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Here is some verses from Acts 12; Now they which were scattered abroad upon the persecution that arose about Stephen travelled as far as Phenice, and Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word to none but unto the Jews only. 20 And some of them were men of Cyprus and Cyrene, which, when they were come to Antioch, spake unto the Grecians, preaching the LORD Jesus. 21 And the hand of the Lord was with them: and a great number believed, and turned unto the Lord. 22 Then tidings of these things came unto the ears of the church which was in Jerusalem: and they sent forth Barnabas, that he should go as far as Antioch. 23 Who, when he came, and had seen the grace of God, was glad, and exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord. 24 For he was a good man, and full of the Holy Ghost and of faith: and much people was added unto the Lord. 25 Then departed Barnabas to Tarsus, for to seek Saul: 26 And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch. -Carol

The Catholic Church believes in ONE God-and is monotheistic. So-the Pope may indeed in someway be a not-so-perfect representative of this one God to the Catholic Community he serves. We ultimately-have the Same God. Our faith tradition may view the Godhead or the Trinity differently-but it is the same God. I do not think there is an LDS God/Heavenly Father and a Catholic God or a Jewish God or am Islamic God. They are one in the same. -I guess we will all be surprised at the moment of our death!-as we enter a new life. -Carol

with due respect -45,000 head of Cattle in the largest cattle ranch in the State of Florida? The D and C says "sparingly"-there seems to be a direct contridction as to what is stated in the D and C and what is done in practice by the Church. Florida-is a long ways away from the great majority of LDS members. Makes no sense at all. Cattle Ranch is listed as a for-prophet taxable venture. See above link. -Carol

It makes no sense to me as a- Catholic reading this -that the LDS Church would encourage eating meat sparingly and own a very large cattle ranch and sell meat to others. As I said previously-this would be like the church telling it's members not to drink-yet owning a brewery and selling alcohol to others to consume---it makes no sense to me as a Catholic reading this.

I, as a Catholic am confused in reading this thread. Are certain areas of the Words of Wisdom to be read more literally more than others? Are some parts to be ignored? Does a later D and C clarify the matter? According to LDS doctrine/teaching-is eating meat abundantly ok?-or is sparingly only OK?-and if so-why own such a huge cattle ranch?? That would be the same as being told-do not drink alcohol-while owning a brewery. -I am confused. Please help end my confusion. Thanks -Carol

I an a Catholic reading this. I lived in Florida for years. The largest cattle ranch there was/is owned by the LDS Church: here is a link Deseret Ranch - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia EVERYMONDAY: Discovering the Deseret Ranch -How does this go with the Words of Wisdom? -Carol

There is a nearly gluten free version that is allowable, but not totally gluten free. Here is the offocial answer: 1. Hosts that are completely gluten-free are invalid matter for the celebration of the Eucharist Here is my source: USCCB - (Liturgy) - In the November 2003 BCL Newsletter... -Catholics believe that taking either the bread/body or wine/blood of the Eucharist is equal in validity-so somone with a strict glutten intolerance would be welcome to take the wine/blood of Christ. -I am a former LCMS Lutheran-and Catholics and Lutherans have a similar view on the Sacrament, although there are differences as well-some you have noted. We us terms like "transubstantiation" whereas Lutherans use terms like "con-substantiation." Both view the Eucharist/Holy Communion as a Sacrament. -Carol

The Catholic Church has strict rules on what the wafer/unleavened bread may be made of and the kind of wine. Generally they are obtained from Catholic supply houses. Some bread/wafers are made by groups of nuns. To be specific Canon Law 924 section 2. " The bread used in the celebration of the Most Holy Eucharistic Sacrifice must be unleavened, purely of wheat, and recently made so that there is no danger of decomposition. It follows therefore that bread made from another substance, even if it is grain, or if it is mixed with another substance different from wheat to such an extent that it would not commonly be considered wheat bread, does not constitute valid matter for confecting the Sacrifice and the Eucharistic Sacrament. It is a grave abuse to introduce other substances, such as fruit or sugar or honey, into the bread for confecting the Eucharist. Hosts should obviously be made by those who are not only distinguished by their integrity, but also skilled in making them and furnished with suitable tools." A lengthy Vatican document on the subject is found here: Instruction Redemptionis Sacramentum Another lengthy document on tthe Sacrament and the importance of it including the validity of the sacrament is found here: OSV | My Catholic Faith | The Eucharist | Why Matter Matters Incidentally-since the wine is used for sacramental use only-it is not taxed by the state or federal governments. -Carol

Cancer is world-wide. Indeed environment and culture play some part in it. Cancer is indeed by definition a disease or group of diseases. It has some genetic components too. My husband has pancreatic cancer. He is an RN. He does not smoke and drinks seldom. He just turned 60. We have a healthy lifestyle. Cancer happens to people for many known and unknown reasons. I do not think there is a magic cure or cures for cancer. A many faceted approach can decrease the incidence of cancer in our society. Carol-a caregiver of a cancer patient-my husband

I am a Catholic on this forum. I have found that---- if I give respect, I get respect in return. I have found most members of this forum to be very nice people. I have come to learn about the LDS faith tradition as well as share some of my faith tradition with others. I have met some very nice people on this forum. -Carol

I do not think there is a right or wrong answer on this subject. Prayer is personal. It is one way we connect with our Creator. When and how we pray-and what we say-are influenced by our religious tradition. Praying should not become a legalistic matter. I pray before meals sometimes in restaurants. I would like to say always-or that the spirit guides my actions-but honestly-I just sometimes forget to pray. My religious tradition Lutheran to Catholic emphasizes prayer before meals anywhere. Another religious tradition may emphasize a different aspect of prayer. Neither are wrong in my opinion. Neither should be cloaked in legalism terms of "true" "right" or "wrong." Ultimately God/Our Hevenly Father knows us and our motives and actions and deepest desires. Carol

My husband has terminal pancreatic cancer. I saw the information you shared as part of a "60 minutes production." It holds out hope for some types of cancer sometime in the future. It is currently undergoing preliminary research tests at MD Anderson in Houston. I see it as one of a range of ideas put forth to help cure cancer. Cancer is made up of a host of many sub-diseases-so I do not see one treatment option helping everyone--but the one you shared does show some hope in the long term for some cancer patients several years in the future. Cost will be a factor-unfortunately. In my own case-our insurance is limiting the number of CT scans my husband has. They have to be pre-approved as a cost control measure. Life is difficult enough without an insurance company trying to make things even more difficult. -Carol

A "true" Christian has no bearing on whether or not one prays in a retaurant or not. Otherwise-what would be the focus of our faith?-our prayer posture? I may have my differences with others on this board, but I would not judge anyone by whether or not they pray in a restaurant or not. -Carol

Agree-major differences exist. -Carol

Sounds like you are a very strong believer in the non-existence of God. Both being a theist and an atheist---ultimately take belief. I am glad you have some doubt-perhaps belief/non-belief is a continum? What do you think of that concept? Both types of beliefs-take faith-just a different kind. -Carol

One person's truth may be another person's fiction. We are all biased to some extent-my opinion. In a perfect world-there would be no bias-but this is not a perfect world. My truth may not be yours and your truth may not be mine. -if not-is that bias? In the spiritual realm-there are few "truths"-as "truths"-rely ultimately on faith. My spiritial truth may be different than yours. My spiritial realm and understanding may be different than yours. Is mine equal to yours? Or is yours closer to perfect than mine? -Carol

Nothing magic about it. Indeed some may believe they or their friend/loved one may be controlled by a force outside themselves-and some of these may have medical/psychological reasons--but evil/Satan/The Devil is real. The greatest lie that Satan wishes to bring about is that Evil and the power of Satan does not exist. Sacred Scripture/The Bible is full of accounts of Jesus casting out demons. Was Jesus incorrect? Did demons and demon posession stop when Jesus died? My guess is that such total posession is a rare occurence. Let us not limit the power of Satan or think that he is not wandering around seeking whom he may devour as roaring lion. See 1st Peter 5:8. I am a Catholic-but I found this LDS article interesting: Here is part: When the Lord placed enmity between Eve’s children and the devil, Satan was told that he would bruise the heel of Eve’s seed, but her seed would bruise his head. (See Moses 4:21.) President Joseph Fielding Smith explained that “the ‘God of peace,’ who according to the scriptures is to bruise Satan, is Jesus Christ.” (Answers to Gospel Questions, Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1957, 1:3.) Satan would bruise the Savior’s heel by leading men to crucify Him. But through his death and resurrection, Christ overcame death for all of us; and through his atonement, he offers each of us a way to escape the eternal ramifications of sin. Thus, Satan’s machinations have been frustrated and eventually he will be judged, bound, and cast into hell forever. (See Rev. 20:1–10; D&C 29:26–29.) Source: LDS.org - Ensign Article - I Have a Question -Carol

Hi Carl, Here is the quote from the CCC "Since Baptism signifies liberation from sin and from its instigator the devil, one or more exorcisms are pronounced over the candidate. The celebrant then anoints him with the oil of catechumens, or lays his hands on him, and he explicitly renounces Satan. Thus prepared, he is able to confess the faith of the Church, to which he will be "entrusted" by Baptism" Carl says-BTW, Do you not agree that there are indeed possessions and that Catholic Priests are trained to battle them?? -Yes I agree-some are-and with permission of their Bishop. Carl says-You also suggest " does not imply possession " ( I am sure you get that from the catechism ) What, in your opinion, does it mean?? if not possessions ?? ---See above from the CCC on exorcism as related to Baptism.-this is what I believe --I think it is related to our (Catholic) understanding of original sin. -Carol

Carl-can you give a link or source to this? -So this is a personal experience of a priest you know? Are such experiences documented offcially anywhere in general terms? I find no clear examples of this in Sacred Scripture although that does not rule out the teaching and understanding of the Church as it relates to our sacred traditions and understandings. There is a minor rite of exorcism in our Catholic sacrament of Baptism-but the rite does not imply possession. See CCC section 1237 Link: Catechism of the Catholic Church - The sacrament of Baptism Also see CCC section 1673-on Exorcism Link: Catechism of the Catholic Church - Sacramentals -Carol

I am not LDS. In some ways-I wish I was. I have always admired the emphasis of the LDS Church on missions and missionaries. I only wish my own Church did the same thing. One Question-do LDS missionaries pray at restaurants while on mission-or is it a personal thing? -If they prayed on mission in restaurants-do they still do it now? If so-why? If not why not? -comments welcome In a sense, I guess we alll should be missionaries always. The world is hurting. People are hurting. We bring Light to the darkness. The worst "belief" today is un-belief in anything but "The Almighty Self." If you are a missionary of the LDS Church--Thank You. -Carol-a Catholic

Sometimes problems are global. The air we and others breathe does not stop at national borders and neither does polluted water. Radiation knows no global borders either. I live in NM where the first nuclear bomb was detonated and where the US has the largest research area for nuclear weapons-Los Alamos. They mine uranium here. The history is not pretty. Many people were made sick mining uranium. Power plants may be safe, but what about mining? What about long-term storage? Is coal the answer-clean coal? Unfortunately the pollution and carbon emissions of one country does not stop at another. Global problems and global solutions are needed. Isolationism does not work in an area of global problems. If you want to see the result of less government regulations-go to some of the developing industrial countries of the world. Take a deep breath. Taste and Smell the air and look at the rivers and streams and enjoy the pollution of their large industrial cities. Global problems-demand global solutions. -Carol

Why ask for comments-when you give the answer you seek? I agree with every point mentioned. They are all true to a greater extent than false. Nuculear Power -can be made safer-but it can/should be used in a safe manner. We are called to be stewards of the earth-not destroyers of it. -Carol

My personal view is that God does indeed direct all of creation. He has not left His creation to go elsewhere. He is "not asleep at the switch."

I am a Catholic. I and my Church have no problem with evolution- that is God directed. The signs of archeology/biology/geology point-in my opinion- point to an evolutionary process. Where the difference lies-is in some leaving God out of the equation. -Carol

I do not know the answer of a child or an adult being possessed by an evil spirit. Adults do wrong things/sin-but are we possessed by an evil spirit? There is an ancient ritual sometimes but rarely performed in the Catholic faith tradition called Exorcism-to help rid someone possessd by an evil spirit. Being possessed or having an inclination to sin are two different things. In Catholic theology and most Christian theology-original sin (see other thread) is the in-born inclination to sin passed on from Adam, I realize that LDS do not believe this. So Possession I see as different than an inclination to sin/do wrong. Although I am not an expert on current Catholic theology-I know of no recent instance of exorcism on a child. The Link Provided is an explanation on the Catholic Rite of Exorcism: In part it says: This new Vatican document clearly recognizes both the existence of the Devil and the reality of diabolical possession. In a short introduction, the document calls attention to the existence of both "angelic creatures" and others "called demons, who are opposed to God." Since the influence of the demonic can become apparent in people, places, or things, the document continues, the Church "has prayed, and continues to pray, that men will be freed from the snares of the Devil." The new rite confirms "the victory of Christ and the power of the Church over the demons." It points to the rites in the Christian tradition: the "minor exorcism" of catechumens prior to their baptism and the major exorcisms conducted according to this ritual. The latter are designed to "drive out demons, or bring freedom from demonic influence, through the spiritual authority which Jesus confided in his Church." Source: Catholic Culture : Catholic World News Feature Stories : Vatican releases new rite for exorcism -Carol