/King-David-dancing-before-the-Lord-2-Sam-6-16-300x188px.jpg" border="0" height="250" src="file:///C:\DOCUME~1\Admin\LOCALS~1\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image010.jpg" v:shapes="Picture_x0020_8" width="400" /><!--[endif]--></span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.45pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;"><b><i><span style="color: #660000; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Exuberance of emotion: King David dancing before the Ark of the Lord</span></i></b><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.45pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.45pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">You think God is honored with such a degrading act?</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.45pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.45pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #002060; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Degrading is a conclusion. What makes the procession degrading, Mr. Canturias? Procession</span><span style="color: #002060; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><i><span style="color: #002060; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">per se</span></i><i><span style="color: #002060; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></i><span style="color: #002060; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">is not degrading as we see in the verses above. I think Mr. Canturias must justify his asseveration.</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.45pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.45pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #002060; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">As far as the Bible is concerned a religious procession to honor God by itself is</span><span style="color: #002060; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><u><span style="color: #002060; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">not</span></u><span style="color: #002060; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="color: #002060; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">degrading, otherwise why would He allow it in the first place in 2 Samuel 6:1ff.? In the passage, the</span><span style="color: #002060; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><b><span style="background: white; color: #002060; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">ark of God</span></b><span style="background: white; color: #002060; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">, which is called by the Name of the LORD Almighty, was placed in a new cart and carried in a cloud, celebratory, spectacular and grand procession.</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.45pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.45pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Haven't you realized that He is a spirit (John 4: 23-24)</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.45pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.45pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #002060; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Of course we do.</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.45pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.45pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">… and that He is to be worshiped in spirit and in truth?</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.45pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.45pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #002060; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Again, yes of course.</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.45pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.45pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #002060; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Now it’s my time to ask Mr. Canturias. Where in Catholic doctrine does it say that a religious procession is a form of worship? Where in the Bible does it say that procession is a form of worship? I am sure Mr. Canturias can find nothing in Catholic doctrine or Sacred Scripture that teaches that a procession is a form of worship. As far as we are concerned, it is merely a form of devotion.</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.45pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.45pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #002060; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Does Mr. Canturias really think that a procession is worship? If he does, then let me ask him this: does he ever carry his God in procession? If he doesn’t, then Mr. Canturias is not worshipping God. That, a folk, is how flimsy Mr. Canturias’ argument is. It falls flat on his face.</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.45pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.45pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_9" o:spid="_x0000_i1031"
type="#_x0000_t75" alt="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8eZJ4CTGfQQL69462Geuz-DYY-wXHm1UkI_2POCVxmI1I-qN7s9GAwslAa0iHp_rEEFbWBnTRM5_5EHNYgALcGT7pWCrgn1tXVD4A43hI39qjuRfS56UUUfZjEL4hLdJ1Y4pALXIs2mk/s400/215329_10150169648507355_70630972354_6921917_1677760_n.jpg"
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o:title="215329_10150169648507355_70630972354_6921917_1677760_n"/> </v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><img alt="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8eZJ4CTGfQQL69462Geuz-DYY-wXHm1UkI_2POCVxmI1I-qN7s9GAwslAa0iHp_rEEFbWBnTRM5_5EHNYgALcGT7pWCrgn1tXVD4A43hI39qjuRfS56UUUfZjEL4hLdJ1Y4pALXIs2mk/s400/215329_10150169648507355_70630972354_6921917_1677760_n.jpg" border="0" height="400" src="file:///C:\DOCUME~1\Admin\LOCALS~1\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image011.jpg" v:shapes="Picture_x0020_9" width="301" /><!--[endif]--></span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.45pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;"><b><i><span style="color: #660000; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Abbey B. Canturias likes Jesus Daily which has pictures of Christ like this one</span></i></b><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.45pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;"><b><i><span style="color: #660000; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(Source: <a href="http://www.facebook.com/JesusDaily"><span style="color: #b87209; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">http://www.facebook.com/JesusDaily</span></a>)</span></i></b><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.45pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.45pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">That God dwells in a stone image? That's a lie.</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.45pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.45pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #002060; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The one lying here is Mr. Canturias in insinuating that Catholics believe that God dwells in a stone image (by the way, the Nazareno is wood, Mr. Canturias). I challenge Mr. Canturias to come out with an official doctrine of the Catholic Church that says that God dwells in a stone image. If Mr. Canturias can’t, that simply means that he is making a false accusation against us. Here in fact is painted in bold relief Mr. Canturias’ self-contradiction. Has he not earlier said that not even the Pope or a bishop says that the Black Nazarene represents God? If the Black Nazarene does not even represent God, how much more could God dwell therein? This is how shallow Mr. Canturias’ reasoning is.</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.45pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.45pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">That God should be served with human hands? Another lie.</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.45pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.45pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #002060; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Again, it is Mr. Canturias who is lying. Can’t we not serve God, the one true God, with our human hands? Of course we can! We must serve God with the entirety of our being – our hearts, our minds and with our bodies, our hands included. Has it not been commanded by God to</span><span style="color: #002060; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><b><i><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“l<span style="background: #F9FDFF;">ove the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength”</span></span></i></b><span style="color: #002060; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="background: #F9FDFF; color: #002060; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(Dt. 6:5, NIV)? To love God is to serve Him – with all our strength. Which part of the body best symbolizes strength if not our hands? The apostle Paul tells us in 1 Thessalonians 4:11:</span><span style="color: #002060; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><b><i><span style="background: #F9FDFF; color: #7030a0; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and</span></i></b><b><i><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></i></b><b><i><u><span style="background: #F9FDFF; color: #7030a0; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">to work with your hands</span></u></i></b><b><i><span style="background: #F9FDFF; color: #7030a0; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">, just as we told you.”</span></i></b><span style="color: #001320; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="background: #F9FDFF; color: #001320; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">If we work with our hands for God’s glory, is it not serving the Lord God with our hands? When we are</span><span style="color: #001320; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><b><i><span style="background: #F9FDFF; color: #7030a0; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“lifting holy hands”</span></i></b><b><i><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></i></b><span style="background: #F9FDFF; color: #001320; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(1 Tim. 2:8, Ps. 134:2, NLT) in prayer to praise the Lord, are we also not serving Him with our hands? Mr. Canturias certainly errs because he does not know the Scriptures or the power of God (<i>cf.</i></span><i><span style="color: #001320; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></i><span style="background: #F9FDFF; color: #001320; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Mk. 12:24).</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.45pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="background: #F9FDFF; color: #001320; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br />
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<!--[endif]--></span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.45pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="background: #F9FDFF; color: #001320; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-no-proof: yes;"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_10"
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o:title="2012-01-09T055038Z_01_EDC502_RTRIDSP_3_PHILIPPINES-NAZARENE"/> </v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><img alt="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirEOiRQO2Fj6zzIY9FYwcXbWqaqTAgNzekfBlAqEFavAUx1rgGUbGY-e_Hm8Mi9ngIin9LQ4N2wYk_agAK5MWB_BxeQQ0OvY4EKXBlfekhZnFyBYV0I9bou67B4m1oKBid6_ADFgitVfU/s400/2012-01-09T055038Z_01_EDC502_RTRIDSP_3_PHILIPPINES-NAZARENE.jpg" border="0" height="267" src="file:///C:\DOCUME~1\Admin\LOCALS~1\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image012.jpg" v:shapes="Picture_x0020_10" width="400" /><!--[endif]--></span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.45pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;"><b><i><span style="background: #F9FDFF; color: #660000; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Nazareno devotees lifting their hands </span></i></b><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.45pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.45pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">How much longer must this pagan nation …</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.45pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.45pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #002060; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">This is sheer arrogance. I resent this slur against our country and people. The Philippines a pagan nation? Excuse me. No self-respecting Filipino must allow this insult from a modern day Makapili like Mr. Abbey Canturias. The warped thinking of Mr. Canturias puts the Filipino people with the same level as savages. How can a Filipino ever say such a thing against his own country and countrymen? Well, we still have collaborators in our midst. Makapili, anyone?</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.45pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.45pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">… do comic things …</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.45pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.45pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #002060; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Comic? I don’t find the Nazareno procession comic. If Mr. Canturias find it comic, that’s his perception. Imagine the warped sense of humor of Mr. Canturias. He laughs at the religious expression of other people. Does he also laugh when some people get hurt in melee? Mr. Canturias can laugh all the way he wants.</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.45pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.45pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_11" o:spid="_x0000_i1029"
type="#_x0000_t75" alt="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqMshS7pEt5SWD2xqgkW5jcWbvu4pYLzYmHuoqM0Nm6M2FgSQqrdDjnyBAvjYx5hz5dbKT6lPDEAg47ojQF66Y58U3K633L7-4ElJslX11Swg4BVskdWNCc1lfXSXArJlYqf5MUPni8pM/s400/n70630972354_1801627_2365517.jpg"
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o:title="n70630972354_1801627_2365517"/> </v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><img alt="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqMshS7pEt5SWD2xqgkW5jcWbvu4pYLzYmHuoqM0Nm6M2FgSQqrdDjnyBAvjYx5hz5dbKT6lPDEAg47ojQF66Y58U3K633L7-4ElJslX11Swg4BVskdWNCc1lfXSXArJlYqf5MUPni8pM/s400/n70630972354_1801627_2365517.jpg" border="0" height="400" src="file:///C:\DOCUME~1\Admin\LOCALS~1\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image014.jpg" v:shapes="Picture_x0020_11" width="296" /><!--[endif]--></span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.45pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;"><b><i><span style="color: #660000; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Abby Canturias likes Jesus Daily with this picture of Christ</span></i></b><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.45pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;"><b><i><span style="color: #660000; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(Source: <a href="http://www.facebook.com/JesusDaily"><span style="color: #b87209; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">http://www.facebook.com/JesusDaily</span></a>)</span></i></b><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.45pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.45pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">… in its desire to worship the God they don't know who?</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.45pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.45pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #002060; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The nerve! How is Mr. Canturias able to say that we don’t know God? How presumptuous is this fellow named Abby Canturias.</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.45pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.45pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #002060; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">By the way, let me ask again: Is a procession a form of worship? Does the Catholic Church ever teaches that procession is worship? I challenge Mr. Canturias to come out with church doctrine that says it is. If he can’t then I’d say it is Mr. Canturias who is attacking something that he does not know. He is maligning something that he thinks to be our doctrine when it is not. Mr. Canturias speaks evil of something he does not know or understand. The words of the apostle Peter suit him:</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.45pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.45pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“But these, as natural</span><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><b><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">brute</span></b><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><b><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">beasts</span></b><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">, made to be taken and destroyed,</span><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><u><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">speak evil of the things that they understand not</span></u><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">; and shall utterly perish in their own corruption” (2 Pet. 2:11).</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.45pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.45pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #002060; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Similarly, the apostle Jude has this to say to Mr. Canturias and people like him:</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.45pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.45pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“<u>But these speak evil of those things which they know not:</u></span><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">but what they know naturally, as</span><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><u><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">brute beasts</span></u><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">, in those things they corrupt themselves” (Jude 10).</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.45pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.45pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #002060; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Now that’s what I find comical. A man like Mr. Canturias who thinks that something is a Catholic doctrine but is not. Mr. Canturia is shadowboxing with a non-existent opponent. Isn’t that funny?</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.45pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.45pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_12" o:spid="_x0000_i1028"
type="#_x0000_t75" alt="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigWvk03p4sHdDGL7JIj_aDE0SzuqSbCAqNvxfeu2l-pQAuHMqMLSK3vCfaemvUVzoeRY2yEpUd-bx8bJWyvTs8X7hZBX5lOylDv4RitGImP5tulypOixTsEiwUoTIuTTCENC8ykJQFR2o/s400/2012-01-09T055244Z_1891821603_GM1E81912OZ01_RTRMADP_3_PHILIPPINES-NAZARENE.JPG"
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o:title="2012-01-09T055244Z_1891821603_GM1E81912OZ01_RTRMADP_3_PHILIPPINES-NAZARENE"/> </v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><img alt="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigWvk03p4sHdDGL7JIj_aDE0SzuqSbCAqNvxfeu2l-pQAuHMqMLSK3vCfaemvUVzoeRY2yEpUd-bx8bJWyvTs8X7hZBX5lOylDv4RitGImP5tulypOixTsEiwUoTIuTTCENC8ykJQFR2o/s400/2012-01-09T055244Z_1891821603_GM1E81912OZ01_RTRMADP_3_PHILIPPINES-NAZARENE.JPG" border="0" height="267" src="file:///C:\DOCUME~1\Admin\LOCALS~1\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image015.jpg" v:shapes="Picture_x0020_12" width="400" /><!--[endif]--></span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.45pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;"><b><i><span style="color: #660000; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">These are the ignorant, pagan and spiritually blinded Filipino masses according to the Pharisee Abbey Canturias</span></i></b><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.45pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.45pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Blame it on ignorance …</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.45pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.45pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #002060; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Sure, go ahead. Blame it on ignorance. Isn’t that what you are good at, Mr. Canturias? In blame game? But look who’s ignorant here? Mr. Canturias, look at yourself closely – your ignorance of Sacred Scripture, basic common sense, love of country and good manners stare at you in the face.</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.45pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.45pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #002060; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Now that’s what I find comical. A man like Mr. Canturias who thinks that something is a Catholic doctrine but is not. Mr. Canturia is shadowboxing with a non-existent opponent. Isn’t that funny?</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.45pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.45pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Blame it on … spiritual blindness …</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.45pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.45pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #002060; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Who is spiritually blind here but this Pharisee? Look at the monumental spiritual blindness of this holier-than-thou Mr. Canturias but whose grasp of Sacred Scripture is almost nil.</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.45pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.45pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">… a religious hierarchy that must foster ignorance to keep its hold on people.</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.45pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.45pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #002060; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Excuse me, are you referring to the Iglesia ni Cristo, the Ang Dating Daan or any of your sects?</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.45pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.45pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #002060; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The Catholic Church has fostered education in our country more than any of your never heard schools. The University of the Philippines excepted, the best schools in this country are Catholic schools. I doubt it very much if Mr. Canturias can pass the entrance examinations of Ateneo, La Salle and UST. Well, he can try and I wish him luck.</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.45pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.45pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #002060; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">In conclusion, Mr. Abbey B. Canturias said that he lived for 38 years for that lie of carrying images. If carrying images in procession is a lie, then David and the people of God in 2 Samuel 6:1-5 were all liars. According to Mr. Canturias, there was nothing true and defensible there. That’s expected of him to say that given his gross ignorance of Sacred Scripture on religious processions and images. He said that he realized he never worshiped the true God with those sacrifices. It is his concept of worship that is dead wrong! Since when did the Catholic church that going to a religious procession is a sacrifice to worship God? I wonder if Mr. Canturias was really Catholic because how could he be so ignorant of Catholic teaching? Any Catholic of reasonable mind, even those in grade school, would know that our sacrifice is the Holy Eucharist – the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, the self-same sacrifice of Christ Himself made present at the altar. That is the clean oblation prophesied by the prophet Malachi (1:11). Mr. Canturias self-righteously told his Facebook friend to read 1 Samuel 15:22-23 so that he may find freedom from ignorance and pull himself out of spiritual blindness. But what does 1 Samuel 15:22-23 state? Mr. Canturias should read it for himself:</span><span style="color: #002060; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><i><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“And Samuel said, hath the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams. For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because though has rejected the word of the Lord, he hath also rejected thee from being king.”</span></i><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6ueZMkEONdx8Jldo0SYCLRZ2P0foPH8UH-MOKG_LdsUw6Za44vOoj3BoTVQPFKqBTUKiqp1GSZygVDFdxX7OVaSH86Fxaz516VDTeTMoGYsCSY2YAaf947I02pEqRMuoVwK2Svpl1m9w/s1600/hamptonCourt55.jpg"><span style="color: #b87209; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-no-proof: yes; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape
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href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6ueZMkEONdx8Jldo0SYCLRZ2P0foPH8UH-MOKG_LdsUw6Za44vOoj3BoTVQPFKqBTUKiqp1GSZygVDFdxX7OVaSH86Fxaz516VDTeTMoGYsCSY2YAaf947I02pEqRMuoVwK2Svpl1m9w/s1600/hamptonCourt55.jpg"
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o:title="hamptonCourt55"/> </v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><img alt="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6ueZMkEONdx8Jldo0SYCLRZ2P0foPH8UH-MOKG_LdsUw6Za44vOoj3BoTVQPFKqBTUKiqp1GSZygVDFdxX7OVaSH86Fxaz516VDTeTMoGYsCSY2YAaf947I02pEqRMuoVwK2Svpl1m9w/s400/hamptonCourt55.jpg" border="0" height="300" src="file:///C:\DOCUME~1\Admin\LOCALS~1\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image016.jpg" v:shapes="Picture_x0020_13" width="400" /><!--[endif]--></span></a><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The Lord Jesus Christ gives the keys symbolizing the authority to bind and loose to St. Peter</span></i></b><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.45pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.45pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #002060; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Who is the one disobedient but Mr. Canturias himself? It is clear from God’s Word that the Lord Jesus established a Church with the authority to bind and loose (Mt. 16:18-10). Also according to the Word of God, that Church is the pillar and foundation of truth (1 Tim. 3:15). Mr. Canturias sets himself against that Church. Mr. Canturias’ rebellion against the Church is as the sin of witchcraft and his stubbornness against it is as iniquity and idolatry. By the clear verdict of Scripture, it is Mr. Canturias who is guilty of witchcraft, iniquity and idolatry. Mr. Canturias is correct on one point, that obedience to God’s word is what He wants from you and me. Yet, it is God’s Word that reveals that the Church has the authority from its founder Jesus Christ (Mt. 16:18-19, Mt. 17-18) which Mr. Abbey B. Canturias stubbornly resists.</span><span style="color: #002060; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><b><i><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“But if he refuses even to hear the church, let him be to you like a</span></i></b><b><i><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></i></b><b><i><u><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">heathen</span></u></i></b><b><i><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></i></b><b><i><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">and a</span></i></b><b><i><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></i></b><b><i><u><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">tax collector</span></u></i></b><b><i><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">”</span></i></b><i><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></i><span style="color: #002060; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(Mt. 16:17, NKJV).</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.45pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.45pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_14" o:spid="_x0000_i1026"
type="#_x0000_t75" alt="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXkbFqFf4uq_ydx3fjG-9ZBy6-zY5WoHqJqZaC57bMGxDBZZCSQqd9RZl09CMEueOs4xHdLNzKoy0AuPUmRdWPMM7WR46KDSQQf3S6rOb0VmtnCc-7luFM06oPx9Vs5BvwAk_UzaU_9Oo/s400/ARMANDO+ANG.jpg"
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o:title="ARMANDO+ANG"/> </v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><img alt="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXkbFqFf4uq_ydx3fjG-9ZBy6-zY5WoHqJqZaC57bMGxDBZZCSQqd9RZl09CMEueOs4xHdLNzKoy0AuPUmRdWPMM7WR46KDSQQf3S6rOb0VmtnCc-7luFM06oPx9Vs5BvwAk_UzaU_9Oo/s400/ARMANDO+ANG.jpg" border="0" height="304" src="file:///C:\DOCUME~1\Admin\LOCALS~1\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image017.jpg" v:shapes="Picture_x0020_14" width="400" /><!--[endif]--></span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.45pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;"><b><i><span style="color: #660000; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">For rebelling against the Lord's duly constituted authority, Mr. Abbey B. Canturias follows the example of Lucifer, the father and leader of rebels and protesters against God's authority</span></i></b><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.45pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;"> <hr align="left" size="1" width="33%" /> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><a href="" name="_ftn1"></a><a href="file:///C:/Users/user/Documents/THE%20IGNORANCE%20AND%20ARROGANCE%20OF%20ABBEY%20B.docx#_ftnref1" title=""><span style="color: #b87209; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">[1]</span></a><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/abbey.canturias"><span style="color: #b87209; font-size: 12.0pt; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">https://www.facebook.com/abbey.canturias</span></a></span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">. Abbey B. Canturia’s Facebook account is public.</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div></div></div><div><br />
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</div><div>My only wish, though, is that the people who mob this procession be educated, hopefullly by this Year of Faith. </div>IJRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02294057859963145663noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4187924677660293415.post-87099830786653195882012-01-05T01:10:00.000-08:002012-01-05T01:10:27.287-08:00I Blogged Anyway….: The Second Anniversary Post<span style="font-family: inherit;">Well, I would be out in the Second Anniversary of this blog. PRELIMS. </span><br />
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</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">But I would be leaving you with this thought:<br />
</span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Two years have now passed since I started blogging. I knew that it is not my flagship media online, since there would be other things that I may be involved in the future. <br />
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And I was right. I was appointed Admin at 100% KATOLIKONG PINOY! last August, and since then, this blog took a back seat when it comes to airing my sentiments. But this blog is very important since this is where I air my personal sentiments on what is going on with the Catholic Church, as well as what I observe in Philippine Media and Politics. <br />
</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I blogged anyway. </span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">There are things that really transpire in this little sandbox of scribbles and thoughts. <span style="font-style: italic;">May mga pagkakataon na feeling ko, nilalangaw 'tong blog na 'to kaya mga reposts na lang ang nagagawa ko</span>. But there are really a number of original stuff from Yours Truly that really needs to be published. </span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I blogged anyway. </span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">There are really times that I am frustrated to use my fingers and pick up a pen and paper to make drafts of my written works; or put them into a keyboard and just type with no or little revisions. It turns out that they're beautiful the way they are. </span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I blogged anyway. </span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I have beaten my previous number of posts last 2010 by more than a half. And just because of this, I would try to beat that record again this year; because no matter how busy I would be this year, if there is something worth blogging… </span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I blog it anyway.</span></div>IJRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02294057859963145663noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4187924677660293415.post-53667183167628062992011-12-31T17:50:00.000-08:002011-12-31T18:09:01.497-08:00Theotokos in Protestant Theology<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">First of all, HAPPY NEW YEAR TO EVERYONE! </span><br />
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</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Now, we also celebrate the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God. This is actually to celebrate the oldest of the four Marian Dogmas which the Fathers of the Council of Ephesus declared Mary as "Theotokos"--the God-bearer--to refute the heresy of Nestorius, who said that Mary was only the mother of Christ's human nature. Now, even the most Biblically-savvy Protestants MUST admit that it is because of Mary that made the saving mission of Jesus Christ possible because of her "fiat". <br />
<br />
And to explain this stuff is no less than my friend, apologetics idol, fellow blogger, and Mariologist extraordinaire, Atty. Marwil Llasos, O.P. from the Company of St. Dominic. <br />
<br />
Original post <a href="http://bromarwilnllasos.blogspot.com/2011/12/theotokos-in-protestant-theology.html">HERE</a>. </span><br />
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<h3 class="post-title entry-title" style="line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 20px; position: relative;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">THEOTOKOS IN PROTESTANT THEOLOGY</span></h3><div class="post-header" style="line-height: 1.6; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div class="post-header-line-1"></div></div><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-7053125184662400370" style="position: relative; width: 540px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; line-height: 1.4; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_cbM6adcIP0/TvnoSghq7yI/AAAAAAAARSw/iDDQQUXFF0g/s1600/theotokos-and-christ.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_cbM6adcIP0/TvnoSghq7yI/AAAAAAAARSw/iDDQQUXFF0g/s320/theotokos-and-christ.jpg" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; position: relative;" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; line-height: 1.4; text-align: center;"><i><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">The All-Holy Theotokos</span></b></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; line-height: 1.4; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 1.4; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><b><i><span style="line-height: 23px;">THEOTOKOS</span></i></b><b><span style="line-height: 23px;"> IN PROTESTANT THEOLOGY<o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 1.4; text-align: center;"><b><span style="line-height: 23px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span></b></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 1.4; text-align: center;"><b><span style="line-height: 23px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Marwil N. Llasos, O.P.</span></span></b></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 1.4; text-align: center;"><b><span style="line-height: 23px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span></b></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 1.4; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><img height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Zn63KzvuWSs/Tvn8lftAs4I/AAAAAAAARX0/w_NaoKMS8Ho/s400/408498_2742329913701_1121046341_33101067_1375048956_n.jpg" width="300" /></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 1.4; text-align: center;"><i><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">The author: Marwil N. Llasos, O.P.</span></b></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 1.4; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 1.4; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="line-height: 19px;"> </span></b><span style="line-height: 19px;">Classical Protestantism regarded Mary as the Mother of God. Despite the break from Rome, nearly all Protestant reformers held the historic doctrine on Mary’ Divine Maternity. Mary remained to them as the <i>Theotokos – </i>the God-bearer.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 1.4; text-align: justify;"><span style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; line-height: 1.4; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ltw1Ryzm6pM/Tvnol_q7D9I/AAAAAAAARS8/OG6I74w3_hY/s1600/Luther2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ltw1Ryzm6pM/Tvnol_q7D9I/AAAAAAAARS8/OG6I74w3_hY/s400/Luther2.jpg" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; position: relative;" width="295" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; line-height: 1.4; text-align: center;"><i><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Martin Luther</span></b></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 1.4; text-align: justify;"><span style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 1.4; text-align: justify;"><span style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> <b>Martin Luther<o:p></o:p></b></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 1.4; text-align: justify;"><span style="line-height: 19px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 1.4; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="line-height: 19px;"> </span></b><span style="line-height: 19px;">The man who started it<a href="file:///C:/Users/user/Documents/THEOTOKOS%20IN%20PROTESTANT%20THEOLOGY.docx#_ftn1" name="_ftnref1" style="text-decoration: none;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="line-height: 19px;">[1]</span></span></span></a> all, Fray Martin Luther, O.S.A. was deeply devoted to the Mother of God. Even after his publication of the<i>Ninety-Five Theses </i>in 1517, Martin Luther’s high view of Mary was not significantly altered.<a href="file:///C:/Users/user/Documents/THEOTOKOS%20IN%20PROTESTANT%20THEOLOGY.docx#_ftn2" name="_ftnref2" style="text-decoration: none;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="line-height: 19px;">[2]</span></span></span></a> For the former Agustinian monk, she is<i>“preeminent among all God’s creation only because God chose her to be the mother of his son.”<a href="file:///C:/Users/user/Documents/THEOTOKOS%20IN%20PROTESTANT%20THEOLOGY.docx#_ftn3" name="_ftnref3" style="text-decoration: none;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><b><span style="line-height: 19px;">[3]</span></b></span></span></a></i><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 1.4; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 1.4; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Far from discarding the ancient and traditional belief in Mary as Mother of God, Martin Luther affirmed and emphatically preached it. Martin Luther said:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in; margin-right: 0.5in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 25px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in; margin-right: 0.5in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 25px;">“</span><span style="line-height: 25px;">God is born … the child who drinks his Mother’s milk is eternal; he existed before the world’s beginning and he created heaven and earth. … these two natures are so united that there is only one God and Lord, that Mary suckles God with her breasts, bathes God, rocks him, and carries him.”<span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="line-height: 19px;"><a href="file:///C:/Users/user/Documents/THEOTOKOS%20IN%20PROTESTANT%20THEOLOGY.docx#_ftn4" name="_ftnref4" style="text-decoration: none;" title="">[4]</a></span></span></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in; margin-right: 0.5in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 25px;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; line-height: 1.4; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0.5in; margin-right: 0.5in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; line-height: 1.4; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QTpdOHW5FB8/TvnpsrDfKJI/AAAAAAAARTU/g6-XR6mI1a8/s1600/057006421Xh.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QTpdOHW5FB8/TvnpsrDfKJI/AAAAAAAARTU/g6-XR6mI1a8/s400/057006421Xh.jpg" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; position: relative;" width="266" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; line-height: 1.4; text-align: center;"><i><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Luther's Works edited by Jaroslav Pelikan</span></b></i></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 1.4; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Throughout his life, Martin Luther used and defended Mary’s title <i>Theotokos</i>. Luther argued:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 1.4; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in; margin-right: 0.5in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 25px;">“She is rightly called not only the mother of the man, but also the Mother of God. … It is certain that Mary is the Mother of the real and true God.”<a href="file:///C:/Users/user/Documents/THEOTOKOS%20IN%20PROTESTANT%20THEOLOGY.docx#_ftn5" name="_ftnref5" style="text-decoration: none;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="line-height: 19px;">[5]</span></span></span></a></span><span style="line-height: 25px;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 1.4; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 1.4; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 19px;">Mary, according to the founder of Protestantism and <i>faith alone</i>theology, <i>“is the model of by faith alone through grace alone.”<a href="file:///C:/Users/user/Documents/THEOTOKOS%20IN%20PROTESTANT%20THEOLOGY.docx#_ftn6" name="_ftnref6" style="text-decoration: none;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><b><span style="line-height: 19px;">[6]</span></b></span></span></a> </i>In the <i>Sermon Preached at Erfurt on the Journey to Worms, John 20:19-20, April 7, 1521, </i>Martin Luther maintained that even </span><i><span style="line-height: 19px;">“the holy mother of God did not become good, was not saved, by her virginity or by her purity or her motherhood, but rather by the will of faith and the works of God, and not by her purity, or by her own works.”<a href="file:///C:/Users/user/Documents/THEOTOKOS%20IN%20PROTESTANT%20THEOLOGY.docx#_ftn7" name="_ftnref7" style="text-decoration: none;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><b><span style="line-height: 19px;">[7]</span></b></span></span></a><o:p></o:p></span></i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 1.4; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 1.4; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">God indeed chose and prepared Mary and filled her with His grace alone to be His mother. In his <i>Commentary on the Magnificat,</i>Martin Luther expressed:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in; margin-right: 0.5in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 25px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in; margin-right: 0.5in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 25px;">“Men have crowded all her glory into a single phrase: the Mother of God. No one can say anything greater of her, though he had as many tongues are there are leaves on the trees.”<a href="file:///C:/Users/user/Documents/THEOTOKOS%20IN%20PROTESTANT%20THEOLOGY.docx#_ftn8" name="_ftnref8" style="text-decoration: none;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="line-height: 19px;">[8]</span></span></span></a></span><span style="line-height: 25px;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 1.4; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 1.4; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">It is clear that for Martin Luther, all praise and glory to Mary is summed up in her title as Mother of God:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in; margin-right: 0.5in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 25px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in; margin-right: 0.5in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 25px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">“In this work whereby she was made the Mother of God, so many and such great good things were given her that no one can grasp them … Not only was Mary the mother of him who is born [in Bethlehem], but of him who, before the world, was eternally born of the Father, from a Mother in time and at the same time man and God.”<a href="file:///C:/Users/user/Documents/THEOTOKOS%20IN%20PROTESTANT%20THEOLOGY.docx#_ftn9" name="_ftnref9" style="text-decoration: none;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="line-height: 19px;">[9]</span></span></span></a><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0.5in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="line-height: 25px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; line-height: 1.4; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nqySFIl85oc/Tvno9XOWfFI/AAAAAAAARTI/tFRGY5zOB-E/s1600/calvin-john.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nqySFIl85oc/Tvno9XOWfFI/AAAAAAAARTI/tFRGY5zOB-E/s400/calvin-john.jpg" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; position: relative;" width="346" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; line-height: 1.4; text-align: center;"><i><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">John Calvin</span></b></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0.5in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="line-height: 25px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0.5in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="line-height: 25px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> <b>John Calvin<o:p></o:p></b></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0.5in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 1.4; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">John Calvin is considered to be the most systematic of the Reformed theologians and the most guarded about Mary.<a href="file:///C:/Users/user/Documents/THEOTOKOS%20IN%20PROTESTANT%20THEOLOGY.docx#_ftn10" name="_ftnref10" style="text-decoration: none;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="line-height: 19px;">[10]</span></span></span></a> Yet he also held Mary’s Divine Maternity:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 1.4; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in; margin-right: 0.5in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 25px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">“It cannot be denied that God in choosing and destining Mary to be the Mother of his Son, granted her the highest honor. … Elizabeth called Mary Mother of the Lord, because the unity of the person in the two natures of Christ was such that she could have said that the mortal man engendered in the womb of Mary was at the same time the eternal God.”<span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><a href="file:///C:/Users/user/Documents/THEOTOKOS%20IN%20PROTESTANT%20THEOLOGY.docx#_ftn11" name="_ftnref11" style="text-decoration: none;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="line-height: 19px;">[11]</span></span></a></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in; margin-right: 0.5in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; line-height: 1.4; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6Lf8HOuKqY0/TvnqC9o6H8I/AAAAAAAARTg/mZ1xymbn7qI/s1600/charles-drelincourt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6Lf8HOuKqY0/TvnqC9o6H8I/AAAAAAAARTg/mZ1xymbn7qI/s400/charles-drelincourt.jpg" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; position: relative;" width="296" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; line-height: 1.4; text-align: center;"><i><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">The successor of Ulrich Zwingli: Charles Drelincourt</span></b></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0.5in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="line-height: 25px;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 1.4; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><b><span style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Charles Drelincourt<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 1.4; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 1.4; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Charles Drelincourt is among the last Reformed theologians to treat at length the Blessed Virgin Mary. He was pastor of the Reformed church of Paris.<a href="file:///C:/Users/user/Documents/THEOTOKOS%20IN%20PROTESTANT%20THEOLOGY.docx#_ftn12" name="_ftnref12" style="text-decoration: none;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="line-height: 19px;">[12]</span></span></span></a> He wrote:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 1.4; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in; margin-right: 0.5in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 25px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">“We do not simply believe that God has favored the holy and blessed Virgin more than all the Patriarchs and the Prophets, but also that he has exalted her above all Seraphim …. The holy Virgin is not only the servant and the creature, but also the Mother of this great and living God.”<a href="file:///C:/Users/user/Documents/THEOTOKOS%20IN%20PROTESTANT%20THEOLOGY.docx#_ftn13" name="_ftnref13" style="text-decoration: none;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="line-height: 19px;">[13]</span></span></span></a><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 1.4; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 1.4; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><b><span style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Reformed Confessions<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 1.4; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 1.4; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Although Protestant reflection on Mary weakened further from the sixteenth to the eighteenth century,<a href="file:///C:/Users/user/Documents/THEOTOKOS%20IN%20PROTESTANT%20THEOLOGY.docx#_ftn14" name="_ftnref14" style="text-decoration: none;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="line-height: 19px;">[14]</span></span></span></a> there were nevertheless some references on Mary in Reformed confessions. The Formula of Concord of 1576 defended the title “Mother of God” and the reality of Mary’s motherhood.<a href="file:///C:/Users/user/Documents/THEOTOKOS%20IN%20PROTESTANT%20THEOLOGY.docx#_ftn15" name="_ftnref15" style="text-decoration: none;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="line-height: 19px;">[15]</span></span></span></a> Dr. Tim Perry reports that Mary “is similarly treated in Reformed confessions.”<a href="file:///C:/Users/user/Documents/THEOTOKOS%20IN%20PROTESTANT%20THEOLOGY.docx#_ftn16" name="_ftnref16" style="text-decoration: none;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="line-height: 19px;">[16]</span></span></span></a><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 1.4; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 1.4; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><b><span style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Contemporary Protestants<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 1.4; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 1.4; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">After the first generations of Protestant reformers, the figure of the Blessed Virgin Mary gradually faded away. As already mentioned, Charles Drelincourt was among the last Reformed theologians who treated Mary at length and discussed her Divine Maternity.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 1.4; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; line-height: 1.4; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-N-MwWyOEb6k/Tvnqs1WGBgI/AAAAAAAARTs/RsfPa_2P1aQ/s1600/watermarkcomp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="296" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-N-MwWyOEb6k/Tvnqs1WGBgI/AAAAAAAARTs/RsfPa_2P1aQ/s400/watermarkcomp.jpg" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; position: relative;" width="400" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; line-height: 1.4; text-align: center;"><i><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Jimmy Swaggart</span></b></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 1.4; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 1.4; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Fundamentalists critique Mary as Mother of God. Television evangelist Jimmy Swaggart emphatically asserted:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 1.4; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in; margin-right: 0.5in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 25px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> “No. Mary is not the Mother of God. Mary was the Mother of the human being, Jesus.<a href="file:///C:/Users/user/Documents/THEOTOKOS%20IN%20PROTESTANT%20THEOLOGY.docx#_ftn17" name="_ftnref17" style="text-decoration: none;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="line-height: 19px;">[17]</span></span></span></a> Mary served a biological function that was necessary to bring about a unique situation<a href="file:///C:/Users/user/Documents/THEOTOKOS%20IN%20PROTESTANT%20THEOLOGY.docx#_ftn18" name="_ftnref18" style="text-decoration: none;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="line-height: 19px;">[18]</span></span></span></a> … The unbiblical worship<a href="file:///C:/Users/user/Documents/THEOTOKOS%20IN%20PROTESTANT%20THEOLOGY.docx#_ftn19" name="_ftnref19" style="text-decoration: none;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="line-height: 19px;">[19]</span></span></span></a> of Mary has its foundation in the insupportable misnomer, ‘Mother of God.’ The correct scriptural description of Mary is the simple biblical expression, ‘Mary, the Mother of Jesus’<a href="file:///C:/Users/user/Documents/THEOTOKOS%20IN%20PROTESTANT%20THEOLOGY.docx#_ftn20" name="_ftnref20" style="text-decoration: none;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="line-height: 19px;">[20]</span></span></span></a> [Acts 1:14].”<a href="file:///C:/Users/user/Documents/THEOTOKOS%20IN%20PROTESTANT%20THEOLOGY.docx#_ftn21" name="_ftnref21" style="text-decoration: none;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="line-height: 19px;">[21]</span></span></span></a><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in; margin-right: 0.5in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 1.4; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Anti-Catholic Dave Hunt echoed Swaggart, stating –<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 1.4; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in; margin-right: 0.5in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 25px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">“”Mother of God”? Yes, Jesus is God and Mary is His mother, but she is not the mother of Him as God, which He was and is from all eternity before Mary was ever born.<a href="file:///C:/Users/user/Documents/THEOTOKOS%20IN%20PROTESTANT%20THEOLOGY.docx#_ftn22" name="_ftnref22" style="text-decoration: none;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="line-height: 19px;">[22]</span></span></span></a> She is the mother of the physical body<a href="file:///C:/Users/user/Documents/THEOTOKOS%20IN%20PROTESTANT%20THEOLOGY.docx#_ftn23" name="_ftnref23" style="text-decoration: none;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="line-height: 19px;">[23]</span></span></span></a>which the son of God took when He became man, but she is not the Mother of God!”<a href="file:///C:/Users/user/Documents/THEOTOKOS%20IN%20PROTESTANT%20THEOLOGY.docx#_ftn24" name="_ftnref24" style="text-decoration: none;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="line-height: 19px;">[24]</span></span></span></a><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in; margin-right: 0.5in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 1.4; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Another critic of Catholic Mariology, James Tolle, argued:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 1.4; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in; margin-right: 0.5in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 25px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">“[Mary] is referred to in the New Testament as ‘mother of my Lord’ [Lk. 1:43] and ‘mother of Jesus’ [Jn. 2:1] – but never as mother of God … It is in keeping with the scriptures for us to call Mary the mother of Jesus but not the mother of God.”<span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="line-height: 19px;"><a href="file:///C:/Users/user/Documents/THEOTOKOS%20IN%20PROTESTANT%20THEOLOGY.docx#_ftn25" name="_ftnref25" style="text-decoration: none;" title="">[25]</a></span></span><a href="file:///C:/Users/user/Documents/THEOTOKOS%20IN%20PROTESTANT%20THEOLOGY.docx#_ftn25" name="_ftnref25" style="text-decoration: none;" title=""></a></span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in; margin-right: 0.5in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 25px;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; line-height: 1.4; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NuN9DmHrh0c/TvnrRKluZwI/AAAAAAAART4/pgG0xBUbqto/s1600/9781565071070.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NuN9DmHrh0c/TvnrRKluZwI/AAAAAAAART4/pgG0xBUbqto/s400/9781565071070.jpg" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; position: relative;" width="252" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; line-height: 1.4; text-align: center;"><i><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">The Gospel According to Rome: James G. McCarthy's anti-Catholic book</span></b></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; line-height: 1.4; text-align: center;"><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">For refutation, see: <a href="http://www.philvaz.com/apologetics/a64.htm" style="text-decoration: none;">http://www.philvaz.com/apologetics/a64.htm</a></span></i></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in; margin-right: 0.5in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 25px;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 1.4; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Finally, noted anti-Catholic writer, James G. McCarthy, criticized Catholics for calling Mary “Mother of God”:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 1.4; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in; margin-right: 0.5in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 25px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">“Though there is no biblical precedent for it, Roman Catholicism honors Mary as the <i>Mother of God.</i>Since Jesus is God, and Mary is the mother of Jesus, then Mary must be the Mother of God, so the argument. The Bible on the other hand, never calls Mary the Mother of God for the very simple reason: God has no mother.<a href="file:///C:/Users/user/Documents/THEOTOKOS%20IN%20PROTESTANT%20THEOLOGY.docx#_ftn26" name="_ftnref26" style="text-decoration: none;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="line-height: 19px;">[26]</span></span></span></a>As someone has rightly said, just as Christ’s human nature had no father, so His divine nature had no mother.<a href="file:///C:/Users/user/Documents/THEOTOKOS%20IN%20PROTESTANT%20THEOLOGY.docx#_ftn27" name="_ftnref27" style="text-decoration: none;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="line-height: 19px;">[27]</span></span></span></a> The Bible, therefore, rightly calls Mary the “mother of Jesus” (John 2:1; Acts 1:14),<a href="file:///C:/Users/user/Documents/THEOTOKOS%20IN%20PROTESTANT%20THEOLOGY.docx#_ftn28" name="_ftnref28" style="text-decoration: none;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="line-height: 19px;">[28]</span></span></span></a> but never the Mother of God.”<span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="line-height: 19px;"><a href="file:///C:/Users/user/Documents/THEOTOKOS%20IN%20PROTESTANT%20THEOLOGY.docx#_ftn29" name="_ftnref29" style="text-decoration: none;" title="">[29]</a></span></span><a href="file:///C:/Users/user/Documents/THEOTOKOS%20IN%20PROTESTANT%20THEOLOGY.docx#_ftn29" name="_ftnref29" style="text-decoration: none;" title=""></a></span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in; margin-right: 0.5in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 25px;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 1.4; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">It must be pointed out, however, that there are Fundamentalists hostile to the Roman Catholic Church and its Marian devotion who admit that “Mother of God” is an unavoidable title. Nevertheless, they downplay its significance.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 1.4; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 1.4; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Famous anti-Catholic writer Lorraine Boettner narrated that –<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 1.4; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in; margin-right: 0.5in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 25px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">“The phrase ‘Mother of God’ originated in the Council of Ephesus, in the year 431.<a href="file:///C:/Users/user/Documents/THEOTOKOS%20IN%20PROTESTANT%20THEOLOGY.docx#_ftn30" name="_ftnref30" style="text-decoration: none;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="line-height: 19px;">[30]</span></span></span></a> It occurs in the creed of Chalcedon, which was adopted by the council which met in that city in 451, and in regard to the person of Christ it declared that He was ‘Born of the Virgin Mary, the Mother of God, according to the manhood.’<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in; margin-right: 0.5in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in; margin-right: 0.5in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 25px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">“The purpose of the expression as used by the Council of Ephesus was not to glorify Mary, but to emphasize the deity of Christ over those who denied His equality with the Father and the Holy Spirit. A heretical sect, the Nestorians, separated the two natures in Christ to such an extent that they held Him to be two persons, or rather a dual person formed by the union between the divine Logos and the human person Jesus of Nazareth. They were accused of teaching that the Logos only inhabited the man Jesus, from which it was inferred that they held that the person born of Mary was only man. It was therefore only to emphasize the fact that the ‘person’ born to Mary was truly divine that she was called ‘the Mother of God.” …”<a href="file:///C:/Users/user/Documents/THEOTOKOS%20IN%20PROTESTANT%20THEOLOGY.docx#_ftn31" name="_ftnref31" style="text-decoration: none;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="line-height: 19px;">[31]</span></span></span></a><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in; margin-right: 0.5in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; line-height: 1.4; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iaQS9nKA3zA/Tvnux9DJB6I/AAAAAAAARUE/dfvhPdEV2Uk/s1600/roman-catholicism-loraine-boettner-paperback-cover-art.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iaQS9nKA3zA/Tvnux9DJB6I/AAAAAAAARUE/dfvhPdEV2Uk/s400/roman-catholicism-loraine-boettner-paperback-cover-art.jpg" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; position: relative;" width="255" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; line-height: 1.4; text-align: center;"><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">The Bible of Anti-Catholicism</span></i></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; line-height: 1.4; text-align: center;"><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">For a critique, see: <a href="http://www.catholic.com/tracts/the-anti-catholic-bible" style="line-height: 18px; text-decoration: none;">http://www.catholic.com/tracts/the-anti-catholic-bible</a></span></i></b></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 1.4; text-align: center;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in; margin-right: 0.5in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 25px;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 1.4; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Boettner expressed apprehension about the title <i>Mother of God</i>in this wise –<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 1.4; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in; margin-right: 0.5in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 25px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">“The term [Mother of God] today has come to have a far different meaning from that intended by the early church.<a href="file:///C:/Users/user/Documents/THEOTOKOS%20IN%20PROTESTANT%20THEOLOGY.docx#_ftn32" name="_ftnref32" style="text-decoration: none;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="line-height: 19px;">[32]</span></span></span></a> It no longer has reference to the orthodox doctrine concerning the person of Christ, but instead is used to exalt Mary to a supernatural status as Queen of Heaven, Queen of the Angels,<a href="file:///C:/Users/user/Documents/THEOTOKOS%20IN%20PROTESTANT%20THEOLOGY.docx#_ftn33" name="_ftnref33" style="text-decoration: none;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="line-height: 19px;">[33]</span></span></span></a> etc., so that because of her assumed position of prominence in heaven, she is able to approach her Son effectively and to secure for her followers whatever favors they ask through her.”<span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="line-height: 19px;"><a href="file:///C:/Users/user/Documents/THEOTOKOS%20IN%20PROTESTANT%20THEOLOGY.docx#_ftn34" name="_ftnref34" style="text-decoration: none;" title="">[34]</a></span></span><a href="file:///C:/Users/user/Documents/THEOTOKOS%20IN%20PROTESTANT%20THEOLOGY.docx#_ftn34" name="_ftnref34" style="text-decoration: none;" title=""></a></span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"></span></span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in; margin-right: 0.5in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 25px;"><br />
</span></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 19px;">Another Fundamentalist, Evangelical writer Paul G. Schrotenboer traced the phrase <i>Theotokos </i>to the councils of Ephesus (431) and Chalcedon (451) to affirm the true humanity of the Lord:<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 19px;"><br />
</span></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in; margin-right: 0.5in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 25px;">“The phrase <i>theotokos, </i>traceable to the councils of Ephesus (431) and Chalcedon (451)<a href="file:///C:/Users/user/Documents/THEOTOKOS%20IN%20PROTESTANT%20THEOLOGY.docx#_ftn35" name="_ftnref35" style="text-decoration: none;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="line-height: 19px;">[35]</span></span></span></a> was originally used in the context of Christology to affirm the true humanity<a href="file:///C:/Users/user/Documents/THEOTOKOS%20IN%20PROTESTANT%20THEOLOGY.docx#_ftn36" name="_ftnref36" style="text-decoration: none;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="line-height: 19px;">[36]</span></span></span></a> of our Lord.”<span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="line-height: 19px;"><a href="file:///C:/Users/user/Documents/THEOTOKOS%20IN%20PROTESTANT%20THEOLOGY.docx#_ftn37" name="_ftnref37" style="text-decoration: none;" title="">[37]</a></span></span><a href="file:///C:/Users/user/Documents/THEOTOKOS%20IN%20PROTESTANT%20THEOLOGY.docx#_ftn37" name="_ftnref37" style="text-decoration: none;" title=""></a></span><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in; margin-right: 0.5in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 25px;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><br />
</span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; line-height: 16px; text-align: center;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HvA1ll6h51A/TvnvjsHCknI/AAAAAAAARUQ/g-DmoNuSjQY/s1600/9780801082924.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HvA1ll6h51A/TvnvjsHCknI/AAAAAAAARUQ/g-DmoNuSjQY/s400/9780801082924.jpg" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; position: relative;" width="270" /></a></span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; line-height: 16px; text-align: center;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><i><b>Roman Catholicism: A Contemporary Evangelical Perspective</b></i></span></span></span></div><div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 16px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 19px;">Schrotenboer, however, charged that </span><span style="line-height: 19px;">“[i]n time it underwent a radical shift, however, serving eventually to elevate Mary as ‘Mother of God.’”<a href="file:///C:/Users/user/Documents/THEOTOKOS%20IN%20PROTESTANT%20THEOLOGY.docx#_ftn38" name="_ftnref38" style="text-decoration: none;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="line-height: 19px;">[38]</span></span></span></a><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 16px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 19px;"><br />
</span></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 16px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 19px;">Paul G. Schrotenboer finally concluded –<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in; margin-right: 0.5in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 25px;"><br />
</span></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in; margin-right: 0.5in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 25px;">“She was the mother of God, and all ages of believers will acknowledge her as such, but after she made this once-for-all-contribution, she, like John the Baptist, had to decrease as John the Baptist decreased.”<a href="file:///C:/Users/user/Documents/THEOTOKOS%20IN%20PROTESTANT%20THEOLOGY.docx#_ftn39" name="_ftnref39" style="text-decoration: none;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="line-height: 19px;">[39]</span></span></span></a></span><span style="line-height: 25px;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 16px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 19px;"><br />
</span></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 16px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 19px;">For his part, Elliot Miller of the Christian Research Institute (an Evangelical ministry headquartered in Southern California) wrote in<i>The Cult of the Virgin –<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 16px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 19px;"><i><br />
</i></span></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in; margin-right: 0.5in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 25px;">“At this council [the Council of Chalcedon in A.D. 451] the church officially assigned the title <i>Theotokos</i>(‘God-bearer’ or ‘mother of God’) to Mary. The original intent behind the title, which was first employed in the fourth century by such church fathers as Athanasius and Gregory Nazianzen, was not to exalt Mary … One hotly debated theory, the identified with Nestorius, the bishop of Constantinople, contended that the divine Word and the man Jesus were two separate persons … The orthodox rightly rejected this theory … In his preaching Nestorius consistently used the title ‘Mother of Christ’ for Mary. Suspecting a theological motivation was implicit in the title, the orthodox emphatically insisted that Mary is the mother of God. By this they meant to uphold the truths that the man born of Mary was truly God, and, conversely, that the second person in the Godhead had indeed taken upon himself the full nature of man …”<span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="line-height: 19px;"><a href="file:///C:/Users/user/Documents/THEOTOKOS%20IN%20PROTESTANT%20THEOLOGY.docx#_ftn40" name="_ftnref40" style="text-decoration: none;" title="">[40]</a></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in; margin-right: 0.5in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 25px;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><br />
</span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 16px; text-align: center;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hoDwXCrRxZg/Tvnwpkh69uI/AAAAAAAARUc/9lDIeNv9Cvk/s1600/3993268-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hoDwXCrRxZg/Tvnwpkh69uI/AAAAAAAARUc/9lDIeNv9Cvk/s320/3993268-L.jpg" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; position: relative;" width="204" /></a></span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 16px; text-align: center;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><i><b>The Cult of the Virgin by Elliot Miller of Christian Research Institute</b></i></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in; margin-right: 0.5in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 25px;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><br />
</span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 16px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 19px;">Under the title “Natures do not have mothers,” Miller argued that </span><span style="line-height: 19px;">“[t]hough some Protestants have disputed any use of the term, in the sense that the person she gave birth to is – by identity – God, Mary is the mother of God.”<a href="file:///C:/Users/user/Documents/THEOTOKOS%20IN%20PROTESTANT%20THEOLOGY.docx#_ftn41" name="_ftnref41" style="text-decoration: none;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="line-height: 19px;">[41]</span></span></span></a> </span><span style="line-height: 19px;">Although conceding the title, Elliot Miller, however, downplayed it by stating that </span><span style="line-height: 19px;">“[t]he term mother of God can only be applied to Mary in one narrow sense. It therefore follows that to use it without strict qualification will naturally result in serious confusion,<a href="file:///C:/Users/user/Documents/THEOTOKOS%20IN%20PROTESTANT%20THEOLOGY.docx#_ftn42" name="_ftnref42" style="text-decoration: none;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="line-height: 19px;">[42]</span></span></span></a> especially to the theologically confused.”<span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="line-height: 19px;"><a href="file:///C:/Users/user/Documents/THEOTOKOS%20IN%20PROTESTANT%20THEOLOGY.docx#_ftn43" name="_ftnref43" style="text-decoration: none;" title="">[43]</a></span></span><a href="file:///C:/Users/user/Documents/THEOTOKOS%20IN%20PROTESTANT%20THEOLOGY.docx#_ftn43" name="_ftnref43" style="text-decoration: none;" title=""></a></span><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 16px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><br />
</span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 16px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 19px;">Supporting Miller’s views, Norman Geisler is categorical:</span><span style="line-height: 19px;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 16px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 19px;"><br />
</span></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in; margin-right: 0.5in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 25px;">“The Bible speaks of the Virgin Mary as ‘the mother if my Lord’ (Luke 1:43), and orthodox Christian creeds speak of Mary as the ‘Mother of God.’ Indeed she was the mother of the one person who is both God and man, the Lord Jesus Christ.”<span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="line-height: 19px;"><a href="file:///C:/Users/user/Documents/THEOTOKOS%20IN%20PROTESTANT%20THEOLOGY.docx#_ftn44" name="_ftnref44" style="text-decoration: none;" title="">[44]</a></span></span><a href="file:///C:/Users/user/Documents/THEOTOKOS%20IN%20PROTESTANT%20THEOLOGY.docx#_ftn44" name="_ftnref44" style="text-decoration: none;" title=""></a></span></span><span style="line-height: 25px;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in; margin-right: 0.5in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 25px;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><br />
</span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 16px; text-align: center;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-o_BV1Z4DRUA/Tvnx5M2r1KI/AAAAAAAARUo/tlvHQs62sAY/s1600/Erwin+Lutzer2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-o_BV1Z4DRUA/Tvnx5M2r1KI/AAAAAAAARUo/tlvHQs62sAY/s1600/Erwin+Lutzer2.jpg" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; position: relative;" /></a></span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 16px; text-align: center;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><i><b>Erwin Lutzer</b></i></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in; margin-right: 0.5in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 25px;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><br />
</span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 16px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 19px;">Analyzing the doctrines that divide Catholics and Protestants, Erwin Lutzer essayed –<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 16px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 19px;"><br />
</span></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in; margin-right: 0.5in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 25px;">“Many Christians today have Appollinarian tendencies without realizing it … I’ve met many believers who assume that the physical body of Christ came from Mary, but all the immaterial aspects of his nature (soul and spirit) were divine. But he had to be fully human – body, soul and spirit – to be our Redeemer…<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in; margin-right: 0.5in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in; margin-right: 0.5in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 25px;">[Nestorius] thought that the myth of Mary could be countered by insisting that she gave birth only to the human person of Christ. But Nestorianism was condemned because it separated the person of Christ and actually denied the Incarnation. If Christ was two separate persons, then the Word did not actually become flesh. As mentioned, the Creed of Chalcedon used the phrase ‘the Mother of God,” it did so not to honor Mary as much as to emphasize the deity of Christ.”<span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="line-height: 19px;"><a href="file:///C:/Users/user/Documents/THEOTOKOS%20IN%20PROTESTANT%20THEOLOGY.docx#_ftn45" name="_ftnref45" style="text-decoration: none;" title="">[45]</a></span></span><a href="file:///C:/Users/user/Documents/THEOTOKOS%20IN%20PROTESTANT%20THEOLOGY.docx#_ftn45" name="_ftnref45" style="text-decoration: none;" title=""></a></span></span><span style="line-height: 25px;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in; margin-right: 0.5in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 25px;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><br />
</span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 16px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 19px;">Finally, in a book of essays by Evangelicals criticizing Catholic Mariology, Peter Toon averred:<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 16px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 19px;"><br />
</span></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in; margin-right: 0.5in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 25px;">“The two basic Christian beliefs concerning Mary, namely: her virginal conception of Jesus and her role as<i>theotokos </i>(traditionally translated as ‘mother of God’), have been clearly affirmed in this book. Further, we have seen how these beliefs are also aspects of foundational beliefs concerning Jesus, who is both Mary’s son and the eternal Son of God.”<span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="line-height: 19px;"><a href="file:///C:/Users/user/Documents/THEOTOKOS%20IN%20PROTESTANT%20THEOLOGY.docx#_ftn46" name="_ftnref46" style="text-decoration: none;" title="">[46]</a></span></span><a href="file:///C:/Users/user/Documents/THEOTOKOS%20IN%20PROTESTANT%20THEOLOGY.docx#_ftn46" name="_ftnref46" style="text-decoration: none;" title=""></a></span><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in; margin-right: 0.5in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 25px;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><br />
</span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 16px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 19px;">With the resurgence of Protestant interest on Mary as reported by <i>Time,<a href="file:///C:/Users/user/Documents/THEOTOKOS%20IN%20PROTESTANT%20THEOLOGY.docx#_ftn47" name="_ftnref47" style="text-decoration: none;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><b><span style="line-height: 19px;">[47]</span></b></span></span></a> </i>contemporary Protestant writers are beginning to write more favorably about her. Protestants are giving a second look on Mary and her Divine Maternity.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 16px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 19px;"><br />
</span></span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 16px; text-align: center;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-m7wXSUxDvcA/Tvnyaqso9lI/AAAAAAAARU0/yEvMoouqu8k/s1600/esbvm2.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-m7wXSUxDvcA/Tvnyaqso9lI/AAAAAAAARU0/yEvMoouqu8k/s320/esbvm2.gif" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; position: relative;" width="312" /></a></span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 16px; text-align: center;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><i><b>Logo of the Ecumenical Society of the Blessed Virgin Mary</b></i></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 16px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 19px;"><br />
</span></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 16px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 19px;">Commenting on the intercessory verse of the <i>Ave Maria </i>added after the formal break between the Lutheran and Roman [Catholic] Churches, Very Rev. Dr. H.W.M. Tajra, a Lutheran member of the Ecumenical Society of the Blessed Virgin Mary, stated –<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 16px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 19px;"><br />
</span></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in; margin-right: 0.5in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 25px;">“We contemplate here the role of the Blessed Virgin Mary within the Communion of Saints which we confess in the Apostle’s Creed. Just as all Christians ask other Christians to pray for them in a common cry for help <i>(auxilium) </i>from our Lord, so too the faithful should ask the Mother of God for her prayers; she who lives everlastingly in the Kingdom of Heaven, in that (to us) invisible realm which we confess in the Nicene Creed. We pray to our Lady to look with mercy and pity on our human deficiencies. This is the great lesson which St. John taught in the second chapter of his Gospel when he related the great Sign at the wedding at Cana in Galiliee. In that periscope, the Evangelist drew a mighty portrait of her essential ministry – a ministry springing out of that motherhood and rooted entirely to it – her ministry of Mediatrix of the living grace which is Jesus Christ her Son, and Mediatrix of all the graces which he, in his divine power and glory and total sovereignty, chooses to accord as a result of her prayer to him. These graces, which the Blessed Mother of God mediates, were symbolized in the story of the miracle at Cana by the abundant and heady Messianic wine poured out at the wedding feast, poured out by Jesus Christ our Lord so that his disciples and the world beyond might believe.”<span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="line-height: 19px;"><a href="file:///C:/Users/user/Documents/THEOTOKOS%20IN%20PROTESTANT%20THEOLOGY.docx#_ftn48" name="_ftnref48" style="text-decoration: none;" title="">[48]</a></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 16px; text-align: center;"></div><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 16px;"><br />
</span></span></span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 16px; text-align: center;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zSdTSUR3kyI/TvnzaFHWqkI/AAAAAAAARVU/qzoVYnFmeX4/s1600/1556612958.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zSdTSUR3kyI/TvnzaFHWqkI/AAAAAAAARVU/qzoVYnFmeX4/s320/1556612958.jpg" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; position: relative;" width="205" /></a></span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 16px; text-align: center;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><i><b>Dee Jepsen's Jesus Called Her Mother</b></i></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in; margin-right: 0.5in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 25px;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><br />
</span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 16px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 19px;">In <i>Jesus Called Her Mother, </i>Evangelical writer Dee Jepsen, wife of former U.S. Senator Roger Jepsen, noted –<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 16px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 19px;"><br />
</span></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in; margin-right: 0.5in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 25px;">“Throughout the church’s early centuries, Mary was regarded as the “mother of God” by all believers. This title was given to her not to elevate her, but to emphasize the truth that Jesus Christ was <i>truly Gog </i>and<i>truly man, </i>a doctrine under attack.”<a href="file:///C:/Users/user/Documents/THEOTOKOS%20IN%20PROTESTANT%20THEOLOGY.docx#_ftn49" name="_ftnref49" style="text-decoration: none;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="line-height: 19px;">[49]</span></span></span></a><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 16px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 19px;"><br />
</span></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 16px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 19px;">Jepsen cited leading Evangelical scholar Kenneth Kantzer’s comment on the practice of calling Mary the Mother of God –<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in; margin-right: 0.5in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 25px;"><br />
</span></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in; margin-right: 0.5in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 25px;">“While the phrase may be awkward, Protestants generally have agreed that it is faithful to the real sense of Scripture, and that to deny it is to suggest that we really do not believe in the full deity of Him who was born of Mary.”<span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="line-height: 19px;"><a href="file:///C:/Users/user/Documents/THEOTOKOS%20IN%20PROTESTANT%20THEOLOGY.docx#_ftn50" name="_ftnref50" style="text-decoration: none;" title="">[50]</a></span></span><a href="file:///C:/Users/user/Documents/THEOTOKOS%20IN%20PROTESTANT%20THEOLOGY.docx#_ftn50" name="_ftnref50" style="text-decoration: none;" title=""></a></span><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in; margin-right: 0.5in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 25px;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><br />
</span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0.5in; margin-right: 0.5in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: center; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><img height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CZCEM3mgUdI/TvnzmLCUzcI/AAAAAAAARVk/decRTviGyzc/s400/The-Real-Mary-McKnight-Scot-9781557255235.jpg" width="277" /></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0.5in; margin-right: 0.5in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: center; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><i><b>Scot McKnight's The Real Mary</b></i></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0.5in; margin-right: 0.5in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: center; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><i><b><br />
</b></i></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 16px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 19px;">Evangelical author Scot McKnight shares the same observation in his book <i>The Real Mary. </i>McKnight noted that –<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 16px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 19px;"><br />
</span></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in; margin-right: 0.5in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 25px;">“Roman Catholics have never hesitated to call Mary the “mother of God.” The expression gives evangelicals alarm. Should it? If Jesus is God and Mary is his mother, then Mary is the mother of God. Please note, “mother of God” does not mean the one who existed before God and gave birth to God, but the one who “carried” God in her womb as the “God-bearer.” It is reasonable to connect Jesus to God, Mary to Jesus and Mary as mother of God, but the Protestant impulse is <i>sola scriptura: </i> “to the Bible we go first.””<a href="file:///C:/Users/user/Documents/THEOTOKOS%20IN%20PROTESTANT%20THEOLOGY.docx#_ftn51" name="_ftnref51" style="text-decoration: none;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="line-height: 19px;">[51]</span></span></span></a><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 16px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 19px;"><br />
</span></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 16px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 19px;">Having said thus, McKnight asked the question: </span><i><span style="line-height: 19px;">“Does the New Testament teach that Mary is the “mother of God”?”<a href="file:///C:/Users/user/Documents/THEOTOKOS%20IN%20PROTESTANT%20THEOLOGY.docx#_ftn52" name="_ftnref52" style="text-decoration: none;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><b><span style="line-height: 19px;">[52]</span></b></span></span></a> </span></i><span style="line-height: 19px;">The Evangelical author proceeded to answer his own question:<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in; margin-right: 0.5in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in; margin-right: 0.5in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 25px;">“Elizabeth asked this of Mary: But why am I so favored, that the <i>mother of my Lord </i>should come to me?” Mother of God, Mother of the Lord – is there a difference? For most of us, it is far easier to speak of Mary as the “mother of the Lord” than to speak of her as the “mother of God.” Still, we have to admit that there is some biblical support for calling Mary “mother of God” or “mother of the Lord.””<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 16px; text-align: center;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-K5QJrtSCTNM/Tvn0ghphwtI/AAAAAAAARVw/bmxm06e6laM/s1600/mcknight_scot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-K5QJrtSCTNM/Tvn0ghphwtI/AAAAAAAARVw/bmxm06e6laM/s320/mcknight_scot.jpg" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; position: relative;" width="240" /></a></span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 16px; text-align: center;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><i><b>Evangelical author Scot McKnight</b></i></span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 16px; text-align: center;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><i><b><br />
</b></i></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 16px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 19px;">Scot McKnight traced the history of the expression “mother of God” in this wise:<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in; margin-right: 0.5in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 25px;"><br />
</span></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in; margin-right: 0.5in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 25px;">“What we can agree on is that the expression “mother of God” played a very significant role in one of the major clashes in the development of our orthodox Christian understanding of Jesus Christ, the Second Person of the trinity. In AD 431, the Council of Ephesus addressed the teachings of Nestorius, who maintained that Mary gave birth to a man named Jesus but that she did not give birth to the Word. In effect, Nestorius divided Jesus into a God part and a human part. The Council of Ephesus disagreed and settled for a major, major conclusion: Jesus deity and humanity, his two natures, were perfectly <i>fused into one person, </i>so that Jesus was not both God <i>and </i>man but the God-man. If Jesus is the God-man of one person and not just God <i>and</i>man, then Mary gave birth to the single person who is the God-Man. If she did, then Mary is in some sense the “God-bearer” and not simply the “Christ-bearer” (as Nestorius thought).”<a href="file:///C:/Users/user/Documents/THEOTOKOS%20IN%20PROTESTANT%20THEOLOGY.docx#_ftn53" name="_ftnref53" style="text-decoration: none;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="line-height: 19px;">[53]</span></span></span></a><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in; margin-right: 0.5in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 16px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 19px;">McKnight further observed:<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0.5in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in; margin-right: 0.5in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 25px;">“The expression “God-bearer” soon shifted into the expression “mother of God.” So, when theologians speak of “mother of God” they mean “God-bearer.” We Protestants can, and rightfully should, stand with the whole Church on the importance of what the Council of Ephesus decided. If “Mother of God” means “God-bearer” as the one who gave birth to the human Jesus, who as a single person was the God-man, then we can also stand together with Roman Catholics in affirming Mary as the “Mother of God.””<span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="line-height: 19px;"><a href="file:///C:/Users/user/Documents/THEOTOKOS%20IN%20PROTESTANT%20THEOLOGY.docx#_ftn54" name="_ftnref54" style="text-decoration: none;" title="">[54]</a></span></span><a href="file:///C:/Users/user/Documents/THEOTOKOS%20IN%20PROTESTANT%20THEOLOGY.docx#_ftn54" name="_ftnref54" style="text-decoration: none;" title=""></a></span><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in; margin-right: 0.5in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 25px;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><br />
</span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 16px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 19px;">As Protestant, Scot McKnight expressed his apprehension over the title <i>Mother of God </i>and clarified –</span></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 16px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 19px;"><br />
</span></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in; margin-right: 0.5in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 25px;">“For many of us neither the “God-bearer” nor “Mother of God” is the issue. The question we ask is this: Does addressing Mary as “mother of God” involve veneration, adoration, and devotion of Mary as well? Does it get mixed up with “Wife of God”<a href="file:///C:/Users/user/Documents/THEOTOKOS%20IN%20PROTESTANT%20THEOLOGY.docx#_ftn55" name="_ftnref55" style="text-decoration: none;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="line-height: 19px;">[55]</span></span></span></a> or even “Mother of the Trinity”? Does it result in giving attention to Mary or does it, as it originally was intended to do, give attention to Jesus Christ as fully God and fully human as the God-man? Because of the implications of what “mother of God” might mean, most Protestants shy away from calling Mary the “mother of God,” but we should have no hesitation in referring to Mary as the God-bearer.”<span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="line-height: 19px;"><a href="file:///C:/Users/user/Documents/THEOTOKOS%20IN%20PROTESTANT%20THEOLOGY.docx#_ftn56" name="_ftnref56" style="text-decoration: none;" title="">[56]</a></span></span><a href="file:///C:/Users/user/Documents/THEOTOKOS%20IN%20PROTESTANT%20THEOLOGY.docx#_ftn56" name="_ftnref56" style="text-decoration: none;" title=""></a></span><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0.5in; margin-right: 0.5in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: center; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0.5in; margin-right: 0.5in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: center; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><img height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VlYTmQn5Ciw/TvnzW4yJBII/AAAAAAAARVM/nvPJeuJaq4A/s320/554529.jpg" width="212" /></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0.5in; margin-right: 0.5in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: center; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><i><b>Mary for Evangelicals</b></i></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in; margin-right: 0.5in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 25px;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><br />
</span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 16px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 19px;">In the scholarly theological field, Dr. Tim Perry proposed the<i>Theotokos </i>as <b><i>“ground of Mariology.”</i></b> Thinking that Mariology naturally arises from Christology, Dr. Perry posited that “the point at which Mariology and Christology intersect is the confession of Mary as<i>Theotokos, </i>Mother of God.”<a href="file:///C:/Users/user/Documents/THEOTOKOS%20IN%20PROTESTANT%20THEOLOGY.docx#_ftn57" name="_ftnref57" style="text-decoration: none;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="line-height: 19px;">[57]</span></span></span></a> However, Dr. Perry admitted that such assertion is “not uncontroversial and must therefore be unpacked further.”<span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="line-height: 19px;"><a href="file:///C:/Users/user/Documents/THEOTOKOS%20IN%20PROTESTANT%20THEOLOGY.docx#_ftn58" name="_ftnref58" style="text-decoration: none;" title="">[58]</a></span></span><a href="file:///C:/Users/user/Documents/THEOTOKOS%20IN%20PROTESTANT%20THEOLOGY.docx#_ftn58" name="_ftnref58" style="text-decoration: none;" title=""></a></span><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 16px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><br />
</span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 16px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 19px;">After demolishing the misconceptions and fallacies on the title<i>Mother of God, </i>Dr. Tim Perry discussed the historical circumstances that led to the title in the Council of Ephesus in 431 AD. Thus –<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 16px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 19px;"><br />
</span></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in; margin-right: 0.5in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 25px;">“… The councils of Nicaea (325) and Constantinople (381) affirmed that the Son of God was of one substance with the Father, was incarnate by the Holy Spirit and was born of the Virgin Mary. And it was Cyril’s conviction that, by assuming all that being human is in the manner described by Nicaea, God the Son redeemed humanity.”<span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="line-height: 19px;"><a href="file:///C:/Users/user/Documents/THEOTOKOS%20IN%20PROTESTANT%20THEOLOGY.docx#_ftn59" name="_ftnref59" style="text-decoration: none;" title="">[59]</a></span></span><a href="file:///C:/Users/user/Documents/THEOTOKOS%20IN%20PROTESTANT%20THEOLOGY.docx#_ftn59" name="_ftnref59" style="text-decoration: none;" title=""></a></span><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in; margin-right: 0.5in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 25px;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><br />
</span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0.5in; margin-right: 0.5in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: center; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><img height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1NsnqBQinXI/TvnzeozERjI/AAAAAAAARVc/jv5-Q3ooC3I/s320/Dr.+Tim+Perry%252C+Ph.D..jpg" width="320" /></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0.5in; margin-right: 0.5in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: center; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><i><b>Evangelical author and professor Dr. Tim Perry</b></i></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in; margin-right: 0.5in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 25px;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><br />
</span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 16px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 19px;">Prescinding therefrom, the Evangelical scholar proceeded:<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 16px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 19px;"><br />
</span></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in; margin-right: 0.5in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 25px;">“From this perspective he [Cyril] spotted that, whatever the legitimacy of Nestorius’ worries, his position had the undesirable effect of sundering the humanity and divinity in the incarnation, effectively creating two sons in the one Jesus Christ. If Nestorius’ views were to win the day, then Nicaea would ultimately have to be repudiated for, even if Nestorius himself did not recognize it, his argument led to a devastating conclusion. On the one hand the human son of Mary was born, grew, suffered, died and rose, while on the other hand the divine Son of God remained eternal, impassible and (crucially) consequently uninvolved in the human condition. To maintain this position, Cyril countered, was to deny the Nicene conviction that the Son of God actually assumed a human nature. If Christians cannot confess that the incarnate was conceived and born of Mary, then God has not embraced their lot and they are not saved. To put it in the starkest of terms, if Mary did not bear God in her womb – if she is not <i>Theotokos – </i>human beings are not saved.”<a href="file:///C:/Users/user/Documents/THEOTOKOS%20IN%20PROTESTANT%20THEOLOGY.docx#_ftn60" name="_ftnref60" style="text-decoration: none;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="line-height: 19px;">[60]</span></span></span></a><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in; margin-right: 0.5in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 16px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 19px;">To elucidate the point, Dr. Tim Perry presented the Greek metaphysical terminology of natures and persons from Cyril of Alexandria’s point of view:<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 16px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 19px;"><br />
</span></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in; margin-right: 0.5in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 25px;">“Cyril’s theological worry, as expressed in the metaphysic available to him, has to do with the identity of the subject of the Gospels and just how we predicate actions or states to that subject. When we read, for instance, that Jesus became enraged and drove the merchants out of the temple, are we reading about a man or a God? When we read that he suffered death, are we reading about his humanity or divinity? Cyril’s answer is that the Gospels predicate anger (or any other human emotion) and death (or any other human limitation) neither to a human nature nor to a divine one, but to a person. And that person is the incarnate God. We cannot dissect the Gospels seeking to attribute this or that emotion or act to either Jesus’ humanity or divinity; we predicate them instead to the one fully divine, fully human person. The Gospels are God’s own human story. The conclusion is now inescapable. If God the Son entered human time and space as a human being and he did so by taking on the humanity given to him by his mother; then Mary is the Mother of God. No less a title will do.”<span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="line-height: 19px;"><a href="file:///C:/Users/user/Documents/THEOTOKOS%20IN%20PROTESTANT%20THEOLOGY.docx#_ftn61" name="_ftnref61" style="text-decoration: none;" title="">[61]</a></span></span><a href="file:///C:/Users/user/Documents/THEOTOKOS%20IN%20PROTESTANT%20THEOLOGY.docx#_ftn61" name="_ftnref61" style="text-decoration: none;" title=""></a></span><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in; margin-right: 0.5in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 25px;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><br />
</span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 16px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 19px;">Wrapping up, Evangelical professor and theologian Dr. Tim Perry queried: </span><i><span style="line-height: 19px;">“How can we evangelical Protestants be true to the witness of Scripture and avoid joining our voices with those of Gabriel and Elizabeth and generations of Christians thereafter who name her blessed?”<a href="file:///C:/Users/user/Documents/THEOTOKOS%20IN%20PROTESTANT%20THEOLOGY.docx#_ftn62" name="_ftnref62" style="text-decoration: none;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><b><span style="line-height: 19px;">[62]</span></b></span></span></a></span></i><span style="line-height: 19px;"> Dr. Perry argued: </span><span style="line-height: 19px;">“<i>Once it is granted that Theotokos encapsulates a profoundly biblical concept necessary for a fuller understanding of the identity of Jesus Christ, we ground Mariology…”<span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><b><span style="line-height: 19px;"><a href="file:///C:/Users/user/Documents/THEOTOKOS%20IN%20PROTESTANT%20THEOLOGY.docx#_ftn63" name="_ftnref63" style="text-decoration: none;" title="">[63]</a></span></b></span></span></i></span> </span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 16px; text-align: center;"></div><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 16px;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 16px; text-align: center;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><img height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kcT1eecVUCQ/Tvn2OaQ_htI/AAAAAAAARWM/ZMBa-l057xs/s320/102320792.jpg" width="217" /></span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 16px; text-align: center;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><i><b>Moments with the Savior by best-selling Evangelical author Ken Gire</b></i></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 16px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 19px;"><i><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><b><br />
</b></span></span></i></span></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 16px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 19px;">On the devotional aspect, Ken Gire composed a prayer to Jesus in <i>Moments with the Savior<a href="file:///C:/Users/user/Documents/THEOTOKOS%20IN%20PROTESTANT%20THEOLOGY.docx#_ftn64" name="_ftnref64" style="text-decoration: none;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><b><span style="line-height: 19px;">[64]</span></b></span></span></a> </i>in which we close this study:<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 16px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 19px;"><br />
</span></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in; margin-right: 0.5in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 25px;">“Dear Jesus:<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in; margin-right: 0.5in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in; margin-right: 0.5in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 25px;">What a remarkable person she was, your mother. So highly favored. So greatly blessed. Mary, Mother of God. Help me to hear beyond the liturgical familiarity of those words to their far-reaching implications. Mother <i>of God. </i>Who could be equal to such a task? Who, in any stretch of the imagination, could be qualified?<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in; margin-right: 0.5in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in; margin-right: 0.5in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 25px;">The honor bestowed on her was staggering. So was the responsibility. To be the one not only to bear you but to protect you, raise you, teach you.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in; margin-right: 0.5in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in; margin-right: 0.5in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 25px;">I pray that even across so many centuries she could teach me too. There is so much I could learn from her. What wonderful things would be birthed in my life if I could learn to pray, “I am your servant. May it be to me as you say.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in; margin-right: 0.5in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in; margin-right: 0.5in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 25px;">If that were my prayer, how would it affect the thoughts I think, the plans I make, the words that come from my mouth? If I read my Bible this morning with such a response, how different would this afternoon be? How different this afternoon would <i>I</i> be?<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in; margin-right: 0.5in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in; margin-right: 0.5in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 25px;">“I am your servant.” The words seem so religiously correct. But are they really true? Am I <i>really </i>your servant? Am I willing to submit to whatever plans you have for my life, regardless of the risk, the cost, the consequences?<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in; margin-right: 0.5in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in; margin-right: 0.5in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 25px;">“May it be to me as you say.” I can say the words so easily. But can I say them honestly? Say them and mean them. Live them?<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in; margin-right: 0.5in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in; margin-right: 0.5in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 25px;">For years she taught you, Lord, with so many words and in so many ways. It’s sad so few have been saved for us. But thank you for saving the words, “I am your servant. May it be to me as you say.” If I learn nothing else from her, those words have given me a model not only how to pray but how to live …”<span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="line-height: 19px;"><a href="file:///C:/Users/user/Documents/THEOTOKOS%20IN%20PROTESTANT%20THEOLOGY.docx#_ftn65" name="_ftnref65" style="text-decoration: none;" title="">[65]</a></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in; margin-right: 0.5in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 25px;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><br />
</span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 16px; text-align: center;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-w024x73N3kg/Tvn4I7DrodI/AAAAAAAARWo/M-q2S7xeiUU/s1600/381467_253103848087422_100001634266994_691707_1166852919_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-w024x73N3kg/Tvn4I7DrodI/AAAAAAAARWo/M-q2S7xeiUU/s1600/381467_253103848087422_100001634266994_691707_1166852919_n.jpg" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; position: relative;" /></a></span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 16px; text-align: center;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><i><b>Mary, Mother of God</b></i></span></span></span></div><div><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 16px;"><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><img height="308" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6YgeTobQba8/Tv86ulUsGMI/AAAAAAAARpo/eYbIx36-heA/s400/408229_10150450032813587_299966458586_8799820_230642675_n.jpg" width="400" /></span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><br />
</span></span></span></span></span></div><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><b><u>Footnote</u></b>:</span></span></span></span></span><br />
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</span></span></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><a href="file:///C:/Users/user/Documents/THEOTOKOS%20IN%20PROTESTANT%20THEOLOGY.docx#_ftnref1" name="_ftn1" style="text-decoration: none;" title="">[1]</a></span></span><a href="file:///C:/Users/user/Documents/THEOTOKOS%20IN%20PROTESTANT%20THEOLOGY.docx#_ftnref1" name="_ftn1" style="text-decoration: none;" title=""></a></span> The Reformation.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span></span></div><div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="file:///C:/Users/user/Documents/THEOTOKOS%20IN%20PROTESTANT%20THEOLOGY.docx#_ftnref2" name="_ftn2" style="text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0.5in;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="line-height: 18px;">[2]</span></span></span></span></a><span style="line-height: 18px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"> Tim Perry, <i>Mary for Evangelicals</i> (Downers Grove, Illinois: Intervarsity Press, 2006) p. 214.</span></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 18px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br />
</span></span></span></span></div></div><div id="ftn3" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 16px;"><div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="file:///C:/Users/user/Documents/THEOTOKOS%20IN%20PROTESTANT%20THEOLOGY.docx#_ftnref3" name="_ftn3" style="text-decoration: none;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="line-height: 18px;">[3]</span></span></span></a> <i>Ibid., </i>p. 215.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div></div><div id="ftn4" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 16px;"><div class="MsoFootnoteText"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span></span></div><div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="line-height: 18px;">[4]</span></span></span> Jaroslav Pelikan, ed., <i>Luther’s Works </i>(St. Louis: Concordia) 22:492-493.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div></div><div id="ftn5" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 16px;"><div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><br />
</span></span></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><a href="file:///C:/Users/user/Documents/THEOTOKOS%20IN%20PROTESTANT%20THEOLOGY.docx#_ftnref5" name="_ftn5" style="text-decoration: none;" title="">[5]</a></span></span><a href="file:///C:/Users/user/Documents/THEOTOKOS%20IN%20PROTESTANT%20THEOLOGY.docx#_ftnref5" name="_ftn5" style="text-decoration: none;" title=""></a></span> <i>Ibid., </i>24:107.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span></span></div></div><div id="ftn6" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 16px;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="file:///C:/Users/user/Documents/THEOTOKOS%20IN%20PROTESTANT%20THEOLOGY.docx#_ftnref6" name="_ftn6" style="text-decoration: none;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="line-height: 18px;">[6]</span></span></span></span></a><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="line-height: 18px;">[6]</span></span></span></span><span style="line-height: 18px;"> Tim Perry, <i>Mary for Evangelicals</i> (Downers Grove, Illinois: Intervarsity Press, 2006) p. 214.</span><span style="line-height: 18px;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></div></div><div id="ftn7" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 16px;"><div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><br />
</span></span></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><a href="file:///C:/Users/user/Documents/THEOTOKOS%20IN%20PROTESTANT%20THEOLOGY.docx#_ftnref7" name="_ftn7" style="text-decoration: none;" title="">[7]</a></span></span><a href="file:///C:/Users/user/Documents/THEOTOKOS%20IN%20PROTESTANT%20THEOLOGY.docx#_ftnref7" name="_ftn7" style="text-decoration: none;" title=""></a></span> <i>Ibid., </i>citing <i>Luther’s Works </i>51:62.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span></span></div></div><div id="ftn8" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 16px;"><div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="file:///C:/Users/user/Documents/THEOTOKOS%20IN%20PROTESTANT%20THEOLOGY.docx#_ftnref8" name="_ftn8" style="text-decoration: none;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="line-height: 18px;">[8]</span></span></span></a> Luther’s chief work on the period 1519-1522 is his commentary on the <i>Magnificat</i> (1521): <i><u>see</u></i>: <i>Luther’s Works </i>21:295-358.</span></span></span></div></div><div id="ftn9" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 16px;"><div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><br />
</span></span></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><a href="file:///C:/Users/user/Documents/THEOTOKOS%20IN%20PROTESTANT%20THEOLOGY.docx#_ftnref9" name="_ftn9" style="text-decoration: none;" title="">[9]</a></span></span><a href="file:///C:/Users/user/Documents/THEOTOKOS%20IN%20PROTESTANT%20THEOLOGY.docx#_ftnref9" name="_ftn9" style="text-decoration: none;" title=""></a></span> Jaroslav Pelikan, ed., <i>Luther’s Works </i>(St. Louis: Concordia) 7:572.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div></div><div id="ftn10" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 16px;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><br />
</span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><a href="file:///C:/Users/user/Documents/THEOTOKOS%20IN%20PROTESTANT%20THEOLOGY.docx#_ftnref10" name="_ftn10" style="text-decoration: none;" title="">[10]</a></span></span><a href="file:///C:/Users/user/Documents/THEOTOKOS%20IN%20PROTESTANT%20THEOLOGY.docx#_ftnref10" name="_ftn10" style="text-decoration: none;" title=""></a></span></span><span style="line-height: 18px;"> </span><span style="line-height: 18px;">Tim Perry, <i>Mary for Evangelicals</i> (Downers Grove, Illinois: Intervarsity Press, 2006) p. 218.</span><span style="line-height: 18px;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span></span></div></div><div id="ftn11" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 16px;"><div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="file:///C:/Users/user/Documents/THEOTOKOS%20IN%20PROTESTANT%20THEOLOGY.docx#_ftnref11" name="_ftn11" style="text-decoration: none;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="line-height: 18px;">[11]</span></span></span></a> <i>Calvini Opera, Corpus Reformatorum, Braunschweig-Berlin,</i>1863-1900, vol. 45, p. 348, 35.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span></span></div></div><div id="ftn12" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 16px;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="file:///C:/Users/user/Documents/THEOTOKOS%20IN%20PROTESTANT%20THEOLOGY.docx#_ftnref12" name="_ftn12" style="text-decoration: none;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="line-height: 18px;">[12]</span></span></span></span></a><span style="line-height: 18px;"> </span><span style="line-height: 18px;">Tim Perry, <i>Mary for Evangelicals</i> (Downers Grove, Illinois: Intervarsity Press, 2006) p. 223.</span><span style="line-height: 18px;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span></span></div></div><div id="ftn13" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 16px;"><div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="file:///C:/Users/user/Documents/THEOTOKOS%20IN%20PROTESTANT%20THEOLOGY.docx#_ftnref13" name="_ftn13" style="text-decoration: none;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="line-height: 18px;">[13]</span></span></span></a> Quoted in Max Thurian, <i>Mary, Mother of All Christians </i>(New York: Herder and Herder, 1964) p. 89.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div></div><div id="ftn14" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 16px;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><br />
</span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><a href="file:///C:/Users/user/Documents/THEOTOKOS%20IN%20PROTESTANT%20THEOLOGY.docx#_ftnref14" name="_ftn14" style="text-decoration: none;" title="">[14]</a></span></span><a href="file:///C:/Users/user/Documents/THEOTOKOS%20IN%20PROTESTANT%20THEOLOGY.docx#_ftnref14" name="_ftn14" style="text-decoration: none;" title=""></a></span></span><span style="line-height: 18px;"> <i>Cf. </i></span><span style="line-height: 18px;">Tim Perry, <i>Mary for Evangelicals</i> (Downers Grove, Illinois: Intervarsity Press, 2006) p. 223.</span><span style="line-height: 18px;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span></span></div></div><div id="ftn15" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 16px;"><div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="file:///C:/Users/user/Documents/THEOTOKOS%20IN%20PROTESTANT%20THEOLOGY.docx#_ftnref15" name="_ftn15" style="text-decoration: none;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="line-height: 18px;">[15]</span></span></span></a> <i>Ibid., </i>citing Formula of Concord 8.8-7 and 12.1 (<i>Creeds of Christendom, </i>3: 150, 174).<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span></span></div></div><div id="ftn16" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 16px;"><div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="file:///C:/Users/user/Documents/THEOTOKOS%20IN%20PROTESTANT%20THEOLOGY.docx#_ftnref16" name="_ftn16" style="text-decoration: none;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="line-height: 18px;">[16]</span></span></span></a> <i>Ibid., </i>citing Belgic Confession 28 (Creeds of Christendom, 3: 402-3).<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span></span></div></div><div id="ftn17" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 16px;"><div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="file:///C:/Users/user/Documents/THEOTOKOS%20IN%20PROTESTANT%20THEOLOGY.docx#_ftnref17" name="_ftn17" style="text-decoration: none;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="line-height: 18px;">[17]</span></span></span></a> Jimmy Swaggart’s position here is Nestorian. By stating that Mary is the mother of the human being, Jesus, Swaggart made Jesus Christ into a human being and a divine being – which is heresy. Jesus is only one being, a divine Being who is the Eternal Son of God, the Second Person of the Trinity who is consubstantial with the father.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span></span></div></div><div id="ftn18" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 16px;"><div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="file:///C:/Users/user/Documents/THEOTOKOS%20IN%20PROTESTANT%20THEOLOGY.docx#_ftnref18" name="_ftn18" style="text-decoration: none;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="line-height: 18px;">[18]</span></span></span></a> Jimmy Swaggart betrayed his low view of motherhood. There is more to motherhood than mere “biological function.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoFootnoteText"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span></span></div></div><div id="ftn19" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 16px;"><div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="file:///C:/Users/user/Documents/THEOTOKOS%20IN%20PROTESTANT%20THEOLOGY.docx#_ftnref19" name="_ftn19" style="text-decoration: none;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="line-height: 18px;">[19]</span></span></span></a> Contrary to the false accusation of Jimmy Swaggart, Catholics do not worship Mary. They simply venerate her.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span></span></div></div><div id="ftn20" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 16px;"><div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="file:///C:/Users/user/Documents/THEOTOKOS%20IN%20PROTESTANT%20THEOLOGY.docx#_ftnref20" name="_ftn20" style="text-decoration: none;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="line-height: 18px;">[20]</span></span></span></a> Swaggart glossed over Luke 1:43 where Mary is extolled as <i>“the mother of my Lord”</i> by St. Elizabeth.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoFootnoteText"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span></span></div></div><div id="ftn21" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 16px;"><div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="file:///C:/Users/user/Documents/THEOTOKOS%20IN%20PROTESTANT%20THEOLOGY.docx#_ftnref21" name="_ftn21" style="text-decoration: none;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="line-height: 18px;">[21]</span></span></span></a> Jimmy Swaggart, <i>Catholicism and Christianity </i>(Baton Rouge: Jimmy Swaggart Ministries, 1986) p. 97, 101.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoFootnoteText"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span></span></div></div><div id="ftn22" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 16px;"><div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="file:///C:/Users/user/Documents/THEOTOKOS%20IN%20PROTESTANT%20THEOLOGY.docx#_ftnref22" name="_ftn22" style="text-decoration: none;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="line-height: 18px;">[22]</span></span></span></a> This is red herring considering that Catholics do not deny this.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span></span></div></div><div id="ftn23" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 16px;"><div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="file:///C:/Users/user/Documents/THEOTOKOS%20IN%20PROTESTANT%20THEOLOGY.docx#_ftnref23" name="_ftn23" style="text-decoration: none;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="line-height: 18px;">[23]</span></span></span></a> Dave Hunt did not realize that mothers give birth to a person and not just to a physical body.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span></span></div></div><div id="ftn24" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 16px;"><div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="file:///C:/Users/user/Documents/THEOTOKOS%20IN%20PROTESTANT%20THEOLOGY.docx#_ftnref24" name="_ftn24" style="text-decoration: none;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="line-height: 18px;">[24]</span></span></span></a> Dave Hunt, <i>A Woman Rides the Beast </i>(Eugene, Oregon: Harvest House Publishers, 1994) p. 438.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Yzlfx98KBuc/Tvn40lR-oMI/AAAAAAAARW0/zhCQ30EY_eo/s1600/30027_Protestant_Fundamentalist.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Yzlfx98KBuc/Tvn40lR-oMI/AAAAAAAARW0/zhCQ30EY_eo/s400/30027_Protestant_Fundamentalist.jpg" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; position: relative;" width="271" /></a></span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><i><b>The late Fr. Robert F. Fox's apologetics book</b></i></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span></span></div><div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Fr. Robert J. Fox critiques this position. He wrote:<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0.5in; margin-right: 0.5in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">“The fundamentalists divide the humanity of Christ from His divinity. Fundamentalists are so disturbed with the title “Mother of God” and can feel only comfortable only with “Mother of Jesus” and present Mary’s role as giving birth only to the human nature of Jesus Christ. What happens to the Person of Jesus Christ which is the Second Person of the Most Blessed Trinity? Was Jesus not a Person? Did Mary give birth to a human nature that was not a person? If so, she would have given birth to a monstrosity …” [Robert J. Fox,<i>Protestant Fundamentalism and the Born Again Catholic</i>(Alexandria, South Dakota: Fatima Family Apostolate. 1991), pp. 165-168].<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span></span></div></div><div id="ftn25" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 16px;"><div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="file:///C:/Users/user/Documents/THEOTOKOS%20IN%20PROTESTANT%20THEOLOGY.docx#_ftnref25" name="_ftn25" style="text-decoration: none;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="line-height: 18px;">[25]</span></span></span></a> James Tolle, <i>Mary: Fact and Fiction </i>(San Fernanado, California: Tolle Publications) p. 4.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoFootnoteText"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span></span></div></div><div id="ftn26" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 16px;"><div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="file:///C:/Users/user/Documents/THEOTOKOS%20IN%20PROTESTANT%20THEOLOGY.docx#_ftnref26" name="_ftn26" style="text-decoration: none;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="line-height: 18px;">[26]</span></span></span></a> Catholics do not believe that Mary is the Mother of the Trinity or of the divinity of Christ. In <i>Answering a Fundamentalist, </i>Albert J. Nevins explained –<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0.5in; margin-right: 0.5in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">“The Church does not say that Mary is the mother of the father or of the Holy Spirit but solely the mother of the second person of the Trinity, Jesus Christ. Before His incarnation Jesus was pure spirit as is the father and Holy Spirit. In a humbling act that no human mind can comprehend, the second person of the Trinity was joined to a human body, subject to all the laws of nature, and became God-man. It was as God-man that Jesus rose from the dead after His crucifixion, and it is as God-man that He live today in heaven, promising to return to earth again at the end of time.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0.5in; margin-right: 0.5in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0.5in; margin-right: 0.5in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">If Jesus Christ is God and Mary is not the mother of God, then Jesus has to be two persons – a human person and a divine person. But no fundamentalist holds that Jesus is two people. The distinctions theologians make is that Jesus is one person with two natures – a human nature and a divine nature, joined together in the hypostatic union. Mary is the mother of the human nature, but because Jesus is one person and Mary is the mother of that person, Mary is the mother of God” [Albert J. Nevins, <i>Answering a Fundamentalist</i>(Huntington, Indiana: Our Sunday Visitor, 1990) p. 99].<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0.5in; margin-right: 0.5in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_D1j_eK42Cw/Tvn5O-QxBeI/AAAAAAAARXA/bFLqc9yYnas/s1600/answering-fundamentalist-albert-j-nevins-paperback-cover-art.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_D1j_eK42Cw/Tvn5O-QxBeI/AAAAAAAARXA/bFLqc9yYnas/s400/answering-fundamentalist-albert-j-nevins-paperback-cover-art.jpg" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; position: relative;" width="259" /></a></span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><i><b>Answering A Fundamentalist</b></i></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoFootnoteText"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span></span></div></div><div id="ftn27" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 16px;"><div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="file:///C:/Users/user/Documents/THEOTOKOS%20IN%20PROTESTANT%20THEOLOGY.docx#_ftnref27" name="_ftn27" style="text-decoration: none;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="line-height: 18px;">[27]</span></span></span></a> Just like Dave Hunt, McCarthy failed to realize that mothers give birth to a person and not just to a nature.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoFootnoteText"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span></span></div></div><div id="ftn28" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 16px;"><div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="file:///C:/Users/user/Documents/THEOTOKOS%20IN%20PROTESTANT%20THEOLOGY.docx#_ftnref28" name="_ftn28" style="text-decoration: none;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="line-height: 18px;">[28]</span></span></span></a> James G. McCarthy deliberately omitted the title <i>“mother of my Lord” </i>given Mary by St. Elizabeth under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit (Lk. 1:43).<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span></span></div><div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Fr. Robert J. Fox discussed:<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0.5in; margin-right: 0.5in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">“Notice that Elizabeth under the influence of the Holy Spirit called Mary, who had only recently conceived the Christ Child, “the Mother of my Lord.” “Lord” is the title commonly used for God in the Old Testament (Adonai). It is commonly applied to Christ in the New Testament (Kyrios). The consistent way that St. Paul as well as other New Testament writers use the term for Christ indicates that they regarded Him as God. “The mother of my Lord” is certainly the equivalent of “mother of my God.” To say there is nothing in Scripture to indicate that Mary became God’s mother is unbiblical …” [Robert J. Fox, <i>Protestant Fundamentalism and the Born Again Catholic </i>(Alexandria, South Dakota: Fatima Family Apostolate. 1991), pp. 165-168].<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoFootnoteText"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span></span></div></div><div id="ftn29" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 16px;"><div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="file:///C:/Users/user/Documents/THEOTOKOS%20IN%20PROTESTANT%20THEOLOGY.docx#_ftnref29" name="_ftn29" style="text-decoration: none;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="line-height: 18px;">[29]</span></span></span></a> James G. McCarthy, <i>The Gospel According to Rome </i>(Eugene, Oregon, Harvest House Publishers, 1995) p. 190-1.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div></div><div id="ftn30" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 16px;"><div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span></span></div><div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="line-height: 18px;">[30]</span></span></span> Lorraine Boettner erred in claiming that the phrase “Mother of God” originated in the Council of Ephesus in 431 A.D. Unknown to Boettner, Christians acclaimed Mary as the “Mother of God” long before the Council of Ephesus. <i>Funk and Wagnall’s New Encyclopedia </i>reported that “[a]s early as the 2nd century Christians venerated Mary by calling her Mother of God, a title that primarily stresses the divinity of Jesus” [<i>Funk and Wagnall’s New Encyclopedia </i>Vol. XVII (U.S.: Funk and Wagnall’s Corp., 1993) p. 43].<span style="text-indent: 0.5in;"> </span></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoFootnoteText"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span></span></div></div><div id="ftn31" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 16px;"><div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="file:///C:/Users/user/Documents/THEOTOKOS%20IN%20PROTESTANT%20THEOLOGY.docx#_ftnref31" name="_ftn31" style="text-decoration: none;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="line-height: 18px;">[31]</span></span></span></a> Lorraine Boettner, <i>Roman Catholicism </i>(Phillipsburg, New Jersey: The Presbyterian and Reformed Publishing Company, 1961) p. 134.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span></span></div></div><div id="ftn32" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 16px;"><div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="file:///C:/Users/user/Documents/THEOTOKOS%20IN%20PROTESTANT%20THEOLOGY.docx#_ftnref32" name="_ftn32" style="text-decoration: none;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="line-height: 18px;">[32]</span></span></span></a> Boettner failed to document this sweeping allegation. The title ‘Mother of God’ is understood in the Catholic Church in the same way as the creedal formulation of Ephesus.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span></span></div></div><div id="ftn33" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 16px;"><div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="file:///C:/Users/user/Documents/THEOTOKOS%20IN%20PROTESTANT%20THEOLOGY.docx#_ftnref33" name="_ftn33" style="text-decoration: none;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="line-height: 18px;">[33]</span></span></span></a> Anent this allegation of Boettner, Robert Payesko commented that [“the doctrine acknowledged and reflected the “exaltation” of Mary that was prevalent before the actual definition of the doctrine”] [<i>See:</i>Robert Payesko, <i>The Truth About Mary: A Scriptural Introduction to the Mother of Jesus for Bible-Believing Christians</i> <i> </i>Vol. 3 (Sta. Barbara, California: Queenship Publication, 1996) p. 3-114.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoFootnoteText"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span></span></div></div><div id="ftn34" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 16px;"><div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="file:///C:/Users/user/Documents/THEOTOKOS%20IN%20PROTESTANT%20THEOLOGY.docx#_ftnref34" name="_ftn34" style="text-decoration: none;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="line-height: 18px;">[34]</span></span></span></a> Lorraine Boettner, <i>Roman Catholicism </i>(Phillipsburg, New Jersey: The Presbyterian and Reformed Publishing Company, 1961) p. 134.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-i46E3oPBgUU/Tvn6mL-2PUI/AAAAAAAARXM/K370Lg67o9U/s1600/3573.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-i46E3oPBgUU/Tvn6mL-2PUI/AAAAAAAARXM/K370Lg67o9U/s400/3573.jpg" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; position: relative;" width="258" /></a></span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><i><b>The Truth About Mary Vol. 3 of Robert Payesko</b></i></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><o:p><br />
</o:p></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><i> </i>Payesko analyzed that, in a nutshell, the Fundamentalists’ claim is that “<i>the title is theologically correct but must be avoided or ignored because it leads to excesses of Marian devotion”</i> to which he replied –<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0.5in; margin-right: 0.5in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">“But the obvious reply to this line of reasoning is that the question of whether devotion is excessive is a matter of arbitrary interpretation. In the first place, Christians honored her as Queen of heaven before she was defined as Mother of God; Marian mediation was accepted long before the definition as well …” [Robert Payesko, <i>The Truth About Mary: A Scriptural Introduction to the Mother of Jesus for Bible-Believing Christians</i> <i> </i>Vol. 3 (Sta. Barbara, California: Queenship Publication, 1996) p. 3-117].<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span></span></div><div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><i> </i>Furthermore, Eric L. Mascall explained:<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0.5in; margin-right: 0.5in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">“Although the immediate purpose of the Council of Ephesus was to declare the truth about our Lord Jesus Christ, it indirectly emphasized the unique place in the whole work or redemption which was held by His mother, and so it dis in fact give a stimulus to a great development of Marian devotion, and not only of devotion, but also theology” [Eric L. Mascall, “The Mother of God,” in <i>Mary’s Place in Christian Dialogue, </i>Alberic Stacpoole, ed. (Middlegreen, Slough: St. Paul Publications, 1982) p. 93.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span></span></div></div><div id="ftn35" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 16px;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="file:///C:/Users/user/Documents/THEOTOKOS%20IN%20PROTESTANT%20THEOLOGY.docx#_ftnref35" name="_ftn35" style="text-decoration: none;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="line-height: 18px;">[35]</span></span></span></a> Paul G. Schrotenboer repeated the error of Lorraine Boettner in tracing the <i>‘Theotokos’ </i>to the councils of Ephesus and Chalcedon. Fundamentalists routinely commit this mistake. Dr. Anthony Pezzotta made a similar claim in <i>Truth Encounter</i>: “The term ‘mother of God’ was used for the first time in the fifth century, during the Council of Ephesus (A.D. 431)” [Anthony Pezzotta, <i>Truth Encounter (</i>Makati City: Foreign Mission Board, SBC, 1996) p. 147].<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Fundamentalists Boettner, Schrotenboer and Pezzotta’s ignorance of church history and development of doctrine is readily apparent. <i>Theotokos</i>was not used for the first time or traceable to the Council of Ephesus in 431 A.D. Mary’s title antedates the Council of Ephesus. Even long before the Council of Ephesus, early Christians already believed that Mary is the Mother of God. The most ancient Marian prayer, the <i>Sub Tuum Praesidium</i>(ca. AD 250), which was found in Egypt, directly addresses Mary as Mother of God.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">The Fundamentalists seemed to have no acquaintance with the early Church Fathers’ pronouncements on Mary as the Mother of God. For instance, St. Athanasius of Alexandria (d. 373 A.D.), the mighty defender of orthodoxy and the Divinity of Christ, championed the title of Mary as<i>Theotokos </i>even before the Council of Ephesus in 431 A.D. The Bishop of Alexandria vigorously asserted and defended the teaching of divine revelation on the Mother of God. Against the Arian heretics, “he unequivocally holds that Jesus is the Son of God, generated by the Father from eternity, and thus possessing the Father’s identical divine nature” [Luigi C. Gambero,<i> Mary and the Fathers of the Church – The Blessed Virgin Mary in Patristic Thought </i>(San Francisco, California, 1999) p. 101]. Based on this premise, “he does not hesitate to give the name ‘Mother of God’ to her who generated him in his mortal nature” (<i>ibid.). </i>St. Athanasius argued: <i>“Christ, being God, became man for our sake and was born of Mary, Mother of God, to free us from the devil’s power”</i> (<i>ibid.</i>). He further asserted: <i>“It was for our sake that Christ became man, taking flesh from the Virgin Mary, Mother of God”</i> (<i>ibid</i>.).<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span></span></div><div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="line-height: 18px;">[35]</span></span></span> Lorraine Boettner erred in claiming that the phrase “Mother of God” originated in the Council of Ephesus in 431 A.D. Unknown to Boettner, Christians acclaimed Mary as the “Mother of God” long before the Council of Ephesus. <i>Funk and Wagnall’s New Encyclopedia </i>reported that <i>“[a]s early as the 2nd century Christians venerated Mary by calling her Mother of God, a title that primarily stresses the divinity of Jesus”</i>[<i>Funk and Wagnall’s New Encyclopedia </i>Vol. XVII (U.S.: Funk and Wagnall’s Corp., 1993) p. 43].</span></span></span></div><div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QbOQmTAc8vU/Tvn7AOQpRRI/AAAAAAAARXY/-XLlgKHZIsw/s1600/3579.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QbOQmTAc8vU/Tvn7AOQpRRI/AAAAAAAARXY/-XLlgKHZIsw/s400/3579.jpg" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; position: relative;" width="258" /></a></span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><i><b>The Truth About Mary Trilogy</b></i></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><o:p><br />
</o:p></span></span></span></div></div><div id="ftn36" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 16px;"><div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="file:///C:/Users/user/Documents/THEOTOKOS%20IN%20PROTESTANT%20THEOLOGY.docx#_ftnref36" name="_ftn36" style="text-decoration: none;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="line-height: 18px;">[36]</span></span></span></a> Actually, the title <i>“Mother of God” </i>affirmed the true divinity of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ in much the same way it affirmed his true humanity. Robert Payesko underscored that the definition [of Mary as Mother of God] pointed, on one hand, <i>“to the fact that Jesus was a real human being because He had a human mother, and on the other, to the fact that Mary was the Mother of a Person Who was divine” </i>[Robert Payesko, <i>The Truth About Mary: A Scriptural Introduction to the Mother of Jesus for Bible-Believing Christians</i> <i> </i>Vol. 3 (Sta. Barbara, California: Queenship Publication, 1996) p. 3-117.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoFootnoteText"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span></span></div></div><div id="ftn37" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 16px;"><div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="file:///C:/Users/user/Documents/THEOTOKOS%20IN%20PROTESTANT%20THEOLOGY.docx#_ftnref37" name="_ftn37" style="text-decoration: none;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="line-height: 18px;">[37]</span></span></span></a> Paul G. Schrotenboer, <i>Roman Catholicism: A Contemporary Evangelical Perspective </i>(Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Book House, 1987) pp. 32-33.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span></span></div></div><div id="ftn38" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 16px;"><div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="file:///C:/Users/user/Documents/THEOTOKOS%20IN%20PROTESTANT%20THEOLOGY.docx#_ftnref38" name="_ftn38" style="text-decoration: none;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="line-height: 18px;">[38]</span></span></span></a> <i>Ibid. </i>Commenting on this statement of Schrotenboer, Robert Payesko wrote: <i>“This charge is amusing because the phrase theotokos means “Mother of God.’ So how can you charge that the two Councils defined the doctrine that Mary is Mother of God and in the same breath say that “eventually” she was elevated to the title “Mother of God” [?]</i>[Robert Payesko, <i>The Truth About Mary: A Scriptural Introduction to the Mother of Jesus for Bible-Believing Christians</i> <i> </i>Vol. 3 (Sta. Barbara, California: Queenship Publication, 1996) p. 3-114-115].<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span></span></div></div><div id="ftn39" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 16px;"><div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="file:///C:/Users/user/Documents/THEOTOKOS%20IN%20PROTESTANT%20THEOLOGY.docx#_ftnref39" name="_ftn39" style="text-decoration: none;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="line-height: 18px;">[39]</span></span></span></a> <i>Ibid., </i>p. 91. Robert Payesko commented that this is another arbitrary interpretation. He asked Schrotenboer, <i>“[How does he know that she “had to decrease?” What about “all generations will call me blessed?]”</i> Robert Payesko, <i>The Truth About Mary: A Scriptural Introduction to the Mother of Jesus for Bible-Believing Christians</i> <i> </i>Vol. 3 (Sta. Barbara, California: Queenship Publication, 1996) p. 3-116].<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span></span></div></div><div id="ftn40" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 16px;"><div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="file:///C:/Users/user/Documents/THEOTOKOS%20IN%20PROTESTANT%20THEOLOGY.docx#_ftnref40" name="_ftn40" style="text-decoration: none;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="line-height: 18px;">[40]</span></span></span></a> Elliot Miller and Kenneth R. Samples, <i>The Cult of the Virgin</i>(Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Book House, 1992) pp. 19-20.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span></span></div></div><div id="ftn41" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 16px;"><div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="file:///C:/Users/user/Documents/THEOTOKOS%20IN%20PROTESTANT%20THEOLOGY.docx#_ftnref41" name="_ftn41" style="text-decoration: none;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="line-height: 18px;">[41]</span></span></span></a> <i>Ibid.<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-052-kWXYycU/Tvn7YIBVCsI/AAAAAAAARXk/elljZW-P6cU/s1600/936923-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-052-kWXYycU/Tvn7YIBVCsI/AAAAAAAARXk/elljZW-P6cU/s400/936923-L.jpg" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; position: relative;" width="245" /></a></span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><i><b>Fr. Mateo's Refuting the Attack on Mary</b></i></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><i><o:p><br />
</o:p></i></span></span></span></div></div><div id="ftn42" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 16px;"><div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="file:///C:/Users/user/Documents/THEOTOKOS%20IN%20PROTESTANT%20THEOLOGY.docx#_ftnref42" name="_ftn42" style="text-decoration: none;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="line-height: 18px;">[42]</span></span></span></a> In <i>Refuting the Attack on Mary, </i>Fr. Mateo replied:<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0.5in; margin-right: 0.5in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">“But the same is true of every other Christian doctrine. When worshippers sing the final verse of the grand, old Protestant hymn, “Holy, Holy, Holy,” they segue into “God in three Persons, Blessed trinity” and finish with a triumphant “Amen” – all without adding any “strict qualification.” Yet if any doctrine needs careful explanation, the Trinity does. So we are bound to teach and explain every doctrine, but never to muffle or drop a single one” [Father Mateo, <i>Refuting the Attack on Mary</i>(San Diego, California: Catholic Answers, 1999) pp. 3-4.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span></span></div></div><div id="ftn43" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 16px;"><div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="file:///C:/Users/user/Documents/THEOTOKOS%20IN%20PROTESTANT%20THEOLOGY.docx#_ftnref43" name="_ftn43" style="text-decoration: none;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="line-height: 18px;">[43]</span></span></span></a> <i>Ibid., </i>p. 21.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span></span></div></div><div id="ftn44" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 16px;"><div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="file:///C:/Users/user/Documents/THEOTOKOS%20IN%20PROTESTANT%20THEOLOGY.docx#_ftnref44" name="_ftn44" style="text-decoration: none;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="line-height: 18px;">[44]</span></span></span></a> Norman L. Geisler, “Foreword” in Elliot Miller and and Kenneth R. Samples, <i>The Cult of the Virgin </i>(Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Book House, 1992) p. 11.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div></div><div id="ftn45" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 16px;"><div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="file:///C:/Users/user/Documents/THEOTOKOS%20IN%20PROTESTANT%20THEOLOGY.docx#_ftnref45" name="_ftn45" style="text-decoration: none;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="line-height: 18px;">[45]</span></span></span></a> Erwin W. Lutzer, <i>All One Body – Why Don’t We Agree?</i>(Wheaton, Illinois: Tyndale House Publishers, 1989) p. 45, 53.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span></span></div></div><div id="ftn46" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 16px;"><div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="file:///C:/Users/user/Documents/THEOTOKOS%20IN%20PROTESTANT%20THEOLOGY.docx#_ftnref46" name="_ftn46" style="text-decoration: none;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="line-height: 18px;">[46]</span></span></span></a> Peter Toon, “Appreciating Mary Today,” in David F. Wright, ed., <i>Chosen By God: Mary in Evangelical Perspective </i>(London: Marshall Pickering, 1989), p. 216.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div></div><div id="ftn47" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 16px;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="file:///C:/Users/user/Documents/THEOTOKOS%20IN%20PROTESTANT%20THEOLOGY.docx#_ftnref47" name="_ftn47" style="text-decoration: none;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="line-height: 18px;">[47]</span></span></span></a> <i>See:</i><a href="http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1037624-1,00.html" style="text-decoration: none;">http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1037624-1,00.html</a>.</span></span></span></div></div><div id="ftn48" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 16px;"><div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="file:///C:/Users/user/Documents/THEOTOKOS%20IN%20PROTESTANT%20THEOLOGY.docx#_ftnref48" name="_ftn48" style="text-decoration: none;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="line-height: 18px;">[48]</span></span></span></a> H.W.M. Tajra, <i>The Psalter of Mary a Lutheran Approach to the Holy Rosary </i>(London: Ecumenical Society of the Blessed Virgin Mary, 1997) p. 8.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span></span></div></div><div id="ftn49" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 16px;"><div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="file:///C:/Users/user/Documents/THEOTOKOS%20IN%20PROTESTANT%20THEOLOGY.docx#_ftnref49" name="_ftn49" style="text-decoration: none;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="line-height: 18px;">[49]</span></span></span></a> Dee Jepsen, <i>Jesus Called Her Mother </i>(Minneapolis, Minnesota: Bethany House Publishers: 1991) p. 27.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span></span></div></div><div id="ftn50" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 16px;"><div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="file:///C:/Users/user/Documents/THEOTOKOS%20IN%20PROTESTANT%20THEOLOGY.docx#_ftnref50" name="_ftn50" style="text-decoration: none;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="line-height: 18px;">[50]</span></span></span></a> <i>Ibid., </i>p. 27-28, citing Kenneth S. Kantzer, “A Most Misunderstood Woman,” <i>Christianity Today, </i>December 12, 1986, p. 20.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span></span></div></div><div id="ftn51" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 16px;"><div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="file:///C:/Users/user/Documents/THEOTOKOS%20IN%20PROTESTANT%20THEOLOGY.docx#_ftnref51" name="_ftn51" style="text-decoration: none;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="line-height: 18px;">[51]</span></span></span></a> Scot McKnight, <i>The Real Mary </i>(London: Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge, 2007) p. 124.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span></span></div></div><div id="ftn52" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 16px;"><div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="file:///C:/Users/user/Documents/THEOTOKOS%20IN%20PROTESTANT%20THEOLOGY.docx#_ftnref52" name="_ftn52" style="text-decoration: none;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="line-height: 18px;">[52]</span></span></span></a> <i>Ibid.<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><i><br />
</i></span></span></span></div></div><div id="ftn53" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 16px;"><div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="file:///C:/Users/user/Documents/THEOTOKOS%20IN%20PROTESTANT%20THEOLOGY.docx#_ftnref53" name="_ftn53" style="text-decoration: none;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="line-height: 18px;">[53]</span></span></span></a> <i>Ibid., </i>pp. 124-125.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span></span></div></div><div id="ftn54" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 16px;"><div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="file:///C:/Users/user/Documents/THEOTOKOS%20IN%20PROTESTANT%20THEOLOGY.docx#_ftnref54" name="_ftn54" style="text-decoration: none;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="line-height: 18px;">[54]</span></span></span></a> <i>Ibid., </i>p. 125.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span></span></div></div><div id="ftn55" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 16px;"><div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="file:///C:/Users/user/Documents/THEOTOKOS%20IN%20PROTESTANT%20THEOLOGY.docx#_ftnref55" name="_ftn55" style="text-decoration: none;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="line-height: 18px;">[55]</span></span></span></a> Catholics do not refer to Mary as the “Wife of God” or “Mother of the Trinity;” hence, the apprehension of Protestants referred to by Scot McKnight is misplaced and utterly bereft of basis.</span></span></span></div><div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span></span></div></div><div id="ftn56" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 16px;"><div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="file:///C:/Users/user/Documents/THEOTOKOS%20IN%20PROTESTANT%20THEOLOGY.docx#_ftnref56" name="_ftn56" style="text-decoration: none;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="line-height: 18px;">[56]</span></span></span></a> <i>Ibid.<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></span></div></div><div id="ftn57" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 16px;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><br />
</span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><a href="file:///C:/Users/user/Documents/THEOTOKOS%20IN%20PROTESTANT%20THEOLOGY.docx#_ftnref57" name="_ftn57" style="text-decoration: none;" title="">[57]</a></span></span><a href="file:///C:/Users/user/Documents/THEOTOKOS%20IN%20PROTESTANT%20THEOLOGY.docx#_ftnref57" name="_ftn57" style="text-decoration: none;" title=""></a></span></span><span style="line-height: 18px;"> </span><span style="line-height: 18px;">Tim Perry, <i>Mary for Evangelicals</i> (Downers Grove, Illinois: Intervarsity Press, 2006) p. 269.</span><span style="line-height: 18px;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span></span></div></div><div id="ftn58" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 16px;"><div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="file:///C:/Users/user/Documents/THEOTOKOS%20IN%20PROTESTANT%20THEOLOGY.docx#_ftnref58" name="_ftn58" style="text-decoration: none;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="line-height: 18px;">[58]</span></span></span></a> <i>Ibid. See </i>pp. 269-270.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span></span></div></div><div id="ftn59" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 16px;"><div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="file:///C:/Users/user/Documents/THEOTOKOS%20IN%20PROTESTANT%20THEOLOGY.docx#_ftnref59" name="_ftn59" style="text-decoration: none;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="line-height: 14px;">[59]</span></span></span></a> <i>Ibid., </i>p. 271.</span></span></span></div><div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span></span></div></div><div id="ftn60" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 16px;"><div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="file:///C:/Users/user/Documents/THEOTOKOS%20IN%20PROTESTANT%20THEOLOGY.docx#_ftnref60" name="_ftn60" style="text-decoration: none;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="line-height: 18px;">[60]</span></span></span></a> <i>Ibid.<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span></span></div></div><div id="ftn61" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 16px;"><div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="file:///C:/Users/user/Documents/THEOTOKOS%20IN%20PROTESTANT%20THEOLOGY.docx#_ftnref61" name="_ftn61" style="text-decoration: none;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="line-height: 18px;">[61]</span></span></span></a> <i>Ibid., </i>pp. 271-271.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span></span></div></div><div id="ftn62" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 16px;"><div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="file:///C:/Users/user/Documents/THEOTOKOS%20IN%20PROTESTANT%20THEOLOGY.docx#_ftnref62" name="_ftn62" style="text-decoration: none;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="line-height: 18px;">[62]</span></span></span></a> <i>Ibid., </i>p. 272.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span></span></div></div><div id="ftn63" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 16px;"><div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="file:///C:/Users/user/Documents/THEOTOKOS%20IN%20PROTESTANT%20THEOLOGY.docx#_ftnref63" name="_ftn63" style="text-decoration: none;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="line-height: 18px;">[63]</span></span></span></a> <i>Ibid.<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span></span></div></div><div id="ftn64" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 16px;"><div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="file:///C:/Users/user/Documents/THEOTOKOS%20IN%20PROTESTANT%20THEOLOGY.docx#_ftnref64" name="_ftn64" style="text-decoration: none;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="line-height: 18px;">[64]</span></span></span></a> <i>A Devotional Life of Christ.<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><i><br />
</i></span></span></span></div></div><div id="ftn65"><div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 16px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="file:///C:/Users/user/Documents/THEOTOKOS%20IN%20PROTESTANT%20THEOLOGY.docx#_ftnref65" name="_ftn65" style="text-decoration: none;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="line-height: 18px;">[65]</span></span></span></a> Ken Gire, <i>Moments with the Savior </i>(Manila: OMF Literature, 1999) pp. 27-28.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 16px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 16px; text-align: center;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UHqf1KzfNVs/Tvn8kcXo84I/AAAAAAAARXw/hEzMJHWnRQI/s1600/SAM_0035.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UHqf1KzfNVs/Tvn8kcXo84I/AAAAAAAARXw/hEzMJHWnRQI/s400/SAM_0035.JPG" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; position: relative;" width="300" /></a></span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 16px; text-align: center;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><i><b>The author's icon of the Mother of God written by iconographer Christina Dochwat</b></i></span></span></span></div><div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 16px;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><i><b><br />
</b></i></span></span></span></div><div style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; line-height: 16px;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">----------------------------------------------------------------- </span></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Need I say more?</span></span></span></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>IJRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02294057859963145663noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4187924677660293415.post-13119174574118197932011-12-31T17:22:00.000-08:002011-12-31T17:22:34.691-08:00Pope Benedict XVI's Prayer Intentions for January 2012<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">from the <a href="http://visnews-en.blogspot.com/2011/12/benedict-xvis-prayer-intentions-for.html">Vatican Information Service</a> </span><br />
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</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">General Prayer Intention: "That the victims of natural disasters may receive the spiritual and material comfort they need to rebuild their lives" </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Mission-Intention: "That the dedication of Christians to peace may bear witness to the name of Christ before all men and women of good will"</span>IJRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02294057859963145663noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4187924677660293415.post-6245547330079946012011-12-31T07:29:00.000-08:002011-12-31T07:29:36.835-08:00The 2011 Year-ender BlogpostOkay....<br />
<br />
I wanna keep it short and simple before we start 2012 with a bang. It would be a prayer:<br />
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First of all, I thank the Lord for 2011. The Pro-life victory, the Quadricentennial Year of UST, and everything that happened this year. We return to you, O Lord, the glory.<br />
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Second, I hope that Your countenance would be felt still in the new year. May the motherly care of the Blessed Virgin be felt on us.<br />
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And finally, whatever I may see as an opportunity to serve You, may I do it for You.<br />
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This I ask through Christ, Our King and Lord, through the intercession of the Blessed Mother and all the Angels and Saints. <br />
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AMEN!<br />
<br />
<br />
And as I did last year, here's the best of 2011:<br />
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<a href="http://ijr-jackhammer.blogspot.com/2011/02/saga-of-right-to-life-against-culture.html">Life vs. Death</a><br />
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<a href="http://ijr-jackhammer.blogspot.com/2011/02/catholicism-balance-of-heart-and-mind.html">Catholicism, a Balance of Heart and Mind</a><br />
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<a href="http://ijr-jackhammer.blogspot.com/2011/02/umaasa.html">Umaasa</a><br />
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<a href="http://ijr-jackhammer.blogspot.com/2011/03/pro-rh-people-never-saw-this-coming.html">the March 25 Pro-Life rally</a><br />
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<a href="http://ijr-jackhammer.blogspot.com/2011/03/not-just-for-record.html">UST's Human Cross</a><br />
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<a href="http://ijr-jackhammer.blogspot.com/2011/04/tax-collector-at-temple.html">The Tax Collector at the Temple</a><br />
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<a href="http://ijr-jackhammer.blogspot.com/2011/05/prophecy-or-mass-panic.html">Prophecy or Mass Panic?</a><br />
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<a href="http://ijr-jackhammer.blogspot.com/2011/05/o-birheng-kalinis-linisan-agni-parthene.html">O Birheng Kalinis-linisan</a><br />
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<a href="http://ijr-jackhammer.blogspot.com/2011/06/christ-in-hands-of-his-priest.html">Christ in the Hands of His Priest</a><br />
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<a href="http://ijr-jackhammer.blogspot.com/2011/06/fathers-day-letter-para-kay-rizal.html">Father's Day Letter para kay Rizal</a><br />
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<a href="http://ijr-jackhammer.blogspot.com/2011/06/leningrad-in-making-independence-day.html">A Leningrad in the Making</a><br />
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<a href="http://ijr-jackhammer.blogspot.com/2011/07/pro-lifers-at-tigers-and-falcons-camps.html">Humanae Vitae Week</a><br />
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<a href="http://ijr-jackhammer.blogspot.com/2011_08_01_archive.html">The Grassroots Project</a><br />
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<a href="http://ijr-jackhammer.blogspot.com/2011/09/theotokos.html">Theotokos</a><br />
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<a href="http://ijr-jackhammer.blogspot.com/2011/10/battle-for-existence-continues-rosary.html">The Battle for Existence Continues</a><br />
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<a href="http://ijr-jackhammer.blogspot.com/2011/11/my-youth-transition-blog-post.html">My Youth</a><br />
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<a href="http://ijr-jackhammer.blogspot.com/2011/12/real-santa-claus-worships-christ-child.html">St. Nicholas a.k.a. Santa Claus</a><br />
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<a href="http://ijr-jackhammer.blogspot.com/2011/12/byzantinong-awit-sa-pasko-ng-pagsilang.html">A Nativity Hymn</a><br />
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<a href="http://ijr-jackhammer.blogspot.com/2011/12/personal-reflection-on-saint-john.html">A Reflection on St. John</a>IJRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02294057859963145663noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4187924677660293415.post-66601009606381201302011-12-27T16:22:00.000-08:002011-12-27T16:22:37.621-08:00A Personal Reflection on Saint John the BelovedMy name is Ian, and as I searched for what my name means, I discovered that it was a Scottish variant of the name John, and parallel to the Russian "Ivan", the Irish "Sean", and the Greek "Ioannis". That means, if my name (Ian Joseph) is Latinized, it would be Ioannes Iosephus (correct me if I'm wrong); and in Spanish, strictly speaking, Juan Jose.<br />
<br />
Anyway, aside from that, I could really relate to the name, since it is actually Biblical, though the foreign variation. It actually means "God is gracious" (and its cool because we Catholics believe that it is grace that moves us to something). I said that it is Biblical because there were two characters with that name and are related to Christ: one was His Forerunner and relative (John the Baptist); the other His Apostle and an evangelist (John the Beloved). I'm more close to that of the latter.<br />
<br />
Saint John was an ordinary fisherman's boy prior to the call of Jesus, where he, alongside his brother James and their neighbors Peter and Andrew, were called to become "fishers of men". John was actually reckoned as the youngest of the Twelve, basically in his teens or early twenties. It was him who sat beside Jesus at the Last Supper, an event where the Apostles were ordained priests. It was him who, in behalf of the Church, stood at the foot of the cross and in his care the Lord entrusted His Mother--to become our Mother too. It was him who ran ahead of Peter yet entered after him at the tomb where Jesus lied as a corpse, to discover that it was empty and that He is risen. It was him who recognized the Lord when seven of the Apostles gone fishing. He is sometimes called "the Theologian" for his outstanding writings--the Three Epistles, the Book of Revelation, and the Gospel attributed to him in which it starts as "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.... And the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us." (1:1;14) These writings in the Scriptures are reserved for Christmas and Easter, especially the Gospel, which was the undoing of the sinful acts in the Book of Genesis.<br />
<br />
I ponder on the fact that he was the youngest of Christ's inner circle of followers--the first bishops. For my part, I happen to be the youngest in organizations I'm affiliated to outside the four walls of UST: the youngest admin of 100% KATOLIKONG PINOY!, one of the youngest members of Filipinos for Life, one of the youngest aspiring apologists, and so on. In the spirituality of Saint John's youthful status in the Twelve, I see myself as a manifestation that his namesakes would be young, yet inspired by Divine Grace to be what he wants to be for God's glory.IJRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02294057859963145663noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4187924677660293415.post-600340414408315622011-12-24T19:21:00.000-08:002011-12-24T19:21:24.297-08:00Byzantinong awit sa Pasko ng Pagsilang ng Panginoong Jesu-Kristo<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 14px; text-align: left;">pagsasalin ni Ian Riñon</span> </span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyIF0x9oLZloCgBQCt2fOgbIEnAICuUIV2a-jASsjizmBrg75AmGDea7cQudQK8rOai-XkO0dZIDZSzMtivHihUYgUWzki8GEbEXg5i3iIkQGB_Jeepzk27EXVLbN96ImQ9GUj0LoAQQ/s1600/nativity-icon-incarnation-of-the-lord-jesus-christ-222.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyIF0x9oLZloCgBQCt2fOgbIEnAICuUIV2a-jASsjizmBrg75AmGDea7cQudQK8rOai-XkO0dZIDZSzMtivHihUYgUWzki8GEbEXg5i3iIkQGB_Jeepzk27EXVLbN96ImQ9GUj0LoAQQ/s320/nativity-icon-incarnation-of-the-lord-jesus-christ-222.jpg" width="245" /></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 14px; text-align: left;"><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 14px; text-align: left;">Ngayo'y ipinanganak buhat sa isang dalaga Siyang may tangan ng tanang nilikha sa Kanyang mga kamay. </span><br style="background-color: white; line-height: 14px; text-align: left;" /><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 14px; text-align: left;"><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 14px; text-align: left;">Siyang hindi mahawak-hawakan ay binalutan ng lampin bilang Sanggol. </span><br style="background-color: white; line-height: 14px; text-align: left;" /><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 14px; text-align: left;"><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 14px; text-align: left;">Siyang Diyos nang sa pasimula'y nilikha ang kalangitan ay nakahimlay sa isang sabsaban. </span><br style="background-color: white; line-height: 14px; text-align: left;" /><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 14px; text-align: left;"><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 14px; text-align: left;">Siyang nagpaulan ng manna sa Kanyang bayan sa ilang ay nakasalalay sa gatas ng Kanyang Ina. </span><br style="background-color: white; line-height: 14px; text-align: left;" /><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 14px; text-align: left;"><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 14px; text-align: left;">Siyang Kabiyak ng Simbahan ang nag-anyaya sa mga</span></span><span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; display: inline; line-height: 14px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> pantas.<br />
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<span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; display: inline; line-height: 14px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Ang Anak ng Birhen ang tumanggap ng kanilang mga handog.<br />
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<span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; display: inline; line-height: 14px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Pinupuri namin ang Iyong pagsilang, O Kristo.<br />
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<span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; display: inline; line-height: 14px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Nawa'y makita rin namin ang sarili Mo. </span></span>IJRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02294057859963145663noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4187924677660293415.post-76835551067075761302011-12-21T19:03:00.000-08:002011-12-21T19:03:07.766-08:00Santa Claus's Christmas Wish (a repost)<h3 class="post-title entry-title" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 20px; position: relative;">Santa Claus' Christmas Wish</h3><div class="post-header" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.6; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div class="post-header-line-1"></div></div><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-7135856608413973701" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 870px;"><b>(Translated from the original Filipino Christmas story of Francis Raymund Gonzales)</b><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://opinionated42.files.wordpress.com/2010/11/santa-baby-jesus.jpg?w=282&h=300" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><img border="0" src="http://opinionated42.files.wordpress.com/2010/11/santa-baby-jesus.jpg?w=282&h=300" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; position: relative;" /></span></a></div><br />
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"They're going to boycott you," a voice behind him broke the silence of the room.<br />
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He didn't turn to the source of the message. He just continued to stir sugar into his coffee. Oh no; he have put too much sugar. Now he knows why: he is somewhat affected even if he had heard it before.<br />
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"Rudolph, where did that came from?" the old man asked his friendly pet.<br />
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"It's in the Internet. It says here that the people would start a campaign of not patronizing you anymore this December. What's worse about it is that Catholic priests will spearhead this against you."<br />
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Taking a deep breath, he does not want to show his pet that he knows all these things. The eastern winds whispered this to him a month ago--and the western a week ago--and the south about two hours ago. He does not want to admit that this is what makes him a little less jolly for a couple of days now.<br />
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"Santa," Rudolph continued, "a group of deers suggested that we would just pick places where there are still no actions made against you. According to some collected information, you are popular in Japan. So that means, we could conduct a mission there."<br />
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It looks like that he doesn't want to talk to his pet anymore, so he pushed his back against his soft chair. Rudolph also noticed that his master does not want to talk about the topic in hand, so he left the room.<br />
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A deeper breath was all that Santa Claus could do. It looks like Santa Claus, the most popular symbol of Christmas in the world, is hesitant to stand up and move. Despite the many years of giving joy to children, he knew that one day there would be people who would complain and hate him.<br />
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He also knew the reason why they are pulling him down: someone made a private message to him on Facebook telling him that he was stealing the spotlight from the Infant Jesus; instead of centering the celebration to the Messiah, he himself was the reason of the happiness of the children and the commercialization of Christmas. That is why he ignored Rudolph when he involved Japan. Yes--the Land of the Rising Sun. Christmas is popular there, however, he was the reason behind it. He is THE icon of Christmas in a foreign land. He overlapped the Messiah in the importance of the Japanese; and he is disappointed of it.<br />
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Suddenly, he thought of something. He rung the tiny bells to call his reindeers: "Dasher! Dancer! Prancer! Vixen! Comet! Cupid! Donner! Blitzen! Rudolph! Ready the sleigh! We'll go visit someone!"<br />
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That night, they went to a cathedral in a nearby town. Santa walked inside the dark, cold, hollow place, and in a nook, he saw a lighted image of Jesus in the manger. There is no other image there. He thought that someone forgot to put this in the right place. He was astonished that there were no lights in it! It seems that a light from above the cathedral that illuminates the image is guiding him to where he was standing.<br />
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With guilt from within, he humbly prostrated in prayer upon reaching the image:<br />
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"Master, first of all, I would like to thank You for this night that I could visit You. Everything that happens is according to Your will for those who love You--even the campaign of ousting me at this time. May Your will be done. For a long time of reading every child's wish every Christmas, I realized that I am also a child in Your presence; and I have one wish to tell."<br />
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The face of the image of Christ looks peaceful, and His eyes are looking towards the light from above.<br />
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And Santa continued: "Master, I wish that every man would understand that I am not here to form a barrier against You. I have a happiness that I want to share to others; and You know that You are my true happiness. I am doing this not only because I want to make children happy every Christmas Eve, or to make the family happy in their Santa Claus decorations, and all other reasons. I am here to remind them that if they feel the goodness and happiness I bring, I hope that they would realize that there is a more infinite Goodness and Joy, for You have said: 'No servant is higher than his master." They may not see You in their merry-making, I hope that they may feel You through me while they decorate their homes in my image. I am just like a clown in a birthday party who brings happiness to all; and You are the birthday celebrant. As a clown, the only thing I could give to You is my duty to bring happiness. I ask for Your forgiveness if there are people who misunderstand my intentions for Christmas."<br />
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The light vanished, and someone went inside--the sexton. Santa and his reindeers also vanished.<br />
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"Mama! Mama! It's beautiful! Can we buy it?...Please...."<br />
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It's Christmas shopping again in a mall. Shining lights and figures of angels are everywhere--of course, also those of Santa Claus. But there is something new in their inventory. It seems that the Infant Jesus was satisfied and He granted Santa's wish that night. Indeed, that is a new figurine--and one of the most meaningful to display this Christmas: an example of humility and of submission that despite of one's popularity, it is God alone who should remain, and it is God alone who should be glorified.<br />
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That was the figurine of Santa Claus kneeling in front of the Christ Child.</div>IJRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02294057859963145663noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4187924677660293415.post-22162527542629973822011-12-18T02:04:00.000-08:002011-12-18T02:04:35.096-08:00Pray for them.The Jackhammer is one in prayer for the eternal repose of the souls of the 300+ casualties of typhoon Sendong in Mindanao.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://twitpic.com/show/large/7udfiz" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://twitpic.com/show/large/7udfiz" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord; and let Thy perpetual light shine upon them. May their memories be eternal and may they rest in peace. Amen.</div>IJRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02294057859963145663noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4187924677660293415.post-44969619991776991522011-12-14T15:46:00.000-08:002011-12-14T15:46:37.510-08:00Ranting BloggersI admit, I rant whenever I write a blog. Remember Alter Ego? I was told by a friend of mine to watch what I'm writing. He said, though it's good, some people would be offended that they'll run after my neck. But anyway, that's not the point.<br />
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The point is when you rant, you're more egoistic than you could ever imagine. Of course it is an opinion, a violent reaction, perhaps. But sometimes, there are some bloggers out there who, for the love of God, the sanctity of life, the Church, Tradition, and of the Pope, will scrutinize EVERY SINGLE MOVE the local Churches do (and I mean, the Dioceses and Archdioceses here in the Philippines as well as other Ecclesial hotspots over the world).<br />
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As a fellow ranter, here's my unsolicited advice:<br />
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I once was told by a media practitioner about watching TV: "If you don't like what you see, change the channel." Now, if you don't want the shepherding style of a Bishop, transfer to another diocese. If you don't see the beauty of the Church here in the Philippines, why not reside in Rome? I guess you'll realize how beautiful our faith is through its structures. Or better yet, tell the Bishops what YOU feel before leaving. Tell them everything you know until they understand what you mean.IJRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02294057859963145663noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4187924677660293415.post-74688053212682510632011-12-09T14:58:00.000-08:002011-12-09T14:58:31.396-08:00What you need to know about the RH Bill's negative sideThis is rarely publicized, so I repost this infographic from Kuya Caloy Palad's <a href="http://fightrhbill.blogspot.com/2011/12/what-rh-promotehttp://fightrhbill.blogspot.com/2011/12/what-rh-promoters-dont-want-you-to-know.htmlrs-dont-want-you-to-know.html">The Catholic Position on the RH Bill</a>:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpU5DAEV0qfp0fFDIFW3E-FwTXeNGbVio2PJ17eDe2A7Ba0kjfrAqMmV2CDvSRbA8uVT-1KcH4EVU9mJRylupDv6FFkdgT0mkrWiI-p2sbVluGBK6KNLvpmKeaJLOfPOOAtLNV1aRfmC4/s640/RH+Bill+Infographic.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpU5DAEV0qfp0fFDIFW3E-FwTXeNGbVio2PJ17eDe2A7Ba0kjfrAqMmV2CDvSRbA8uVT-1KcH4EVU9mJRylupDv6FFkdgT0mkrWiI-p2sbVluGBK6KNLvpmKeaJLOfPOOAtLNV1aRfmC4/s320/RH+Bill+Infographic.png" width="163" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Anyway, Check the announcement below. Hope to see you there 'cause I will be. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvhLcKUIC7PSilusj-wUFpJRSqsZOxpwTE5antMjVUvVpNNjhyYHiuwTeWuToOGkY5tSdIogYWQNebioZZuKyVtecTLHnfyxYJSRHb4hVnrS8MNTpjWxwycFhwMYZj4ji6EQ8mAU_KsJM/s640/Marian+Caravan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvhLcKUIC7PSilusj-wUFpJRSqsZOxpwTE5antMjVUvVpNNjhyYHiuwTeWuToOGkY5tSdIogYWQNebioZZuKyVtecTLHnfyxYJSRHb4hVnrS8MNTpjWxwycFhwMYZj4ji6EQ8mAU_KsJM/s320/Marian+Caravan.jpg" width="270" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div>IJRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02294057859963145663noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4187924677660293415.post-48146180168266933702011-12-05T22:05:00.000-08:002011-12-09T15:27:18.732-08:00The REAL Santa Claus worships the Christ ChildWho says Santa Claus is the man of the Christmas season?<br />
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JESUS IS AND WILL ALWAYS BE THE MAN OF THE CHRISTMAS SEASON!!!<br />
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The Santa you see on TV, and virtually everywhere, is just the secular impostor.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">He's the REAL Santa Claus: Saint Nicholas of Myra. Even he pronounces that Christ must be the Center of the Season.</div><br />
And take note: he was the one who beat the hell out of Arius when he can't take what the heretic was saying.<br />
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hahahaha<br />
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Well, according to a story, when Arius was arguing that Jesus Christ was not God (which Manalists and other anti-Catholic sects follow unkowingly), Saint Nicholas rose up and smacked Arius in the face. Because of this, he was stripped off of his episcopal authority, confiscating his copy of the Gospels and the omophor or pallium, and was detained.<br />
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While inside the cell, Jesus and Mary appeared to him and asked him why the saint was in prison. Bishop Nicholas replied, "Because I love you, my Lord and my God." Christ gave him a new copy of the Gospels and the Blessed Mother vested him again with the omophor, bringing back his authority as bishop.<br />
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Years later, Dutch people transformed the traditional Saint Nicholas into Santa Claus, and since then, became a popular culture figure every Christmas, which secularists copied and made impostors.<br />
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I find it ironic though that secular Santa impostors have the nerve of shouting "Ho ho ho! <b>MERRY CHRISTMAS</b>!" I guess, they should realize that they're saying <b>OUR</b> line.<br />
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But imagine, Santa Claus isn't just making a list of who's naughty or nice, he's also beating the hell out of anyone who disregards the Reason for the season, Jesus Christ, the Child in the manger of Bethlehem two thousand years ago. So you better watch your theological thinking and prioritizing this Christmas, or you'll get a knuckle sandwich from Ol' Saint Nick aside from coal while shouting "HO HO HO!".<br />
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Can he also be the Patron of boxers? hahahahaha<br />
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Anyway, here's what <a href="http://theparadoxicleyline.blogspot.com/2011/12/who-is-real-santa-claus.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+BeforeTheEasternSunset+%28Before+the+Eastern+Sunset%29">Sir Ishmael Ahab</a> and <a href="http://senseofthesacred.blogspot.com/2011/12/st-nicholas-christmas-saint.html">Fr. Jojo Zerrudo</a> have to say.IJRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02294057859963145663noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4187924677660293415.post-83985764078525877782011-11-28T18:59:00.000-08:002011-11-28T19:05:45.127-08:00Parol ng Halina: Homegrown Advent Wreath<div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">So, I heard from some wall post at KP about this "Parol ng Halina". Well, we found out that this is a Filipino version of the Advent Wreath which the Christians in the Western world use, including Catholics. Here's a repost from <a href="http://philippineromancatholic.blogspot.com/2011/11/parol-ng-halina-filipino-twist-on.html">one of Kuya Caloy Palad's blogs</a> which I'm following: </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">And yeah.... I'm back for the side-comments. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; line-height: 19px;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; line-height: 19px;">----------------------------------------------------------------- </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; line-height: 19px;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 19px;">The "Parol ng Halina", a Filipino twist on the Advent wreath</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 19px;"></span></div><div class="post-header" style="line-height: 1.6; margin-bottom: 1.5em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div class="post-header-line-1"></div></div><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-1990500038620073854" style="line-height: normal; position: relative; width: 520px;"><div style="line-height: 1.4; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">The <i>"Parol ng Halina"</i> ("Lantern of Invitation") for every Sunday of Advent, with the <i>parols</i> for the 1st, 2nd and 4th Sundays colored purple or violet while the parol for the 3rd Sunday is rose or pink, that Sunday being Gaudete Sunday, when the liturgy of the Church assumes a restrained joy in anticipation of the exalted night of the Nativity [<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">So that the whole structure becomes the wreath.... Cool enough]</span>. The four <i>parols</i> are hung from the roof of the church, directly above the main aisle, with the newer <i>parols </i>being hung nearer to the altar (or to the place prepared for the<span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"> </span><i>creche</i>). These could also be hung from different corners of the church. </span></div><div style="line-height: 1.4; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; line-height: 1.4; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1NMQ6dGBsshFvLH4So4OwQkIQMij0VQ4Z-rOoyN3bzUUW6c7Lr2JvKf2AoGcyPgfRbeqEdAvJnwtPtGmbqY_mdF7xJ9bJR7KEDPmElImwlraeU4phEERQbp04xfqqHclR6ERTsO2RH7Ho/s1600/whiteparol.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left; text-decoration: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1NMQ6dGBsshFvLH4So4OwQkIQMij0VQ4Z-rOoyN3bzUUW6c7Lr2JvKf2AoGcyPgfRbeqEdAvJnwtPtGmbqY_mdF7xJ9bJR7KEDPmElImwlraeU4phEERQbp04xfqqHclR6ERTsO2RH7Ho/s320/whiteparol.jpg" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976563) 1px 1px 5px; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-color: rgb(238, 238, 238); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-color: initial; border-left-color: rgb(238, 238, 238); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(238, 238, 238); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(238, 238, 238); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; border-width: initial; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976563) 1px 1px 5px; cursor: move; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 5px; padding-top: 5px; position: relative;" width="320" /></span></a></div><div style="line-height: 1.4; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">How is the series of parols concluded? In one variation, the fifth and final <i>parol</i>, which is white, is hung on Christmas Eve above the <i>creche</i>. In another variation, the white<i> parol </i>is made to slide from one end to the church, stopping right above the Nativity scene, before or during the Mass of Christmas Eve <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">[I'd prefer the latter]</span>. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 22px;"><br />
</span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 1.4;"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 1.4;">I don't know when the current five-<i>parol</i> custom started. It is basically a Filipino adaptation of the symbolism of the Advent wreath, and since the latter began to be popular in Catholic churches only in the 1950's and 1960's then the five-lantern combination couldn't be older than that. However, it was already observed in Sta. Teresita Parish (the headquarters of the Capuchin Franciscans in the Philippines) at Sta. Mesa Heights, Quezon City when I was a parishioner there in the 1990's [<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">So the custom was existing for quite some time now]</span>. Then and now, only a small minority of parishes observe this; the Advent wreath continues to be the dominant way of marking Advent inside Filipino churches <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">[Because of Westernization(?)]</span>.</span></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 22px;"><br />
</span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"></span><br />
<div style="line-height: 1.4; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Furthermore, many Filipino parishes tend to use <i>parols</i> as mere Christmas decorations, without any discernible attempt to relate these to the liturgical cycles of Advent, the<i> Simbang Gabi</i>, and Christmas <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">[In a way, this Parol ng Halina is uplifting the parol in the Filipino tradition of Advent and Christmas. That's nice]</span>.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 22px;"><br />
</span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 1.4;"></span></span><br />
<div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 1.4;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 1.4;">However, already prior to Vatican II, during the Mass of Christmas Eve, many Filipino parishes observed the custom of having a white parol slide from one end of the church down towards the </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal;"><i style="line-height: 1.4;">creche</i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 1.4;">, stopping right above it, thus symbolizing the Star of Bethlehem that guided the Magi to the Christ Child. (A related custom observed in some Filipino parishes or communities is that of having an altar server bear a large white or multi-colored</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal;"><i style="line-height: 1.4;"> parol</i></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 1.4;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"> at the head of the entrance procession for the Mass of Christmas Eve. I have no idea how old this custom is, either; alas, there is so little information on the history behind so many Filipino customs and traditions!)</span> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red; line-height: 1.4;">[Now that really means, this is quite old already!]</span></span></span></span></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 22px;"><br />
</span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 1.4;"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 1.4;">At the beginning of this month, Archbishop Socrates Villegas of Lingayen-Dagupan gave a boost to the custom of <i>"Parol ng Halina"</i> by strongly endorsing it as an alternative to the Advent Wreath <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">[A Filipino version could be another term]</span>. His letter on this matter can be found on the website of his Archdiocese (<b><a href="http://rcald.org/?p=550" style="text-decoration: none;">Circular 2011/35: Alternative to the Advent Wreath</a></b>) and he has provided a ritual for the blessing of the <i>"Parol ng Halina"</i> as well (<b><a href="http://rcald.org/?p=559" style="text-decoration: none;">Order for the Blessing of Parol ng Halina</a></b>). </span></div></div><div style="line-height: 1.4; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="line-height: 1.4; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">As usual, some Philippine secular media outlets misreported the Archbishop's directive as a denunciation of the Advent Wreath as "Protestant", and as advocating that parish churches hang <i>parols</i> instead. The fact of the matter is that Filipino parishes need no prompting to hang parols, as these are ubiquitous in the Philippines in the days just before and after Christmas, and no parish ever goes without these. Furthermore, the Advent Wreath is truly Protestant in origin (German Lutheran to be exact) <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">[Despite the veracity of the info, the media have called a wrong emphasis, then]</span>. German-speaking Catholics began to adopt it only in the years before World War II and it began to spread to Catholics outside of German-speaking communities only in the post-World War II era. The Archbishop merely alluded to this origin, and explicitly stated that he had no intention or desire to ban the Advent Wreath from the parishes within his jurisdiction <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">[much like the misinterpretation that the Novus Ordo takes the place of the TLM, which in reality, only exalts the TLM as the Extraordinary Form]</span>.</span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 22px;"><br />
</span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 1.4;"></span></span><br />
<div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 1.4;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 1.4;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">It should be noted, though, that the "Parol ng Halina", while an "alternative" to the Advent Wreath, is basically a variation upon the latter's usual American form (three purple candles and one rose or pink candle), and would be unintelligible to most Filipinos without the Advent Wreath as a point of reference</span> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red; line-height: 1.4;">[Of course, the faithful will be asking about it]</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 1.4;">. </span></span></span></span></div></div><div style="line-height: 1.4; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div style="line-height: 1.4; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">(Photo source:<b><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26107685@N06/3117208273" style="text-decoration: none;"> link</a></b>) </span></div><div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; line-height: 1.4; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; line-height: 19px;"><br />
</span></div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; line-height: 1.4; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; line-height: 19px;">----------------------------------------------------------------- </span></div></div><br />
<div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; line-height: 22px;"></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Well, why not? It's our homegrown Advent Wreath. Maybe next year, I'll be designing a DP with the parols taking the place of the candles, aside from starting the use of the Third Edition of the Roman Missal in English.</div>IJRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02294057859963145663noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4187924677660293415.post-45774656518265706622011-11-27T07:56:00.000-08:002011-11-27T08:02:37.452-08:00EXPOSING THE LIES AND DECEPTIONS OF ARMANDO ANG PART VIActually, I have missed out Atty. Mars' series in refuting Armando Ang in his book "The Dark Side of Catholicism". To those who want to see the whole series of Atty. Mars' defense to the Blessed Virgin Mary, <a href="http://bromarwilnllasos.blogspot.com/search/label/Armando%20Ang">CLICK HERE</a>.<br />
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Meanwhile, this is <a href="http://bromarwilnllasos.blogspot.com/2011/11/exposing-lies-and-deceptions-of-armando_27.html">Part 6</a> of his refutation:<br />
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<div class="post-header" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.6; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div class="post-header-line-1"></div></div><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-3818349213564004413" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 540px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFNMDWtPOPx-eM0Ib2x2e5O_ZRHKoK7A5KLTO6LEdf1rUKbztrmGAwQsKiv-KcBHT_xQ4KooKu-GNDJy4B_P3CcHsscN9Gozi-JOtHx7dQJmE0dFBZIl5HOGrsh36qrZDbVHy8_eaBQd0/s1600/queen_child.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: black;"><img border="0" height="308" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFNMDWtPOPx-eM0Ib2x2e5O_ZRHKoK7A5KLTO6LEdf1rUKbztrmGAwQsKiv-KcBHT_xQ4KooKu-GNDJy4B_P3CcHsscN9Gozi-JOtHx7dQJmE0dFBZIl5HOGrsh36qrZDbVHy8_eaBQd0/s400/queen_child.jpg" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; position: relative;" width="400" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><br />
</span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 19px;">EXPOSING THE LIES AND DECEPTIONS OF ARMANDO ANG<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 19px;">PART VI<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><br />
</span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 19px;">Marwil N. Llasos, O.P.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><br />
</span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b style="background-color: white;">(<i>See </i>Part V at: <a href="http://bromarwilnllasos.blogspot.com/2011/11/exposing-lies-and-deceptions-of-armando_3470.html" style="text-decoration: none;">http://bromarwilnllasos.blogspot.com/2011/11/exposing-lies-and-deceptions-of-armando_3470.html</a>)</b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;">Anti-Marian Armando Ang begrudges the honor given by Catholics to their Blessed Mother. Ang deplores that </span><i><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;">“[a]s people become more enlightened, the cult of Mary seems to grow instead of fade away.”</span></i><a href="file:///C:/Users/user/Documents/EXPOSING%20THE%20LIES%20AND%20DECEPTIONS%20OF%20ARMANDO%20AN3.docx#_ftn1" name="_ftnref1" style="text-decoration: none;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 19px;">[1]</span></span></span></span></a><i><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;"> </span></i><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;">Given his warped sense of thinking, And sees a problem where there is none. Of course, the cult (which we mean honor) of the Blessed Virgin Mary grows. Ang himself gives the reason: because </span><i><u><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;">“people become more enlightened</span></u></i><i><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;">.”<o:p></o:p></span></i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><i><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;"><br />
</span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><img height="370" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY2NRYXfKyR05HmZqaKbpmW-CgX-rH-HX-t0m8UiA5YmzShDrOz0aR3euyO_AWWJ7Yh8ssP7L61MdquTcFLbNSojnxMy8JvqmVDpCKB3b_O2HFYRoG733tPTOAy8pYjybeL_asTAHe_9s/s400/thumbnail+%25289%2529.aspx" width="400" /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center; text-indent: 0.5in;"><b><i style="background-color: white;">The light of the Holy Spirit: "When the Spirit of Truth comes, He will guide you into all the truth" (Jn. 16:13)</i></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;">From where (or from whom) does this <i>enlightenment</i> come from? From God Himself – and no one else as Sacred Scripture clearly teaches: </span><i><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;">“The eyes of your understanding being elightened; that ye may know what is the hope of His calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints.” </span></i><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;">Psalm 28:28 likewise states,</span><i><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;">“For thou wilt light my candle, the Lord my God will enlighten my darkness.”</span></i><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;">Scripturally, enlightenment comes from God. And since as Ang says people become more enlightened, we know that is God who enlightens them. And it is because of the enlightenment that comes from God that the cult of Mary grows and it will not fade away because </span><i><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;">“the memory of the just is blessed but the name of the wicked shall rot”</span></i><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;"> (Prov. 10:7). Mary’s memory shall remain blessed; it will be Armando Ang’s name that shall rot in infamy. And while we are being enlightened by God, Armando Ang stays in darkness because he who does evil hates the light.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><img height="369" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw8xpPTGg3odW4WdJhNZQFRP-ZJ7PJo1wJL76_TzQaGbnZ_Z19bk9eyEG7oIBSFE8hk6GNbSUPj-8jMjgq_XN55kJ0Y7R3crxJ7yPpYBi66Dh1-rE_CJyXqwkKLEPJVRjStipL0tDIO_I/s400/thumbnail+%25288%2529.aspx" width="400" /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center; text-indent: 0.5in;"><i><b style="background-color: white;">Mary and the Holy Spirit</b></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;">As we have already noted, Armando Ang is fond of generalization without substantiation. A clumsy writer, Ang claims that </span><i><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;">“Popes and theologians have written books and conferred on more superlative attributes than anyone on earth.”<a href="file:///C:/Users/user/Documents/EXPOSING%20THE%20LIES%20AND%20DECEPTIONS%20OF%20ARMANDO%20AN3.docx#_ftn2" name="_ftnref2" style="text-decoration: none;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><b><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 19px;">[2]</span></b></span></span></a></span></i><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;"> But one looks in vain for Ang’s proof for that statement. The author of <i>The Dark Side of Catholicism </i>does not show any statistics to back up his claim. He aggravates the situation by also claiming that </span><i><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;">“[m]ystics have given her a new life to her where there was none.”<a href="file:///C:/Users/user/Documents/EXPOSING%20THE%20LIES%20AND%20DECEPTIONS%20OF%20ARMANDO%20AN3.docx#_ftn3" name="_ftnref3" style="text-decoration: none;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><b><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 19px;">[3]</span></b></span></span></a> </span></i><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;">Does Ang bother to name who these mystics are and how they have given Mary a new life? Ang simply takes it for granted.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;">Without having proven anything yet, Armando Ang moves in for the kill: </span><i><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;">“From a simple woman chosen to be the mother of the Incarnate, she became a goddess with unprecedented power soon to eclipse that of her Son.”<a href="file:///C:/Users/user/Documents/EXPOSING%20THE%20LIES%20AND%20DECEPTIONS%20OF%20ARMANDO%20AN3.docx#_ftn4" name="_ftnref4" style="text-decoration: none;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><b><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 19px;">[4]</span></b></span></span></a> </span></i><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;">Here I must cry foul!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><img height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMzXotuJqGthb43DYLpes-nHm5dv1LnrC98jmWuDFL4HmE8kVim8zV6AdtsNkPcoZ9OQuWnmDObsC1pk9FM1ZPIDe3hCmghw4SRXfxZ8qHh3E66w6V9xThV2xt1uYVdOpfvqLSDCiW1kI/s400/300207_296327813728327_119768228050954_1172410_1023469937_n.jpg" width="312" /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i style="line-height: 24px; text-indent: 48px;"><b style="background-color: white;">Armando Ang denigrates Jesus' mother by regarding her merely as a simple woman contrary to what the Bible calls her as "highly favored" and "most blessed among women"</b></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;">Mary was no simple woman. The Bible does not picture her that way. To regard Mary as a “simple woman” is to be not in keeping with what Sacred Scripture says about her. If Ang bothers to check what Sacred Scripture says about Jesus’ mother before he trains his guns on her, he would have easily ascertained that she is </span><i><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;">“highly favoured”</span></i><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;">(Lk. 1:28, KJV) and </span><i><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;">“most blessed among women”</span></i><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;"> (Lk. 1:42, KJV). To call Mary as a “simple woman” is not being true to God’s Word in the Bible. Here it is once again demonstrated that Ang’s denigration of Mary is anti-Scriptural. Protestants, Evangelicals and all those who consider themselves “Bible Christians” have yet another reason to reject Armando Ang as their mouthpiece.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><img height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS1jqEZbdcfVwn2kEy5QlWvwlptRLmrGWG9RGaQpd7_XrndlahSz_OJdnbVXfcVfyfVS2GA7afqvdteIwYtWUH_f3oJ7_9QqRLiEz02MFe8fXGCiuIFd8LT2kxE17YZsHdShmHI9lF8TI/s400/Mother_of_the_Church__Orvieto_.jpg" width="277" /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><i><b>Mary, the mother of Jesus and our mother</b></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;">Evangelical writer John MacArthur says this of Mary, the mother of Jesus:<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in; margin-right: 0.5in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;">“Of all the extraordinary<b> </b></span><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;">mothers in Scripture, one stands out above all others as the most blessed, most highly favored by God, and most universally admired women. Indeed, no woman is more truly remarkable than Mary. She was the one sovereignly chosen by God – from among all the women who have ever been born – to be the singular instrument through which He would at last bring the Messiah into the world.”<span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 19px;"><a href="file:///C:/Users/user/Documents/EXPOSING%20THE%20LIES%20AND%20DECEPTIONS%20OF%20ARMANDO%20AN3.docx#_ftn5" name="_ftnref5" style="text-decoration: none;" title="">[5]</a></span></span></span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><img height="390" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglVloepVrDHjoyavyeebITMDgRO6q4pnu8kXWVMvMHv3kLmaCyBGts1XOG-9CgJX99x5iDve-Nmy5UgCaNLW2tpt__WhkqUT4qy-Fiz2qqLcewxXonO3I_01RxBPQN5AgzkGpf_hyphenhyphenSoP0/s400/thumbnail+%25287%2529.aspx" style="line-height: 24px; text-indent: 48px;" width="400" /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0.5in; margin-right: 0.5in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: center; text-indent: 0.5in;"><i><b style="background-color: white;">The Extraordinary Mother by Jon MacArthur</b></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in; margin-right: 0.5in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;">Armando Ang mentions </span><i><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;">“mother of the Incarnate.”<a href="file:///C:/Users/user/Documents/EXPOSING%20THE%20LIES%20AND%20DECEPTIONS%20OF%20ARMANDO%20AN3.docx#_ftn6" name="_ftnref6" style="text-decoration: none;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><b><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 19px;">[6]</span></b></span></span></a> </span></i><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;">Incarnate what? Why doesn’t Armando Ang say “mother of the Word Incarnate” or “mother of God Incarnate”? Is it perhaps because he would have to admit that Mary is the “Mother of God”? Ang can never get more clumsy.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;">Finally, Ang contends that Mary </span><i><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;">“has become a goddess with unprecedented power soon to eclipse her Son.” </span></i><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;"> Really? What is his proof? As a Catholic Mariologist, I know for a fact that the Church has never and will never ever teach that Mary is a goddess because that would mockery of the Incarnation; hence, of our salvation. Mary is a human being and will always remain so because she is the guarantor of the full humanity of her Divine Son. In the history the Church, it is established that the Catholic Church has consistently and relentlessly fought any attempt to make Mary a goddess. St. Epiphanius of Salamis fought the heresy of the Collyridians who worshipped Mary as a deity. In his <i>Panarioin, </i>St. Epiphanius wrote: </span><i><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;">“According to her nature, Mary remains human and feminine. Hence, like other saints, she is unsuited for adoration, though as an elect vessel, she is glorified in a higher degree than others. In like manner, neither Elijah … nor John the Baptist … nor Thecla may be adored.”<span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><b><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 19px;"><a href="file:///C:/Users/user/Documents/EXPOSING%20THE%20LIES%20AND%20DECEPTIONS%20OF%20ARMANDO%20AN3.docx#_ftn7" name="_ftnref7" style="text-decoration: none;" title="">[7]</a></span></b></span><a href="file:///C:/Users/user/Documents/EXPOSING%20THE%20LIES%20AND%20DECEPTIONS%20OF%20ARMANDO%20AN3.docx#_ftn7" name="_ftnref7" style="text-decoration: none;" title=""></a></span><o:p></o:p></span></i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><i><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><b style="background-color: white;"><br />
</b></span></span></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><img height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix0bGJG1hIPNpF31c9Ndq_wjAr1dzAkZDEQRmxHwtP4SeyqIvn8w28vv1UNmAYTXyUmS-EMEN6lS_x4PeW3NFGShV2c850aXCKf1eltNkT0QoQDgQGAnc_yok4qpo2S_6c8cUWH0WvEmM/s400/thumbnail+%25286%2529.aspx" width="400" /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center; text-indent: 0.5in;"><i><b style="background-color: white;">Armando Ang pierces Mary's heart by his lies and insults</b></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;">On a personal note, readers of my blog will know that I have crossed swords with local heretical cults that make Mary a goddess – as some sort of an “incarnation” of the “divine feminine.” I opposed and resisted these cults with much intensity in their inane and blasphemous attempt to make Mary an additional member of the Trinity or as a <i>quadrinity. </i>I ran a series of articles in this blog on<i>Mary is God Heresy.<a href="file:///C:/Users/user/Documents/EXPOSING%20THE%20LIES%20AND%20DECEPTIONS%20OF%20ARMANDO%20AN3.docx#_ftn8" name="_ftnref8" style="text-decoration: none;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><b><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 19px;">[8]</span></b></span></span></a></i><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;">Along with the Church, I have personally waged war against the new-fangled doctrines of the New Age Movement who teach that Mary is the “divine feminine” or “mother goddess.” The Church condemns this movement that seeks to deify almost anything and everything as heretical and blasphemous.<a href="file:///C:/Users/user/Documents/EXPOSING%20THE%20LIES%20AND%20DECEPTIONS%20OF%20ARMANDO%20AN3.docx#_ftn9" name="_ftnref9" style="text-decoration: none;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 19px;">[9]</span></span></span></a> The Catholic Church consistently holds and teaches that despite the many glories and privileges of the Blessed Virgin Mary, she remains to be human, a creature, and never divine. Hence, Armando Ang’s accusation holds no water.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiddr3Qu-8sxqZL_Vrz3DNXE-Oppk0uRAIo6rqCPd_ohgHTZOA3gzGxcAo3K5LqzI2syxjz1Wp197IBuV8Gutoski-UR0I65thTxhXyyCsi9qXsOT8pJS0LUKm9Q1Af9BbbQfKGJhYROec/s320/cutcaster-photo-100747236-Virgin-Mary.jpg" /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center; text-indent: 0.5in;"><i><b style="background-color: white;">Mary, the woman clothed with the Son</b></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;">Armando Ang also alleges that Mary’s </span><i><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;">“unprecedented power”</span></i><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;">soon </span><i><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;">“eclipse[d] that of her Son.”<a href="file:///C:/Users/user/Documents/EXPOSING%20THE%20LIES%20AND%20DECEPTIONS%20OF%20ARMANDO%20AN3.docx#_ftn10" name="_ftnref10" style="text-decoration: none;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><b><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 19px;">[10]</span></b></span></span></a> </span></i><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;">As usual, Ang does not provide the basis for his allegation. At any rate, there is nothing in Catholic doctrine and devotion that justifies Ang’s unsubstantiated claim. Catholic Marian piety views Mary as the “moon” which derives all her light and beauty from the “sun” who is Christ. Far from eclipsing the sun, Mary is the <i>“woman clothed with the sun”</i> (<i>cf. </i>Rev. 12:1). All true Marian devotion does not end with Mary but leads to her Son as Mary herself would have it: </span><b><i><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;">“Do whatever He tells you”</span></i></b><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;"> (Jn. 2:5).<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;">Armando Ang makes another claim: </span><i><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;">“Millions of men and women including popes and theologians extolled her with virtues and miracles unheard of.”</span></i><a href="file:///C:/Users/user/Documents/EXPOSING%20THE%20LIES%20AND%20DECEPTIONS%20OF%20ARMANDO%20AN3.docx#_ftn11" name="_ftnref11" style="text-decoration: none;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 19px;">[11]</span></span></span></span></a><i><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;"> </span></i><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;">Where does Ang get his statistics? Again, he’s mum on it. The implication, however, is clear: <u>only</u> Catholics extol Mary’s virtues. Catholics do extol Mary’s virtues<a href="file:///C:/Users/user/Documents/EXPOSING%20THE%20LIES%20AND%20DECEPTIONS%20OF%20ARMANDO%20AN3.docx#_ftn12" name="_ftnref12" style="text-decoration: none;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 19px;">[12]</span></span></span></a> – and these virtues, contrary to Ang’s claim, are not “unheard of.” The virtues of the Blessed Virgin Mary are expressed right there in the Bible! Mary’s faith, hope, charity, humility, kindness, generosity, etc. are all mentioned in Scripture. For Ang to consider these as “unheard of” simply shows that he is not reading his Bible.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><img height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV35fQIbKXGY3dSHva5KiUTUnF-oC3n_H9ARKypJIZoq90ocy-naZkCDGS-rW-GRf8k0jg7I3-JM7oPRb3Te0sf6WygBkHX1fjarPHzUn7fwf5JEH6feioVYehzwF3blUzk_9EfZXer0A/s400/3089772315_7a9e1b993a.jpg" width="310" /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center; text-indent: 0.5in;"><i><b style="background-color: white;">Mary's soul magnifies the Lord</b></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;">We extol the virtues of Mary and of the saints. We do this because we want to imitate their virtues. And to imitate the virtues of the saints is a Biblical imperative. In the <i>Letter to the Hebrews </i>we are told:<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in; margin-right: 0.5in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><i><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;">“God would not be so unjust to forget all you have done, the love that you have for His name or the services you have done, and are still doing, for the saints. Our one desire is that every one of you should go on showing the same earnestness to end, to the perfect fulfillment of our hopes, never growing careless, but <u>imitating those who have the faith and the perseverance to inherit the promises”</u></span></i><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;"> (Heb. 6:10-12, NJB).<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in; margin-right: 0.5in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0.5in; margin-right: 0.5in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: center; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><img height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggXhPdKa6B9JLFlPsJTKGhi5j2-3SkqqQ6-Yda359SCigLVNak6tH8d7EhwHfupfB7T9qBN55514Lofe4xYTIS7ptv-9EcTgbWcDriN4ILlaLXHMNnBve54ZL4f6Bfx7C86Js5skQdbW8/s400/thumbnail+%25285%2529.aspx" width="400" /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0.5in; margin-right: 0.5in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: center; text-indent: 0.5in;"><i><b style="background-color: white;">Mary, embodiment of the "virtuous woman": "Who can find a virtuous woman? For her price is far above rubies" (Prov. 31:10)</b></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;">Similarly, we venerate the prophets as the saints of the Old Testament and extol their virtues so that we can imitate them. These holy people of God are held up by the Church, like Mary, for our example and remembrance as the apostle James instructed us:<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in; margin-right: 0.5in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><i><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;">“For your example, brothers, in submitting with patience; take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord; remember it those who had the endurance that we say are the blessed ones” </span></i><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;">(James 5:10, NJB).<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in; margin-right: 0.5in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;">So, Catholics, in extolling (and imitating) the virtues of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the saints are doing the Biblical thing. Armando Ang does not.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><img height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1tfGPPhjZnk0C6IccyesrPPUGiLa1Fn-_3tbeUEoxiZ609v6pavkQrVW3zmB5JCOJQk6X6lk6q_xlEMC5A7QJjbQg7ObwdzocsXXkPBkhfkT_58vezo68Cat4_-uGsKlKKuwdhf5ZFl4/s400/thumbnail.aspx" width="280" /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center; text-indent: 0.5in;"><b><i style="background-color: white;">To Martin Luther Mary is more than an empress or a queen</i></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;">Armando Ang seems to suggest, only Catholics are extolling the virtues of Mary. He could never be more wrong. Let him listen to Martin Luther:<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in; margin-right: 0.5in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><i><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;">“She, the Lady above heaven and earth, must … have a heart so humble that she might have no shame in washing the swaddling clothes or preparing a bath for St. John the Baptist, like a servant girl. What humility! It would surely have been more just to have arranged for her a golden coach, pulled by 4,000 horses, and to cry and proclaim as the carriage proceeded: ‘Here passes the woman who is raised far above all women, indeed above the whole human race.”<a href="file:///C:/Users/user/Documents/EXPOSING%20THE%20LIES%20AND%20DECEPTIONS%20OF%20ARMANDO%20AN3.docx#_ftn13" name="_ftnref13" style="text-decoration: none;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><b><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 19px;">[13]</span></b></span></span></a></span></i><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in; margin-right: 0.5in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in; margin-right: 0.5in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><i><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;">“She was not filled with pride by this praise … this immense praise: ‘No woman is like unto thee! Thou art more than an empress or a queen … blessed above all nobility, wisdom, or saintliness!”<span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><b><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 19px;"><a href="file:///C:/Users/user/Documents/EXPOSING%20THE%20LIES%20AND%20DECEPTIONS%20OF%20ARMANDO%20AN3.docx#_ftn14" name="_ftnref14" style="text-decoration: none;" title="">[14]</a></span></b></span><a href="file:///C:/Users/user/Documents/EXPOSING%20THE%20LIES%20AND%20DECEPTIONS%20OF%20ARMANDO%20AN3.docx#_ftn14" name="_ftnref14" style="text-decoration: none;" title=""></a></span><o:p></o:p></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in; margin-right: 0.5in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><i><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><b style="background-color: white;"><br />
</b></span></span></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0.5in; margin-right: 0.5in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: center; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><img height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg30NNZuVUBmUud7afyMN11MgXZj-YguSfG8Pffdal9bkBYEN33-bcqe5w0diTK5mc9u1plTbRrW2uUTfuDErwvbma1RAS82Ml99G2YNhly6H8mh5IhWcPSJ8gpnXu2v9UUcrhWu6AlCSM/s400/Heinrich-Bullinger.jpg" width="291" /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0.5in; margin-right: 0.5in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: center; text-indent: 0.5in;"><i><b style="background-color: white;">Reformed theologian and successor of Ulrich Zwingli, Heinrich Bullinger would rebuke Armando Ang saying, "to reject Mary is to be an enemy of Christ"</b></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in; margin-right: 0.5in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><i><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><b style="background-color: white;"><br />
</b></span></span></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;">Ulrich Zwingli’s successor, Heinrich Bullinger, preached his<i>Sermon on Mary </i>defending her perpetual virginity and offered these words of praise: </span><i><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;">“In Mary, then, everything is extraordinary and even more majestic, because it has sprung from the purest faith and burning love for God.”<a href="file:///C:/Users/user/Documents/EXPOSING%20THE%20LIES%20AND%20DECEPTIONS%20OF%20ARMANDO%20AN3.docx#_ftn15" name="_ftnref15" style="text-decoration: none;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><b><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 19px;">[15]</span></b></span></span></a> </span></i><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;">Bullinger would rebuke Armando Ang: </span><b><i><u><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;">“to reject Mary is to be an enemy of Christ</span></u></i></b><b><i><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;">.”<span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><b><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 19px;"><a href="file:///C:/Users/user/Documents/EXPOSING%20THE%20LIES%20AND%20DECEPTIONS%20OF%20ARMANDO%20AN3.docx#_ftn16" name="_ftnref16" style="text-decoration: none;" title="">[16]</a></span></b></span><a href="file:///C:/Users/user/Documents/EXPOSING%20THE%20LIES%20AND%20DECEPTIONS%20OF%20ARMANDO%20AN3.docx#_ftn16" name="_ftnref16" style="text-decoration: none;" title=""></a></span></span></i></b><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><b><i><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><b style="background-color: white;"><br />
</b></span></span></span></i></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGaNGHRUd4NF0kgsyMhB2DwkJcU0FGe4-dvArO8QCxAhaKNNcGNj_3JkxRx4synx4HxuQDBnGxsjqksjxGPovkDORSD7W9mlANL_bzRB2Ph2kak6x_LpZgQOe19LNAqKtUHTa0jWSd0_w/s320/ARMANDO+ANG.jpg" /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px; text-indent: 48px;"><i>Armando Ang's father the devil (cf. </i>Jn. 8:44)</b></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><br />
</span><br />
<hr align="left" size="1" width="33%" /><div id="ftn1"><div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><a href="file:///C:/Users/user/Documents/EXPOSING%20THE%20LIES%20AND%20DECEPTIONS%20OF%20ARMANDO%20AN3.docx#_ftnref1" name="_ftn1" style="text-decoration: none;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18px;">[1]</span></span></span></span></a><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> Armando Ang, <i>The Dark Side of Catholicism </i>(Manila: A1 Publishing, 2005) p. 1.</span></span></div></div><div id="ftn2"><div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><a href="file:///C:/Users/user/Documents/EXPOSING%20THE%20LIES%20AND%20DECEPTIONS%20OF%20ARMANDO%20AN3.docx#_ftnref2" name="_ftn2" style="text-decoration: none;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18px;">[2]</span></span></span></span></a><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> <i>Ibid.<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></div></div><div id="ftn3"><div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><a href="file:///C:/Users/user/Documents/EXPOSING%20THE%20LIES%20AND%20DECEPTIONS%20OF%20ARMANDO%20AN3.docx#_ftnref3" name="_ftn3" style="text-decoration: none;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18px;">[3]</span></span></span></span></a><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> <i>Ibid.<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></div></div><div id="ftn4"><div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><a href="file:///C:/Users/user/Documents/EXPOSING%20THE%20LIES%20AND%20DECEPTIONS%20OF%20ARMANDO%20AN3.docx#_ftnref4" name="_ftn4" style="text-decoration: none;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18px;">[4]</span></span></span></span></a><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> <i>Ibid.<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></div></div><div id="ftn5"><div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><a href="file:///C:/Users/user/Documents/EXPOSING%20THE%20LIES%20AND%20DECEPTIONS%20OF%20ARMANDO%20AN3.docx#_ftnref5" name="_ftn5" style="text-decoration: none;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18px;">[5]</span></span></span></span></a><span style="font-size: 12pt;">John MacArthur, <i>The Extraordinary Mother </i>(Nashville, Tennessee: Thomas Nelson, Inc., 2007) p. 98.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div></div><div id="ftn6"><div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><a href="file:///C:/Users/user/Documents/EXPOSING%20THE%20LIES%20AND%20DECEPTIONS%20OF%20ARMANDO%20AN3.docx#_ftnref6" name="_ftn6" style="text-decoration: none;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18px;">[6]</span></span></span></span></a><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> Armando Ang, <i>The Dark Side of Catholicism </i>(Manila: A1 Publishing, 2005) p. 1.</span></span></div></div><div id="ftn7"><div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><a href="file:///C:/Users/user/Documents/EXPOSING%20THE%20LIES%20AND%20DECEPTIONS%20OF%20ARMANDO%20AN3.docx#_ftnref7" name="_ftn7" style="text-decoration: none;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18px;">[7]</span></span></span></span></a><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> <i>Ibid., </i>79:5.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div></div><div id="ftn8"><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><a href="file:///C:/Users/user/Documents/EXPOSING%20THE%20LIES%20AND%20DECEPTIONS%20OF%20ARMANDO%20AN3.docx#_ftnref8" name="_ftn8" style="text-decoration: none;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18px;">[8]</span></span></span></span></a><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"> </span><i><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"> See: (</span></i><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"><a href="http://bromarwilnllasos.blogspot.com/search/label/Mariolatry" style="text-decoration: none;">http://bromarwilnllasos.blogspot.com/search/label/Mariolatry</a>).<o:p></o:p></span></span></div></div><div id="ftn9"><div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><a href="file:///C:/Users/user/Documents/EXPOSING%20THE%20LIES%20AND%20DECEPTIONS%20OF%20ARMANDO%20AN3.docx#_ftnref9" name="_ftn9" style="text-decoration: none;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18px;">[9]</span></span></span></span></a><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines, <i>Primer on the New Age</i> (Quezon City: Jesuit Communications Foundation, Inc., 2004).<o:p></o:p></span></span></div></div><div id="ftn10"><div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><a href="file:///C:/Users/user/Documents/EXPOSING%20THE%20LIES%20AND%20DECEPTIONS%20OF%20ARMANDO%20AN3.docx#_ftnref10" name="_ftn10" style="text-decoration: none;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18px;">[10]</span></span></span></span></a><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> Armando Ang, <i>The Dark Side of Catholicism </i>(Manila: A1 Publishing, 2005) p. 1.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;"> </span></span></div></div><div id="ftn11"><div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><a href="file:///C:/Users/user/Documents/EXPOSING%20THE%20LIES%20AND%20DECEPTIONS%20OF%20ARMANDO%20AN3.docx#_ftnref11" name="_ftn11" style="text-decoration: none;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18px;">[11]</span></span></span></span></a><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> <i>Ibid.<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></div></div><div id="ftn12"><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><a href="file:///C:/Users/user/Documents/EXPOSING%20THE%20LIES%20AND%20DECEPTIONS%20OF%20ARMANDO%20AN3.docx#_ftnref12" name="_ftn12" style="text-decoration: none;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18px;">[12]</span></span></span></span></a><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Virtues should of course be extolled! Why, does Armando Ang want us to extol sin? I wonder if he’d say that.</span> </span></div></div><div id="ftn13"><div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><a href="file:///C:/Users/user/Documents/EXPOSING%20THE%20LIES%20AND%20DECEPTIONS%20OF%20ARMANDO%20AN3.docx#_ftnref13" name="_ftn13" style="text-decoration: none;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18px;">[13]</span></span></span></span></a><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> Jaroslav Pelikan, ed., <i>Luther’s Works </i>(St. Louis: Concordia) 36:208.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div></div><div id="ftn14"><div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><a href="file:///C:/Users/user/Documents/EXPOSING%20THE%20LIES%20AND%20DECEPTIONS%20OF%20ARMANDO%20AN3.docx#_ftnref14" name="_ftn14" style="text-decoration: none;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18px;">[14]</span></span></span></span></a><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> <i>Ibid., </i>45:107.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div></div><div id="ftn15"><div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><a href="file:///C:/Users/user/Documents/EXPOSING%20THE%20LIES%20AND%20DECEPTIONS%20OF%20ARMANDO%20AN3.docx#_ftnref15" name="_ftn15" style="text-decoration: none;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18px;">[15]</span></span></span></span></a><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> Heinrich Bullenger, “Die Marienpredigt,” in Walter Tappolet,<i>Das Marienlob Der Reformatoren </i>(Tubingen: Katzmann, 1962) pp. 274-302, quotation at 290.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div></div><div id="ftn16"><div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><a href="file:///C:/Users/user/Documents/EXPOSING%20THE%20LIES%20AND%20DECEPTIONS%20OF%20ARMANDO%20AN3.docx#_ftnref16" name="_ftn16" style="text-decoration: none;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18px;">[16]</span></span></span></span></a><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span><i><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Mary for Evangelicals </span></i><span style="font-size: 12pt;">(Downers Grove, IL: Inter Varsity Press, 2006) p. 218.</span></span></div></div></div></div>IJRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02294057859963145663noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4187924677660293415.post-40319479959793049922011-11-25T16:21:00.000-08:002011-11-25T16:27:06.984-08:00My Youth: The Transition Blog PostThis would be the last day this blog would be called "Media, Society, and God". Tomorrow, it will have a new name, and I hope a new format would be expected here. But before I bid goodbye to the old title, here's what I can say on the recently-concluded National Youth Day, and also a reflection on it.<br />
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</b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">My Youth: The Final Post as Media, Society, and God</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Being young is, traditionally, being underestimated or inexperienced by most of your older peers, and even by your own age bracket. I feel this. All of the time. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Ever since I failed to become an honor student, teachers and fellow students never expected something out of me other than graduating High School. In college, it’s the same thing, but I felt that it was already jaded too much that I said to myself “Nah. A lot of people happened to be in the position I am in, so why should I worry too much?” </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">But there was a significant change in my life. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Joining the two most practical organizations in UST isn’t just actually mere choice of org or what; I initially based myself on what will I learn from them, and eventually, how I would face the world with all that I have. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">I admit: I’m an attention-hungry person. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">But it all changed when I realized “Why should I grab the attention of others than being you? Why should I even care about it?” </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Until I realized there’s a lot of things I can excel, maybe not in academics, though I should keep it top priority, and I could master it little by little. I found about Katolikong Pinoy, and I became active ever since. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">But the inferiority complex remains, being the youngest of its five active Administrators. And with a background in media, since I’m a Communication Arts student, I feel that they’re expecting me to be more than just a Facebook admin, which a lot of people are taking for granted. Besides, some pages on Facebook are just nonsense. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Anyway, what I’m trying to tell you is that I feel blessed that I covered the final event of National Youth Day for an episode on our YouTube program “TSEKPoint”, currently on post-production. Being one of the admins is one great task. I thought most of our core members are available on that day; it turns out, only me and my fellow admin, Kuya Ryan Rayos, were there—the latter as part of the documentation staff on one of the festival sites on the recently concluded event, making me, technically, representing KP. There were also some friends whom I happened to meet at the Cuneta Astrodome: Kuya Mark Vertido, one of KP’s former admins who now works on the CBCP-Episcopal Commission on Youth; and Paolo Cobangbang, O.P. from the Rosarian Youth Movement, the youth arm of the Company of St. Dominic in which I long to become part of. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">I brought with me the Philippine flag which became the rally point of our members on that Pro-Life rally last March 25, expecting that some of them would come and join in the celebration. But the opposite happened. Actually, one of our fellow members tried to come, but he’s from Bulacan, so he told me he can’t make it, and I understood why. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Being alone out there was actually scary. Good thing I noticed Brother Paolo during the Mass before the event, especially in Communion where he kneeled in front of a priest in order to receive the Body of Christ. After the Mass, the areas near the delegates were opened for the non-delegates to buy food. I was one of those who took the opportunity to get in and interact with the delegates, as well as rendezvousing with Kuya Ryan and Kuya Mark. One of the people in the ECY, Ate Nirva, asked me “Papaano ka nakapasok dito?” taking into consideration that non-delegates are hands-off in the area where the stage is realistic, if you know what I mean. I answered her, “Ewan ko nga po eh! I found the gates open and hindi naman po ako nasita ng mga taga-security.” She replied: “You are meant to be here!” </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Well, I was shocked when I heard it, since I never showed up in ECY’s prep and planning—actually, only once—due to my ma-trabahong subjects, as well as my other duties as an organization officer, a student, an admin of a more-than-125,000-likes-strong Facebook page, and as a son. The night went well for me though the setbacks. And besides, it does not matter. I can still catch up with the next NYD in Visayas, wishful thinking that I can finance my trip there. I’m still considered young until I reach 30. My mom told me “Bata ka pa. Marami ka pang opportunities para maging involved.” And I guess she was right all along. But I’m never too young to do extraordinary things out of ordinary circumstances.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">This leads me to the last line of the chorus of NYD’s theme song this year: “We are never too young to come as one. We can make a stand!” For the record, I am one of the youngest affiliates in Filipinos for Life, a pro-life group behind the Facebook page “I Oppose the RH Bill”, aside from being the youngest KP Admin. I’m even invited to be part of the Manila South core group of Defensores Fidei Foundation, a non-profit apologetics organization in which my apologist idols, Fr. Abe Arganiosa and Atty. Marwil Llasos, O.P., are part of. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Too many expectations. Too many opportunities. I cannot turn them down, but since I’m still a college student, the best thing that I can consider is to postpone their offers if and when it will still be available in the near future. I’m still young. I should be making the most out of my youth without compromising my duties and interests, because, as they say: “minsan lang maging bata”.<br />
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</div>IJRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02294057859963145663noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4187924677660293415.post-41134286174836439982011-11-17T16:27:00.000-08:002011-11-17T16:27:13.446-08:00EXPOSING THE LIES AND DECEPTIONS OF ARMANDO ANG PART IIby Atty. Marwil Llasos, O.P.<br />
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<h3 class="post-title entry-title" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 20px; position: relative;">EXPOSING THE LIES AND DECEPTIONS OF ARMANDO ANG PART II</h3><div class="post-header" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.6; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div class="post-header-line-1"></div></div><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-1245485274383797727" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 540px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFqgAIOxXyhrVop7AcFUOesQvY-BIZ1BUpOV2TFDYmCxNdpz4sYcAJqcve7CqGvFToM_fV__sm4SXJEC8pHSZuKSrznLqnPbZ5q4FBxBOzQpqOKtU_fQ0Dcddnr0PpuoFgSsfdm9unPCQ/s400/pentecost.jpg" /></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 19px;">EXPOSING THE LIES AND DECEPTIONS OF ARMANDO ANG<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 19px;">PART II<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 19px;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 19px;">Marwil N. Llasos, O.P.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 19px;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b>(<i>See </i>Part I at: </b><a href="http://bromarwilnllasos.blogspot.com/2011/11/exposing-lies-and-deceptions-of-armando.html" style="text-decoration: none;"><b>http://bromarwilnllasos.blogspot.com/2011/11/exposing-lies-and-deceptions-of-armando.html</b></a><b>)</b><b><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 19px;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><b><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><b><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;">ARMANDO ANG</span></b><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;"> opens his anti-Catholic book </span><b><i><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;">“The Dark Side of Catholicism”</span></i></b><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;"> with a letter to his “friends in Christ” – his intended readers, <i>i.e., </i>Catholics. With a seeming friendly gesture, Ang started by begging the </span><i><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;">“indulgence of all Catholics who feel offended by the title or its content.”<span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><b><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 19px;"><a href="file:///C:/Users/user/Documents/EXPOSING%20THE%20LIES%20AND%20DECEPTIONS%20OF%20ARMANDO%20ANG%20PART%20II.docx#_ftn1" name="_ftnref1" style="text-decoration: none;" title="">[1]</a></span></b></span><a href="file:///C:/Users/user/Documents/EXPOSING%20THE%20LIES%20AND%20DECEPTIONS%20OF%20ARMANDO%20ANG%20PART%20II.docx#_ftn1" name="_ftnref1" style="text-decoration: none;" title=""></a></span></span></i><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center; text-indent: 0.5in;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsLxPjJJUiYh9GU1OTBy3QaCZd6abMclS8io_cObO6TeU1KVtOGhIFaGB-f3x1tkiCVpiyREDkUHsfhV6DLZiXXSuL-mht4lMKs0SxpmXvSfcgrqa95wn8qrrgD2Q7tlxSaU03dwPDQvE/s400/darkside-inquisitor.jpeg" /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center; text-indent: 0.5in;"><i><b>The Dark Side of Catholicism: Armando Ang's anti-Catholic bestseller</b></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><i><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;"><o:p><b></b></o:p></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;">What else is new? The allegations, attacks and accusations of Armando Ang are nothing new. Ang simply lifted from anti-Catholic polemicists and repackaged them with additional lies and absurd conclusions. What is more appalling in Ang’s version of anti-Catholicism is that it is laden with sheer ignorance and plain hypocrisy. In the succeeding articles, I will debunk Ang point by point, especially the first two chapters of his book which viciously attack Catholic teachings on the Blessed Virgin Mary.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuEwpOeN7nFIqHgBUUw_Eb20q7NfGKdrnpPofCwUPGndKCWKxo5h1proTeaeIxu_IErjcVmJ_735weVmGJ2Qq3K9c3rhiL4VyBAIRC2g2xa4sW5gtgqfY6K9fwG8SQ11KqA7Bfz_e7OiI/s400/51JZF9WWKJL._SL500_AA300_.jpg" /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;">Armando Ang justifies the title of his book that it </span><i><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;">“seems appropriate because very few know the dark side of their Church history to arrive at an informed decision.”<a href="file:///C:/Users/user/Documents/EXPOSING%20THE%20LIES%20AND%20DECEPTIONS%20OF%20ARMANDO%20ANG%20PART%20II.docx#_ftn2" name="_ftnref2" style="text-decoration: none;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><b><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 19px;">[2]</span></b></span></span></a> </span></i><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;">But what is Ang’s basis in concluding thusly? Does he have any statistics showing how “few” are these Catholics who do not know the “dark side” of their Church history? <b>None</b>. In short, Ang’s claims are utterly baseless and founded purely on guesswork.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioBfkiuNi52ErZPGgGE7E6TtCm79i1FddaWwaT_TxeSKbIPpxzum2dF1rUbDZgmsiSvh4vKi6Rv-Q_5xTEmQ45lhjrgKO4vNxUiwkZUwLXgnzik2dtUifpxO8C5yDxxKNWdCax0loeJeE/s400/77466.jpg" /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;">Catholics are free to consult the history of their Church from readily available sources. Scholarly sources like <i>The New Catholic Encyclopedia </i>are available on-line (<i>see:</i></span><a href="http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/" style="text-decoration: none;"><b><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;">http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/</span></b></a><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;">).</span><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;"> Books, publications and journals on the history of the Church are extant. Catholics can read for themselves the history of the Church straight from primary sources.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj__SDQfy3XGajLyvuvlE5S-4f2pSaYHAlOagjHhSncYCf1pO0ZzLkHoll1DlvyB0F-30zGWFR39szn1YwyPzu_7UhE6MtSmg_OJQZyr1nagwFAhAgK9E1h6ujvwUxqkXhd0Zyt9p4d0BY/s400/DSC_00031-300x245.jpg" /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;">Armando Ang says that it </span><i><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;">“is incumbent on every believer to know the truth and the truth shall make us free”<a href="file:///C:/Users/user/Documents/EXPOSING%20THE%20LIES%20AND%20DECEPTIONS%20OF%20ARMANDO%20ANG%20PART%20II.docx#_ftn3" name="_ftnref3" style="text-decoration: none;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><b><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 19px;">[3]</span></b></span></span></a></span></i><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;"> (citing Jn. 8:32). I fully concur with Ang in this regard. However, it seems that truth is the farthest consideration of Armando Ang in writing his magnum opus </span><i><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;">The Dark Side of Catholicism</span></i><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;">. The book is not concerned with the truth at all. It is replete with falsehood from cover to cover. To look for error in Ang’s book is like looking for sand on the beach.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;">Most of Armando Ang’s references cannot be verified. Ang heavily relies on anti-Catholic sources. He seldom, if at all, allows the Catholic Church to speak for itself. If ever Ang quotes a Church document, he does so by taking it out of context or twists its meaning and interprets it with prejudiced anti-Catholic mindset. In the succeeding articles, I will document how Armando Ang stifles the truth, covers it up and substitutes it with downright lies.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;">When Ang claims that he is after the truth, well, he does not walk the talk.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQEk9vtX_tZv9eHIPwxDxu3WEHFb6lrtKRur-E9EdSeH8OGD-m9LVUs-zJVDLEQd6jov6R54hUsB7pEbh5rv5xaL7lteHdPLov7VYPQjn-_7QWLwgEdkrviT0v_ANJ2ar-hvfZNumxKd0/s400/SolaScriptura.jpg" /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;">Armando Ang packages himself as a Bible Christian. But nothing can be farther from the truth. For instance, Ang holds that </span><i><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;">“[i]n seeking the truth there is no substitute for reading the Bible.”<a href="file:///C:/Users/user/Documents/EXPOSING%20THE%20LIES%20AND%20DECEPTIONS%20OF%20ARMANDO%20ANG%20PART%20II.docx#_ftn4" name="_ftnref4" style="text-decoration: none;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><b><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 19px;">[4]</span></b></span></span></a> </span></i><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;">This statement definitely lumps Ang with the Reformation <i>“sola-scriptura”</i>promoters. However, gauged against this man-made <i>sola scriptura</i>belief, Armando Ang would not be able to cite a single verse that says precisely </span><i><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;">“in seeking the truth there is no substitute for reading the Bible.”<o:p></o:p></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;">Another scriptural blunder that Armando Ang makes is his statement that </span><i><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;">“[t]he Bible is the foundation of Christianity and it alone holds everything necessary for salvation”<a href="file:///C:/Users/user/Documents/EXPOSING%20THE%20LIES%20AND%20DECEPTIONS%20OF%20ARMANDO%20ANG%20PART%20II.docx#_ftn5" name="_ftnref5" style="text-decoration: none;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><b><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 19px;">[5]</span></b></span></span></a> – </span></i><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;">a teaching nowhere claimed by Scripture. Noteworthy is the fact that Ang does not even bother to support his statement with verses from the Bible.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;">Truth to tell, the Bible never says that </span><i><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;">“the Bible is the foundation of Christianity.” </span></i><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;">That is an Ang-made dogma not supported by a single shred of scripture. Ang’s statement would seem that Christianity originates from the Bible and not the other way around. I wonder what happened to Ang’s history. What Armando Ang conveniently forgets is that the Church already existed long before there was a complete Bible!<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_FAqK4pfJ0KX8OYF5uJdhIO0VJLPQx6a_KBojahw3fi7xA7eMXtjeBRNXT0280YHBh5dsWl7miF6FJLwW9aTs4Sp_kYLtUjNm_1Ywgjx88Se1-UdBDReIZEh47XaoRlvFoccOV0AUlfc/s400/00019187_h.jpg" /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;"></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;"><span style="font-size: 9pt; line-height: 13px;">(<i><b>Source</b></i>: <a href="http://lectionarypowerpoints.com/lectionaryPowerPoints.asp?theDate=2/15/1987" style="text-decoration: none;">http://lectionarypowerpoints.com/lectionaryPowerPoints.asp?theDate=2/15/1987</a>)</span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px; text-align: justify;">To repeat, Ang’s teaching that </span><i style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;">“the Bible is the foundation of Christianity”</span></i><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px; text-align: justify;"> is unscriptural and anti-Biblical. Nowhere in Sacred Scripture can we find that assertion. If Ang made his homework on the Bible, he would have easily ascertained that the word “<b>foundation</b>” is never - ever – applied to the Bible. To whom (or what) does the Bible apply the word “<b>foundation</b>”? First, of course, is Jesus Christ. The apostle Paul says in </span><b style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;">1 Corinthians 3:11</span></b><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px; text-align: justify;"> that </span><i style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;">“For other <b>foundation</b>can no man lay than that is laid, which is <b><u>Jesus Christ</u></b>.”<a href="file:///C:/Users/user/Documents/EXPOSING%20THE%20LIES%20AND%20DECEPTIONS%20OF%20ARMANDO%20ANG%20PART%20II.docx#_ftn6" name="_ftnref6" style="text-decoration: none;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><b><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 19px;">[6]</span></b></span></span></a></span></i><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px; text-align: justify;"> How dare Armando Ang rob Christ of that honor!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;">The Lord Jesus Christ founded His Church on the rock that is Peter: “</span><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;">And I say also unto thee, That thou art <b>Peter</b>, and <u>upon</u> this rock I will <b>build</b> my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it” (Mt. 16:18).<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG4WZ_LLhyphenhyphenkG2mCvvtRMwaR71NiZCjhHgllN8AxwIrJPoy6F-pPP0_JFzEHZQYOZR3vKzYHuYHgKo_mUUpJhPYj0SYaIDOShfXNH4zx3gMzA2wfJ-O8pZFgQi67R9KkunpNs5dBbV25D4/s400/St.Peter-keys.jpg" /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;"><i><b>The Lord Jesus Christ gives the keys to the apostle Peter</b></i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;"><o:p><i><b></b></i></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;">And to what else does the Bible ascribe the word “foundation”? To the <b>apostles </b>and <b>prophets</b> as categorically stated in Ephesians 2:20: </span><i><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;">“And are built upon the <b>foundation</b> of the <b>apostles</b> and<b>prophets</b>, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone.”<o:p></o:p></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;">Finally, Armando Ang must have also forgotten that the Bible itself calls the Church as “foundation.” According to the apostle Paul,</span><i><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;">“</span></i><i><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;">if I am delayed, you will know how people ought to conduct themselves in God’s household, which is the <b>church</b> of the living God, the pillar and <b>foundation</b> of the truth”</span></i><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;"> (1 Tim. 3:15, NIV).<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhabery9mLKs56kr9_3Cufq47unq5KfzlxKp0MA5mcczzcfxzC-sYy2JA5JohkVZlbw2uixYeotDO4Bqn2P0AHJfiWT3HoQSkKis464DQA80jS7FQRAtrb18pUvjypKpw2_2jKsQoJfcIw/s400/150284_1526963010941_1140631603_31393308_6098791_n.jpg" /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;"><i><b>The Church: The Pillar and Foundation of Truth (1 Tim. 3:15)</b></i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;"><o:p><i><b></b></i></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;">Let me ask Armando Ang anew: </span><i><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;">where in the Bible does it say that the Bible is the foundation of Christianity? </span></i><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;">Chapter and verse, please, Mr. Ang.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><i><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;">If Armando Ang cannot give me a verse, then he is guilty as charged for teaching an un-biblical doctrine. What credibility does Ang still have to preach about the Bible when his teaching has been demonstrated to be anti-Biblical?<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;">Armando Ang lies through his teeth when he says that</span><i><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;">“[n]othing in the book [The Dark Side of Catholicism] is written against the Catholics.”<a href="file:///C:/Users/user/Documents/EXPOSING%20THE%20LIES%20AND%20DECEPTIONS%20OF%20ARMANDO%20ANG%20PART%20II.docx#_ftn7" name="_ftnref7" style="text-decoration: none;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><b><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 19px;">[7]</span></b></span></span></a> </span></i><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;">If Ang’s book is not written against Catholics, then against whom? Muslims? Buddhists? Mormons? Atheists? Protestants? Baptists? Evangelicals?<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;">What do you take us for, Mr. Ang? Your book is written <i>against</i>us Catholics – and no other. What makes it even more offensive to us is that it caricatures us and attacks the caricature it makes of us. Armando Ang passes off the caricature as though it is one and the same with the Catholic Church. Anent this, the words of Archbishop Fulton Sheen is apropos –<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwX4jdh3bG3WGwae74fxJLNbQ4LX2tcV8cQ08jpnTl_HPtrTSaH3uLIdL9I4intPOa0H41cfwo45fPZ-k1l3AZjzb3cGomf-7EnXNm_vHxx9kxsEmCSzOql_ai3vh2avbzFFfWzhg-8R0/s400/314549_229822257082248_100001634266994_636900_1635578005_n.jpg" /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;"><i><b>The Servant of God Archbishop Fulton Sheen</b></i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;"><o:p><i><b></b></i></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0.5in; margin-right: 0.5in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;">“</span><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;">There are not over a hundred people in the United States who hate the Catholic Church. There are millions, however, who hate what they wrongly believe to be the Catholic Church – which is, of course, quite a different thing. These millions can hardly be blamed for hating Catholics because Catholics “adore statues;” because they “put the Blessed Mother on the same level with God;” because they “say indulgence is a permission to commit sin;” because the Pope “is a Fascist;” because the Church “is the defender of Capitalism.” If the Church taught or believed any one of these things, it should be hated, but the fact is that the Church does not believe nor teach any one of them. It follows then that the hatred of the millions is directed against error and not against truth. As a matter of fact, if we Catholics believed all of the untruths and lies which were said against the Church, we probably would hate the Church a thousand times more than they do.”<a href="file:///C:/Users/user/Documents/EXPOSING%20THE%20LIES%20AND%20DECEPTIONS%20OF%20ARMANDO%20ANG%20PART%20II.docx#_ftn8" name="_ftnref8" style="text-decoration: none;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 19px;">[8]</span></span></span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><u><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;"><o:p><span style="text-decoration: none;"></span></o:p></span></u></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;">Armando Ang pathetically claims that his book </span><i><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;">“is meant to enlighten them.”<a href="file:///C:/Users/user/Documents/EXPOSING%20THE%20LIES%20AND%20DECEPTIONS%20OF%20ARMANDO%20ANG%20PART%20II.docx#_ftn9" name="_ftnref9" style="text-decoration: none;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><b><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 19px;">[9]</span></b></span></span></a> </span></i><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;">No, Mr. Ang, your book is meant to deceive Catholics, especially the unwary. <i>The Dark Side of Catholicism </i>is nothing but a pack of brazen lies, heaped with fabrications and laced with innuendoes, speculations and accusations that are expertly woven so as to appear factual and veracious. And for how much do you sell your book?<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;">A frustrated historian, Armando Ang unabashedly claims that </span><i><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;">“[u]nder the present circumstances, there is a shortage of reading materials regarding the evolution of the Catholic Church that each Catholic should know.”<a href="file:///C:/Users/user/Documents/EXPOSING%20THE%20LIES%20AND%20DECEPTIONS%20OF%20ARMANDO%20ANG%20PART%20II.docx#_ftn10" name="_ftnref10" style="text-decoration: none;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><b><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 19px;">[10]</span></b></span></span></a> </span></i><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;">What is Ang’s basis in saying so? None, as he does not even cite a single shred of evidence to prove it. Given his limited bibliography, Ang is unaware of the cornucopia of materials on Church History starting from St. Luke’s <i>The Acts of Apostles</i>, down to Eusebius’ <i>Church History </i>and so on to modern authors and historians, Catholics and non-Catholics alike. The Internet provides a limitless resource for Church History that is readily available to anyone. If there’s anyone who is ignorant about Church history, it is Armando Ang.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;">Armando Ang self-righteously claims that he </span><i><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;">“would be remiss as a Christian to keep the truth away from the faithful.”<a href="file:///C:/Users/user/Documents/EXPOSING%20THE%20LIES%20AND%20DECEPTIONS%20OF%20ARMANDO%20ANG%20PART%20II.docx#_ftn11" name="_ftnref11" style="text-decoration: none;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><b><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 19px;">[11]</span></b></span></span></a> </span></i><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;">The reality is that Ang does not only keep the truth away from the faithful; he distorts it. He is thus not only remiss; he is culpable. Thus, for Ang to use James 4:17<a href="file:///C:/Users/user/Documents/EXPOSING%20THE%20LIES%20AND%20DECEPTIONS%20OF%20ARMANDO%20ANG%20PART%20II.docx#_ftn12" name="_ftnref12" style="text-decoration: none;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 19px;">[12]</span></span></span></a> as a pretext for his falsehood is an abominable sacrilege – a gross abuse of God’s holy word.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjhieySzZECaU0dwsoxpLhT9z0ee4CZvEoTI1fVGKuQFdeW6xxSvrrXygVw5sdjZBb3B6aMw3bklI_qNKniVnf4KfBGtpg5OVUCC0lOttao8l7QYDHXSt06dhnuq_5UTQIyEY-PG5Ue5g/s400/pentecost-fffffffffghjkj557.jpg" /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;"><i><b>"The Spirit of Truth ... will guide you into all the truth" (Jn. 16:13)</b></i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;"><o:p><i><b></b></i></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;">Armando Ang likewise asserts that there “are many teachings of early Catholic Church that have been contaminated by new doctrines that serve no salvation value.” But such an assertion can easily be made.<i>What precisely are these teachings of the early Catholic Church that have been contaminated by new doctrines?</i> Ang does not say. <i>How were these teachings contaminated by new doctrines?</i> Ang keeps us guessing. <i>And what are these new doctrines that serve no salvation value?</i> Ang does not point them our. <u>Bottomline</u>: <i>you have to buy his book</i>. What an effective sales pitch! I feel sorry for those who will buy and be deceived by Ang’s book.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;">Armando Ang states that the purpose of his book is to separate the truth from the myth. Well, he seems to have succeeded in doing so. He keeps the truth away and retains the myth against Catholicism and passes it off as Gospel truth – and sells it to the public. Ang’s book is a masterpiece of distortion of truth; a magnum opus of bearing false witness against one’s Catholic neighbor.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJW8W7EyZ8s04zi6IXfxjGHYiNmiFdLyC2LgoDRIVcvxN8VQPiVcdadSsM2sLXe9GBtyeMZhgm0Gc6vZnBggrMHmi-FVfTZiPxwfHNZXMz6s_yn-kMgFPhELhQZXaLSaOnteNPc_Xmroc/s400/ka.jpg" /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;"><i><b>Jesus Christ remains with His Mystical Body, the Church</b></i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 17px; line-height: 25px;">Armando Ang avers that the Church has enough saving grace to save Catholics.</span><a href="file:///C:/Users/user/Documents/EXPOSING%20THE%20LIES%20AND%20DECEPTIONS%20OF%20ARMANDO%20ANG%20PART%20II.docx#_ftn13" name="_ftnref13" style="font-size: 17px; line-height: 25px; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 19px;">[13]</span></span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 17px; line-height: 25px; text-align: justify;"> But the appropriate statement is, </span><i style="font-size: 17px; line-height: 25px; text-align: justify;">the Church has the plenitude of grace from Christ Our Lord to save Catholics</i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 17px; line-height: 25px; text-align: justify;">. It, too, has the fullness of truth – whether Armando Ang realizes or not. The Church has the promise from Christ that the gates of hell shall not prevail against it (Mt. 16:18). All hell and Armando Ang may try everything in their venal power to destroy the Church but they will never succeed. Jesus Christ promised us that that He will be with us always until the end of time (Mt. 28:20).</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRoMfDreHHmD_4WsD4kZze-xh5qtBHOC-klrSbJ9wMbBke3icD7WbNNNMvvBqr42N-haD7kWepi-R-4Eg0g8CXUQsUBywOK6JJMc4vsfoLCKegpbK-K1PQ-asy5o6Cvy5fN9BfM5yvsgk/s400/MCFC069.JPG" /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;"><i><b>Hell and its cohorts attacking the One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church</b></i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;"><o:p><i><b></b></i></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;">Finally, Armando Ang claims that his own children are devoted Catholics and ne has never tried to convince them to join another Church.<a href="file:///C:/Users/user/Documents/EXPOSING%20THE%20LIES%20AND%20DECEPTIONS%20OF%20ARMANDO%20ANG%20PART%20II.docx#_ftn14" name="_ftnref14" style="text-decoration: none;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 19px;">[14]</span></span></span></a> I have no way of verifying the veracity of this claim. But it is certain that Armando Ang does not have credibility even to his children. Otherwise, Ang’s children will join him in his new-found church if they see the quality of their father’s witness. Obviously, they don’t. And here is where Ang’s hypocrisy and inconsistency are painted in bold relief. Earlier he claimed that he would be remiss as a Christian to keep the truth away from the faithful and furthermore said that it is a sin not to do what you know is the right thing to do.<a href="file:///C:/Users/user/Documents/EXPOSING%20THE%20LIES%20AND%20DECEPTIONS%20OF%20ARMANDO%20ANG%20PART%20II.docx#_ftn15" name="_ftnref15" style="text-decoration: none;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 19px;">[15]</span></span></span></a> If Ang really believes that his devoted Catholic children are on the way to perdition because of their religion, why doesn’t he, as a good father, do the right thing to do to persuade his children by precept and example to leave the Catholic Church? Only Armando Ang can tell.</span><o:p></o:p></div><div><hr align="left" size="1" width="33%" /><div id="ftn1"><div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><a href="file:///C:/Users/user/Documents/EXPOSING%20THE%20LIES%20AND%20DECEPTIONS%20OF%20ARMANDO%20ANG%20PART%20II.docx#_ftnref1" name="_ftn1" style="text-decoration: none;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18px;">[1]</span></span></span></span></a><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> Armando Ang, <i>The Dark Side of Catholicism </i>(Manila: A1 Publishing, 2005) flyleaf (the first page after the cover).<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><o:p></o:p></div></div><div id="ftn2"><div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><a href="file:///C:/Users/user/Documents/EXPOSING%20THE%20LIES%20AND%20DECEPTIONS%20OF%20ARMANDO%20ANG%20PART%20II.docx#_ftnref2" name="_ftn2" style="text-decoration: none;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18px;">[2]</span></span></span></span></a><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> <i>Ibid.<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></div></div><div id="ftn3"><div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><a href="file:///C:/Users/user/Documents/EXPOSING%20THE%20LIES%20AND%20DECEPTIONS%20OF%20ARMANDO%20ANG%20PART%20II.docx#_ftnref3" name="_ftn3" style="text-decoration: none;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18px;">[3]</span></span></span></span></a><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> <i>Ibid.<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></div><div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><o:p></o:p></div></div><div id="ftn4"><div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><a href="file:///C:/Users/user/Documents/EXPOSING%20THE%20LIES%20AND%20DECEPTIONS%20OF%20ARMANDO%20ANG%20PART%20II.docx#_ftnref4" name="_ftn4" style="text-decoration: none;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18px;">[4]</span></span></span></span></a><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> <i>Ibid.<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></div><div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><o:p></o:p></div></div><div id="ftn5"><div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><a href="file:///C:/Users/user/Documents/EXPOSING%20THE%20LIES%20AND%20DECEPTIONS%20OF%20ARMANDO%20ANG%20PART%20II.docx#_ftnref5" name="_ftn5" style="text-decoration: none;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18px;">[5]</span></span></span></span></a><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> <i>Ibid.<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></div><div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><o:p></o:p></div></div><div id="ftn6"><div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><a href="file:///C:/Users/user/Documents/EXPOSING%20THE%20LIES%20AND%20DECEPTIONS%20OF%20ARMANDO%20ANG%20PART%20II.docx#_ftnref6" name="_ftn6" style="text-decoration: none;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18px;">[6]</span></span></span></span></a><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture citations are from the <b>King James Version</b>, Protestant translation of the Bible, which is the favorite translation of Armando Ang.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div></div><div id="ftn7"><div class="MsoFootnoteText"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><a href="file:///C:/Users/user/Documents/EXPOSING%20THE%20LIES%20AND%20DECEPTIONS%20OF%20ARMANDO%20ANG%20PART%20II.docx#_ftnref7" name="_ftn7" style="text-decoration: none;" title=""></a><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"></span><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18px;">[7]</span></span></span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> Armando Ang, <i>The Dark Side of Catholicism </i>(Manila: A1 Publishing, 2005) flyleaf.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoFootnoteText"><o:p></o:p></div></div><div id="ftn8"><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><a href="file:///C:/Users/user/Documents/EXPOSING%20THE%20LIES%20AND%20DECEPTIONS%20OF%20ARMANDO%20ANG%20PART%20II.docx#_ftnref8" name="_ftn8" style="text-decoration: none;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18px;">[8]</span></span></span></span></a><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"> Fulton Sheen, <i>What is the Catholic Church, </i>available at:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center; text-indent: 0.5in;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">(<a href="http://www.ourcatholicfaith.org/" style="text-decoration: none;">http://www.ourcatholicfaith.org/</a>)<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div id="ftn9"><div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><a href="file:///C:/Users/user/Documents/EXPOSING%20THE%20LIES%20AND%20DECEPTIONS%20OF%20ARMANDO%20ANG%20PART%20II.docx#_ftnref9" name="_ftn9" style="text-decoration: none;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18px;">[9]</span></span></span></span></a><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> Armando Ang, <i>The Dark Side of Catholicism </i>(Manila: A1 Publishing, 2005) flyleaf.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div id="ftn10"><div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><a href="file:///C:/Users/user/Documents/EXPOSING%20THE%20LIES%20AND%20DECEPTIONS%20OF%20ARMANDO%20ANG%20PART%20II.docx#_ftnref10" name="_ftn10" style="text-decoration: none;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18px;">[10]</span></span></span></span></a><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> <i>Ibid.<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></div><div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><i><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div></div><div id="ftn11"><div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><a href="file:///C:/Users/user/Documents/EXPOSING%20THE%20LIES%20AND%20DECEPTIONS%20OF%20ARMANDO%20ANG%20PART%20II.docx#_ftnref11" name="_ftn11" style="text-decoration: none;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18px;">[11]</span></span></span></span></a><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> <i>Ibid.<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></div></div><div id="ftn12"><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><a href="file:///C:/Users/user/Documents/EXPOSING%20THE%20LIES%20AND%20DECEPTIONS%20OF%20ARMANDO%20ANG%20PART%20II.docx#_ftnref12" name="_ftn12" style="text-decoration: none;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18px;">[12]</span></span></span></span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"> <i>“Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.”</i></span><i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;"><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hebrews+1&version=KJV" style="text-decoration: none;" title="Go to Hebrews 1"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><br />
</span></a></span></i></span></div></div><div id="ftn13"><div class="MsoFootnoteText"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><a href="file:///C:/Users/user/Documents/EXPOSING%20THE%20LIES%20AND%20DECEPTIONS%20OF%20ARMANDO%20ANG%20PART%20II.docx#_ftnref13" name="_ftn13" style="text-decoration: none;" title=""></a><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"></span><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18px;">[13]</span></span></span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> Armando Ang, <i>The Dark Side of Catholicism </i>(Manila: A1 Publishing, 2005) flyleaf.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><o:p></o:p></div></div><div id="ftn14"><div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><a href="file:///C:/Users/user/Documents/EXPOSING%20THE%20LIES%20AND%20DECEPTIONS%20OF%20ARMANDO%20ANG%20PART%20II.docx#_ftnref14" name="_ftn14" style="text-decoration: none;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18px;">[14]</span></span></span></span></a><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> <i>Ibid.<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></div><div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><i><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div></div><div id="ftn15"><div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><a href="file:///C:/Users/user/Documents/EXPOSING%20THE%20LIES%20AND%20DECEPTIONS%20OF%20ARMANDO%20ANG%20PART%20II.docx#_ftnref15" name="_ftn15" style="text-decoration: none;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18px;">[15]</span></span></span></span></a><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> <i>Ibid.</i></span></span></div></div></div></div>IJRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02294057859963145663noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4187924677660293415.post-41327606508862927792011-11-15T21:53:00.000-08:002011-11-15T21:53:21.526-08:00EXPOSING THE LIES AND DECEPTIONS OF ARMANDO ANGA repost from Atty. Marwil Llasos, O.P.<br />
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<h3 class="post-title entry-title" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 20px; position: relative;">EXPOSING THE LIES AND DECEPTIONS OF ARMANDO ANG</h3><div class="post-header" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.6; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div class="post-header-line-1"></div></div><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-5818689638935050259" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px; position: relative; width: 540px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwwZWHoigGn5NKWiKTs0vQzCiDzO4MmO5lwSk9jxOTtl7EOX97fYHT8alkRj5BrBo-kFGpXmyeSrWQXaNv48JY0E9SbMO7pSTDdc_QaIl3f_J0sIr5xar64KlsZK48BuSbznQKlX3FDIY/s1600/victory.jpg" style="text-align: left; text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: black;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5674130973316994546" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwwZWHoigGn5NKWiKTs0vQzCiDzO4MmO5lwSk9jxOTtl7EOX97fYHT8alkRj5BrBo-kFGpXmyeSrWQXaNv48JY0E9SbMO7pSTDdc_QaIl3f_J0sIr5xar64KlsZK48BuSbznQKlX3FDIY/s400/victory.jpg" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 400px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; position: relative; text-align: center; width: 266px;" /></span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Our Lady of Victories, pray for the triumph of the Holy Catholic Church</b></i></div><br />
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</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 19px;">EXPOSING THE LIES AND DECEPTIONS OF ARMANDO ANG<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 19px;">Marwil N. Llasos, O.P.</span></b></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 19px;"><br />
</span></b></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 19px;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><b><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;">ARMANDO ANG</span></b><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;"> is the author of the anti-Catholic book </span><b><i><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;">“The Dark Side of Catholicism”</span></i></b><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;"> which is already on its third edition. The phenomenal sales of Ang’s Catholic-bashing book proves that indeed anti-Catholicism sells even in our predominantly Catholic country. By the way, Ang also authored </span><b><i><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;">“The Dark Side of Unorthodox Protestantism” </span></i></b><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;">– as if there’s such a thing as “orthodox” Protestantism given the division in the Protestant world. I was looking for </span><b><i><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;">“The Dark Side of Islam” </span></i></b><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;">but I couldn’t find one that is authored by Armando Ang. I wonder why Ang does not write a book exposing the “dark side” of Islam. Perhaps in the future and I am really looking forward to have a copy of that much-awaited book.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;">To be fair, Armando Ang must also write </span><b><i><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;">“The Bright Side of Catholicism”</span></i></b><i><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;"> </span></i><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;">if he is sincere and honest in what he claimed that </span><i><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;">“[i]t is incumbent on every believer to know the truth and the truth shall make us free”<a href="file:///C:/Users/user/Documents/EXPOSING%20THE%20DECEPTION%20OF%20ARMANDO%20ANG.docx#_ftn1" name="_ftnref1" style="text-decoration: none;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><b><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 19px;">[1]</span></b></span></span></a></span></i><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;"> (citing John 8:32). But I don’t see it forthcoming for Ang to publish a book showing the “bright” side of Catholicism. The anti-Catholic that he is, Ang has already made up his mind that</span><i><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;">“[t]here are many teachings of the early Catholic Church that have been contaminated by new doctrines that serve no salvation value.”<a href="file:///C:/Users/user/Documents/EXPOSING%20THE%20DECEPTION%20OF%20ARMANDO%20ANG.docx#_ftn2" name="_ftnref2" style="text-decoration: none;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><b><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 19px;">[2]</span></b></span></span></a> </span></i><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;">Like all anti-Catholic polemicists, Ang has already betrayed his bias and prejudice against the Catholic Church that he would no longer consider evidence and arguments contrary to his firmly held views.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDbBHkTLSwkPcHcheLib1SL71HuUEwZuFjaGYrRiIx07t5aL2ujCfURYP2ktykFcOqHDFAqt5DSHkVx9SPh4O4d0mYHpybby2iwwj4wjXXShIp2savPr8IQ2kzF1NGaack4pO2CsRr_DI/s400/the_dark_side_of_catholicism_front.jpg" /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;"><i><b>Ang's anti-Catholic bestseller is deceiving the unwary</b></i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;"><o:p><i><b></b></i></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;">A friend, fellow Catholic apologist and Marian devotee sent me a copy of the 2005 updated edition of Armando Ang’s </span><b><i><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;">The Dark Side of Catholicism. </span></i></b><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;">I will refer to that book in my critique of Ang’s allegations, accusations, claims and arguments.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;">I noticed that Ang’s book is a pastiche of anti-Catholic polemical writings of Loraine Boettner, Dave Hunt, James McCarthy, James White and of course, Jack Chick – and a host of other anti-Catholic authors. And so what else is new?<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;">Ang’s book is a regurgitated thrash. It merely rehashes old, worn out and long debunked attacks against the Catholic Church. Ang adds up his own lies and deceptions to the growing list of false accusations against the Church. From whom could these accusations come from if not from the <i>“accuser of the brethren”</i>? (Rev. 12:10). Like his father the devil (Jn. 8:44), Ang passes off his lies as Gospel truth. The Bible categorically states, </span><b><i><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;">“Do shalt not raise a false report: put not thine hand into the wicked to be an unrighteous witness”</span></i></b><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;"> (Exo. 23:1, <i>unless otherwise indicated, the Scripture citations herein are from the <b>King James Version</b>, Ang’s favorite translation</i>).<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;">I make it of record that I look forward to personally debating Armando Ang. I prefer that such eyeball to eyeball confrontation be held in his own congregation. I intend to cross-examine him on the contents of his book. I will be glad to require him to prove each and every single allegation of his. If what Armando Ang is saying is true, he will accept this challenge.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;">For the meantime, I will run a series of articles debunking Ang’s false accusations and brazen lies. Since I am a Mariologist, I will concentrate on </span><b><i><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;">The Dark Side of Catholicism’s</span></i></b><i><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;"> </span></i><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;">first two chapters on the Virgin Mary (Chapter 1) and the Marian Cults (Chapter II). I did the same to Dr. Anthony Pezzotta’s </span><b><i><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;">“Truth Encounter”</span></i></b><i><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;"> </span></i><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;">where I debunked his attacks on Mary in chapter 11 and 12 of his discredited book.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;">I wish to draw my reader’s attention to Armando Ang’s<b><u>deceptive style</u>. </b>He employs this style countless times in his book. I will just cite one example for now.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center; text-indent: 0.5in;"><b><u><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;">The unscholarly style of Armando Ang</span></u></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;">In page 13 of Armando Ang’s </span><b><i><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;">The Dark Side of Catholicism</span></i></b><i><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;">,</span></i><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;">one can find this assertion –<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0.5in; margin-right: 0.5in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;">“As early as the 5th century Pope Leo the Great (440-461) wrote that Mary gave birth to Jesus without detriment to her virginity. Pope Alexander III (1159-1181) reiterated it by declaring that “Mary conceived without detriment to her virginity, gave birth to the Son without pain, and departed hence without being subject to corruption.” (Kauffman, 38-39) This was confirmed by the apparition at Agreda, Spain in the early 1600s that went on to explain “that the twelve stars on the crown serve as evidence of her virtue and also refers to the twelve tribes of Israel as revealed in the book of Revelation.” This was reiterated again by the appearance of the apparition in 1989 at San Nicolas, Argentina. (Ibid., 44) But in an apparition to Annie Kirkwood who wrote down the Virgin Mary's message in her book, <i>Mary's Message of Hope</i>, claims that Mary told her that she “had several children in addition to Jesus.” (Steiger, 31)<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;">The readers will note that Armando Ang does not cite the primary sources of his allegation. He passes on second hand information. This reveals the level of Armando Ang’s scholarship, or the lack of it.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;">Armando Ang makes it appear that he is quoting Pope Alexander III. But when you check the citation, Ang is not quoting the exact papal document. Instead he is quoting from Kauffman, allegedly from pages 38-39 of his book. The problem is, we do not know which book of Kauffman is being cited. In Ang’s References and Suggested Readings found at pages 421-424 of his book,<i> </i>he lists “Kauffman, Timothy F.” as his reference. However, Kauffman has two books listed, both published in 1982, </span><b><i><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;">Graven Bread</span></i></b><i><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;"> </span></i><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;">and </span><b><i><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;">Quite Contrary</span></i></b><i><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;">.</span></i><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;">The reader of <i>The Dark Side of Catholicism</i> will have to guess which of the two Kauffman’s books Armando Ang is citing for his chopped quotation. Since these books are not readily available, the reader cannot easily check the veracity of Ang’s attribution.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;">The problem is even more compounded when Armando Ang alleges that the Pope’s declaration was “confirmed by the apparition at Agreda, Spain in the early 1600s that went on to explain ‘that the twelve stars on the crown serve as evidence of her virtue and also refers to the twelve tribes of Israel as revealed in the book of Revelation.’ ” Ang certainly does not know what he is talking about. There has been no apparition by the Blessed Virgin Mary at Agreda, Spain. Instead, a visionary named Mary of Agreda received locutions from the Blessed Mother and these are published in a four-volume work </span><b><i><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;">“City of God” </span></i></b><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;">(the owner of this blog owns Mary of Agreda’s four-volume work from TAN Books). Ang’s statements are often inaccurate and unreliable. Furthermore, it is noteworthy that Ang’s quotation does not provide any reference to Mary of Agreda’s book. Instead, he refers his readers, again, to Kauffman.</span><b><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;">Armando Ang is incorrigible. He once again cited Kauffman in claiming that the “apparition” at Agreda was “reiterated again by the appearance of the apparition (<i>sic)</i> in 1989 at San Nicolas, Argentina.” Ang’s source? Kauffman! So much for the “scholarship” of Armando Ang.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjALAx0WltndgtZYzNZrjKXOcjYCH09npGtfSZHeht_ddpM3JSv6E_d2hJcjmf1Gb5YPuDZHZYmEVds6mce594UBWw1NzcFoPynqWhtU2YBzUrDK28TDUuORdNa3G6JmqjWkKmecw1BMWg/s400/annie.gif" /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;"><b><i>Annie Kirkwood: Ang's "prophetess" is no Catholic</i></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;"><o:p><b><i></i></b></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;"><u>Armando Ang and Annie Kirkwood<o:p></o:p></u></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><b><u><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;"><o:p><span style="text-decoration: none;"></span></o:p></span></u></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;">Here is the ultimate bombshell to blast whatever remains of Armando Ang’s pretense of scholarship and credibility.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;">Armando Ang, after mentioning the “apparitions” where Mary underscored her perpetual virginity, pitted these “apparitions” to another “apparition” that claims the contrary – the “apparition” to<b>Annie Kirkwood</b>:<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6I0cFSpQ8tSUzDWpbR6isUVCS1RE9c6yJhA8zHfIuNqkWymUDZyXqB5R85Uzj2h0DjvZ-XJael2YooBhNAMGHyShB4fqL-w8p5VVTkciT1KJYYUG8yf_YqP5h9oE9N_8JLPUfEkuXV_0/s400/mhope2.jpg" /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;"><i><b>Annie Kirkwood's book: Mary's Message of Hope. I doubt it very much if Armando Ang has actually read it</b></i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;"><i><b><br />
</b></i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0.5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0.5in; margin-right: 0.5in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;">But in an apparition to Annie Kirkwood who wrote down the Virgin Mary's message in her book, <i>Mary's Message of Hope</i> claims that Mary told her that she “had several children in addition to Jesus.” (Steiger, 31)<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;">In attacking the perpetual virginity of Mary, Armando Ang does not hesitate to use questionable and disreputable sources such as Annie Kirkwood. The purpose of Armando Ang is plain to see. He wants to make it appear that the “apparitions” of the Blessed Virgin Mary contradict each other when it comes to the issue of her perpetual virginity. Thus, Ang pitted the “apparitions” at Agreda and Argentina with the apparitions to Annie Kirkwood.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;">The author of <i>The Dark Side of Catholicism </i>is absolutely ignorant about what he is writing about. Again, he is merely passing off second hand information. His quote that Mary told Annie that she had “several children in addition to Jesus” is actually taken from Brad and Sherry Hansen Steiger’s book <i>“Mother Mary Speaks to Us” </i>(1996). I wonder if Armando Ang was able to read any of Annie Kirkwood’s writings in the original.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSMRZUl_X5K-trSuD8tr9SyVWI9KanruCS8SnMsf-jWy-QSZK3cM-JfTmID222_jFJWqaIO3pHwg1Aet-SxxNLOOLquFDt99KN0vx1s4cv-nWrXLdT_-yqehogMaoVDvKwhqhzNbJSejc/s400/byron.gif" /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;"><i><b>Byron Kirkwood: The husband "prophetess" and compiler of her "messages"</b></i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;"><o:p><i><b></b></i></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;">Contrary to the false claim of Armando Ang, there was no apparition of the Blessed Virgin Mary to Annie Kirkwood. Annie Kirkwood claimed that “Mary” communicates to her “strongly” through the mind and she “hears” internally what “Mary” says.<a href="file:///C:/Users/user/Documents/EXPOSING%20THE%20DECEPTION%20OF%20ARMANDO%20ANG.docx#_ftn3" name="_ftnref3" style="text-decoration: none;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 19px;">[3]</span></span></span></a> As claimed by Annie Kirkwood herself, she received no apparitions but mere interior locutions. Obviously, Armando Ang does not know the difference as he keeps on mentioning “apparitions” in his book. His intention is clear: to pit one “apparition” against the other and discredit the perpetual virginity of Mary.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;">By mentioning the “apparition” to Annie Kirkwood alongside with those at Agreda and Argentina, Armando Ang clearly wants to portray the “apparition” to Annie Kirkwood as Catholic. But Ang is clearly deceiving his readers by not divulging a crucial fact: Anna Kirkwood is <b><u>not</u></b> Catholic!<a href="file:///C:/Users/user/Documents/EXPOSING%20THE%20DECEPTION%20OF%20ARMANDO%20ANG.docx#_ftn4" name="_ftnref4" style="text-decoration: none;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 19px;">[4]</span></span></span></a> The messages Annie Kirkwood has been allegedly receiving from the Virgin Mary are <b><u>not</u></b> accepted by the Catholic Church. Thus, it is not legitimate or proper for Ang to pit this “apparition” from the others. The messages of the “Mary” given to Annie Kirkwood are downrightly absurd, inane and heretical. For a critique of Annie Kirkwood’s messages, please see:<o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><b>(</b><a href="http://www.catholicplanet.com/apparitions/false21.htm" style="text-decoration: none;"><b><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;">http://www.catholicplanet.com/apparitions/false21.htm</span></b></a><b>)<o:p></o:p></b></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTwBBgY_OohXHXru0i_-EUiHSyBFfihm9TgJ5Myv1dQapj0qJRMiJoQFIjc1rwmEDgI-ATZm3kRHXQq7VY-9RPfuuCVySzlB7gMPESGC-wA8_eS7e2g_6wblvdas51afNiLyhKFNfZ4Ys/s400/marys-message-world-annie-kirkwood-hardcover-cover-art.jpg" /></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><b><i>Another book of Annie Kirkwood: Mary's Message to the World</i></b></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;"><o:p><b><i></i></b></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;">Annie Kirkwood’s “Mary” teaches the heresy of “indifferentism” – that all religions are the same and it doesn’t matter what religious faith one holds. Kirkwood’s “Mary” states that </span><i><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;">“[t]he religious and cultural differences between peoples are outer and not as important as they think.”</span></i><a href="file:///C:/Users/user/Documents/EXPOSING%20THE%20DECEPTION%20OF%20ARMANDO%20ANG.docx#_ftn5" name="_ftnref5" style="text-decoration: none;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><i><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><b><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 19px;">[5]</span></b></span></span></i></span></a><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;"> Armando Ang leaves out that fact.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;">The “Jesus” of Annie Kirkwood’s “Mary” is a different Jesus. Far from being “meek and humble,” Annie Kirkwood’s “Jesus” is described by his mother “Mary” as </span><i><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;">“[a]lthough he seldom lost his temper, when he did, his eyes would come dark and menacing.”</span></i><a href="file:///C:/Users/user/Documents/EXPOSING%20THE%20DECEPTION%20OF%20ARMANDO%20ANG.docx#_ftn6" name="_ftnref6" style="text-decoration: none;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 19px;">[6]</span></span></span></span></a><i><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;"></span></i><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;">Does Ang accept this description of Jesus? He doesn’t say.</span><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;">Furthermore, Armando Ang’s Annie Kirkwood believes in UFOs. According to her, “Mary” predicted that </span><i><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;">“[t]here will be increased UFO activity.”</span></i><a href="file:///C:/Users/user/Documents/EXPOSING%20THE%20DECEPTION%20OF%20ARMANDO%20ANG.docx#_ftn7" name="_ftnref7" style="text-decoration: none;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 19px;">[7]</span></span></span></span></a><i><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;"> </span></i><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;">She went on to say that the </span><i><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;">“coming storms and tremors of unheard of size will perhaps make believers of you. The other signs of UFO activity and supernatural events will call attentively to our plea to man.”</span></i><a href="file:///C:/Users/user/Documents/EXPOSING%20THE%20DECEPTION%20OF%20ARMANDO%20ANG.docx#_ftn8" name="_ftnref8" style="text-decoration: none;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 19px;">[8]</span></span></span></span></a><i><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;"> </span></i><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;">Ang for sure does not believe in UFOs – but why does he believe Annie Kirkwood’s “Mary” when she claimed to have </span><i><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;">“had several children in addition to Jesus”</span></i><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;">?<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;">The reason is plain and simple. Because Anne Kirkwood’s “Mary” provided Ang with ammunition to demolish Mary’s perpetual virginity. Deceived and deceiving, Armando Ang doesn’t have any qualm in keeping crucial information away from his readers. Ang is definitely not concerned with truth at all. What he wants to do is to attack the church by any means, fair or foul.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;">Using Annie Kirkwood’s messages to discredit Mary’s perpetual virginity indicates how far Armando Ang can go to attack the dogma. What Ang does not realize is that his reliance on Annie Kirkwood backfires on him.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;">As an Evangelical, I am sure that Armando Ang believes that the so-called “brothers and sisters” of Jesus Christ mentioned in Mark 6:3 and Matthew 13:55-56 are His siblings. In these verses, the names of the “brothers” of Jesus are named <b>James</b>, <b>Joses</b> (Joseph), <b>Judas</b>and <b>Simon</b>. But what does Annie Kirkwood’s “Mary” say the names of her children are? Except for James,<a href="file:///C:/Users/user/Documents/EXPOSING%20THE%20DECEPTION%20OF%20ARMANDO%20ANG.docx#_ftn9" name="_ftnref9" style="text-decoration: none;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 19px;">[9]</span></span></span></a> the names of the other children of “Mary” are <b>David</b> and <b>Daniel,<a href="file:///C:/Users/user/Documents/EXPOSING%20THE%20DECEPTION%20OF%20ARMANDO%20ANG.docx#_ftn10" name="_ftnref10" style="text-decoration: none;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><b><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 19px;">[10]</span></b></span></span></a> Elizabeth,<a href="file:///C:/Users/user/Documents/EXPOSING%20THE%20DECEPTION%20OF%20ARMANDO%20ANG.docx#_ftn11" name="_ftnref11" style="text-decoration: none;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><b><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 19px;">[11]</span></b></span></span></a> Jacob,<a href="file:///C:/Users/user/Documents/EXPOSING%20THE%20DECEPTION%20OF%20ARMANDO%20ANG.docx#_ftn12" name="_ftnref12" style="text-decoration: none;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><b><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 19px;">[12]</span></b></span></span></a>Ruth<a href="file:///C:/Users/user/Documents/EXPOSING%20THE%20DECEPTION%20OF%20ARMANDO%20ANG.docx#_ftn13" name="_ftnref13" style="text-decoration: none;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><b><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 19px;">[13]</span></b></span></span></a> </b>and <b>Mary Martha.<a href="file:///C:/Users/user/Documents/EXPOSING%20THE%20DECEPTION%20OF%20ARMANDO%20ANG.docx#_ftn14" name="_ftnref14" style="text-decoration: none;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><b><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 19px;">[14]</span></b></span></span></a> </b>What does Armando Ang say about it?<b><u>Nothing</u></b>. He leaves out this relevant information because he doesn’t want his readers to know about it. Armando Ang happily accepts Annie Kirkwood’s Mary’s claim that she has </span><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;">several children in addition to Jesus. But, Armando Ang </span><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;">keeps mum when this same “Mary” names her children differently from what the Bible says. Isn’t it double standard? Isn’t that dishonesty? Isn’t that deception? What is left of Armando Ang’s credibility? <b>Zero. Nothing. Nada. Zilch.</b><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;"></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;"><b>For the Spanish translation of this article, please see:<o:p></o:p></b></span></div><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 25px;"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b>(<a href="http://tomasdetorquemadaop.blogspot.com/2011/11/una-exposicion-de-las-mentiras-y.html" style="text-decoration: none;">http://tomasdetorquemadaop.blogspot.com/2011/11/una-exposicion-de-las-mentiras-y.html</a>)<o:p></o:p></b></div></span><br />
<div><hr align="left" size="1" width="33%" /><div id="ftn1"><div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="color: black;"><a href="file:///C:/Users/user/Documents/EXPOSING%20THE%20DECEPTION%20OF%20ARMANDO%20ANG.docx#_ftnref1" name="_ftn1" style="text-decoration: none;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18px;">[1]</span></span></span></span></a><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> Armando Ang, <i>The Dark Side of Catholicism </i>(Manila: Al Publishing, 2005) flyleaf.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div></div><div id="ftn2"><div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="color: black;"><a href="file:///C:/Users/user/Documents/EXPOSING%20THE%20DECEPTION%20OF%20ARMANDO%20ANG.docx#_ftnref2" name="_ftn2" style="text-decoration: none;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18px;">[2]</span></span></span></span></a><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> <i>Ibid.<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></div></div><div id="ftn3"><div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="color: black;"><a href="file:///C:/Users/user/Documents/EXPOSING%20THE%20DECEPTION%20OF%20ARMANDO%20ANG.docx#_ftnref3" name="_ftn3" style="text-decoration: none;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18px;">[3]</span></span></span></span></a><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> Annie Kirkwood, <i>Mary’s Message to the World </i>(New York: G.P. Putnam’s Sons, 1991) p. viii. The owner of this blog has a copy of this book.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div></div><div id="ftn4"><div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="color: black;"><a href="file:///C:/Users/user/Documents/EXPOSING%20THE%20DECEPTION%20OF%20ARMANDO%20ANG.docx#_ftnref4" name="_ftn4" style="text-decoration: none;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18px;">[4]</span></span></span></span></a><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> <i>Ibid., </i>p. ix.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div></div><div id="ftn5"><div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="color: black;"><a href="file:///C:/Users/user/Documents/EXPOSING%20THE%20DECEPTION%20OF%20ARMANDO%20ANG.docx#_ftnref5" name="_ftn5" style="text-decoration: none;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18px;">[5]</span></span></span></span></a><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> <i>Ibid., </i>p. <i>xiii.<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></div></div><div id="ftn6"><div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="color: black;"><a href="file:///C:/Users/user/Documents/EXPOSING%20THE%20DECEPTION%20OF%20ARMANDO%20ANG.docx#_ftnref6" name="_ftn6" style="text-decoration: none;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18px;">[6]</span></span></span></span></a><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> <i>Ibid</i>., 65.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div></div><div id="ftn7"><div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="color: black;"><a href="file:///C:/Users/user/Documents/EXPOSING%20THE%20DECEPTION%20OF%20ARMANDO%20ANG.docx#_ftnref7" name="_ftn7" style="text-decoration: none;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18px;">[7]</span></span></span></span></a><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> <i>Ibid., </i>p. 10.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div></div><div id="ftn8"><div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="color: black;"><a href="file:///C:/Users/user/Documents/EXPOSING%20THE%20DECEPTION%20OF%20ARMANDO%20ANG.docx#_ftnref8" name="_ftn8" style="text-decoration: none;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18px;">[8]</span></span></span></span></a><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> <i>Ibid., </i>p. 32.</span></span></div></div><div id="ftn9"><div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="color: black;"><a href="file:///C:/Users/user/Documents/EXPOSING%20THE%20DECEPTION%20OF%20ARMANDO%20ANG.docx#_ftnref9" name="_ftn9" style="text-decoration: none;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18px;">[9]</span></span></span></span></a><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> <i>Ibid., </i>p. 62, 67.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div></div><div id="ftn10"><div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="color: black;"><a href="file:///C:/Users/user/Documents/EXPOSING%20THE%20DECEPTION%20OF%20ARMANDO%20ANG.docx#_ftnref10" name="_ftn10" style="text-decoration: none;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18px;">[10]</span></span></span></span></a><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> <i>Ibid., </i>p. 68.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div></div><div id="ftn11"><div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="color: black;"><a href="file:///C:/Users/user/Documents/EXPOSING%20THE%20DECEPTION%20OF%20ARMANDO%20ANG.docx#_ftnref11" name="_ftn11" style="text-decoration: none;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18px;">[11]</span></span></span></span></a><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> <i>Ibid., </i>p. 69.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div></div><div id="ftn12"><div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="color: black;"><a href="file:///C:/Users/user/Documents/EXPOSING%20THE%20DECEPTION%20OF%20ARMANDO%20ANG.docx#_ftnref12" name="_ftn12" style="text-decoration: none;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18px;">[12]</span></span></span></span></a><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> <i>Ibid.</i><o:p></o:p></span></span></div></div><div id="ftn13"><div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="color: black;"><a href="file:///C:/Users/user/Documents/EXPOSING%20THE%20DECEPTION%20OF%20ARMANDO%20ANG.docx#_ftnref13" name="_ftn13" style="text-decoration: none;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18px;">[13]</span></span></span></span></a><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> <i>Ibid., </i>p. 70.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div></div><div id="ftn14"><div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="color: black;"><a href="file:///C:/Users/user/Documents/EXPOSING%20THE%20DECEPTION%20OF%20ARMANDO%20ANG.docx#_ftnref14" name="_ftn14" style="text-decoration: none;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18px;">[14]</span></span></span></span></a><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> <i>Ibid.</i></span></span></div></div></div></div><!--EndFragment-->IJRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02294057859963145663noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4187924677660293415.post-16941483179345083392011-11-11T21:16:00.000-08:002011-11-11T21:16:42.252-08:00New Title?After being called "Media, Society, and God", I decided to change the name (and obviously the URL) of this blog. Why?<br />
<br />
Basically, it's more catchy than the current title. And I would call it "The Jackhammer" after my Admin name at 100% Katolikong Pinoy. Basically, I would centralize everything here, and it would be more of a blog than a mere motto. Anyway, I would change the name by Advent, so do watch out.<br />
<br />
Setting off the current title was absolutely teary for me since it was known as such for more than a year and a half. But, it's okay for me. At least it has a new spankin' title. hahahahahaIJRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02294057859963145663noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4187924677660293415.post-15176955868839379872011-10-26T19:27:00.000-07:002011-10-27T19:08:52.065-07:00The Battle for Existence Continues: the Rosary Month Editorial<div style="color: white; font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-US">(originally made as episode for TSEKPoint, the video commentary program of 100% KATOLIKONG PINOY! now made as a blog version) </span></span></div><div style="color: white; font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="color: white; font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-US">This October, we celebrate the Month of the Most Holy Rosary, and there’s no other celebration that could parallel the way the Dominicans honor the Blessed Virgin Mary. Every second week of October, the Order of Preachers, as well as the throngs of people who have a very special attachment to Mary (besides, we were called as the "a people who loved Mary"--"pueblo amante de Maria") because it is the Blessed Mother who interceded to the Child in her arms to preserve the Pearl of the Orient from Calvinist desacration. </span></span></div><div style="color: white; font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-US"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="color: white; font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: white; font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-US">1645 was the year. The Philippines was in total chaos. Revolts were sporadic in the Islands; two earthquakes reduced Manila to ruins; and its Archbishop-elect, Fernando Montero de Espinosa, died before he even took possession of his cathedral. And to make the situation worse, the Dutch are prowling the Philippine shores, desperate to capture poorly-armed Spanish galleons, kick the Spanish regime out of the Philippines, and spread the Protestantism of Calvin. In short, with all these ominous events, the Dutch were resolved that this weak state of the Spanish government in the Philippines is enough to decapitate its rule and incorporate the islands with Formosa (now Taiwan) and Indonesia, both of which were Dutch colonies. It was do or die. If the Spaniards and Filipinos lose, the Philippines will cease to exist.</span></span></div><div style="color: white; font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: white; font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="color: white; font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-US">The Dutch had more or less 15 battleships, divided into three squadrons. The only defense the Spanish-Filipino forces had were two (and later three) galleons, a galley, and a few brigantines (all of them refitted for war). Aside from these makeshift warships, The crew of the Encarnacion (the flagship), the Rosario (the admiral ship), as well as the other warships had weapons and torches on one hand, and rosaries on the other. This only shows that their greatest arsenals were prayers and their devotion to Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary. </span></span></div><div style="color: white; font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-US"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="color: white; font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: white; font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-US">The first battle was fought on March 15 the next year with the two Spanish-Filipino galleons facing five Dutch battleships—with odds in favor of the latter—off the coast of Corregidor. But their resilience and prayers made the Spanish-Filipino crew draw first blood with minimal damage and zero casualties. </span></span></div><div style="color: white; font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: white; font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="color: white; font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-US">The Encarnacion and the Rosario were then dispatched as escorts to the incoming galleon San Luis. They were then blockaded by seven Dutch warships at Ticao Island for about a month, and was lifted afterwards to sail for Manila. The Spanish galleons, then, chased them to an encounter near Marinduque on the 29<sup>th</sup> of July. The Dutch waited till nightfall for their fire vessels to be at maximum effectiveness. The Dutch ships encircled the Encarnacion, desparate to capture or destroy the Spanish flagship. They were then fired upon by the Rosario from behind, doing much damage to the enemy squadron. The fire ships then closed in on the two-ship Spanish fleet, hoping to set them on fire, but to no avail. They were heavily bombarded and capsized. The battle lasted till dawn the next day, resulting to a Dutch rout. Again, another victory for the Spanish-Filipino forces with two injuries, but with no deaths, as General Lorenzo de Orella y Ugalde prayed through the intercession of the Virgin before the battle. This was supposed to be the bloodiest among the five battles. </span></span></div><div style="color: white; font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="color: white; font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: white; font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-US">Two days later, on July 31, 1646, another battle ensued off the coast of Mindoro, this time, with the Spaniards and Filipinos on the offensive. Still in high morale after the previous fight, they cornered the Dutch ships for battle, surprised on how powerful were the Dutch cannons compared to theirs. Resilient and undismayed, they fired upon the Dutch ships, echoing the famous battlecry: “¡Viva la Virgen!” to the sound of their cannons. After four hours one Dutch vessel sank and the rest retreated. Again, no casualties were made on the side of the Spanish-Filipino crew. </span></span></div><div style="color: white; font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: white; font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="color: white; font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-US">After this, General Orella retired as commander of the fleet, turning it over to Captain Sebastian Lopez, thus making him captain of the Encarnacion, while Agustin de Cepeda replaced him as captain of the Rosario. The crew fulfilled its promise before the battle that if they win, they will march barefoot at the Santo Domingo Church in Intramuros. The intermission was important for the Spanish-Filipino fleet to reorganize its crew, do repairs to the ships, and to replenish their supplies. However, they became complacent, believing the Dutch will never again set sail over the Philippine waters. The galleon San Diego was en route to Acapulco when it was harassed by three Dutch ships near Fortune Island. Luckily the poorly-armed ship escaped the trap without an escort and went back to Manila. </span></span></div><div style="color: white; font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="color: white; font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: white; font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-US">The San Diego was hastily remodeled as a battleship and joined the Encarnacion and the Rosario in the campaign. On Sept. 16, 1646, the now three-ship-and-one-galley-strong Spanish-Filipino fleet met the three-ship Dutch squadron at the port of Calavite in Mindoro. At the height of the battle, the Rosario drifted in for the kill—one ship against three. Admiral Cepeda prepared his crew for broadside fire, and the Dutch fled in the crew’s tenacity. </span></span></div><div style="color: white; font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: white; font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="color: white; font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: white; font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-US">General Sebastian Lopez ordered the fleet to return to Mariveles to await orders from the Governor-General and to do repairs. On October 4, the San Diego was moored in the port, with the Encarnacion guarding it from a distance. The Rosario was again drifted away from the fleet, this time the Dutch, with three ships, have the flagship, the Encarnacion, as their target. General Sebastian ordered to move the ship, and the final battle for existence was about to begin. </span></span></div><div style="color: white; font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: white; font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="color: white; font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-US">With cunning movement and furious bombardment, the Encarnacion singlehandedly inflicted heavy damages to the enemy ships, causing them to flee. When the wind died down, the galley then attacked the Dutch ships, particularly the Dutch flagship. When it was about to be sunk, the wind blew again, allowing the Dutch to escape despite the pursuit of the Encarnacion and the galley. That final battle tolled four deaths aboard the Encarnacion. </span></span></div><div style="color: white; font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-US"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="color: white; font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: white; font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-US">General Sebastian Lopez again fulfilled their vow of marching barefoot to the shrine of the Virgin of the Rosary. From that time on, all efforts of the Dutch to capture the Philippines were already in vain. </span></span></div><div style="color: white; font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: white; font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="color: white; font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: white; font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-US">Celebrations were made in Manila, for their death sentence was lifted. An ecclesiastical committee of the vacant See of Manila then convened to investigate if the said series of battles were to be declared as miracles. And true enough, they were for the following reasons: </span></span></div><div style="color: white; font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: white; font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="color: white; font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: white; font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-US">First, despite the bitter fighting, only fifteen people from the Spanish-Filipino crew lost their lives; </span></span></div><div style="color: white; font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: white; font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="color: white; font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: white; font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-US">Second, the Encarnacion and the Rosario were old galleons supposed to be incapable of a long-term campaign, yet they won with unexpected results; and </span></span></div><div style="color: white; font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: white; font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="color: white; font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-US">Finally, the crew prayed the Rosary, and implored the intercession of Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary, which was also the agent of the victory of the Holy League under John of Austria at the Battle of Lepanto decades ago. </span></span></div><div style="color: white; font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-US"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="color: white; font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: white; font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-US">This only shows that for those who pray, prayer is powerful; and if coupled with human efforts, there will be great results. </span></span></div><div style="color: white; font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: white; font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="color: white; font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: white; font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-US">This was also a sign of determination that the Spaniards will never surrender the faith they practice and preach to the natives. This was a battle for survival—a battle for the existence of the Philippines itself, which Nick Joaquin said: </span></span></div><div style="color: white; font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-US" style="-moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; background: white none repeat scroll 0% 0%;"><b style="background-color: black; color: white;">"Imagine the Philippines as part of Indonesia! That seems incredible today - but it's a might-have-been of our history. There was a time in the 17th century when our fate hung in the balance. Had events gone the other way, THERE MIGHT HAVE NO PHILIPPINES AT ALL.”</b> </span></span></div><div style="color: white; font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-US" style="-moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; background: white none repeat scroll 0% 0%;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="color: white; font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: white; font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-US">The battles were part of the Eighty Years’ War between Spain and the Dutch and her allies. Their battlefield was extended to the colonies, threatening to conquer and destroy Spanish culture from the Filipinos. If not for this gallant, almost predictable defense, we would be speaking Dutch instead of English, and we will not have this kind of procession. More importantly, if we just sat down and let the Dutch take over the Philippines, we would not have become the predominant Catholic country in Asia, from which we owe our culture to, for we are already indoctrinated by the heresy of Calvin. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: white; font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: white; font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-US">A coincidental fact: Spain and the Netherlands faced each other again, this time; in the FIFA World Cup Finals in Johannesburg last 2010. Just as almost 400 years ago, the Spanish emerged victorious against the Dutch and won that year’s championship, their first in football. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: white; font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-US"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: white; font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-US"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: white; font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-US">Now, another battle is ongoing; though a truce is formally implemented from now until January next year. It is not about territories or indoctrination of heresies, but of ideologies of what life is all about. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: white; font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-US"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: white; font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-US">It was on October 7, 2010 that Filipinos for Life, and in the partnership of 100% Katolikong Pinoy, launched the Facebook page called “I Oppose the RH Bill”, in response to the all-hell-broke-loose web war made by neo-atheists, freethinkers, and most of the people who associate themselves to the pro-RH crowd, specifically those who question the alleged involvement of the Catholic Church in politics, as Carlos Celdran assumes. We at 100% Katolikong Pinoy plugged the page instantly, since we also experience anti-Church bigotry through statements and trolling, and sometimes, divides the line between loyal Catholics and dissident, nominal Catholics, not to mention anti-Catholic statements about the “doctrine” of contraception. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: white; font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: white; font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: white; font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-US">Ever since the establishment of the lines between those who claimed that the RH Bill was for women’s rights and for those who proclaim that life is sacred and should be left alone, TV debates have already aired, thousands of arguments have already been raised, both houses of Congress take this bill into consideration than other more important legal documents pending for ratification, most especially now that Senator Lito Lapid exposed that the RH Bill’s budget is about 13.7 million Pesos. Imagine that. </span></span></div><div style="color: white; font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: white; font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="color: white; font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-US">This is another battle for existence. But this time, it is not fought with ships or cannons, but with ideologies and arguments. And this time, what hangs in the balance is the destiny of our moral and socio-economical status, as well as the lives we are living and the lives yet to exist. </span></span></div><div style="color: white; font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-US"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="color: white; font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: white; font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-US">The belligerents are the pro-life groups, dauntlessly spearheaded by the Catholic Church, and the groups who favor contraception, abortion, divorce, same-sex marriage, and the abuse (or to put it in their point, the exercise) of the freedoms of speech, choice, and expression. Instantly, groups of individuals, as well as large institutions and organizations take their sides, whether in overt or in covert manner, contributing to their consecutive camps. </span></span></div><div style="color: white; font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: white; font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="color: white; font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: white; font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-US">As far as everyone can see, there seems to be a deadlock between them, if not an uphill advantage of one of them. A deadlock since the pro-RH are supported by celebrities people see, hear, and talk about in the media; while the pro-life camp only have a handful, mostly, the least talked-about (of course Manny Pacquiao and Sen. Tito Sotto are exceptions). But when it comes to things like proof, as well as exposure in charity works specially in times the Filipinos are on their knees, it is the Catholic Church and the pro-life NGO’s (if ever there are; but of course there are) who is the first to respond to the needs of the victims of calamities and the ire of nature in general; the pro-RH camp falls silent in these situations either because they don’t have the capacity to do so, or because they think it is not part of the argument, yet paradoxically, they point out the alleged wealth of the Catholic Church—that they have enough resources to purchase vehicles. </span></span></div><div style="color: white; font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: white; font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="color: white; font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-US">If that is the case, at least the Church uses it for the common good, of course comparing to some anti-Church organizations that have the luxury to produce advertisements about their cause and create full-scale campaigns out of their own pockets. </span></span></div><div style="color: white; font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-US"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="color: white; font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-US">In 1646, we have defended Manila, dubbed as the Rome by the Pasig by Nick Joaquin, from the Calvinist Dutch. Now, we face much more influential enemies: DEATH and its cohorts. Of course there are people outside the Church who support us in our campaign against this threat to the country's survival; the only problem is that some of them independently fight these monstrosities for their own benefits. We hope that these allies of ours may soon realize that we are fighting the same enemies and that they may agree to join forces to achieve a more decisive victory. </span></span></div><div style="color: white; font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-US"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="color: white;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">To summarize, we are still facing a battle, in one way or another. But the battle we insist in this episode is not just a personal one, but it is a battle for reputation and respect. The Philippines is considered to be the last impregnable fortress of true Catholicism outside the Vatican. Malta has already succumbed to the legalization of divorce, and many predominantly Catholic countries, even Spain and Italy, have already been secularized as a society. It is up to us, the gallant men and women striving for sanctification, to remain loyal to the teachings of Christ through His Vicar and through His Church and to justify our reputation as the Rome of Asia. For this, we say, the battle for our existence continues. </span></span></div><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";"></span></span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;"></span>IJRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02294057859963145663noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4187924677660293415.post-18973098653696382462011-10-25T01:36:00.000-07:002011-10-25T01:36:30.739-07:00My Christmas WishlistOkay, so it's still very far from Christmas (and I really think you're hoping it would come soon). But I have a lot of things to consider; and yes, one of them is my wishlist.<br />
<br />
So if you don't mind, let me have my wishlist here. Maybe my Top Three.<br />
<br />
-A PBS (PHL Bible Society) Tagalog-English Diglot Bible (with the Tagalog translation by Msgr. Abirol, basically the best translation!)<br />
price: P715<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.bible.org.ph/store/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/5e06319eda06f020e43594a9c230972d/9/7/9712907524_1_1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://www.bible.org.ph/store/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/5e06319eda06f020e43594a9c230972d/9/7/9712907524_1_1.jpg" width="280" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Yep. That one. But I prefer a black cover than a blue one here.<br />
</div><br />
Well, this IS a must for me. I really need a reliable Tagalog translation of the Scriptures. Literary passages. I consider this as the greatest gem of my library at a considerably affordable cost. hahahaha<br />
<br />
<br />
-An altar server's BLACK cassock (with surplice, of course)<br />
price: about P2,000 to P4,500 <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.luzarvestments.co.uk/altarservers_pages/L200b4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://www.luzarvestments.co.uk/altarservers_pages/L200b4.jpg" width="139" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">This one.</div><br />
I know this is wishful thinking as an altar server, a freelance one to be specific. But hey, you ain't a knight of the altar without it. It's like you're fighting a horde of demons when you wear them.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
-And finally, a portable CB radio with an FM radio feature<br />
price: P3,000-4,000 (x2 to accommodate the other side = P6,000-8,000)<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://imrdb.org/images/thumb/a/ab/Icom_IC-V8.jpg/350px-Icom_IC-V8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://imrdb.org/images/thumb/a/ab/Icom_IC-V8.jpg/350px-Icom_IC-V8.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Not really this model, but if I found out that it has an FM player feature to kill the boredom, I'm wishing for it! </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">So you would be wondering why the hell am I considering this one of my top three items in my wishlist: </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Since my stint in signal communications, I had this hobby of monitoring things, especially events concerning the community, and even coordination with religious events in our area. Again, wishful thinking. For now, this piece of technology would cost my limb, and it may come true (I hope it will) three to four Christmases from now. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">But this wishlist isn't really the primary thing I have to consider. Even if it already is the 24th of December. Because the truth is these things are but outward things I can live without (of course with the exception of the first item). And even if I may afford it, it would have the right time. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">For now, let me break the extended Christmas spirit to focus on the memory of our deceased brothers since November is a week from now. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Thanks for reading, anyway.</div>IJRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02294057859963145663noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4187924677660293415.post-78775902043402764532011-10-20T16:02:00.000-07:002011-10-20T16:02:14.470-07:00Operation: Make a SandboxJust before I wrote this, I thought of having a parallel blog specifically devoted for apologetics and liturgy, since this blog site is, somehow, semi-personal.<br />
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It's been a long time since I flexed my apologetic and liturgy-savvy muscles, so that should be my sandbox.<br />
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Well, it already has a catchy title. And you'll have to find it out soon. hahahahaha<br />
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In the meantime, I have to reformat this site.IJRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02294057859963145663noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4187924677660293415.post-18895937397922852412011-10-13T15:38:00.000-07:002011-10-13T18:17:01.356-07:00AXIOS! Imus Bishop is the next Philippine Primate<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_ecnviVdaKhM/SFrCVwHiLLI/AAAAAAAAA5E/O0w7ge9wa6s/s400/bishoptagle1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_ecnviVdaKhM/SFrCVwHiLLI/AAAAAAAAA5E/O0w7ge9wa6s/s320/bishoptagle1.jpg" width="301" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Manila Archbishop-elect Luis Antonio Tagle</div><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales, the current Archbishop of Manila, submitted his retirement letter in 2007, as it is mandatory for bishops reaching the age of 75, but his resignation was accepted by the Pope four years later; and today, we wake up with a new shepherd of the most influential Archdiocese in the country, since it was the very first diocese established in the Spanish times. Archbishop-elect Tagle, having the episcopal motto "Dominus Est" (It is the Lord), is currently the third Bishop of Imus and the diocese at the threshold of its Golden Jubilee this year. This was his official statement: </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: 20px;">His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI appointed me, a humble servant to succeed His Eminence Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales to the Metropolitan See of Manila. I face this heavy responsibility with much trepidation. Leaving the Diocese of Imus, my beloved our home, at the threshold of its Golden Jubilee is not easy. But faith in our gracious Lord and love of the Church give me strength. I know that I would find much good will and zeal for mission in the clergy, religious and lay faithful of the Archdiocese of Manila. In our openness to the Holy Spirit, we could render a joyful and robust witness to Jesus Christ, all for the glory of the Father and the good of the Church and of society, especially of the poor. I entrust the Archdiocese of Manila and my ministry to the loving care of Our Lady, Mary Immaculate.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: 20px;"><br />
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</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: 20px;">+ Luis Antonio G. Tagle</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: 20px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><b>13 October 2011</b> </span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;">Just a few suggestions for the Archbishop-elect: </span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;">First and foremost, we pray that you may follow the footsteps of Davao Archbishop Capalla in promoting the beauty of the Liturgy, so as to influence the suffragan dioceses you are about to administer as Metropolitan (namely, Novaliches, Pasig, Parañaque, Antipolo, Malolos, San Pablo, Cubao, Kalookan, and Imus), without compromise and impurities. I expect that you will face the SSPX for this, but remember that the Church will never be prevailed by the gates of hell as long as you are in communion with the Successor of Peter (Matt. 16:18). </span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;">Secondly, your predecessor, Cardinal Rosales, have created a program called "Pondo ng Pinoy". We hope you will continue and strengthen this program. </span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;">And finally, may you continue to uphold the sanctity of life.... And I think everyone knows about that.... </span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;">Anyway, Bishop Chito, as he is colloquially known, is very much exposed in the media, currently hosting a Sunday Gospel reflection program over Studio 23(?) and over YouTube. I very much expect that he will be known as the media-friendly Archbishop. </span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;">To Manila Archbishop-emeritus Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales, we thank you for shepherding Manila, and extendedly, the whole country, in our beliefs. You have fought a good fight. You have finished the run. And you have preserved our faith, just as St. Paul proclaimed. May the Lord bless you in your retirement. </span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;">To Manila Archbishop-elect Luis Antonio "Chito" Tagle, we are congratulating you for being the new shepherd of the Archdiocese of Manila. </span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;">AXIOS! AXIOS! AXIOS! </span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;">Just a footnoter: <a href="http://thepinoycatholic.blogspot.com/2011/10/unusual-and-unprecedented.html">Looks like someone isn't THAT happy for this</a>....</span></span>IJRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02294057859963145663noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4187924677660293415.post-46529790571674923562011-10-09T23:55:00.000-07:002011-10-09T23:55:11.961-07:00Sorry for the Blog Silence....I've just finished our Finals exam, and I missed covering La Naval since I'm part of the crowd control....<br />
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Anyway, We'll celebrate Rosary Month, and it's timely that I'll feature things about the Rosary, including some apologetic stuff.<br />
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¡Viva la Virgen!IJRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02294057859963145663noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4187924677660293415.post-42039459922418607062011-09-20T16:47:00.000-07:002011-09-20T23:16:38.873-07:00I knew it....<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Okay. This would be the last time I'll blog about Shamcey Supsup. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Well, a friend of mine, who happened to be a Third Order Dominican, made a bold announcement on his status last night on Facebook: </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;">"I can relate to the question because happened to me in real life. My boyfriend converted to my faith because of me. He was a Catholic, now a Christian."</span></span><br />
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</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;">-Shamcey Supsup</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;"><br />
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</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;">Ako: SO ANO KAMING MGA KATOLIKO, HINDI BA KAMI KRISTIYANO??? ANATHEMA!! ANATHEMA!!! HERETIC!! HERETIC!!! </span></span><br />
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</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;">And when I saw it just this morning, I was like.... "SABI KO NA NGA BA, EH!" </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">What do I expect? What she answered in Miss Universe sounded like a testimonial from an Evangelical or something. Anyway, too sad for us. </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">But here's the catch. Shamcey said: "My boyfriend converted to my faith because of me...." I heard something fishy about this. I think this could be a Manalist statement, but I doubt it.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">If you try to relate the two statements--the Miss Universe answer and the latter one--it seems to me that it was Shamcey who pressured her boyfriend to change his religion (sadly, Catholicism). No wonder why she said she will not change her religion for the man she loves. SHE ALREADY TOLD HER BOYFRIEND TO CHANGE HIS RELIGION FOR HER SAKE. </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">I don't know if you'll pray for her enlightenment, but one thing's for sure: St. Peter's road is the best way to Christ. It's never too late for this couple to cross--or maybe swim across the Tiber. </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">For now, what Shamcey Supsup said was a low blow. Remember: before the Arians, Nestorians, Orthodox Christians, the Lutherans, the Protestants, Pseudo-Christians, Sedevacantists, and even the SSPX, there was only one type of Christianity--Catholicism--and that at least for ten centuries, there was only one Church--the TRUE one--the Catholic Church; and that these other churches splinter from <i>the</i> Church out of heresy, schism, misunderstanding, and protest. That means, unless Shamcey Supsup and her "<i>ander de saya</i>" ex-Catholic boyfriend converted (or return) to Catholicism, what we can do is to await the mercy and justice of God upon them. </div>IJRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02294057859963145663noreply@blogger.com4