14 Questions Concerning My Catholic Faith

[Randy_Carson]

1. Recently the Catholic bishops of the United States overwhelmingly approved new documents saying that any Catholic who disagrees with key church teachings should not take Communion. Is it possible to be Catholic and receive the Eucharist while not agreeing with the church on all their teachings?

Yes. However, the question is which teachings we’re talking about.

1. The Catholic Church teaches that masturbation, using birth control and having sex outside of marriage are mortal sins. The Catholic Church also teaches that murder is a mortal sin. Doesn’t this tell Catholics that if you are partaking in any of these sexual activities that you are actually partaking in an activitiy that is equal to murder?

Sin separates us from God; therefore, in that each of these actions separate us from God, they are equivalent.

1. As it is possible for a female who has had an abortion to be excommunicated from the church, is it possible for a woman who has had an abortion to be Catholic?

Of course. That is what confession and repentance are for.

1. Doesn’t it make sense that if a spouse is determined to HIV positive, the couple should be allowed to use condoms to protect the other spouse from death without the lifelong guilt that they are commiting a mortal sin?

Only from the perspective of human reasoning. Since artificial birth control is INTRINSICALLY EVIL, its use is wrong regardless of the circumstances.

1. If a married couple chooses to use birth control is it mentally healthy for them remain Catholic as their church views them as commiting a mortal sin, equal to murder, perhaps thousands of times over their entire adult life?

It is mentally healthy for them to educate themselves about WHY the Church teaches as it does on birth control. They might also avail themselves of natural family planning methods such as the Billings Ovulation Method which is quite effective.

1. Why are Catholic priests paid money while nuns are held to a vow of poverty?

Nuns are members of religious communities. Monks and brothers of male orders also take vows of poverty. Your question does not make an apples to apples comparison.

1. A man named Hedir Antonio de Brito of Brazil was refused marriage in the Catholic Church because he was impotent. He was impotent due to the fact that he became a paraplegic after receiving a gunshot wound. Do you think Jesus Christ would encourage the Catholic Church not to marry men that are impotent?

First, Jesus gave His authority to the Church, so the Church has the right to bind and loose here on earth. Second, it might be helpful to provide more details about this case if you want a detailed response.

1. Doesn’t the fact that the Catholic Church requires one to be without grave sin before receiving Jesus Christ in the Eucharist contradict what Jesus taught?

No. Why do you believe it does?

1. If the church was wrong claiming that the sun revolved around the earth and only recently recanted and apologised for prosecuting Galileo, is it possible they might be wrong on other matters?

The Church is infallible (incapable of teaching error) in matters of faith and morals. Not science. The Galileo affair was not really about what you seem to think it was about.

**Twisting the Knife **
**How Galileo Brought His Troubles with the Church on Himself **
By Wil Milan
catholic.com/thisrock/1999/9911fea4.asp

Hope this helps. :tiphat:

 

[Randy_Carson]

1. Why does the Catholic Church teach that Jesus was Mary’s only child and that He didn’t have any brothers or sisters which is contrary to what the bible says in several places such as Matthew 13:55-56, Mark 6:3 & Matthew 1:24-25?

The Bible does not teach that Mary had other children.

“Brethren of the Lord”
catholic.com/library/brethren_of_the_lord.asp

Hope this helps. :tiphat:

 

[GJx86]

If that be true, could not a case be made that, by the same token, they shouldn’t object to gay (civil) marriage either, in jurisdictions where it is legal?

This is beginning to get outside the scope of this thread, so we may want to kick it out to another thread soon.

But the objection, in this case, would be that entry into this kind of relationship promotes objectively immoral actions. In American society, while the “substantive purpose” of marriage is to grant rights and responsibilities to the people being married, the common meaning of the term “marriage” connotes much more than the civil purpose it denotes. In our current social climate, condoning gay marriage (as a legal relationship) implicitly condones a certain lifestyle that involves homosexual actions that are objectively immoral. The Church can’t stand for that, so it has to take a stand against the legal relationship, since it knows where the slippery slope will lead.

If a particular legal relationship doesn’t encourage or implicitly promote sinful actions, then there’s no reason to object to that relationship (insofar as allowing it is good social policy). But in modern society, especially in America, we aren’t good enough at separating people from their legal relationships and their actions to say that gay marriage doesn’t do this – hence the Church’s position.

 

[JRKH]

The short answer is Yes you can support The Catholic Church. As to individual answers:

If anyone is willing to provide answers to the following questions that I have, I would appreciate it:

1. The Catholic Church, with the support of it’s heirarchy including many Popes, over hundreds of years killed perhaps millions of people during the Crusades & Inquisition.
   How can I with a clear conscious support an organization that has killed so many people?

History is History - Do not try to impose todays mores on the past. The Church does not promote this now, and now is when you are alive.

1. The Catholic Church, with the support of it’s heirarchy including bishops and cardinals, was not forthcoming and in thousands of cases actually protected and transferred priests who were guilty of child molestation which contributed to even more cases of child molestation. How can I support an organization whose heirarchy acted in this manner?

This is indeed a sad situation. However, can you justifying Jesus One True Established Church because of the Sins of a few? If so, I wish you luck finding a church without sinners.

1. The Catholic Church representing Jesus Christ has a Just War Doctrine that actually supports war under certain circumstances. Isn’t this contrary to the teaching of Jesus Christ that you should love your enemies and if someone were to strike you on one cheek you should offer them the other?

This policy would not prevent you personally from applying for conscientious objector status. The Church recognizes that there are “real world” situations where warfare cannot be avoided. She also works diligently and consistantly for peace and Justice.

1. Recently the Catholic bishops of the United States overwhelmingly approved new documents saying that any Catholic who disagrees with key church teachings should not take Communion. Is it possible to be Catholic and receive the Eucharist while not agreeing with the church on all their teachings?

No - You should not take communion while holding belief contrary to the faith. What you should do is educate yourself as to why we believe what we believe.

1. The Catholic Church teaches that masturbation, using birth control and having sex outside of marriage are mortal sins. The Catholic Church also teaches that murder is a mortal sin. Doesn’t this tell Catholics that if you are partaking in any of these sexual activities that you are actually partaking in an activitiy that is equal to murder?

Something can be on a par with, but not necessarily equal to something else. Mortal Sin, indeed all sin, has to do as much with the state of mind as the action.

1. As it is possible for a female who has had an abortion to be excommunicated from the church, is it possible for a woman who has had an abortion to be Catholic?

Only if she truly repents the sin and confesses it.

1. Doesn’t it make sense that if a spouse is determined to HIV positive, the couple should be allowed to use condoms to protect the other spouse from death without the lifelong guilt that they are commiting a mortal sin?

It makes “human” sense, it does not make “moral” sense necessarily. Sex is viewed as a reproductive process. If one or the other partner is unable to participate in the act openly for whatever reason, then the act should be avoided.

1. If a married couple chooses to use birth control is it mentally healthy for them remain Catholic as their church views them as commiting a mortal sin, equal to murder, perhaps thousands of times over their entire adult life?

It isn’t the Church “viewing them as commiting a mortal sin”, they ARE commiting a mortal sin. What would be healthy is to accept the Church teachings and stop using ABC.

1. Why are Catholic priests paid money while nuns are held to a vow of poverty?

This answer will vary depending on the specific religious order.

1. A man named Hedir Antonio de Brito of Brazil was refused marriage in the Catholic Church because he was impotent. He was impotent due to the fact that he became a paraplegic after receiving a gunshot wound. Do you think Jesus Christ would encourage the Catholic Church not to marry men that are impotent?

We cannot comment on a specific case.

1. Does the Catholic Church teach that bible stories like Noah’s Arc and Jonah and the whale are historical events and does the church belive that the earth is approximately 6000 years old based on what the bible states?

The Church does not believe in a strict interpretation of Historical Bible events, particularly those in Genesis, and does not believe there is a conflict between science and religion.

1. Doesn’t the fact that the Catholic Church requires one to be without grave sin before receiving Jesus Christ in the Eucharist contradict what Jesus taught?

No

1. Why does the Catholic Church teach that Jesus was Mary’s only child and that He didn’t have any brothers or sisters which is contrary to what the bible says in several places such as Matthew 13:55-56, Mark 6:3 & Matthew 1:24-25?

This is a matter of how the terms are used. I’m sure others will provide the necessary background

1. If the church was wrong claiming that the sun revolved around the earth and only recently recanted and apologised for prosecuting Galileo, is it possible they might be wrong on other matters?

Like what?

 

[beeliner]

1. This is beginning to get outside the scope of this thread, so we may want to kick it out to another thread soon.
2. But the objection, in this case, would be that entry into this kind of relationship promotes objectively immoral actions. In American society, while the “substantive purpose” of marriage is to grant rights and responsibilities to the people being married, the common meaning of the term “marriage” connotes much more than the civil purpose it denotes.
3. In our current social climate, condoning gay marriage (as a legal relationship) implicitly condones a certain lifestyle that involves homosexual actions that are objectively immoral. The Church can’t stand for that, so it has to take a stand against the legal relationship, since it knows where the slippery slope will lead.
4. If a particular legal relationship doesn’t encourage or implicitly promote sinful actions, then there’s no reason to object to that relationship (insofar as allowing it is good social policy).
5. But in modern society, especially in America, we aren’t good enough at separating people from their legal relationships and their actions to say that gay marriage doesn’t do this – hence the Church’s position.

1. I agree, and I’m by no means taking an advocacy position here. I just think it’s an interesting topic, especially in light of the recent court decision in California.
2. Well, the heterosexual couple mentioned earlier (husband impotent) could be engaging in sexual activity of one sort or another also. Would the Church condone that, if they were legally married?
3. I’m not sure that such relations are OBJECTIVELY immoral, except as defined by the Church. I doubt that many homosexual couples with no history of affiliation with a religion which condemns homosexual relations would feel OBJECTIVELY that they were doing anything wrong, especially if we are talking about a loving, dedicated relationship rather than promiscuity.
4. Agreed.
5. It seems to me the most logical solution would be simply to let the state legislate regarding civil unions across the board, and leave traditional marriage to the Churches, where it originated. But I haven’t the least doubt that many would, and will, disagree.

 

[peary]

These questions have been posted ad nauseaum in here for the past year…same questions.

 

[Sailor_Kenshin]

It just proves the seminar Church-bashers have nothing new to say.

 

[Randy_Carson]

Sorry…I teed off on an old post. My bad.

 

[RobinSebas]

1. Doesn’t it make sense that if a spouse is determined to HIV positive, the couple should be allowed to use condoms to protect the other spouse from death without the lifelong guilt that they are commiting a mortal sin?

Ans: Doesn’t it make sense that if a spouse is determined to HIV positive, the couple should refrain from sex to protect the other spouse from death and not live with the lifelong guilt that will come from using condoms that may break, leak and at best are only 80% effective?