Within the Christian faith, I identify myself as a catholic Christian within a Protestant denomination. Please note that affirms the meaning of the word “catholic” as it is defined to mean “Universal”. As the Apostle Creed affirms that all who confess Jesus as Lord, is a member of the total Body of Christ, which is His Church. Having looked at the Roman Catholic expression of faith, I started with a number of questions in my search. Strangely, as I now recall, the first real troubling question raised, was while reading Church history and truly came out of left field. It was a bit of a shock to find that the Isidorian Decredals were pseudo, meaning the rights to the property on which the Vatican sits and other items were claimed by this forged documents. Of course reading on I found three Popes all claiming to be The Pope, and then the sons of Popes becoming Pope, selling indulgences (forgiveness) for sins before they were committed, and so on and on. This just seemed to me to be part of the troubles of the dark ages which are now long past concern and not an issue. The question that now bothers me the most is much more basic than anything I read in the history books. The claim made by the Church of Rome that in the Mass, the wine and host become the true blood of Christ, and the Host, His body. This is known as Transubstantiation, the wine and bread is “transformed.” If this is true, I humbly believe that it could be quickly confirmed with a microscope. I do not mean to be disrespectful, but the thought persists. The Protestant Reformation offered the position that the Holy Communion elements have the presence of Christ with them, this is affirmed as Consubstantiation, but the elements remain as bread and the fruit of the vine. (In the Methodist Church, so many Alcoholics were being converted, grape juice was substituted for win..but believe that the presence of Christ is truly present, per His promise.) The belief issue of Mary being a Virgin all of her life bothers me. I do deeply believe in the Virgin Birth of Jesus. I do honor Mary as God’s chosen means to enter time, space and our history. But I read in the Gospels these words: “He (Jesus) left that place and went to his home town accompanied by his disciples. When the Sabbath came he began to teach in the synagogue; and the congregation who heard him were amazed and said, ’Where does he get it from?’ and, ‘What wisdom is this that has been given him?’, and, ‘How does he work such miracles? Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary,* the brother of James and Joseph and Judas and Simon? And are not his sisters here with us?’ Mark 6:1-3 *(Some manuscripts read: “Is not this the son of the carpenter and Mary”) The other incident that addresses this issue was when Jesus was teaching in a house that was so crowded that the Gospel Mark records what happened this way: “Then his mother and his brothers arrived, and remaining outside sent in a message asking him to come out to them. A crowd was sitting round and word was brought to him: ‘Your mother and your brothers are outside asking for you.’ He replied, “Who is my mother? Who are my brothers?’ And looking around at those who were sitting in the circle about him he said, ‘Here are my mother and my brothers, Whoever does the will of God is my brother, my sister, my mother”. Mark 3:31-35 A number of Bible Scholars assert that the Bible book of James was written by Jesus’ brother. Believing the first words of John as he penned his Gospel about Jesus, plainly says that Jesus was with the Father in the beginning. Reading John 1:1-3 “When all things began, the Word already was, The Word dwelt with God and what God was the Word was. The Word , then, was with God at the beginning and through him all things came to be; no single thing was created without him” Reading this, I have trouble believing that God had a mother, but no trouble believing that Jesus had a number of brothers and sisters. The issue then becomes the primacy of Scripture over council and or Pope. My other observation in history is that when-ever you have a celibate clergy, you have a female deity. As a Protestant we hold that Mary was the “via media”, the means by which Jesus entered into our humanity and took on our flesh thus becoming “….eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God begotten, not made, of one Being with the Father.” * As stated in The Nicene Creed 238 A. D. There is then the question of the Roman Catholics priests being celibate. We Read in the Scriptures of Peter’s mother in law, which as the Church of Rome claims Peter to be the first Pope. This text affirms that the first Pope was married and certainly was a married man with Jesus’ knowledge. (The Church at first affirmed that the Bishop of Rome was the first among equals.) The other item which is at issue was given to Moses I mean the Ten Commandments. Here the Christians have set aside one of the commandments which is very clearly stated. We do not hold the Sabbath (Saturday) sacred, a sharp point of the law on which Jesus was judged harshly. As Christians we affirm Sunday because this is the day of Resurrection, and we hold it as the affirmation that the teachings, life and ministry of Jesus leads us to Grace rather than Law. Having listened to the reasoning of those who are of the Roman persuasion concerning the Ten Commandments and their reasoning concerning carved (graven) images, it is hard to understand their rationalizing the direct defiance of this commandment. Vatican square is surrounded with such (to remind us of their lives and faith) which is to be deeply respected and understood. Protestant places of worship are void of “graven images” out of obedience to this commandment. To quote the second commandment: “You shall not make a carved image for yourself nor the likeness of anything in the heavens above, or on the earth below, or in the waters under the earth. You shall not bow down to them, or worship them (or be led to worship) them; for I, the Lord your God am a jealous God.” Exodus 20:3-5 There are those things I admire and respect in the Church of Rome. There are too many to write about them all here, save these two which I feel I must. The Baptismal fount is always by the front door, reminding all that we come into our faith by and through baptism. Those who come to worship are reminded of and affirm their baptism as they enter the sanctuary. The other one I would mention is that the choir and organ loft is most often in the back in a place of support of the Worship service. They are not something to be seen, or there for show. I would that Protestants could rethink this issue and while I am venting, it hurts to see any special gift marked with the givers name plate. I still believe that we are all members of Christ’s body here on earth and all are members of His church, which makes us all catholic.