REFUTING THE HISTORICAL DISTORTION AGAINST THE CATHOLIC CHURCH DURING THE TIME OF CONSTANTINE, Part 2

The Baptism of Constantine by Raphael

Anonymous said...

Historical facts reveal the truth behind the “greatness” of Constantine. Instead of being founded by Jesus Christ, the Head of the true Christian congregation, Christendom is partly the result of the political expediency and the crafty maneuvers of a pagan emperor. Very aptly, historian Paul Johnson asks: “Did the empire surrender to Christianity, or did Christianity prostitute itself to the empire?”

August 15, 2010 11:15 AM

Fr. Abe, CRS said...

[Historical facts reveal the truth behind the “greatness” of Constantine.]

INDEED, HISTORICAL FACTS PROVE THAT AFTER CONSTANTINE ASSUMED THE THRONE OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE THE PREVIOUSLY PERSECUTED CHRISTIANS WERE GIVEN FREEDOM TO PRACTICE THEIR FAITH. THAT IS THE GREATNESS OF CONSTANTINE. HE GAVE US FREEDOM. HE STOPPED THE SYSTEMATIC PERSECUTIONS OF THE CHRISTIANS BY BREAKING THE INHUMAN LAW OF HIS PREDECESSORS. CONSTANTINE THE GREAT WAS OUR DEFENDER AND LIBERATOR.

IF THAT IS NOT GREATNESS FOR YOU THEN THE TORTURES AND MURDERS COMMITTED BY THE PREVIOUS EMPERORS MUST BE THE ONE PALATABLE TO YOUR TASTE.

[Instead of being founded by Jesus Christ, the Head of the true Christian congregation, Christendom is partly the result of the political expediency and the crafty maneuvers of a pagan emperor.]

THIS IS AN ILLOGICAL AND UNFOUNDED ASSERTION. IT IS HISTORICALLY PROVEN THAT CHRISTIANITY IS PRIOR TO CONSTANTINE. JESUS OF NAZARETH LIVED HUNDREDS OF YEARS BEFORE CONSTANTINE. THE CHRISTIAN FAITH HAS SPREAD ALREADY IN THE ROMAN WORLD BEFORE CONSTANTINE BECAME EMPEROR. HIS MOTHER HELENA WAS A CATHOLIC. HOW CAN CONSTANTINE BE THE FOUNDER OF THE CHURCH THAT WAS ALREADY EXISTING AND ALREADY ORGANIZED TWO HUNDRED YEARS BEFORE HIS BIRTH?

WELL, CONSTANTINE BECAME EMPEROR WITH THE HELP OF THE CHRISTIAN GOD. SO HE BELIEVED IN THE CERTITUDE OF THE CHRISTIAN FAITH. IT IS BUT NATURAL THAT HE WILL FAVOR THE CHRISTIANS. WHY? ARE YOU JEALOUS THAT WE WERE FAVORED BY THE EMPEROR INSTEAD OF YOUR NEWLY INVENTED RELIGION?

HINDUISM WAS FAVORED BY THE EMPERORS OF INDIA, CHINA, JAPAN, KOREA AND OTHERS. SO WHAT?

ISLAM WAS FAVORED BY THE SULTANS OF MOROCCO, ARABIA, SYRIA, ETC. SO WHAT?

CATHOLICISM WAS FAVORED BY THE EMPERORS OF ROME, FRANCE, GERMANY, SPAIN, ETC. SO WHAT?

PROTESTANTISM WAS AND IS FAVORED BY THE KINGS OF GERMANY, DENMARK, HOLLAND, THE PRESIDENTS OF THE UNITED STATES, THE KINGS AND QUEENS OF ENGLAND... SO WHAT?

ATHEISM WAS SUPPORTED BY ADOLF HITLER, THE SOVIET EMPIRE UNDER STALIN, ETC. ALSO THE POWERS IN CHINA LIKE MAO, DENG XIAO PING, ETC. ALSO IN NORTH KOREA. SO WHAT?

RECEIVING EMPERIAL FAVOR IS NOT EVIL UNLESS THE EMPEROR IS EVIL. CONSTANTINE GAVE FREEDOM AND FREEDOM IS GOOD. HE SHOULD BE GIVEN THE NOBEL PEACE PRIZE POSTHUMOUSLY.

[Very aptly, historian Paul Johnson asks: “Did the empire surrender to Christianity, or did Christianity prostitute itself to the empire?”]

CHRISTIANITY IS ANTI PROSTITUTION, THEN AND NOW. THE BELIEF AND FAITH AND PRACTICES OF CHRISTIANITY IS THE SAME BEFORE AND AFTER CONSTANTINE. THE ONLY DIFFERENCE IS THAT BEFORE CONSTANTINE THEY WERE PRACTICING THEIR FAITH IN HIDING AND IN FEAR. LATER THEY COULD COME OUT INTO THE OPEN AND ONCE WE GOT OUR FREEDOM WE DEFEATED PAGANISM HANDS DOWN.

INSTEAD OF REJOICING FOR THAT IT SEEMS THAT YOU ARE SO BITTER ABOUT IT.

THE CATHOLIC CHURCH HAD THE COURAGE TO OPPOSE MANY ROMAN EMPERORS, AS WELL AS KINGS AND QUEENS OF MANY NATIONS INCLUDING NAPOLEON, THE SOVIET EMPIRE, THE CHINESE COMMUNISTS AND NUMEROUS TYRANTS AND DICTATORS. UNLIKE THE ATHEISTS WHO KOWTOW TO THE POLITBURO POWER AND TO THE NAZI REGIME.

WE DO NOT PROSTITUTE OURSELVES WE FOUGHT SO HARD WHEN FIGHT WAS A MUST. WE DECIDED TO DIE AS MARTYRS RATHER THAN SERVE THE CRUEL EMPERORS. WE LOVED CONSTANTINE BECAUSE DESPITE HIS LIMITATIONS AS A LEADER HE WAS A BENEVOLENT EMPEROR. TRULY GOD-SENT.

August 15, 2010 12:03 PM