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.

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.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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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?

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?

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).

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.

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 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.