WHY does the Catholic Church make things so damn difficult?

[Anonymous]

edit
WHILE ignoring the problems

Anonymous wrote:I make sense.

Those who just keep the peace w/o ignoring any of the problems are enablers.

If you don't question the church, you're basically excusing all the sexual predators hidden by those high up. I am probably more religious than many of you, as my culture cannot be separated from Catholicism. In fact, we "corner" the Catholic market!

However, when I encounter such "devout" Catholics - like you, PP - who question those of us who want the church to change for the better, I do indeed think I'm surrounded by religious zealots.

So b/c I want to help change the church for the better - b/c we should all move forward/evolve, right, PP? - I should leave instead?

Soon you'll be one of a 100 Catholics left b/c of your blind faith.

Anonymous wrote:I am really, really puzzled as to why you want to be Catholic, or why you want your children to have sacraments in the Catholic church.

It doesn't make an iota of sense based on your post.

Is it because of family? You are a grown up; find a religion that you actually believe in.

Ritual? Why not Anglican (if you are liberal) or Lutheran (if you are moderate). You can still get the ceremony of the Mass, but in adherance to your belief structure.

If you don't believe and in fact mock the main tenets of this faith, and have such distain for those who practice it, then why be Catholic?

You do not make any sense.

Anonymous wrote:I think it's unreasonable to think that godparents HAVE to be bible-thumping Catholics! Quite frankly, I don't have that many "good" Catholics in my life. My childrens' godparents aren't at mass every Sunday, and some don't even belong to a church. Our church wasn't that picky. I want people in my childrens' lives who love them as much as we do and who WILL treat them as their own should anything happen to us. I don't give a rat's ass if they're not in church every Sunday either.

Furthermore, transubstantiation is ridiculous. Basically, it's cannibalism if you truly believe the host and wine turn into body and blood. When my daughter had her Communion, she thought the whole transformation was bizarre. And I'm glad she had that reaction. So I told her that there are other religions that don't believe in that process, believing it to be symbolic instead.

OP, keep questioning, and ignore people who can't see beyond these "rules." Maybe one day, if enough people start to complain, the Catholic church will indeed change. As it stands now, the whole pedophilia scandal (with creeps still coming out of the woodwork) isn't exactly making the church attractive to many.

Anonymous wrote:Cradle Catholic here and I've never heard of godparents having to prove that they've given money to their parish. They have to be registered parishoners and have a form filled out by the priest at their parish. Not terribly unreasonable, again, considering they are standing up saying they are Catholics in good standing and are supporting you in raising your child as a Catholic.

With regard to the Lutheran poster, unless you were attending a very liberal church at which the priests looked the other way the Catholic church has never been open to non-Catholics receiving communion. Join us in prayer, yes, but only those who have been baptized and received the Sacrament of the Eucharist are to receive holy communion. It's not an insult, it's part of the faith.

OP, if indeed your priest is heaping tons of requirements on you, I can see where you would be frustrated. We had challenges with the parish where we received our pre-Cana marriage counseling. However, with all due respect, you haven't articulated what the requirements are that you are deeming so outrageous.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I make sense.

Those who just keep the peace w/o ignoring any of the problems are enablers.

If you don't question the church, you're basically excusing all the sexual predators hidden by those high up. I am probably more religious than many of you, as my culture cannot be separated from Catholicism. In fact, we "corner" the Catholic market!

However, when I encounter such "devout" Catholics - like you, PP - who question those of us who want the church to change for the better, I do indeed think I'm surrounded by religious zealots.

So b/c I want to help change the church for the better - b/c we should all move forward/evolve, right, PP? - I should leave instead?

Soon you'll be one of a 100 Catholics left b/c of your blind faith.

Anonymous wrote:I am really, really puzzled as to why you want to be Catholic, or why you want your children to have sacraments in the Catholic church.

It doesn't make an iota of sense based on your post.

Is it because of family? You are a grown up; find a religion that you actually believe in.

Ritual? Why not Anglican (if you are liberal) or Lutheran (if you are moderate). You can still get the ceremony of the Mass, but in adherance to your belief structure.

If you don't believe and in fact mock the main tenets of this faith, and have such distain for those who practice it, then why be Catholic?

You do not make any sense.

Anonymous wrote:I think it's unreasonable to think that godparents HAVE to be bible-thumping Catholics! Quite frankly, I don't have that many "good" Catholics in my life. My childrens' godparents aren't at mass every Sunday, and some don't even belong to a church. Our church wasn't that picky. I want people in my childrens' lives who love them as much as we do and who WILL treat them as their own should anything happen to us. I don't give a rat's ass if they're not in church every Sunday either.

Furthermore, transubstantiation is ridiculous. Basically, it's cannibalism if you truly believe the host and wine turn into body and blood. When my daughter had her Communion, she thought the whole transformation was bizarre. And I'm glad she had that reaction. So I told her that there are other religions that don't believe in that process, believing it to be symbolic instead.

OP, keep questioning, and ignore people who can't see beyond these "rules." Maybe one day, if enough people start to complain, the Catholic church will indeed change. As it stands now, the whole pedophilia scandal (with creeps still coming out of the woodwork) isn't exactly making the church attractive to many.

Anonymous wrote:Cradle Catholic here and I've never heard of godparents having to prove that they've given money to their parish. They have to be registered parishoners and have a form filled out by the priest at their parish. Not terribly unreasonable, again, considering they are standing up saying they are Catholics in good standing and are supporting you in raising your child as a Catholic.

With regard to the Lutheran poster, unless you were attending a very liberal church at which the priests looked the other way the Catholic church has never been open to non-Catholics receiving communion. Join us in prayer, yes, but only those who have been baptized and received the Sacrament of the Eucharist are to receive holy communion. It's not an insult, it's part of the faith.

OP, if indeed your priest is heaping tons of requirements on you, I can see where you would be frustrated. We had challenges with the parish where we received our pre-Cana marriage counseling. However, with all due respect, you haven't articulated what the requirements are that you are deeming so outrageous.

Going back to your original post...transubstantiation really has nothing to do with sexual predators. I don't think transubstantiation is ridiculous however I do believe that sexual predators should be punished and that the church should deal with that reality. The Eucharist is the heart of the Catholic faith so if you don't believe in it you don't really believe in the Catholic faith. Really that what Catholic is -- a faith not a culture.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I've been attend mass with my partner's family on holidays and special events for almost 20 years. I've watched the Catholic church become more and more closed to non-members. I was baptized Lutheran, and used to be welcome to take communion. Not anymore. And I've heard the Holiday Homily ("Why is it so crowded today? Oh, right. It's Easter. You should be ashamed.") several times over the past few years. I used to put $5 in the basket, but I don't anymore.

If you were baptized in the Lutheran church, then it was never ok for you to take communion in the Catholic Church.

^^^PP here, back to add that unless you received the Sacrament of Communion in the Catholic Church (and no other church), it was never ok for you to take communion in the Catholic Church.

i thought eastern orthodox could? my husband does (well, did -- we switched to episcopalian).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I've been attend mass with my partner's family on holidays and special events for almost 20 years. I've watched the Catholic church become more and more closed to non-members. I was baptized Lutheran, and used to be welcome to take communion. Not anymore. And I've heard the Holiday Homily ("Why is it so crowded today? Oh, right. It's Easter. You should be ashamed.") several times over the past few years. I used to put $5 in the basket, but I don't anymore.

If you were baptized in the Lutheran church, then it was never ok for you to take communion in the Catholic Church.

^^^PP here, back to add that unless you received the Sacrament of Communion in the Catholic Church (and no other church), it was never ok for you to take communion in the Catholic Church.

i thought eastern orthodox could? my husband does (well, did -- we switched to episcopalian).

Yes, Eastern Orthodox Christians can receive Catholic communion.

[Anonymous]

All I know is it isn't hard for any practicing Catholic to get a letter from their pastor. It's by no means jumping through any hoops - I've done it 3 times in the past year myself! If someone isn't a practicing Catholic they probably shouldn't be a Catholic godparent. Unless of course parents/godparents aren't taking it seriously in which case why the baptism at all. This isn't about who agrees or disagrees about the Church. You choose to have a baptism so you obviously want it. I don't get the problem.

[Anonymous]

What's the actual tithing requirement? I was raised Catholic and never heard Catholics refer to "tithing" -- I thought that was more of a Protestant term. We had a collection of course, and there were envelopes, but I never heard of "tithing".

Anyhow -- is there a certain amount you are expected to tithe, weekly, for 3 months, that qualifies you to be a godparent? Because for someone who isn't much of an observant Catholic, but who nevertheless wants to be considered as a Godparent, seems it would be easy enough in those big impersonal churches (and there are many now with the priest shortage) to use make sure someone drops in the correct sized donation every week into the collection basket.

The best thing about ridiculous rules is that there are so many ways to circumvent them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I've been attend mass with my partner's family on holidays and special events for almost 20 years. I've watched the Catholic church become more and more closed to non-members. I was baptized Lutheran, and used to be welcome to take communion. Not anymore. And I've heard the Holiday Homily ("Why is it so crowded today? Oh, right. It's Easter. You should be ashamed.") several times over the past few years. I used to put $5 in the basket, but I don't anymore.

If you were baptized in the Lutheran church, then it was never ok for you to take communion in the Catholic Church.

^^^PP here, back to add that unless you received the Sacrament of Communion in the Catholic Church (and no other church), it was never ok for you to take communion in the Catholic Church.

Yeah. Because, you know, the Catholic church can afford to be picky.

Really, it is the faith. I don't understand why it is hard to fathom that if you don't believe that when you receive communion it is truly the Body and Blood of Christ, you shouldn't be receiving it. Why does someone want to participate in something they don't believe?

REALLY? EVERY Catholic believes its his actual blood and not a metaphor? Sure

[Anonymous]

It all depends on the parish. I wish it was easier to pick a new parish and go where you want to go! But they discourage that!

[Anonymous]

I agree OP. I looked into baptizing my twins and it's ridiculous. I considered getting married in the Catholic Church, but my husband was married previously in a Protestant ceremony. We were told he would have to get his marriage annuled in the Catholic Church, which would take up to 2 years. We said forget it. You would think, with the church hemorrhaging members, they would have welcomed us with open arms. But no.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I've been attend mass with my partner's family on holidays and special events for almost 20 years. I've watched the Catholic church become more and more closed to non-members. I was baptized Lutheran, and used to be welcome to take communion. Not anymore. And I've heard the Holiday Homily ("Why is it so crowded today? Oh, right. It's Easter. You should be ashamed.") several times over the past few years. I used to put $5 in the basket, but I don't anymore.

If you were baptized in the Lutheran church, then it was never ok for you to take communion in the Catholic Church.

^^^PP here, back to add that unless you received the Sacrament of Communion in the Catholic Church (and no other church), it was never ok for you to take communion in the Catholic Church.

Yeah. Because, you know, the Catholic church can afford to be picky.

Really, it is the faith. I don't understand why it is hard to fathom that if you don't believe that when you receive communion it is truly the Body and Blood of Christ, you shouldn't be receiving it. Why does someone want to participate in something they don't believe?

I am Lutheran and believe that the communion is the Body and Blood of Christ, when it is consecrated by my (Lutheran) pastor. The process of it changing from bread/wine to body/blood is called consubstantiation, meaning the physical elements are present with the body and blood.

Despite this belief, the RCC takes the view that I am not entitled to receive communion, because I am not a practicing Catholic.

Communion is the birthright of the baptized, according to the Bible and Christ Himself. Therefore I go to communion when I am in a Catholic church - just as a Catholic may receive in my church.

[Anonymous]

To be honest, I don't mind that they made it somewhat challenging regarding the requirements for godparents. It made me think harder about it, and realize that this really wasn't what I wanted for our family. I grew up Catholic and the faith meant a lot to me as a young person, but as I got older there were more and more things that I disagreed with. When the friend that we wanted to be our son's godmother ran into difficulty getting a letter from her parish, the whole thing just didn't seem worth it to me anymore, since I was having some doubts about it in the first place. It was probably a good thing in the end.

[Anonymous]

To the OP, I totally agree. DH and I both raised Catholic in different states (one midwest, one east coast). Attended Catholic schools. Married in church. Yet, baptizing our children has been a total hassle. Just wait until you try to send your children to CCD. Save your pennies and register early!

My only advice is that baptism rules absolutely DO vary based on your parish, so keep that in mind when you settle on one...well, if they'll accept you! LOL.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
I am Lutheran and believe that the communion is the Body and Blood of Christ, when it is consecrated by my (Lutheran) pastor. The process of it changing from bread/wine to body/blood is called consubstantiation, meaning the physical elements are present with the body and blood.

Despite this belief, the RCC takes the view that I am not entitled to receive communion, because I am not a practicing Catholic.

Actually I'd say it is BECAUSE of this belief that you are denied communion by the Roman Catholic church. They believe in TRANsubstantiation not CONsubstantiation. Consubstantiation is heretical!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What's the actual tithing requirement? I was raised Catholic and never heard Catholics refer to "tithing" -- I thought that was more of a Protestant term. We had a collection of course, and there were envelopes, but I never heard of "tithing".

Anyhow -- is there a certain amount you are expected to tithe, weekly, for 3 months, that qualifies you to be a godparent? Because for someone who isn't much of an observant Catholic, but who nevertheless wants to be considered as a Godparent, seems it would be easy enough in those big impersonal churches (and there are many now with the priest shortage) to use make sure someone drops in the correct sized donation every week into the collection basket.

The best thing about ridiculous rules is that there are so many ways to circumvent them.

There is absolutely no tithing requirement. There is a requirement that you are a practicing catholic, which is shown by a letter from your parish. Some parishes require that they know you have been attending mass in order to sign such a letter. One way of show mass attendance is putting an envelope in the collection. It can be an empty envelope and it counts.

[Anonymous]

It seems like all the complaints about the process are centered on not understanding the role of godoarents Godparents are supposed to guide your children in their faith if something happens to you. Not the person to raise them, not your favorite sibling, the person to guide them in their faith. Why would you want anyone to be a guide to your children in their catholic faith who is not themselves a practicing Catholic?

If someone is a practicing catholic they won't have trouble with a letter from their parish saying so, even if they have to prove it for a few weeks with empty envelopes in the collection.