I guess it’s a random rule, but it’s about being in solidarity with other Catholics throughout the world.

Anonymous wrote:Some of you former Catholics needs to become Episcopalians.
I’ve been at the same Church for 14 years and I’ve near heard of being counted in attendance as being an issue. I work every other weekend so only go twice a month on Sundays. I’m involved with other outreach but there’s no mandatory attendance.
No confession to a priest either.
My spouse only comes at Christmas and Easter and she is treated with the same respect as everyone else.

At least from a Catholic standpoint, Episcopals lack valid sacraments. The Sunday obligation is biblical, and quite frankly, minimal and subject to numerous exceptions. As for attendance “counting,” substantial compliance is morally sufficient. Confession is an enormous gift, and the people who object to it might want to reexamine their own shame.

The Friday abstinence from meat actually still applies, but can be substituted for by an alternative penance. This gets lost in the discussion, a lot.

Fasting is nearly universal among religions as a spiritual practice; abstinence from meat (and dairy and animal products, or even everything non-vegetarian) is also quite common among religions.

People who claim they left the Church because its management does not live up to their standards already had one foot out the door and were looking for an excuse.

It’s my understanding that you have to pay a fee.

Some of you former Catholics needs to become Episcopalians.
I’ve been at the same Church for 14 years and I’ve near heard of being counted in attendance as being an issue. I work every other weekend so only go twice a month on Sundays. I’m involved with other outreach but there’s no mandatory attendance.
No confession to a priest either.
My spouse only comes at Christmas and Easter and she is treated with the same respect as everyone else.

Anonymous wrote:Former Catholic (now nondenominational Christian) here to say, this is just one of those random “rules” the Catholic Church made up and still keeps to control people.

I especially love when, for example,
St Patrick’s Day falls on a Friday during Lent and the bishops are all “special dispensation!” so people can eat their corned beed hash. Sounds legit!

+1

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Former Catholic (now nondenominational Christian) here to say, this is just one of those random “rules” the Catholic Church made up and still keeps to control people.

I especially love when, for example,
St Patrick’s Day falls on a Friday during Lent and the bishops are all “special dispensation!” so people can eat their corned beed hash. Sounds legit!

It's not a random rule just because you've decided to join a church that has tossed all religious tradition in the garbage. Fasting on Fridays is mentioned as far back as the Didache.

Whatever, have fun tithing to an institution that only “counts” your attendance at a Mass if you sit through every part of it (every single week as well as “days of obligation”), forces you to confess your sins to flawed men instead of directly to God, and protected (and continues to protect) pedos.

I agree with this. I would add that I did not betray my Catholic beliefs, but the church has betrayed all Catholics. I doubt God is pleased with what goes on inside the Catholic Church. Many religions have severe dysfunction but God gave us a free will and I chose to not participate in the hypocrisy and confusion.

Anonymous wrote:Former Catholic (now nondenominational Christian) here to say, this is just one of those random “rules” the Catholic Church made up and still keeps to control people.

I especially love when, for example,
St Patrick’s Day falls on a Friday during Lent and the bishops are all “special dispensation!” so people can eat their corned beed hash. Sounds legit!

It's not a random rule just because you've decided to join a church that has tossed all religious tradition in the garbage. Fasting on Fridays is mentioned as far back as the Didache.

Former Catholic (now nondenominational Christian) here to say, this is just one of those random “rules” the Catholic Church made up and still keeps to control people.

I especially love when, for example,
St Patrick’s Day falls on a Friday during Lent and the bishops are all “special dispensation!” so people can eat their corned beed hash. Sounds legit!

I can, but I don’t want to.

Good Friday is a day of fasting and abstinence (of meat).

No. Good Friday is a day of fasting, meaning one full meal and two small snacks (and no meat, of course).

Can you? Yes
Should you if you’re following tradition? No.

No

can you eat meat on Good Friday?