"John in the interests of your english O'level find out what "ecumenical" really means."

********
Some Realism . . you might consider reading:

* A Rebuke of the Manhattan Declaration Signers Pastor Ralph Ovadal

http://www.sermonaudio.com/new_details3.asp?ID=22887

I believe they call that . . "finding the lowest denominator on which to agree", which is agreeable to those who advocate for "political correctness", but not for those who advocate for the unchanging TRUTH of the Gospel of Jesus Christ!

Both my husband and I were as well delivered by God's marvellous grace from serving our idols that we might serve the living and true God! (1 Thess. 1:9)

And Amen to your comment as well Cliff Leckey!

I thank God every day for the "childlike" faith (Matt. 18:3) His Spirit has wrought in me to rest in the finished work of Jesus Christ, my Saviour and my God, and pray for those at Sermon Audio whom we know are yet blinded by the false gospel of Rome that they too might have the light of the knowledge of God in the face of Jesus Christ shined into their hearts!
(II Cor. 4:6) There but by the grace of God go I . . we! (1 Cor. 15:10)

I know of at least one God fearing Servant of the Lord and many in solidarity with him in the Gospel of our Lord & Saviour Jesus Christ, who lament over these very things.

A sermon by Ivan Foster, Retired Senior Pastor, Kilskeery FPC, N.I.
'Ulster Crisis - 2006 - 2008
Disappointments and Distresses'

http://www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?SID=11120961590

A brief synopsis:
Rev. Foster recalls the early days of the formation of the FPC as times of blessing and traces the central role FPC founder Ian Paisley played in the politics of N.I. in later years
that led to the "abandonment of prayer meetings for board meetings" and the bitter harvest of division and strife it reaped in its aftermath within the denomination.

Are American Bishops Gay? By: Richard Sipe
http://www.richardsipe.com/2009-09/US%20Catholic%20Bishops%20-%20Are%20They%20Gay.pdf

brief biographical sketch . . "A.W. Richard Sipe is devoted full time to research into the sexual and celibate practices of Roman Catholic bishops and priests. He spent 18 years serving the Church as a Benedictine monk and Catholic priest. In those capacities he was trained to deal with the mental health problems of priests."
**********
More importantly, the only Priest ordained of God to make sacrifice for sin is Christ, our Great High Priest! Read Hebrews 5 thru 10

“ . . . . extremely alien-looking aliens would be hard to fit with the idea that God “made man in his own image”.”

Jamieson, Fausett, and Brown's Commentary on Gen. 1:26

“God said, Let us make man . . . . in our image, after our likeness--This was a peculiar distinction, the value attached to which appears in the words being twice mentioned. And in what did this image of God consist? Not in the erect form or features of man, not in his intellect, for the devil and his angels are, in this respect, far superior; not in his immortality, for he has not, like God, a past as well as a future eternity of being; but in the moral dispositions of his soul, commonly called original righteousness (Ecclesiastes 7:29). As the new creation is only a restoration of this image, the history of the one throws light on the other; and we are informed that it is renewed after the image of God in knowledge, righteousness, and true holiness (Colossians 3:10, Ephesians 4:24).”

“But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.” 1 Cor. 2:14

EXCERPT:
“In the typical Antichristian Roman Empire of the past, all roads led to Rome. In the Antichristian Roman Church of the present, all churches and religions lead to Rome. In the Antichristian kingdom of the future, Rome will lead all churches and religions to the beast.

But do not fear! Hold fast to the truth of God’s Word! Beware of all false doctrine and worship from whatever source. By God’s grace, guard against even the beginning of apostasy. The Lord Jesus will soon return with His mighty angels to take vengeance on Antichrist and the false church and all who obey not the gospel. Christ shall forever be admired in all who believe and all our tears will be wiped away (II Thess. 1:7-10; Rev. 21:4)!”

Citations:
17 For more, see the exposition of the relevant parts of Revelation in Herman Hoeksema, Behold He Cometh (USA: RFPA, 1969).

EXCERPT:
“Certainly, papal Rome bas been central in “Babylon the Great, the Mother of Harlots” (Rev. 17) and the false prophet (Rev. 13:11-18) in the history of the New Testament church age. . . .
If this analysis is correct, we would expect Rome to become more and more the leader of apostate Christendom and paganism, until eventually it assimilates all religions to itself—apart from the worship of those written in the Lamb’s book of life! Rome will doubtless experience ups and downs and will respond to changing world events from time to time and from situation to situation as it deems will best gain its purpose. (18)

Article:

Rome's Geopolitical Goal – Part One
Link: http://www.cprf.co.uk/articles/romeandpolitics.htm#9
EXCERPT:

"So what does the future hold? Before the triumphant return of Jesus Christ, the worldwide kingdom of Antichrist will be established (Rev. 13; 17; 18). The final Antichristian kingdom will have traits like those of Nebuchadnezzar’s Babylon, the Medo-Persian Empire, Alexander the Great’s Greece and the Roman Empire (Rev. 13:1-2; cf. Dan. 7). All will be required to worship the beast (Antichrist), including the (apostate) visible church (Rev. 13:11-18; II Thess. 2:3-4). (17)

"Noooo, noooo June, I wasn't responding to your post about conversion experience. When I quoted Georgey I was thinking about my comment that all conversions are different, and that some are dramatic and traumastuous, and others are quiet and peaceable."
***********
OK John . . . your point is well-taken . . and with it, I concur.

I must say you have both the precision and sensitivity of an artist!

*************
Please don't misunderstand what I have said concerning my conversion, John. I am not trusting in the "dramatic nature" of my conversion, but rather in Christ who brought it about. Nor do I question the authenticity of others who share their testimony.

I endeavor rather to make my calling and election sure, and pray daily for grace to that end, for as you have said in so many words, it is "the evidence of grace and faith in the life" that testify to the genuine nature of our conversion.

I trust too that by God's grace, I am "growing in grace", for it is God that worketh in me to will and to do of His good pleasure (II Pet. 3:18; Phil. 2:13)

"Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:" (Phil. 1:6)

(Holy See) Vatican City
Economy - overview:

The Holy See is supported financially by a variety of sources, including investments, real estate income, and donations from Catholic individuals, dioceses, and institutions; these help fund the Roman Curia (Vatican bureaucracy), diplomatic missions, and media outlets. The separate Vatican City State budget includes the Vatican museums and post office and is supported financially by the sale of stamps, coins, medals, and tourist mementos; by fees for admission to museums; and by publications sales.

Amen John!
*******
Eph. 2:18-22:
"For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.

Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;

And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;

In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord:

In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit."
*******

So glad I can call you in truth, my brother in the Lord.

Now I am, as was said of Abraham, His friend too. (James 2:23) Now my affections are set on things above and not on the earth. (Col. 3) Now I walk after the spirit, not after the flesh and in newness of life as the new creature in Christ which God has made me to be! (Rom. 8:1-4; Rom. 6:4; 2 Cor. 5:17)

Christians On Earth Live As ALIENS . . . Dietrich Bonhoeffer

Daily Mail UK
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-401950/Pope-sacks-astronomer-evolution-debate.html
Pope sacks astronomer over evolution debate / 5-14-08

Intelligent design
Benedict favours intelligent design, which says God directs the process of evolution, over Charles Darwin's original theory which holds that species evolve through the random, unplanned processes of genetic mutation and the survival of the fittest.

The New York Sun
Link to this article: http://www.nysun.com/foreign/vatican-says-alien-life-may-exist/76381/
Vatican Says Alien Life May Exist / 8-23-06

Rev. Funes (current director of the Vatican Observatory) said science does not contradict religion, touching on a theme of Pope Benedict XVI, who has made exploring the relationship between faith and reason a key aspect of his papacy. The Bible "is not a science book," Rev. Funes said, adding that he believes the Big Bang theory is the most "reasonable" explanation for the creation of the universe.

God's Word / TRUTH . . "forever settled in the heaven" (Ps.119:89)

Heb. 11:3: “Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.”

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jos%C3%A9_Gabriel_Funes

Interview: Fr. José Gabriel Funes
Extraterrestrials

In an interview in May 2008[1] he stated that the possible existence of intelligent extraterrestrials did not contradict church teaching[2][3] and ruling out the existence of aliens would be like "putting limits" on God's creative freedom.[4] He has speculated that such alien life forms could even be “free from Original Sin … [remaining] in full friendship with their creator.”[5] Funes' statements have clearly similar points to what the Vatican's Corrado Balducci also previously has expressed.

“Since he was cursed who rebuilt Jerico, much more the man who labors to restore Popery among us. In our fathers’ days the gigantic walls of Popery fell by the power of their faith,
the perseverance of their efforts, and the blast of their gospel trumpets; and now there are some who would rebuild that accursed system upon its old foundation. O Lord, be pleased to
thwart their unrighteous endeavors, and pull down every stone, which they build. It should be a serious business with us to be thoroughly purged of every error which may have a tendency
to foster the spirit of Popery; and when we have made a clean sweep at home we should seek in every way to oppose its all to rapid spread abroad in the church and in the world.” (C.H.S.)

As R. Bennett has pointed out, the prayer of C. H. Spurgeon expressed in his Devotional above on Joshua 6:26 is a most urgent one in our day.