On Mon, 3 Dec 2001 06:19:13 +1000, “peter terry” <> wrote:

>> Constantine was not baptized until shortly before his death. Feel free

>> to supply evidence of all of his atrocities after that time whenever

>> you wish. 🙂

>>

>How convenient 🙂

Peter when you gonna learn that the Church had to deal with these objections very early on. 🙂

>

>So why was he canonised St. Was it his contribution to the church after his

>baptism given that he was not Christian previous as you claim?

Why were the following canonised as saints?

St Longinus (who stuck Christ with a spear when He was on the cross)?

St Paul (who as Saul approved the killing of St Stephen)?

St Moses the Black (who murdered scores of women and children as a Burber raider)?

St Mary of Egypt (who was a prostitute).

Regarding Constantine he did many good things for the Church (built Churches, his mother discovered the Holy Cross, defended the helpless, released the Christian prisoners, defended Orthodoxy), his office was such that it was best to either leave it or be baptized at the conclusion of his life. I am not so sure whether my advice would be any different for such as George Bush today.

In conclusion, the Churchasserts that Constantine ‘made it’ to Glory, thus he is rightly termed ‘Saint”.. This makes no statement of support for any of his actions that were unChristian or perceived as unChristian.

Clearer now?

Peace and grace.

Fr James.