I really do hope you are here for a charitable discussion. ” title=”Neutral” />
If you are, welcome to the forum. ” title=”Smile” />

[quote:3ilws7wb]But the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons, by means of the hypocrisy of liars seared in their own conscience as with a branding iron,[/quote:3ilws7wb]

Verses like this only turns into a finger pointing match.

[quote:3ilws7wb]men who forbid marriage and advocate abstaining from foods, which God has created to be gratefully shared in by those who believe and know the truth. For everything created, by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected, if it is received with gratitude; for it is sanctified by means of the word of God and prayer.[/quote:3ilws7wb]

I won’t duplicate the great efforts of Catholic Answers:

[color=darkred:3ilws7wb]Does the Catholic Church forbid marriage? Not at all. It forbids marriage to no one.

The charge could hardly be more absurd since the Catholic Church regards marriage as a sacrament. In the Catholic view, marriage is a great blessing; it is simply not for everyone. Some may renounce marriage for purposes of religion. Christ himself indicated this when he said that some “have renounced marriage for the sake of the kingdom of heaven” (Matt. 19:12). [In context, Christ may mean those who have refused to remarry lest they commit adultery (see Matt. 19:9-11), but the principle applies in other contexts as well. Some people, for the sake of the kingdom, refuse to marry and raise a family.].[/color:3ilws7wb]

So who is this talking about? Several movements in Church history have promoted these teachings, the two most notable examples being the Manicheans and the Albigensians. They viewed matter as intrinsically evil and consequently held a dim view of physical pleasures, including indulging in certain foods. This is clearly not talking about the Catholic Church. Hope that helped.

~Victor