RITES AND RITUALS QUESTION from DYLAN L. GREER July 13, 2001
IF YOU WERE TOLD BY GOD THAT YOU HAD TO TAKE UP THE PRACTICE OF SACRIFICE OF ANIMALS WOULD YOU?
EVEN THE JEWS HAVE STOP BUT WHY? BECAUSE PEOPLE SAY IT'S NOT RIGHT? EVEN THE CHURCH SAYS IT'S NOT RIGHT? DOES THIS MEAN WE HAVE LOST OUR WAY?
DOES GOD WANT THE CHURCH TO HAVE ALL THAT GOLD? WHY NOT SELL THE GOLD AND HELP THE PEOPLE OF THE WORLD AND FEED THE THEM?
AND WHY DOES THE CHURCH NO LONGER DO EXORSIMS? IF THEY BELEAVE IN DEMONIC POSISIONS WHY STOP?

ANSWER by John-Paul Ignatius, OLSM on July 8, 2001 Dear Mr. Greer:
Alleged Question #1: God will not tell us to take up the practice of the sacrifice of animals because Jesus Christ fulfilled all sacrificial needs on the Cross. He was the Pascal Lamb. After the Cross there is no further need for animal sacrifice.
Alleged Question #2: The Jews have stopped because they no longer have a Temple. The Temple was destroyed at the end of the first Century. From a Christian point-of-view, the destruction of the Temple was because Jesus satisfied all need for sacrifices. The Jews were suppose to have accepted the Messiah and been the leadership of the New Covenant. They rejected God in this matter and now are without sacrifice. The Jews in a way have lost their way.
Alleged Question #3: The Church does not have a bunch of gold to give away, dear. What artwork and artifacts the Church has is kept by the church in trust to the people as a museum. This is important as it is with ANY museum. If these great treaures of art were lost to private collections, the people would be deprived of their beauty and significance. This artwork glorifies God.
Besides, the church could sell everything it owns and it would feed the world's hungry for ONE DAY, and ONE DAY only. It is a straw man, a fake argument, to assert that the Church should divest itself of it's artwork. The preservation of this art for all generations is critically important.
I might also add that the Catholic Church is the NUMBER ONE CHARITY in the world. It gives more money and services away to the poor and needy than ANY OTHER organization on the planet.
I wonder if you give any money to the poor? Do you?
If you wish to take this logic, then put your money where your mouth is -- get rid of the Internet, sell your computer, and give the money to the poor. You can personally save the lives of several people by doing this. The amount you spend on Internet Access each month can keep a child in India alive and well.
Alleged Question #4: The Church DOES DO exorcisms and the number of exorcisms is on the increase. Get your facts straight.
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