Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Not IME. There was a requirement for our Godparents. Besides who would put an 'empty' envelope in the collection? I'll add that I knew someone who quit the church because after her husband died unexpectedly the church came asking for more money. There are some 'bad apples' in the church for sure.

Anonymous wrote:

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 wrote:Wait - so not only do they have to prove they go to church every week, they have to prove that they give money to their church every week? Is there a minimum? This is blackmail!

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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?

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.

I was so sad when I discovered the local geographic parish was Opus Dei. Had been normal Catholic Church and changed...not fair when parishes are geographical . They have boundaries like public schools.

Anonymous wrote:

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 wrote:

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 wrote: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.

And...let the Catholic bashing begin. I'm the first of the PPs you quoted and I agree with you that we need to hold the Church accountable for the sex abuse scandal and coverup. What you are questioning though, are tenets of faith and those are the basis for Catholicism. "Changing the Church for the better" is not reclassifying godparents as people who would raise your children if you died, and excusing them from the responsibility of knowing, understanding and raising your child in the Church. That's a convenience factor on your part.

I'm not a perfect Catholic. In this day and age I believe its stance on birth control is wrong and it's time to allow women to serve as priests. Yet, I do respectfully believe that you are misguided in what you are addressing as needing change.

As a correction to others, Catholics are not required to tithe. Many parishes don't even require anything more besides being a registered member of the parish before providing a letter for the godparents -- a pretty big "loophole". Other more conservative parishes might require far more but tithing is not a term or practice in Catholicism -- although they seek money the same way any church or organization does.