This needs to be said, now that the Phil Robertson controversy has settled down with A&E caving and with the Robertsons agreeing (as they always have) that True Tolerance (tolerance of sinners, but not of sin) is a Christian virtue.
Karen and I have just finished reading the autobiographies of Phil, Si and Willie Robertson, three of the main players on A&E’s (still A&E’s!) Duck Dynasty.
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| Si Robertson |
These men are the best public Catholics in America.
They are not racists, they are not “homophobes”, they are not barbarians. They are the best public Catholics in America – though they would presumably prefer being called the best public (small c) catholic Christians in America. Or not being called that at all, since they’re all well aware of their sins.
So let me elaborate: these guys are not in communion with the Catholic Church (as I am, and as I think it’s important to be), but they are tremendous, humble and unpretentious Christians. And their doctrine, the doctrine that informs their lives and that they live and breathe, is the basic, sane, sound, incredible, glorious, unearned and spectacular revelation of God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit concerning the Good News of salvation.
They talk the talk and they walk the walk.
And they know the Bible backwards and forwards – which (to our shame) is more than can be said for almost any Catholic (big C) you’ll meet.
We moan a lot about the need to reclaim Christian Culture.
Believe it or not, the show Duck Dynasty is doing it.
I believe you are way off base attempting to cite this family as large or small c catholics. They study their Bible and they believe what it states. They are not afraid to stand up for their beliefs.
Catholics, on the other hand, would be discussing “feelings” and quoting “who am I to judge”. If the family wished to be Catholic, they would be. They don’t find anything there for which to convert.
BTW, 30 million American catholics have voted with their feet and left the Church.
Hello
The huge difference is a catholic you clueless on what the truth is .You follow after Catholicism instead of God word .Where the catholic church proclaim itself as the arbitrator of truth,instead of God word the bible. . I praise God that I came out of the darkness of Catholicism and learned how to gain God free gift of Forgiveness .Catholicism the made up doctrines of man . 1 john 1 is how to gain absolute 100% forgiveness and complete cleanse no purgatory need as it is blasphemy .Catholicism violates the biblical doctrine of salvation by grace through faith alone. Paul the apostle, for example, tells us in Romans 4:5, “But to the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is reckoned as righteousness.” But Roman Catholicism denies that and says, “…so that all men may attain salvation through faith, Baptism and the observance of the Commandments,” (CCC, par 2068). Also, consider this:
“If any one saith, that by faith alone the impious is justified; in such wise as to mean, that nothing else is required to co-operate in order to the obtaining the grace of Justification, and that it is not in any way necessary, that he be prepared and disposed by the movement of his own will; let him be anathema” (Council of Trent, Canons on Justification, Canon 9).
So, even though Roman Catholicism claims to be Christian and that it is the one true church, it violates the essentials of the Christian faith. It goes beyond what is written in God’s word (1 Cor. 4:6). It denies the sole and true sovereignty of the living God by promoting prayer to and the worship of Mary. Also, it denies justification by faith alone in Christ alone. It is not a Christian church.
Amen to all of the above!
We Catholics, in full communion, could learn quite a bit from our fellow Christians. To start, how can we defend our faith if we don’t read the Bible or actually understand our faith if we don’t get familiar with our Cathechism? The answer is that we can’t. Turn the TV off and pick up both of these incredible books and read them! The Robinson clan would be proud….and so would our Dear Jesus.
Happy new year and may God bless us all.
I like Phil’s preaching and I have listened to it a bit. Be careful though as Catholics to note that Phil is a protestant and doesn’t believe in the doctrine of original sin or the need to confess ones sins to a priest to be forgiven. Like most protestants he says that once you give you’re life to Jesus you’re free and clear permanently. We Catholics know this simply is not true, you can’t give yourself to Jesus, rob banks, and shoot people and expect you’ll get right into heaven. If you don’t repent and have your sins forgiven by a valid priest you’re in trouble.
otherwise though, love Phil and his bold preaching.
That is the plain truth of it. I hope we Catholics will learn something from them and start playing for real. +
Actually, Bob Newhart would be a better example of the Catholic response. When confronted by GLAAD for contracting to appear at a LEGATUS dinner of Catholic executives this February, Newhart reneged on his contract when GLAAD called the executives “homophobes”.
Muscular Evangelicals always carry the day over effeminate catholics.
They are not Catholic but protestant – this title is really misleading
Nothing to add, just that I agree wholeheartedly. From a Roman Catholic in Stayton, Oregon
What they get right is utterly Catholic – the saving power of Jesus Christ, the need for repentance, the need for sanctity in every day living, the need to condemn sin but love the sinner, the importance of family, the importance of prayer, the importance of what we would call subsidiarity. This is all Catholic. The Catholic Church has been passing along these truths for 2,000 years. The Protestants get it from us.
I have not heard Phil say a peep about “once saved, always saved”; though he may indeed believe that. I suspect he does indeed believe in original sin. I also suspect he carries some Protestant heresies about with him, but here’s what he says in this video – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FjqccYmx13w
“We have two problems: sin and death. Jesus solves them both. And it’s our job to 1. love God and 2. love our neighbor.”
That’s Catholic; in fact, that’s one of the best homilies I’ve heard in a long time.
My point is not that these guys are fully in communion with the Catholic Church, but that they’re the best public Catholics in America. Especially when the most public Catholics are people like Nancy Pelosi and Joe Biden.
With all due respect, this family is in full rebellion against the Bride of Christ… They are not Catholic, but modernistic American Folk Christians. They are just as much in rebellion against the Kingdom as a modernistic quasi name only catholic…
The modernistic name only Luke warm catholic is much more dangerous though as they stay within to destroy from within. Some if these are even, heaven help us, Bishops…
For the record, I am a former evangelical protestant who has returned to my Father’s house, Israel, The Holy Catholic Church. I gave up the rebellion, for after much reading and prayer, one can not remain outside the Barque of Peter.