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Sailor_Kenshin
Guest
Amen.
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PaulDupre
Guest
Hopefully this is just a phase she’s going through. Many converts or reverts, after several years, get disillusioned by the bad behavior of some believers. They need to grow up a bit and realize that the wheat and the tares must grow up together as Jesus said, and that the Church is not a museum for saints, but a hospital for sinners.
Some come back, some don’t. Anne Rice needs our prayers.
Some come back, some don’t. Anne Rice needs our prayers.
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InspiritCarol
Guest
I hate to break it to these “holier than thou” publicity hounds, but there have been “bad Christians” since Judas. Give me a break.
There are plenty of “bad Americans” has Ms. Rice stopped being one of us too?
Ah well… give her/them time and prayer.
I’m sure they’re under fierce spiritual attack as public figures.
There are plenty of “bad Americans” has Ms. Rice stopped being one of us too?
Ah well… give her/them time and prayer.
I’m sure they’re under fierce spiritual attack as public figures.
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the_phoenix
Guest
Looks like Anne Rice missed the following Bible verse:
“He that hears you, hears me; and he that despises you, despises me;
and he that despises me, despises him that sent me.”
~~ Luke 10:16
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dianaiad
Guest
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Miserys_Fence
Guest
God “allows” all sorts of things that are wrong.
And God is perfect capable of preventing terrorists from flying planes into buildings, too. But what God can do is not necessarily what He does.
We are God’s adult children with free will. We are free to “be in error for 4000 years” just as my adult children are free to ignore any advice I give them, no matter how good that advice might be (and of course it always is
).We as a society have been in error about all sorts of things for many, many years, and (hopefully) eventually we become “enlightened” in one way or another. I have no idea how old you are, but do you remember when doctors prescribed smoking to patients as a way to relieve stress and lose weight? And how many years did humankind believe the Earth was flat?
Just because a belief is persistent–even for thousands of years–doesn’t mean it’s correct.
Miz
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Tiffany_M_S
Guest
I do not see a cruel person in what Ann Rice has written. I see someone who is misguided, saddened, and in a great deal of pain. Clearly, she is searching for something, and she doesn’t know what that something is. Catholicism isn’t what she thought it would be.
I know how this feels. I started going to Mass for a while, then stopped. However, after a night filled with thinking, I finally understood that, while not everything in the religion is to my liking, it is my personal relationship with Jesus that matters, not what everybody else thinks. I also know that just because I don’t like certain rules within the Church doesn’t mean that Catholicism isn’t right for me. It just means that I don’t always agree with it.
This is something that every man and woman must face: that, while we love and believe in God, we won’t always agree with or understand his rules. We just need to know that they are put in place because God loves us so much that he doesn’t want us hurting ourselves or others. Clearly, Ann doesn’t understand this.
I have a lesbian for a sister, a gay man for a brother, and I, myself, am bisexual. Do I find the banishment of homosexuality uncomfortable? Yes. Do I find it unfair? Yes. Do I understand why this rule has been put in place? No. Do I have faith that God put it there to protect me? Yes. God would not have put it there had he not had any intention to do good in the world for his children. The only reason why God had put this rule in place is because he loves me. And I do know that he wants me to know that, something which I do know and understand. God does not put rules in place for the sake of having rules. He does it so that we understand what is best for us. He does it to protect us from our own self-destruction.
The path that the human race is on is a rather destructive one. It will end in our eternal damnation, if we are not careful. In making these rules, God is putting up road blocks so that we might be saved from this imprisonment. This plight that we have, this war, has been going on since the beginning, and nothing could scare God more than to see his children somehow getting through and continuing to go downhill. But God is brave, and he has not given up. He will never give up. Clearly, there can be no greater love than this. However, Ann obviously doesn’t understand that, thus, she is in pain, and terribly confused.
Personally, I believe that, despite her cruel words, we should try to empathize with how she feels, and pray for her. This kind of pain only creates a hollowness in one’s soul, something that I’m sure we are all familiar with. If not, just imagine that your heart and soul has been cut out with a dull spoon, and nothing can stop the hurting that this has caused. Imagine crying every night because you just didn’t get it; because you felt alone; because you felt misunderstood; because you felt that you would never understand why.
Clearly, Ann Rice feels that, in some way, the Church has wronged her and her family. Now, we know that this is not so. But who will explain this to Ann? Who will have compassion for her? If no-one will do these things, how will Ann ever learn? Someone must allow God’s grace to enter the door of their heart and do these things for her, because, obviously, Ann is a lost soul on a downward slide straight into hell, which is clearly a path that she is undeserving of. This will not stop unless someone intervenes. Someone needs to show a little mercy, here.
A note to Ann, if she ever reads this:
Ann, I don’t have all the answers, and for that, I’m sorry. It would seem as though you are going on a spiritual journey, that you are not ready, yet, to join the Church. I wish you the best on your search. I hope it leads you to God. And I hope that, sooner or later, you will come back to us, and you will find some kind of peace, some kind of comfort here.
No-one ever meant to hurt you, Ann. I’m sorry that you feel so disillusioned. But always remember this: God loves you, and, in his eyes, you were never meant to feel, nor have you ever been unwanted.
Good luck, Ann, and I hope that, at the end of your journey, you find the strength to come home and see that God rejoices in you, delights in you. May your restless, tired feet come to end their journey at the door to God’s heart. It is always open, and he is always ready to welcome his burdened and his tired, for his love is ever-lasting, and I have faith that he will never, ever give up on you, or stop loving you. Out of all things, I hope that you at least know this.
Have a little faith, Ann. God has not given up on you, yet.
I know how this feels. I started going to Mass for a while, then stopped. However, after a night filled with thinking, I finally understood that, while not everything in the religion is to my liking, it is my personal relationship with Jesus that matters, not what everybody else thinks. I also know that just because I don’t like certain rules within the Church doesn’t mean that Catholicism isn’t right for me. It just means that I don’t always agree with it.
This is something that every man and woman must face: that, while we love and believe in God, we won’t always agree with or understand his rules. We just need to know that they are put in place because God loves us so much that he doesn’t want us hurting ourselves or others. Clearly, Ann doesn’t understand this.
I have a lesbian for a sister, a gay man for a brother, and I, myself, am bisexual. Do I find the banishment of homosexuality uncomfortable? Yes. Do I find it unfair? Yes. Do I understand why this rule has been put in place? No. Do I have faith that God put it there to protect me? Yes. God would not have put it there had he not had any intention to do good in the world for his children. The only reason why God had put this rule in place is because he loves me. And I do know that he wants me to know that, something which I do know and understand. God does not put rules in place for the sake of having rules. He does it so that we understand what is best for us. He does it to protect us from our own self-destruction.
The path that the human race is on is a rather destructive one. It will end in our eternal damnation, if we are not careful. In making these rules, God is putting up road blocks so that we might be saved from this imprisonment. This plight that we have, this war, has been going on since the beginning, and nothing could scare God more than to see his children somehow getting through and continuing to go downhill. But God is brave, and he has not given up. He will never give up. Clearly, there can be no greater love than this. However, Ann obviously doesn’t understand that, thus, she is in pain, and terribly confused.
Personally, I believe that, despite her cruel words, we should try to empathize with how she feels, and pray for her. This kind of pain only creates a hollowness in one’s soul, something that I’m sure we are all familiar with. If not, just imagine that your heart and soul has been cut out with a dull spoon, and nothing can stop the hurting that this has caused. Imagine crying every night because you just didn’t get it; because you felt alone; because you felt misunderstood; because you felt that you would never understand why.
Clearly, Ann Rice feels that, in some way, the Church has wronged her and her family. Now, we know that this is not so. But who will explain this to Ann? Who will have compassion for her? If no-one will do these things, how will Ann ever learn? Someone must allow God’s grace to enter the door of their heart and do these things for her, because, obviously, Ann is a lost soul on a downward slide straight into hell, which is clearly a path that she is undeserving of. This will not stop unless someone intervenes. Someone needs to show a little mercy, here.
A note to Ann, if she ever reads this:
Ann, I don’t have all the answers, and for that, I’m sorry. It would seem as though you are going on a spiritual journey, that you are not ready, yet, to join the Church. I wish you the best on your search. I hope it leads you to God. And I hope that, sooner or later, you will come back to us, and you will find some kind of peace, some kind of comfort here.
No-one ever meant to hurt you, Ann. I’m sorry that you feel so disillusioned. But always remember this: God loves you, and, in his eyes, you were never meant to feel, nor have you ever been unwanted.
Good luck, Ann, and I hope that, at the end of your journey, you find the strength to come home and see that God rejoices in you, delights in you. May your restless, tired feet come to end their journey at the door to God’s heart. It is always open, and he is always ready to welcome his burdened and his tired, for his love is ever-lasting, and I have faith that he will never, ever give up on you, or stop loving you. Out of all things, I hope that you at least know this.
Have a little faith, Ann. God has not given up on you, yet.
O
Orleans_Attny
Guest
I’m a little disturbed about comments like this one, and other posts within this thread that have been far less than charitable.
Her reversion to Catholicism occurred after a serious illness, and her devotion grew following the death of her husband of 41 years, Stan Rice.
Her views on homosexuality have always been at odds with the Church, and her beliefs might have something to do with people very close to her who are homosexual, which is difficult for anyone.
Lots of us come to the Church in stages. Lots of us have struggled with various doctrinal points. None of us are living saints, I feel confident in saying.
But in any event, instead of wishing lapsed or imperfect Catholics a speedy departure from the Church, perhaps we should just pray for them?
We are not Donatists, thankfully.
Pax,
OA
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Rocky
Guest
The Church does not ask us to reject any person, just certain actions.
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Cinette
Guest
*You mean same as being a wife and against your family, same as being a human being and against humanity??
I feel very sorry for this person Anne Rice. She needs prayer.
Cinette
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Cinette
Guest
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Cinette
Guest
*“I love you Jesus but I don’t believe that I should follow your teachings.”
Oh man!
How can you talk like that Publisher! Ghandi? But was Ghandi a perfect human being? He had a good cause but was he perfect? I prefer to follow Jesus - HE IS PERFECT! HE IS GOD!
*
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Cinette
Guest
You and I disagree…friend Anne sees the issue I believe. She cannot “reject” out of hand simply because one’s religious beliefs condemn…science, psychology, sociology and other non-religous disiplinesScience, psychology, sociology are “non religious disciplines”
Discrimination against gay and lesbian people IS based on WHO THEY ARE…not what they do…no matter what frame of reference is used to justify it…those of us branded “liberal” do not abandon God…we abandon falsehoods perpetuated in the name of “religion”. Not so. I can tell you I know a number of people with SSA who are happily part of the Church and they are faithfull.
You and I disagree…that’s ok…we can disagree…Truth is often “fought out” in the public arena…eventually one by one hearts are changed…one by one people begin to see the gulf between what the modern sciences teach and what conservative religion teaches…those of us who are “liberal” embrace both the science and the spirit…we don’t “throw the baby out with the bathwater”…the water the baby is sitting in is dirty…we need a clean tub to wash the child…and one by one hearts are changed.
*It took 11 years but it all started with a scientist and his books that my husband converted from atheism. It was because of science that he began to see the TRUTH!
Cinette
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AmateurPianist
Guest
Really? Where has He revealed that to mankind?
Really? Where has He revealed this to mankind?
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Cinette
Guest
*I see “gay” (stolen word) as a sub-culture where people are permissive and pretend to be happy and believe that by indulging themselves they will achieve the height of happiness. They have hi-jacked the institution of marriage and I can’t imagine what next.
Having said this I have friends who have homosexual orientation. We don’t talk about our sexuality. I don’t go around saying I am “straight” - that is my personal affair. I would employ, defend and love anyone who has homosexual orientation. I have a very dear friend who is gay and has a partner and I would not abandon her for anything. BUT…don’t ask me to condone the lifestyle.
I have been a revolutionary for many years but as I grow deeper in the faith I am leaning towards orthodox ways.
Cinette
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doughnut
Guest
shes just one of the many ‘intelligent’ people who had succumbed to the problem of ‘thinking way too much’.
what does a complex person do when faced with something he or she doesn’t understand? he or she will think it over, dissect, ponder, until they can make sense of it. they are well aware their mental abilities, and hence when they finally could not make sense of that thing they do not understand, they throw it out of the window, and consider it ‘rubbish’. now if we do that to the church of Christ, and ‘since we cannot understand’, we throw it out of the window and call it gabbage - and then you have the new stream of “I like Christ, but I don’t like the church.”
Say, does anyone of you love a person, but still throw away the gift he presented to you? Or do you treasure it?
from Jesus we have the church, one wonders how much you know or valued Him, if you entirely disregard the church and throw it out of the window?
The reason why I said “intelligent” person (which actually effectively refers to the entire humanrace) because sometimes we need to recognise that we are ignorant and dumb, in comparison to God. But the more intelligent we are, the least we are able to recognise this simple truth.
what does a complex person do when faced with something he or she doesn’t understand? he or she will think it over, dissect, ponder, until they can make sense of it. they are well aware their mental abilities, and hence when they finally could not make sense of that thing they do not understand, they throw it out of the window, and consider it ‘rubbish’. now if we do that to the church of Christ, and ‘since we cannot understand’, we throw it out of the window and call it gabbage - and then you have the new stream of “I like Christ, but I don’t like the church.”
Say, does anyone of you love a person, but still throw away the gift he presented to you? Or do you treasure it?
from Jesus we have the church, one wonders how much you know or valued Him, if you entirely disregard the church and throw it out of the window?
The reason why I said “intelligent” person (which actually effectively refers to the entire humanrace) because sometimes we need to recognise that we are ignorant and dumb, in comparison to God. But the more intelligent we are, the least we are able to recognise this simple truth.
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dnu
Guest
Good riddance to her, the cafeteria is at over-flow capacity as it is.
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OneAugustKnight
Guest
I don’t think that intelligence makes people less able to recognize their ignorance in comparison to God. I think it is pride, fueled by many years of hearing how brilliant they are, which trains them to rely on their own judgement rather than trusting someone who may know more about God. Such is the case with Anne Rice, people tell her she is a brilliant writer and they affirm what she thinks about morality and Christ, therefore she has decided she knows Jesus better than the Catholic Church.
I can’t say I am surprised that she left. Prayers for all fallen-away Catholics that they might come to love and understand their faith and return to the Sacraments.
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Cinette
Guest
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