Help me be ok with going to a Catholic Church

[Anonymous]

The most awkward religious ceremony I've ever attended was a mixed marriage where the groom was from a non-Christian family and the bride was from a fundamentalist baptist background. The entire very long homily was about how non Christians were going to burn in hell fire. Like literally flames, etc. I know the poor bride was cringing the entire time but the groom's family and all the other non-Christian guests sat calmly through the whole thing. I thought that was very big of them.
(And for those wondering why the bride put up with it...it took them years to get her family even minimally on board with the wedding, so she understandably caved on using the very old family minister.)

[Anonymous]

There is really nothing I can say to make you "okay" with it if in your heart you are not. If that's your question, I really can't help except to say look inside yourself at why you were asked to attend and see if that is reason enough for you put aside your feelings and sit through the service.

[Anonymous]

Please, get over yourself. Do you think they'll be casting stones at you?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Please, get over yourself. Do you think they'll be casting stones at you?

I'm not the OP but I was raised Catholic. Trust me, I wouldn't put anything past the hateful crew I grew up with. Stones were the least of it, truly!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My wife and I are Gay and attend an Episcopal Church.
A very close friend of ours is having her DS baptized at a Catholic Church and we have been invited as well as our DS.
I want to go and be a part of this for my friend but at the same time I struggle with feeling unwelcome by attending a Catholic Church where I feel that our relationship is frowned upon and I know we cannot take communion, even though we do in our own Church.
Tell me something to make me feel better about going.

I'm hetero and I can't ever - only Catholics can so you won't be alone!!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Please, get over yourself. Do you think they'll be casting stones at you?

I'm not the OP but I was raised Catholic. Trust me, I wouldn't put anything past the hateful crew I grew up with. Stones were the least of it, truly!

Catholics (the Catholics themselves, not the Church itself, obviously) are actually MORE supportive of gay marriage than the country as a whole, interestingly enough.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Please, get over yourself. Do you think they'll be casting stones at you?

I'm not the OP but I was raised Catholic. Trust me, I wouldn't put anything past the hateful crew I grew up with. Stones were the least of it, truly!

Do tell, what did they do?

[Anonymous]

If it's not an Opus Dei church it will be fine. Our child's Catholic baptism did not even include a mass with communion so it may be just a baptism. Like someone else said, everyone there except the infant is probably a sinner in the eyes of the church. I don't know a single Catholic who follows all of the teachings of the church or even tries to for that matter.

[Anonymous]

Are you sure there will be a full mass? Most Catholic baptisms I have been to did not include communion as part of the ceremony. Unless the baptism is taking place during a Sunday mass (or immediately after, and they asked everyone to attend the service beforehand), I don't communion will even be an issue.

Besides, I attend mass fairly regularly and I always see church-goers who hang back during communion, for whatever reason. No one bats an eye, it is pretty commonplace.

Most of the Catholics I know support gay marriage, and not one of them adheres to every single tenet of the church.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My wife and I are Gay and attend an Episcopal Church.
A very close friend of ours is having her DS baptized at a Catholic Church and we have been invited as well as our DS.
I want to go and be a part of this for my friend but at the same time I struggle with feeling unwelcome by attending a Catholic Church where I feel that our relationship is frowned upon and I know we cannot take communion, even though we do in our own Church.
Tell me something to make me feel better about going.

If you were straight and episcopalian you couldn't take communion in a Catholic church. Not Catholic = no communion. Being gay or straight does not make a difference in your case.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can you share what church, OP? Some Catholic Churches are more liberal than others. I was raised in a church that was very liberal and welcomed gay people (it could not perform gay marriages though). I'm sure I will get flamed by the few rabid conservative Catholics on here but the truth is American Catholics as a whole are way more liberal than the Vatican and church dogma.

It is something I struggle with as well, and have considered leaving the church for a more liberal organization, but that's another conversation.

Anyway, I think it would be perfectly acceptable in your case if you skipped the ceremony and came to the reception only. I had a lot of friends do this at my DCs baptism for various reasons and it was great.

That is so rude. OP, please don't do this. It's the same as not attending a wedding ceremony but only showing up at the reception.

My friend told me to do this when she had her son baptized. I was happy to skip the church part and go to the reception.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If it's not an Opus Dei church it will be fine. Our child's Catholic baptism did not even include a mass with communion so it may be just a baptism. Like someone else said, everyone there except the infant is probably a sinner in the eyes of the church. I don't know a single Catholic who follows all of the teachings of the church or even tries to for that matter.

It's practically impossible to follow all the rules of the Catholic Church and live in a modern society. People just pick and choose the parts of Catholicism make them feel good or don't interfere in their lives and most priests don't care (or don't want to know). For many people the church is a habit or tradition that they pass down to their children like any other family tradition. THey don't have to think much about the underlying meaning.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If it's not an Opus Dei church it will be fine. Our child's Catholic baptism did not even include a mass with communion so it may be just a baptism. Like someone else said, everyone there except the infant is probably a sinner in the eyes of the church. I don't know a single Catholic who follows all of the teachings of the church or even tries to for that matter.

It's practically impossible to follow all the rules of the Catholic Church and live in a modern society. People just pick and choose the parts of Catholicism make them feel good or don't interfere in their lives and most priests don't care (or don't want to know). For many people the church is a habit or tradition that they pass down to their children like any other family tradition. THey don't have to think much about the underlying meaning.

This is where we are now that we have this Cafeteria Catholic anti-Pope.

I'm afraid OP will be "OK" in Gaithersburg most likely. They're fairly shallow there.

There is much more holiness in Diocese of Arlington parishes, save for certain mission (pseudo)-parishes like the so called "Our Lady Queen of Peace". They think they're free to welcome any and all because they don't use regular Diocesan priests. But if you really are so comfortable with your lifestyle choices, why would you be scared to show up in an Opus Dei church. Wouldn't your good friend Lucifer stand with you!?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If it's not an Opus Dei church it will be fine. Our child's Catholic baptism did not even include a mass with communion so it may be just a baptism. Like someone else said, everyone there except the infant is probably a sinner in the eyes of the church. I don't know a single Catholic who follows all of the teachings of the church or even tries to for that matter.

It's practically impossible to follow all the rules of the Catholic Church and live in a modern society. People just pick and choose the parts of Catholicism make them feel good or don't interfere in their lives and most priests don't care (or don't want to know). For many people the church is a habit or tradition that they pass down to their children like any other family tradition. THey don't have to think much about the underlying meaning.

This is where we are now that we have this Cafeteria Catholic anti-Pope.

I'm afraid OP will be "OK" in Gaithersburg most likely. They're fairly shallow there.

There is much more holiness in Diocese of Arlington parishes, save for certain mission (pseudo)-parishes like the so called "Our Lady Queen of Peace". They think they're free to welcome any and all because they don't use regular Diocesan priests. But if you really are so comfortable with your lifestyle choices, why would you be scared to show up in an Opus Dei church. Wouldn't your good friend Lucifer stand with you!?

Wow. People like you give Catholics a bad name. I choose not to go to an Opus Dei church because I do not agree with the judgmental and harsh message. We live in Arlington but belong to a welcoming parish in DC. Thanks for the tip on Our Lady Queen of Peace though, sounds like a warm and welcoming place.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If it's not an Opus Dei church it will be fine. Our child's Catholic baptism did not even include a mass with communion so it may be just a baptism. Like someone else said, everyone there except the infant is probably a sinner in the eyes of the church. I don't know a single Catholic who follows all of the teachings of the church or even tries to for that matter.

It's practically impossible to follow all the rules of the Catholic Church and live in a modern society. People just pick and choose the parts of Catholicism make them feel good or don't interfere in their lives and most priests don't care (or don't want to know). For many people the church is a habit or tradition that they pass down to their children like any other family tradition. THey don't have to think much about the underlying meaning.

This is where we are now that we have this Cafeteria Catholic anti-Pope.

I'm afraid OP will be "OK" in Gaithersburg most likely. They're fairly shallow there.

There is much more holiness in Diocese of Arlington parishes, save for certain mission (pseudo)-parishes like the so called "Our Lady Queen of Peace". They think they're free to welcome any and all because they don't use regular Diocesan priests. But if you really are so comfortable with your lifestyle choices, why would you be scared to show up in an Opus Dei church. Wouldn't your good friend Lucifer stand with you!?

Are you suggesting that Lucifer is present in non opus dei Catholic churches?