I have been thinking about why I remain Roman Catholic when there is a sort of appealing offer to join the Anglican Network in Canada (a conservative split group with many Anglo-Catholics). One reason is the idea of absolute truth.
Christ promised his disciples that when the Holy Spirit comes he will lead them into “all truth” (John 16:13).
While Protestants are more unified than Catholics generally credit them to be, I realized quite importantly today that any disagreement of faith is a direct contradiction to this promise. Pope Leo XIII said “…it is contrary to reason that error and truth should have equal rights.” At some point, were I to be an Anglican, I would have to say error and truth have equal rights. That can’t be the case.
Jesus said that the reason he came into the world was to bear witness to the truth, and “Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice.” (John 18:37 KJV).
I like the idea of the Papacy, because we can always know what the truth is. Whether we are ready to be obedient to it, is another question altogether, but inevitably by the workings of grace we assent to the truth, and are at peace.
On a side note, I went to Fatima shrine today with my friend across the border and the way the priest said the mass, he just declared it, and he preached it. Methinks the Americans are more faithful to the liturgy than our freewheeling Canadian clerics. I got a book defending the Papacy by the late great Cardinal Hans Urs Von Balthasar, and so far his arguments are good.
What a good post this is! Ex fide fortis, Andrew; from our Faith, by grace, comes the strength to fight the errors of the world, the flesh, and the devil even as the martyrs fought them. The English Martyrs to whom you are so devoted are your guides, with Our Lord and Our Lady ahead of them. May God bless you, and may Our Lady ever protect you.