14 Questions Concerning My Catholic Faith

[Malcolm_McLean]

I

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?

Are you a citizen of the United States? Will you make your house over, now, to the Red Indians?

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?

These priests were not found guilty by any court of law. Bishops were sometimes naive in thinking that if allegations were quietly dropped the problems would go away, but responsibility lies with the victims who took no action.

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?

Jesus’ teachings can be interpreted in many ways. Our understanding is that there is no obligation to renounce just defence.

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. The policy is just an attempt to end the scandal of Catholic politicians openly supporting abortion and homosexual marriage. A monophysite politician wouldn’t cause the same problems.

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?

No. To repent of murder and receive absolution you need to accept the civil penalty, which in the US is death. That’s much harder than repenting of self-abuse.

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?

In the case of abortion the decision would have to be referred to the bishop. However if he was satisified that repentnace was genuine absolution could be given.

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?

Contraception for infection control is a grey area. It is forbidden because sexual intercourse with an infected person is still highly risky, even with a condom, and because the political ideology which comes with HIV control campaigns tends to be very hostile to the Church.

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?

I don’t know about mental health in a clinical sense. Obviously there is a contradiction, but then our lives are full of them.

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

Nuns and monks renounce the world, secular of “normal” priests don’t.

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?

I suspect so. The prospective wife might well not have a full understanding.

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?

No. Protestant fundies are next door, two flights up above the cuckoo clock.

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?

Judas didn’t receive the body and blood, at least so it seems

 

[Pluggedin]

I want to thank everyone who posted answers to my questions. Many of you were very thoughtful in taking the time to answer to the best of your ability. It seemed a few of the respondents may have thought that I had some sort of an agenda here which is not the case. I am simply trying to reconnect with my Catholic faith and these are the questions that remained after much research. This was my first time posting to the website. I honestly believe that anyone who chooses to answer someones questions, should do so to the best of their ability. Their answer could be the deciding factor that makes someone decide whether to be a Catholic, Baptist or Athiest. It’s pretty important stuff so please take this into consideration when responding to someones questions.

Thanks again!

 

[bankerdavid]

Thanks for your replys and I hope that more people will answer. One thing that concerns me is there have been 2 responses that the Crusades were a response to an attack made by Muslims.

Here is a list of the many Crusades:

1. First Crusade 1095–1099
2. Crusade of 1101
3. Second Crusade 1145–1149
4. Third Crusade 1189–1192
5. Fourth Crusade 1201–1204
6. Albigensian Crusade
7. Fifth Crusade 1217–1221
8. Sixth Crusade 1228–1229
9. Seventh Crusade 1248–1254
10. Eighth Crusade 1270
11. Ninth Crusade 1271–1272
12. Northern Crusades
13. Crusade against the Tartars
14. Crusades in the Balkans
15. Aragonese Crusade
16. Hussite Crusade

I am not going to list the many wars that took place during the years of the Inquisition. I think it’s ridiculous to blame these wars on Muslim attacks and that Catholics were only defending themselves. The deaths attributed to these religious wars spanning hundreds of years - was certainly more than in the thousands.

Regards

In general, the purpose of the Crusades was to protect the Catholic citizenry from persecution. The fact is that it did not actually accomplish this.
The same can be said of the Inquisition. The Spanish were fighting the Muslims for the safety of the Spanish Catholics.
Certainly, they went overboard. As in most wars, religiously oriented or not.

 

[Randy_Carson]

Thomas F. Madden is Associate Professor and Chair of the Department of History at Saint Louis University. He is author of A Concise History of the Crusades and co-author of The Fourth Crusade.

Here is the link to an eye-opening article:

ignatiusinsight.com/features2005/tmadden_crusademyths_feb05.asp

Hope this helps. :tiphat:

 

[utunumsint]

The guy who was giving the talk on the link I provided recommendsThomas Madden as one of his primary sources during the question and answer period that was not on the recording. Randy’s post reminded me of the name. Thanks Randy.

 

[peary]

Part I

*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.*The Catholic Church has never killed ‘millions’ of people during the Crusades. That is a Protestant invention with no basis in historical fact. By the way, exactly which inquisition are you referring to? There were several.

*2) 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?*The vast majority of bishops were following guidelines as set up by clinical psychiatrists and psychologists with regard to pedophile priests. Why didn’t the victims sue them too?

*3) 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?*Jesus said that He came not to bring peace but a sword. You need to read your bible more.

4) 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? Technically, no. Christ desired one Faith, one doctrine, one body unifed (the Church).

5) 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? ‘Murder’ is defined as taking the life of a human being. Birth control prevents the conception of a human being so there is no murder. Masturbation isn’t concerned with conception as it is based on pure narcissism. There are different degrees of ‘sin’, as is stated in the bible. Life is a gift. Murder takes away God’s gift that He has granted to the human person.

6) 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? A Catholic woman who knowingly and with full consent procurs an abortion excommunicates herself from the Church, but if later she realizes what she has done, can be admitted back into the Church through the sacrament of reconciliation and reception of the Eucharist. Excommunication does not mean one is “kicked out” of the Church. It means that the sacraments are denied until repentence. And ‘interdict’ is a dismissal of a person or group of people.

7) 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? Condoms are unreliable. Statistically, couples where one of them is HIV positive and use condoms have shown that the other has a 90% rate of catching the virus. To protect the marriage, however, the Church urges chastity.

 

[peary]

Part 2

*8) 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? * You are the one equating the use of birth control to murder, which it is not. If they are truly repentent for engaging in this activity there is the sacrament of reconciliation and reception of the Eucharist to help them overcome this habit. Many catholics use birth control and I don’t consider them mentally unhealthy, just unknowledgeable about why the Church teaches otherwise.

9) Why are Catholic priests paid money while nuns are held to a vow of poverty? There are two types of priests: those who work at the diocesan level and ordained by their bishop, the others are part of a religious order and are ordained by a bishop. Diocesan priests are not required to take a vow of poverty; however, most order priests do. Diocesan priests receive a salary from their diocese; order priests may receive a monthy stipend from their order but it is minimal. It is normal for people to donate a stipend of somesort for a priest conducting a wedding or baptism, but it is not necessary. A ‘sister’ belongs to a religious order and is under the same finanacial rules as an order priest. A ‘nun’ is a cloistered woman religious.

10) 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? That is probably a decision of the priest, maybe the diocesan bishop, but not officially the Church. And the man in question could appeal the denial to wed. About a hundred years ago, the Church frowned on such marriages because of the difficulty involved in the transmission of life. But the Church has since developed in Its understanding and permits such marriages and has for quite a long time now.

11) 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 believes that its own Scriptures are the inspired word of God. It has never made a claim as to whether or not Noah or Jonah actually existed. The Church believes that if the bible says it does, then it is probably based on a true story. The Church, which fostered Science beginning in the medieval age, believes that one’s intelligence should guide a person in making decisions to
underestand how the Universe was put together by the Creator.

12) 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? St. Paul, in his letter to the Corinthians (1 Cor.11:23-29) warns Christians that to receive the body and blood of Our Lord in the Eucharist unworthily is guilty of a grave offense. You need to read your bible.

13) 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? Because the Bible tells us otherwise.

14) 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 never said it was wrong to claim that the earth revolved around the sun. And it wasn’t the ‘Church’ per se but a tribunal confined to Rome that admonished Galileo for writing a book in which the main character (a pope) was made to look like an idiot. This did not sit well with the pope at the time who was financing Galileo’s scientific research. The pope was also his friend. Also, Galileo was teaching his new theory at a university without substantiation of the majority of other astronomers in Europe at the time. The Church told him to stop teaching it until it could be further substantiated. He refused. So, they silenced him, as the Church does with theologians today who teach against Church positions and doctrine. And how bad was Galileo’s persecution? He was placed under “house arrest” - in his own house! Big deal. He was free to come and go; his own daughter visited him on a daily basis…so did a papal delegate on order of the pope to make sure that his needs were all taken care of. Sorry, there was no ‘dungeon’. In fact, if you go to Italy, you can visit Galileo’s house… not a bad pad. Did you know Galileo’s father wrote the first Italian opera? **

 

[Mannyfit75]

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?

A number that is false. The Crusades was a response to Islamic threat. Indeed, the Pope did call for the Crusades but the CC has never taught or accept the use of torture and abuses committed by Crusaders.

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?

The Church is has a human and divine nature. Human because its members is human. It is divine because it’s soul is the Holy Spirit. Since its members are human beings, they can sin. Just because there has been 1,000 priests over the 140,000 priests in the US, that doesn’t make the Church is not the Church of God. Jesus Christ himself selected a man who would betray him, and had one Apostle deny the Lord three times. That is the earliest scandal the Church has.

Despite all that, all sinners are called to repentence.

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?

The right to defend yourself from a threat is necessary to protect the life of the innocent. If the lost of life is resulted from this, the man who defended is not guilty of murder.

Just War Doctrine is the right for a nation to protect itself from threats. It is used only as a last resort. All diplomatic means have been used. So far, the Church has not condone any war in the recent Centuries. I have heard Popes condemn the Gulf War, Iraq War, etc.

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?

They shouldn’t because to received Holy Communion by promoting abortion or supporting is equal to murder. Holy Communion is reception of receiving of Jesus Christ. We received the Body and Blood of the Lord. St. Paul warns that anyone who comes to the alter and receives the Body and Blood places judgement upon himself.

In order to received Holy Communion, a Catholic must be free of mortal sin, and fasted one hour. If you received Holy Communion in mortal sin, by fornication, masturbation, adultery, homosexual acts, and others, you are committing murder itself.

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?

It does. Read St. Paul letter to 1 Corinthians 11:27-32. They should examine themselves in Confession.

((continue))

 

[Mannyfit75]

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?

They are automatically execommunicated. They can repent and be dispense from the execommunication if they are truly sorry for having committed the sin of abortion. I have know Catholic women who done it, regret the abortion and repented. They are now in full communion with the Church.

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?

They cannot take any form of contraception. They must practice chastity. Christians are called to chastity anyways even married couples.

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?

They** cannot use **conception period.

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

Catholic priests don’t get paid that much. Diocesan priest received an average income of 18,000 dollars a year. There are priest in religious order like Francisans, Jesuit, and others who take a vow of poverty.

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?

The priest or whoever deny marriage, is never allowed. If a couple who wishes to marry they can. There is no rule that denies men who are impotent to marry.

 

[Mannyfit75]

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 Catholic Church has not taught if we are to take the literal creation story account. Let us keep this in mind, a day for God like a thousand years.

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?

He must be free of mortal sin. A person with venial sin can received communion because Blessed Sacrament can take remove that sin in your soul.

 

[Mannyfit75]

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?

Jesus did not have brothers or sisters.

Consider the following facts:

Who, then, exactly were the brothers and sisters of Jesus Christ?

It is best to start by looking at St. John 19, 25. There it is evident that the Virgin Mary had an older sister whose name was also Mary: “Meanwhile, standing near the cross of Jesus were his mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene.”

Turning next to the Gospel of St. Mark 15, 40, speaking on the same point: “There were also women looking on from a distance; among them were Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James the younger (Less) and of Joses (Joseph), and Salome.” Who is this “Mary the mother of James the younger and of Joses?” Of the Marys mentioned in St. John 19, 25 it must be Mary the wife of Clopas, not Mary the “mother of Jesus,” as the Virgin Mary is never mentioned by any other title except as “mother of Jesus.” Further, we know that the father of James the younger was Clopas, the husband of Mary of Clopas (St. Mark 3, 18), making Mary of Clopas James’ mother. As for Jude, he was also a son of Clopas and the Virgin Mary’s sister as Scripture speaks of him as a brother of James the younger: “James son of Alphaeus (Clopas), and Simon the Zealot, and Judas the brother of James” (Acts 1, 13 [Douai]). Consequently, Our Lord had cousins by the names of James, Joseph and Jude.13

One can safely state then that the “brothers” of Our Lord as mentioned in St. Matt. 13, 54 -57 being James, Joseph, Jude etc. are in fact the same James, Joseph and Jude just determined to be His cousins. This was St. Jerome’s assertion in the early fourth century:

"Suppose that the Brethren of the Lord were Joseph’s sons by another wife. But we understand the Brethren of the Lord to be not the sons of Joseph, but cousins of the Saviour, the sons of Mary, his mother’s sister."14

St. Augustine was no less strident in his defence of the Virgin Mary’s perpetual virginity:

"It is written (Ezekiel 44, 2): ‘This gate shall be shut, it shall not be opened, and no man shall pass through it. Because the Lord the God of Israel hath entered in by it…’ What means this closed gate in the house of the Lord, except that Mary is to be ever inviolate? What does it mean that ‘no man shall pass through it,’ save that Joseph shall not know her? And what is this -‘The Lord alone enters in and goeth out by it,’ except that the Holy Ghost shall impregnate her, and that the Lord of Angels shall be born of her? And what means this - ‘It shall be shut for evermore,’ but that Mary is a Virgin before His birth, a Virgin in His birth, and a Virgin after His birth."15

It would be forcing credibility to believe that the Virgin Mary and Her older “sister” both had the same names and also had children with the same names. One can expect, also, that after St. Joseph died the Virgin Mary would have gone with Our Lord to live with or nearby Her older “sister,” explaining why She was travelling with those mentioned in St. Matt. 12, 46. It is a clear example of the word “brother” being used to refer to a first or second cousin.

It is also important to examine closely three major events in Our Lord’s life referred to in the Gospels: (i) the return of the Holy Family from Egypt to Nazareth after the death of Herod; (ii) the finding of the Child Jesus in the Temple of Jerusalem after being lost for three days; (iii) Our Lord giving His Mother to the care of St. John at His crucifixion. Our Lord, according to tradition, was 10, 12 and 33 years of age respectively when these events occurred. Yet, never is there any mention of brothers or sisters of His being present, which one would naturally expect if they had actually existed.16

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 has never official claim that the sun revolve around the earth. It was a general belief by both the public and Church community. It was never doctrinal defined. The CC is never wrong.

 

[Teflon93]

I want to thank everyone who posted answers to my questions. Many of you were very thoughtful in taking the time to answer to the best of your ability. It seemed a few of the respondents may have thought that I had some sort of an agenda here which is not the case. I am simply trying to reconnect with my Catholic faith and these are the questions that remained after much research. This was my first time posting to the website. I honestly believe that anyone who chooses to answer someones questions, should do so to the best of their ability. Their answer could be the deciding factor that makes someone decide whether to be a Catholic, Baptist or Athiest. It’s pretty important stuff so please take this into consideration when responding to someones questions.

Thanks again!

Given how important your query is, you really ought to do some more diligent research yourself. newadvent.org, the location online for the Catholic Encyclopedia, addresses virtually every historical question you could think of. The Catechism of the Catholic Church addresses virtually every question regarding Church teaching you could think of. The Catholic Answers library has many, many documents on virtually every other Catholic subject. Finally, you can use the search feature of this board as well as Ask An Apologist to find answers to many others.

Please pardon our incredulity; there is so much information available that we sometimes simply marvel that there are folks who still haven’t found it. We also get some sock puppets around here posing as Catholics yet posting laundry lists of alleged “gotchas” dug up from anti-Catholic websites.

I highly recommend picking up a copy of the Catechism and reading it; it’s helped me to understand the Church much better.

 

[Sailor_Kenshin]

The OP just sounds like someone trying to bash Catholicism.

I run into waaaay too many people of that stripe on my other boards.

 

[Subrosa]

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

Hi Pluggedin and welcome to the forums! Good questions! Tough ones, too. Let’s see if i can answer at least some of them.

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?

A good study of history is in order. First we must consider the events and times of the era. What were the motivations? How were the events justified at the time of the events? Are we being careful to not judge these events with present day moral standards? The Vatican offices that hold the historical records have only recently been opened. What truths will be revealed during thier examination?

We must also be truthful and deal with the reality that these events are historical and should be confined to thier history. The Church, for it’s part, has admitted the mistakes of the past and apologized. Clearly biblical in it’s nature, it has also asked for forgiveness. Many of the past emnities have been lifted and the Church is busy buiding relationships with past adversaries.

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?

Those who were at fault have been dealt with. The Church now publishes statistics on abuse gathered by an independent researching firm. usccb.org/ocyp/webstudy.shtml

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?

To defend oneself against a destroying enemy is a moral responsibility. Would you allow the Nazis or the Communists of past eras to end your belief in Christ or commit wholesale murder? It is what they do. Will you allow the Islamic terrorists to kill your loved ones? Jesus tell’s us also, “**John 15:**13 *No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” *

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?

1 Cor 11:23-29 For I received from the Lord what I also handed on to you, that the Lord Jesus, on the night he was handed over, took bread, and, after he had given thanks, broke it and said, “This is my body that is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way also the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the death of the Lord until he comes. Therefore whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord unworthily will have to answer for the body and blood of the Lord. A person should examine himself, and so eat the bread and drink the cup. For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body, eats and drinks judgment on himself. Are the Bishops wrong to agree with the Bible?

more…

 

[Subrosa]

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?

No, they are adultery. The “spilling of seed” is murder. You need to educate yourself better. Here is a great link that explains it. I highly recomment that you contemplate each page. ewtn.com/library/PAPALDOC/JP2TBIND.HTM

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?

By canon law a person who procures or assists in procuring an abotrtion is de facto excommunicated. This does not, however, keep them from becoming reconciled through the Sacrament of Reconciliation. God forgives.

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?

Sure it is logical. It is not biblical. God abhors artificial contraception. Read the above link to “Theology of the Body.” The theological position will become clear.

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?

They are open tothe Sacrament of Reconciliation. That people sin is a given fact and this is why Christ left this wonderful Sacrament. Jesus tells us to forgive “Seventy times seven,” a metaphor for as many times as it takes.

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

Two different vocations. Also, not all priests are paid, only diocesan priests. Priests of holy religious orders (monks) also take a vow of poverty. Diocesan priests are expected to care for themselves at a certian level. Also. Jesus expects them to get paid. Luke 10:7 Stay in the same house and eat and drink what is offered to you, for the laborer deserves his payment.

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?

Unfortunately, I have no knowledge of this incident, so I cannot comment directly. I will say this - read the link I provided to have a clearer understanding of the theological reasoning behind such a church decision.

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?

Most Catholic biblical scholars use the Historical-Critical method of bible study. This will become immediately evident in the link I provided. The Church accepts what science exposes and believes that it is not contrary to God’s Word. Bear in mind that the Church has been and continues to be criticized for the events surrounding its persecution of Galeleo. Science at that time was only maturing. The fact that the earth revolves around the sun is contrary to what the bible teaches and the Church acted on that.

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?

See my answer to question 4.

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?

Apostolic Tradition tells us that Mary remained a virgin after Christ’s birth. This argument is ongoing and undecided, each side dug in. All I can say is that all is not as it seems. Were these “brothers” actually step brothers, children of Joseph from his previous marraige? It certainly is possible. The church position is that they were.

{quote}14) 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?Absolutely! Is it possible that you are wrong in those matters as well?

Now can you answer a question? Are you truly Catholic? Any educated Catholic will know the answers to these questions.

Subrosa

 

[Sailor_Kenshin]

And they all use the same exact arguments in the same exact tone. Must get it from Bash-A-Catholic-dot-com-central.

 

[Donald45]

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?

I’m afraid you’ve bought into the “Black Legend” version of the Inquisitions made popular in literature and romantic historiography, which has been largely discredited by academic medieval historians over the past decade-and-a-half or so. Likewise with your view of the Crusades. You might find these articles of interest:

crisismagazine.com/april2002/cover.htm
newadvent.org/cathen/04543c.htm
cuf.org/Faithfacts/details_view.asp?ffID=148
newadvent.org/cathen/08026a.htm
catholic.com/library/anti-catholicism.asp
cuf.org/Faithfacts/details_view.asp?ffID=79
cuf.org/Faithfacts/details_view.asp?ffID=80
bringyou.to/apologetics/num25.htm
bringyou.to/apologetics/num37.htm
ic.net/~erasmus/RAZ247.HTM

Blessings,

Don
+T+

 

[cathman1]

Hi,

I was bothered before with the guilt about these actions of the Church on the Inquisitions,looking onto that era,religous hostilities are common at that time ,when you compare it to the present situation it would really appear that Catholics had been to the extreme.If you are confronted by other protestants on this topic,dont burden yourself too much, they are no different.Try to search the internet and history,Martin Luther and Calvin are into these killings as well.When they are in the side of the Kings,persecution of Catholics were also done left and right.

 In the old testament,God  commanded His people to conquer lands,and this involved killings.

 Dont burden yourself too much,The Church is working at its best, sacrifices are done for greater purpose.Now in this peaceful situation,is there something wrong in the Church actions? protetsants are reverting to the past to gain sympathy.

 Hold Fast to your Faith.

 

[scott1228]

Plugged:

I have one more for you:

1. The Lord Himself was betrayed by his own follower, Judas. How can we trust a Church that once counted him as a peer and comrade?

My point is that the Lord knew that some of His followers would betray Him, yet he still founded the Church. I think that to argue that because some who belong to the Church sin proves that it is not the Church founded by the Lord is a non-sequitur.

Secondly, measure the fruits of the Church. The Church fostered law, education, medicine, and art. Where would be today without the Church’s support for these areas? Yet more important than all of these, the Church has the loudest voice concerning the fundamental dignity of human life. You can see that we already have quite a mess in regard to that, but what would things be like without the voice of the Church?

Just some thoughts,
Scott

 

[JMMK]

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?

Galileo was wrong because he held that the Sun was the center of the Universe. Legal action by the church was taken against him for writing theological documents that tried to invalidate bible stories involving the Sun. He was ‘imprisoned’ as a house guest in the palace of the Prince of Milan, would that most be so lucky.

The apology was over the treatment during the trial as he was shown implements of torture though they were never used. The apology did not cover the principle of the matter.