Dear Maddy,<\/p>\n
I only have a minute to answer your latest missive.\u00a0 Something\u2019s going on in the prison today, and in a matter of mere moments they will be escorting me into some kind of temporary cubicle for an undetermined amount of time.\u00a0 Pray that it is more temporary than typical university temporary housing.<\/p>\n
In any case, your friend\u2019s argument that the hierarchical structure of the Church (organized under the authority of the Pope \u2013 successor to St Peter \u2013 and the Bishops \u2013 successors of the other Apostles) was a fourth-century invention designed by Constantine to usurp the Church and use it for secular ends is totally ridiculous.\u00a0 Besides the gargantuan ignorance of history illustrated by such a preposterous theory, it explicitly contradicts Scripture.\u00a0 Just take today\u2019s saint, for example.<\/p>\n
After Judas had committed suicide, Peter and the other Apostles, under the Holy Spirit\u2019s guidance, appointed Matthias to take his place. The Book of Acts records the event.<\/p>\n
After quoting some Old Testament texts that point towards the perpetuity of the apostolic offices, St Peter said, \u201cOut of the men who have been with us the whole time that the Lord Jesus was living with us, from the time when John was baptizing until the day when he was taken up from us, one must be appointed to serve with us as a witness to his resurrection.\u201d\u00a0 Then the community nominated two candidates, Joseph known as Barsabbas, and Matthias, and then they prayed, \u201cLord, you can read everyone’s heart; show us therefore which of these two you have chosen to take over this ministry and apostolate, which Judas abandoned to go to his proper place.\u201d\u00a0 When they drew lots, Matthias won.\u00a0 From then on, as the Book of Acts puts it, \u201che was listed as one of the twelve apostles.\u201d (Acts 1:21-26)<\/p>\n
That clearly shows that the very first Christians understood the ministry of the twelve apostles (the ministry carried out by popes and bishops through the ages) as something that was essential to the Christian community.\u00a0 It was supposed to last even after Christ had finished his earthly mission.\u00a0 It is not antithetical to the work of the Holy Spirit.<\/p>\n
I don\u2019t have time to recap the many historical arguments, but this Scriptural one is pretty irrefutable, in my opinion.\u00a0 Ask St Matthias to enlighten your buddy, and count on my prayers as well \u2013 unless they knock me unconscious when they move me to my \u201ctemporary\u201d new home.<\/p>\n
Your loving uncle,<\/p>\n
Eddy<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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