I am a practicing Catholic. I grew up going to Catholic school 1st-8th grade, and to a Catholic university. I now send my children to Catholic school, and we go to Mass weekly and on Holy Days. I also try to participate in parish community events so that my children are surrounded by a supportive faith community.

I follow the Church's rules on bc and abortion. I believe abortion to be true evil.

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.

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.

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.

The Catholics responding above are CINO -- Catholics in name only.

It's OK to feel Catholic and even to say you're Catholic, but the church knows you are not -- though they are ready to take people who were baptized Catholic back at any time if you confess your sins and receive holy communion.

If you're not baptized, you need to go through Catholic instruction first.

Yes, I do. While I don't necessarily follow all of them, there is tremendous, universal wisdom in the teachings.

Anonymous wrote:Catholicism is more than birth control and abortion.

Since you asked about these two topics, I do not blindly follow teachingson these issues but instead use my own moral compass.

I do use birth control and while I would never have an abortion I am still pro-choice. I go to mass weekly.

THe rules of the Catholic church are the only moral compass that counts to the church. It's not for individuals to decide what is "right for them" - the church tells you what's right.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Catholic here. I disregard the church's position. I am late 30s. My parents were better Catholics. I go to church once a year.

You're not a Catholic.

bottom line

And I say this as someone who turned away from the church years ago.

Catholicism (or any religion for that matter) is not a once-a-year celebration.

Get off your high horse. If PP believes themselves to be a Catholic, it's not for you to say they aren't. For many Catholics, it's a cultural bond that keeps them with the church...they may have attended Catholic school, so it's what they know, what their friends are and what their family is, so it's easier to stay with some form of it than make a change. It's such a demanding faith...very few Americans follow all the rules to the letter.

No, but it is for the church to say. Anyone who attends once a year and does not receive the sacraments of confession and communion is not a Catholic in good standing.

Catholicism is more than birth control and abortion.

Since you asked about these two topics, I do not blindly follow teachingson these issues but instead use my own moral compass.

I do use birth control and while I would never have an abortion I am still pro-choice. I go to mass weekly.

Anonymous wrote:
Catholic here. I disregard the church's position. I am late 30s. My parents were better Catholics. I go to church once a year.

You're not a Catholic.

bottom line

And I say this as someone who turned away from the church years ago.

Catholicism (or any religion for that matter) is not a once-a-year celebration.

Get off your high horse. If PP believes themselves to be a Catholic, it's not for you to say they aren't. For many Catholics, it's a cultural bond that keeps them with the church...they may have attended Catholic school, so it's what they know, what their friends are and what their family is, so it's easier to stay with some form of it than make a change. It's such a demanding faith...very few Americans follow all the rules to the letter.

Anonymous wrote:Catholic here. I disregard the church's position. I am late 30s. My parents were better Catholics. I go to church once a year.

You're not a Catholic.

bottom line

And I say this as someone who turned away from the church years ago.

Catholicism (or any religion for that matter) is not a once-a-year celebration.

Yes. If I didn't believe in the Church teachings I would not be Catholic.

If I was just there for the ceremony, I could find that as a Lutheran or Episcopalian.

Catholic here. I disregard the church's position. I am late 30s. My parents were better Catholics. I go to church once a year.

I don't follow recommendations blindly, I make up my own mind based on the facts I have researched - while also paying attention to the church's guidelines. I respect what they teach but have my own mind and examine my own conscience.

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.