Without the belief that the Church, established by Christ can only teach absolute truth, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, one falls into gross relativism and subjectivism.
One head to be struck off is the idea that there is a distinction in truth between pastoral and doctrinal theologies. There is no difference. Pastoral theology is the application of doctrine, not the denial of such. Sin is denied as merely "mistakes", "failures", or even "doom".
The second head is the denial of free will, in my opinion, one of the most prevalent of heresies, which undermines each person's ability to choose truth over error. Psychology has damaged this teaching of free will; we all can make decisions for good, for natural law, for the discipline of the Church.
The third head is the nihilistic denial of truth. Christ clarified truth for us. He is the Truth and His truth is manifested in the one, holy, Catholic and apostolic Church throughout the ages.
John 14:
[1] Let not your heart be troubled. You believe in God, believe also in me. [2] In my Father' s house there are many mansions. If not, I would have told you: because I go to prepare a place for you. [3] And if I shall go, and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and will take you to myself; that where I am, you also may be. [4] And whither I go you know, and the way you know. [5] Thomas saith to him: Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way?
[6] Jesus saith to him: I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No man cometh to the Father, but by me. [7] If you had known me, you would without doubt have known my Father also: and from henceforth you shall know him, and you have seen him. [8] Philip saith to him: Lord, shew us the Father, and it is enough for us. [9] Jesus saith to him: Have I been so long a time with you; and have you not known me? Philip, he that seeth me seeth the Father also. How sayest thou, shew us the Father? [10] Do you not believe, that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? The words that I speak to you, I speak not of myself. But the Father who abideth in me, he doth the works.
[11] Believe you not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? [12] Otherwise believe for the very works' sake. Amen, amen I say to you, he that believeth in me, the works that I do, he also shall do; and greater than these shall he do. [13] Because I go to the Father: and whatsoever you shall ask the Father in my name, that will I do: that the Father may be glorified in the Son. [14] If you shall ask me any thing in my name, that I will do. [15] If you love me, keep my commandments.
[16] And I will ask the Father, and he shall give you another Paraclete, that he may abide with you for ever. [17] The spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, nor knoweth him: but you shall know him; because he shall abide with you, and shall be in you. [18] I will not leave you orphans, I will come to you. [19] Yet a little while: and the world seeth me no more. But you see me: because I live, and you shall live. [20] In that day you shall know, that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you.
[21] He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them; he it is that loveth me. And he that loveth me, shall be loved of my Father: and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him. [22]Judas saith to him, not the Iscariot: Lord, how is it, that thou wilt manifest thyself to us, and not to the world? [23] Jesus answered, and said to him: If any one love me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him, and will make our abode with him.[24] He that loveth me not, keepeth not my words. And the word which you have heard, is not mine; but the Father' s who sent me. [25] These things have I spoken to you, abiding with you.
[26] But the Paraclete, the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things, and bring all things to your mind, whatsoever I shall have said to you. [27]Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, do I give unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, nor let it be afraid. [28] You have heard that I said to you: I go away, and I come unto you. If you loved me, you would indeed be glad, because I go to the Father: for the Father is greater than I. [29] And now I have told you before it comes to pass: that when it shall come to pass, you may believe. [30] I will not now speak many things with you. For the prince of this world cometh, and in me he hath not any thing.
To fall into the false thinking of gradualism is to deny that one can be a saint, putting on the Mind of Christ. Remember, only the perfect see God and if we are not perfected while on earth, we must endure purgatory. We must suffer through our sins, getting beyond sin to the purification of the senses and the spirit and this is all possible with grace, not by our own works.
But, to commence on this road to holiness is the general call of all Catholics. Gradualism denies the call to holiness, the radical call to love God first, before all things, all people.
1 Peter 5:10Douay-Rheims
10 But the God of all grace, who hath called us into his eternal glory in Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a little, will himself perfect you, and confirm you, and establish you.
Of course, God knows the way is hard, but it is not impossible. The Protestant mindset denies personal holiness as a daily duty, through the living grace of the sacraments. The Protestant mindset looks at what is and accepts the mediocre. Saintliness is possible through suffering, through cooperation with grace, through the choice to serve God wholeheartedly NOW. We can never be satisfied with our sins, no matter how small. Never. These are not only obstacles to the love for God, but an affront to His Innocence, Purity, Justice and Mercy. That we sin, is part of our humility,but once humility is attained through the death of egotism in the Dark Night, one enters into the stages of Illumination and Unity, never taught by the Protestants and denied by those who want a mediocre Church, rather than one which is on fire with the love of God and actually changes the world. This is our call, nothing less.
And,
Revelation 3:15-17Douay-Rheims
15 I know thy works, that thou art neither cold, nor hot. I would thou wert cold, or hot.
16 But because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold, not hot, I will begin to vomit thee out of my mouth.And,
Luke 12:49Douay-Rheims
49 I am come to cast fire on the earth; and what will I, but that it be kindled?
Continued later...maybe, if people want more..
