Bruno wrote:
All of Holy Scripture was not available to the early Christians. The New Testament was not complete till St. John completed The Apocalypse about 65 years after Christ left this Earth. They were taught TRUTH by The Catholic Church.
In fact Christians did not have a complete Bible for the first 300 years! It was not until the Fourth Century that the Holy Father called a Council of Bishops and decided which of the many writings handed down would make up the New Testament. If it weren't for the Catholic Church, our non-C friends would not have a copy of The Bible!
Not only for 300 years the world was left without a Bible, but also for 1400 years the Christian world was left without the Sacred Book. Before the art of printing was invented, Bibles were vary rare and costly things. They were therefore chained in libraries so that they wouldn't be stolen and yet be available to those who could read. Even this was beyond the ability of the average Christian.
Scripture assures us that Christ would be with The Catholic Church ALL DAYS, even to the end of the world. Matt. 28:20 The Gates of Hell will not prevail against Her. Matt.16:18 God established His Church to be The Light, the Teacher, The Guide to lead souls to Him.
iT is The Catholic Church that The Holy Ghost guided to write the New Testament.
It is The Catholic Church that The Holy Ghost guided to put together the Holy Scriptures, throwing out some questionable writings, keeping those that were truly insipired.
It is The Catholic Church that The Holy Ghost guided to protect these Scriptures from the Barbarians (of every Century).
It is the Monks of The Catholic Church that used up their eyes making copies of these Scriptures in the middle ages.
It is the Catholic Church that The Holy Ghost guided to teach Her children what was in Holy Scripture and the other Truths God intended for us to know.
This same Catholic Church whom The Holy Ghost was without question guiding (or there would be no Bible today), is not only guided in giving us a valid translation of The Bible but also tells us what the various passages mean.
To hear The Church is to hear God. Luke 10:16
She is comissioned to teach us what Christ has given Her. The Catholic Church therefore exists where She has always existed - with those who "hold fast to Tradition" - The Saints within The Church of every Century.
Those within The Church who oppose "what The Church has always taught" speak only for themselves and not for The Church.
While all these debates on Holy Scriptue are interesting, the bottom line is LISTEN TO THE CATHOLIC CHURCH - She will tell us what we need to know. Even Holy Scripture warns us that private intrepation of Holy Scripture "leads to destruction" as is proven by the many false sects using the Bible as their guide and contradicting themselves. See Luke 10:16.
Sorry for being so wordy - got kind of carried away.

God Bless,
Bruno
Let's not confuse the church's maintenance and recognition of the Scripture with it's somehow
having some power over it. Certainly, we owe the church our scriptures, however much that church resembles what we have today, and I will be the first to thank the Catholic Church for that.
I think during such times, with barbarian hordes and an illiterate populace, it was important to have a Church to tell us what Scripture said. But is that an eternal edict of the Lord, or simply a good practice for a certain time? I would argue the latter.
And let's be candid, sometimes the Lord preserved His truth in SPITE OF the Catholic Church, with some of the odder actions of a few popes, but moving on...
Do we claim that the prophets of the Lord in the OT were the foundation of what should be included in that canon? They said, 'include me,' so they got included?

Of course not, they spoke truth, and it was recognized as such, so their writing was included.
Regarding your Luke 10 reference, does the church still wipe the dust off of it's sandals when a city rejects them as well? Come on, this was a specific command for the early apostles to spread the gospel, not an eternal command of God for the Church.
Now, I agree that we should hold fast to tradition. If it agrees with the previously revealed word of God. The problem with the reformists is that they believe that the tradition is not in agreement with previously revelead truth of God. Thus, we can't just sit back and allow the church to tell us what scripture says, when our own reason rebels against it.
Hope that makes sense.