Catholics - do you care what the Church teaches?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am Catholic by birth and attended Catholic school all my life. I think we respect the church, but respectfully have to do what is best for us and our families while not hurting anyone else. For example, I wouldn't have an abortion, at least I don't think. It is not black and white for me, there is a lot of gray. I've never been in a situation like rape or incest or severe birth defects that will cause pain to my child. Our teachings are clear: we do not judge others. People's decisions are between them and God. Most of my Catholic friends think in a similar fashion. Same with gay marriage. I don't agree, but I don't judge them. I have gay friends who I love and I have attended 2 gay marriages and they are fantastic human beings. Much better than some Christians that openly judge, judge, judge.

I don't think it's a sin to atttend a gay wedding -- but it may be to be the best man or maid of honor.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am Catholic and I don't understand why people harp on abortion and BC so much.

The teachings of the church are very strict and nobody follows them 100% because we are human. I just don't understand why people are so up in arms about BC and abortion.

Nobody is like.. hey you are not Jewish because I saw you eat a BLT or you drove you car after sunset on Friday.

Of course I think abortion is killing and I agree it is wrong but I also understand why it is legal, just like war, the death penalty, etc.

Some people DO follow the rules very closely and when they falter, they go to confession and communion to return to a state of grace.

Those Catholics who don't are not just human they are also people who are choosing to live in sin.

You definitely need to confess being self righteous and try to work on that, judging others is God's job not yours.

Catholicism has a whole heirarchy of sins that every catholic learns about. It's not a matter of "judging others" -- all catholics learn as children what is acceptable to the church and what is not. There's noting to confess about upholding Catholic dogma. Catholics are supposed to do that. Sinning Catholics are always welcomed back into the church. All they have to do is go to confession, make a good act of contrition and go to communion and their souls will be wiped clean of sin.

I don't think you truly understand the Catholic teaching. I have 16 years of Catholic education and your understanding of the Catholic religion is sophomoric.

There is no ranking system on who is a "better" Catholic. Sinning all week and going to confession before communion does not make you a "better" Catholic.

If you understood the teaching you would not be so self righteous.

I don't see anything about a "ranking system" or "sinning all week" except in the response above. The teaching about confession and communion is so simple to undersand that it is taught to small children. Catholics know what the rules are. Some people choose to follow them and some don't. Nothing "self-righteous" about it.

The reason confession and communion is taught at a very young age is because it is so simplistic, but the actual teachings are not that simplistic. That is why I say your understanding is sophomoric, it's actually at the level of a 3rd grader, when this is taught.

You are a sinner, plain an simple, everybody is except Mary and Jesus. Are you one of those? Picking which sins are better or worse and pointing them out to others is not actually part of the teachings.You need look inwardly instead of outwardly at finding the truth in God.

Your simplistic display of understanding the mechanics of the Catholic Religion but your inability to follow the true meaning of loving other as yourself and following the WWJD teachings is apparent in this post. It is embarrassing to the rest of the Catholics who truly try to live out our lives as Jesus would.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Recovering Catholic here - raised my kids in the church through at least first communion and now that they are older, I don't go anymore but still follow the tenements religiously.

Going to mass weekly and on holy days of obligation are among the tenets. If you're not doing these things, you are not following the tenets religiously.

YOu may feel like a Cathoic - and you'll always be on the rolls of the Church, unless you are excommunicated for some reason way beyond not attending mass, but you won't be a Catholic in good standing unless you have gone to confession, been absolved of your sins and recieved holy communion.

I read this as eyerolls from the church

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am Catholic by birth and attended Catholic school all my life. I think we respect the church, but respectfully have to do what is best for us and our families while not hurting anyone else. For example, I wouldn't have an abortion, at least I don't think. It is not black and white for me, there is a lot of gray. I've never been in a situation like rape or incest or severe birth defects that will cause pain to my child. Our teachings are clear: we do not judge others. People's decisions are between them and God. Most of my Catholic friends think in a similar fashion. Same with gay marriage. I don't agree, but I don't judge them. I have gay friends who I love and I have attended 2 gay marriages and they are fantastic human beings. Much better than some Christians that openly judge, judge, judge.

You "don't agree" with gay marriage but you attended gay weddings?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am Catholic by birth and attended Catholic school all my life. I think we respect the church, but respectfully have to do what is best for us and our families while not hurting anyone else. For example, I wouldn't have an abortion, at least I don't think. It is not black and white for me, there is a lot of gray. I've never been in a situation like rape or incest or severe birth defects that will cause pain to my child. Our teachings are clear: we do not judge others. People's decisions are between them and God. Most of my Catholic friends think in a similar fashion. Same with gay marriage. I don't agree, but I don't judge them. I have gay friends who I love and I have attended 2 gay marriages and they are fantastic human beings. Much better than some Christians that openly judge, judge, judge.

You "don't agree" with gay marriage but you attended gay weddings?

Yes, internally it doesn't feel right. But it is legal and I don't judge other's choices, they are not hurting me or anyone else.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am Catholic by birth and attended Catholic school all my life. I think we respect the church, but respectfully have to do what is best for us and our families while not hurting anyone else. For example, I wouldn't have an abortion, at least I don't think. It is not black and white for me, there is a lot of gray. I've never been in a situation like rape or incest or severe birth defects that will cause pain to my child. Our teachings are clear: we do not judge others. People's decisions are between them and God. Most of my Catholic friends think in a similar fashion. Same with gay marriage. I don't agree, but I don't judge them. I have gay friends who I love and I have attended 2 gay marriages and they are fantastic human beings. Much better than some Christians that openly judge, judge, judge.

You "don't agree" with gay marriage but you attended gay weddings?

Yes, internally it doesn't feel right. But it is legal and I don't judge other's choices, they are not hurting me or anyone else.

As a Catholic, I would not attend a gay wedding, for these reasons: http://catholicstraightanswers.com/can-i-attend-a-same-sex-wedding-ceremony/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am Catholic by birth and attended Catholic school all my life. I think we respect the church, but respectfully have to do what is best for us and our families while not hurting anyone else. For example, I wouldn't have an abortion, at least I don't think. It is not black and white for me, there is a lot of gray. I've never been in a situation like rape or incest or severe birth defects that will cause pain to my child. Our teachings are clear: we do not judge others. People's decisions are between them and God. Most of my Catholic friends think in a similar fashion. Same with gay marriage. I don't agree, but I don't judge them. I have gay friends who I love and I have attended 2 gay marriages and they are fantastic human beings. Much better than some Christians that openly judge, judge, judge.

You "don't agree" with gay marriage but you attended gay weddings?

Yes, internally it doesn't feel right. But it is legal and I don't judge other's choices, they are not hurting me or anyone else.

As a Catholic, I would not attend a gay wedding, for these reasons: http://catholicstraightanswers.com/can-i-attend-a-same-sex-wedding-ceremony/

That is an opinion not a Catholic teaching. You could also not attend a Catholic wedding if you chose based on any number of reasons, for example if you knew one party was committing adultery. That would be your choice based on your belief system, but the Catholic church does not say to not attend these weddings.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am Catholic and I don't understand why people harp on abortion and BC so much.

The teachings of the church are very strict and nobody follows them 100% because we are human. I just don't understand why people are so up in arms about BC and abortion.

Nobody is like.. hey you are not Jewish because I saw you eat a BLT or you drove you car after sunset on Friday.

Of course I think abortion is killing and I agree it is wrong but I also understand why it is legal, just like war, the death penalty, etc.

Some people DO follow the rules very closely and when they falter, they go to confession and communion to return to a state of grace.

Those Catholics who don't are not just human they are also people who are choosing to live in sin.

You definitely need to confess being self righteous and try to work on that, judging others is God's job not yours.

Catholicism has a whole heirarchy of sins that every catholic learns about. It's not a matter of "judging others" -- all catholics learn as children what is acceptable to the church and what is not. There's noting to confess about upholding Catholic dogma. Catholics are supposed to do that. Sinning Catholics are always welcomed back into the church. All they have to do is go to confession, make a good act of contrition and go to communion and their souls will be wiped clean of sin.

I don't think you truly understand the Catholic teaching. I have 16 years of Catholic education and your understanding of the Catholic religion is sophomoric.

There is no ranking system on who is a "better" Catholic. Sinning all week and going to confession before communion does not make you a "better" Catholic.

If you understood the teaching you would not be so self righteous.

I don't see anything about a "ranking system" or "sinning all week" except in the response above. The teaching about confession and communion is so simple to undersand that it is taught to small children. Catholics know what the rules are. Some people choose to follow them and some don't. Nothing "self-righteous" about it.

The reason confession and communion is taught at a very young age is because it is so simplistic, but the actual teachings are not that simplistic. That is why I say your understanding is sophomoric, it's actually at the level of a 3rd grader, when this is taught.

You are a sinner, plain an simple, everybody is except Mary and Jesus. Are you one of those? Picking which sins are better or worse and pointing them out to others is not actually part of the teachings.You need look inwardly instead of outwardly at finding the truth in God.

Your simplistic display of understanding the mechanics of the Catholic Religion but your inability to follow the true meaning of loving other as yourself and following the WWJD teachings is apparent in this post. It is embarrassing to the rest of the Catholics who truly try to live out our lives as Jesus would.

THe reasons confession and communion are taught at an early age is because they are important teachings that children need to understand before they take their first holy communion at the "age of reason" -- seven. The post just above is embarrassing because it belittles the church's motives in teaching children the essentials of Catholicism - Not just confession and communion, but the whole catechism. Catholic children complete their required church education with confirmation at the age of 14, one year before they atually become sophomores. So perhaps it's part of the Church's plan for most of its members to have just this level of education. As people grow to adulthood, some build a stronger faith, while others drift away or are repelled by church teachings once they consider them from an adult perspective.

The church makes it easy to return. No additional classes are required. THere's no need to become more sophisticated or less sophomoric. You just need to go to confession, make a good act of contrition and receive communion and your soul is clean again.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am Catholic and I don't understand why people harp on abortion and BC so much.

The teachings of the church are very strict and nobody follows them 100% because we are human. I just don't understand why people are so up in arms about BC and abortion.

Nobody is like.. hey you are not Jewish because I saw you eat a BLT or you drove you car after sunset on Friday.

Of course I think abortion is killing and I agree it is wrong but I also understand why it is legal, just like war, the death penalty, etc.

Some people DO follow the rules very closely and when they falter, they go to confession and communion to return to a state of grace.

Those Catholics who don't are not just human they are also people who are choosing to live in sin.

You definitely need to confess being self righteous and try to work on that, judging others is God's job not yours.

Catholicism has a whole heirarchy of sins that every catholic learns about. It's not a matter of "judging others" -- all catholics learn as children what is acceptable to the church and what is not. There's noting to confess about upholding Catholic dogma. Catholics are supposed to do that. Sinning Catholics are always welcomed back into the church. All they have to do is go to confession, make a good act of contrition and go to communion and their souls will be wiped clean of sin.

I don't think you truly understand the Catholic teaching. I have 16 years of Catholic education and your understanding of the Catholic religion is sophomoric.

There is no ranking system on who is a "better" Catholic. Sinning all week and going to confession before communion does not make you a "better" Catholic.

If you understood the teaching you would not be so self righteous.

I don't see anything about a "ranking system" or "sinning all week" except in the response above. The teaching about confession and communion is so simple to undersand that it is taught to small children. Catholics know what the rules are. Some people choose to follow them and some don't. Nothing "self-righteous" about it.

The reason confession and communion is taught at a very young age is because it is so simplistic, but the actual teachings are not that simplistic. That is why I say your understanding is sophomoric, it's actually at the level of a 3rd grader, when this is taught.

You are a sinner, plain an simple, everybody is except Mary and Jesus. Are you one of those? Picking which sins are better or worse and pointing them out to others is not actually part of the teachings.You need look inwardly instead of outwardly at finding the truth in God.

Your simplistic display of understanding the mechanics of the Catholic Religion but your inability to follow the true meaning of loving other as yourself and following the WWJD teachings is apparent in this post. It is embarrassing to the rest of the Catholics who truly try to live out our lives as Jesus would.

THe reasons confession and communion are taught at an early age is because they are important teachings that children need to understand before they take their first holy communion at the "age of reason" -- seven. The post just above is embarrassing because it belittles the church's motives in teaching children the essentials of Catholicism - Not just confession and communion, but the whole catechism. Catholic children complete their required church education with confirmation at the age of 14, one year before they atually become sophomores. So perhaps it's part of the Church's plan for most of its members to have just this level of education. As people grow to adulthood, some build a stronger faith, while others drift away or are repelled by church teachings once they consider them from an adult perspective.

The church makes it easy to return. No additional classes are required. THere's no need to become more sophisticated or less sophomoric. You just need to go to confession, make a good act of contrition and receive communion and your soul is clean again.

So we have come full circle, NOBODY follows the teachings 100%. So we have confession. You are not a "better' Catholic. You need confession, everybody needs confession. Pointing out certain sins as worse is not Catholic, it is human but not a Catholic teaching.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am Catholic by birth and attended Catholic school all my life. I think we respect the church, but respectfully have to do what is best for us and our families while not hurting anyone else. For example, I wouldn't have an abortion, at least I don't think. It is not black and white for me, there is a lot of gray. I've never been in a situation like rape or incest or severe birth defects that will cause pain to my child. Our teachings are clear: we do not judge others. People's decisions are between them and God. Most of my Catholic friends think in a similar fashion. Same with gay marriage. I don't agree, but I don't judge them. I have gay friends who I love and I have attended 2 gay marriages and they are fantastic human beings. Much better than some Christians that openly judge, judge, judge.

+1 This is so well said. We are exactly the same way.

[Anonymous]

Hypothetically speaking , if one believes that dedicating ones life to a gay marriage is a real danger of eternity in hell, wouldn't they be a jerk for not warning a friend and gleefully attending a gay wedding that may lead to eternal horror ?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Easy for me, as a non-catholic to say "who cares what the Church thinks?", but I'm curious how Catholics feel about the church teachings on BC, abortion, etc. Are today's Catholics only so because that's how they were raised? I don't know a single one that doesn't use birth control. I'm surprised the younger generation stays with the church instead of finding a religion that is more realistic with its expectations.

I'm just curious, I guess, because I was raised in an area without many Catholics, and have spent my adult life in the northeast which obviously is much more Catholic, but all the Catholics are fairly liberal.

Lots of people leave. My Presbyterian Church is full of former Catholics, including my husband. He is so happy to have found a spiritual home that doesn't malign his personal beliefs on gay marriage, abortion, etc.

[Anonymous]

I am Catholic, but I've always attended Franciscan parishes which tend to be liberal and focus on liberation theology. I attend Sunday mass weekly and pray daily. I also am pro-gay marriage and pro-choice. I probably would not have had an abortion if I ever got pregnant by accident but I also knew in my two (planned) pregnancies that I would abort if there was a condition incompatible with life. I also use birth control and had sex before marriage.

My faith focuses on doing good works, not judging others, feeling a spiritual connection to God. I don't believe that to be contrary to the Catholic Church. I don't plan on converting as long as I have a strong parish and strong priests who put social justice and Jesus' words in front of policing other peoples' sex lives.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hypothetically speaking , if one believes that dedicating ones life to a gay marriage is a real danger of eternity in hell, wouldn't they be a jerk for not warning a friend and gleefully attending a gay wedding that may lead to eternal horror ?

You might start by tyring to subtly determine if your gay friend believes their relationship will doom them to eternal horror but are doing it anyway, to enjoy their short time on earth.

If not, then it seems rude to mention it. It might put a major damper on their wedding day. Instead, you could pray for them. Say rosaries, make novenas, be available to your friend if they're having doubts about their decision later on. The Catholic church will welcome them back if they repent and stop their homosexual behavior.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am Catholic and I don't understand why people harp on abortion and BC so much.

The teachings of the church are very strict and nobody follows them 100% because we are human. I just don't understand why people are so up in arms about BC and abortion.

Nobody is like.. hey you are not Jewish because I saw you eat a BLT or you drove you car after sunset on Friday.

Of course I think abortion is killing and I agree it is wrong but I also understand why it is legal, just like war, the death penalty, etc.

Some people DO follow the rules very closely and when they falter, they go to confession and communion to return to a state of grace.

Those Catholics who don't are not just human they are also people who are choosing to live in sin.

You definitely need to confess being self righteous and try to work on that, judging others is God's job not yours.

Catholicism has a whole heirarchy of sins that every catholic learns about. It's not a matter of "judging others" -- all catholics learn as children what is acceptable to the church and what is not. There's noting to confess about upholding Catholic dogma. Catholics are supposed to do that. Sinning Catholics are always welcomed back into the church. All they have to do is go to confession, make a good act of contrition and go to communion and their souls will be wiped clean of sin.

I don't think you truly understand the Catholic teaching. I have 16 years of Catholic education and your understanding of the Catholic religion is sophomoric.

There is no ranking system on who is a "better" Catholic. Sinning all week and going to confession before communion does not make you a "better" Catholic.

If you understood the teaching you would not be so self righteous.

I don't see anything about a "ranking system" or "sinning all week" except in the response above. The teaching about confession and communion is so simple to undersand that it is taught to small children. Catholics know what the rules are. Some people choose to follow them and some don't. Nothing "self-righteous" about it.

The reason confession and communion is taught at a very young age is because it is so simplistic, but the actual teachings are not that simplistic. That is why I say your understanding is sophomoric, it's actually at the level of a 3rd grader, when this is taught.

You are a sinner, plain an simple, everybody is except Mary and Jesus. Are you one of those? Picking which sins are better or worse and pointing them out to others is not actually part of the teachings.You need look inwardly instead of outwardly at finding the truth in God.

Your simplistic display of understanding the mechanics of the Catholic Religion but your inability to follow the true meaning of loving other as yourself and following the WWJD teachings is apparent in this post. It is embarrassing to the rest of the Catholics who truly try to live out our lives as Jesus would.

THe reasons confession and communion are taught at an early age is because they are important teachings that children need to understand before they take their first holy communion at the "age of reason" -- seven. The post just above is embarrassing because it belittles the church's motives in teaching children the essentials of Catholicism - Not just confession and communion, but the whole catechism. Catholic children complete their required church education with confirmation at the age of 14, one year before they atually become sophomores. So perhaps it's part of the Church's plan for most of its members to have just this level of education. As people grow to adulthood, some build a stronger faith, while others drift away or are repelled by church teachings once they consider them from an adult perspective.

The church makes it easy to return. No additional classes are required. THere's no need to become more sophisticated or less sophomoric. You just need to go to confession, make a good act of contrition and receive communion and your soul is clean again.

So we have come full circle, NOBODY follows the teachings 100%. So we have confession. You are not a "better' Catholic. You need confession, everybody needs confession. Pointing out certain sins as worse is not Catholic, it is human but not a Catholic teaching.

The above response is a non-sequitur.