Priest and the Parson, The

DESCRIPTION: "Ye sons and daughters of each profession [denomination], Give ear and listen to what I'll say, It is of a dialogue" between Catholic and Lutheran clergy. Scripture shows that there is one Church and Jesus died for all. Therefore Catholics are right
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: 1994 (Thomas and Widdowson)
KEYWORDS: religious clergy dialog
FOUND IN: Canada(Newf)
REFERENCES (1 citation):
ADDITIONAL: Kenneth S. Goldstein, "A Report on Continuing Research into 'Treason Songs': A Private Newfoundland Tradition," essay on pp. 126-153 of Gerald Thomas and J. D. A. Widdowson, editors, _Studies in Newfoundland Folklore: Community and Process_, Breakwater Books, 1991, pp. 142-143, "The Priest and the Parson" (1 text)
Roud #26999
NOTES [174 words]: In Newfoundland, this was sometimes regarded as a "Treason Song." For background on Treason Songs, see the notes to "The Prooshian Drum."
The argument of this song is legitimately Biblical -- e.g. the statement in the song that "''Thou art Peter. All on this rock I will build my church' Did he mention churches?" (implying that only one Church could be meant -- which must therefore be the Catholic church) correctly cites Matthew 16:18. But Greek εκκλησια, "ecclesia" is not the same as English "church"; it means "assembly," and the meaning "church" is how the Christian church decided to understand it after it had become an organized body.
However, the argument that one church must mean the Catholic church is patently flawed. Even if one rejects Protestantism as an innovation (which, of course, a Protestant would not accept), the Orthodox church is just as ancient and original as the Catholic church, and it doesn't have a non-Biblical office such as a Pope. Whatever the religious truth of the matter, the argument is not logical. - RBW
Last updated in version 5.0
File: ThWi142

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