Any not-so-dedicated Catholics around?

[Hellisreal]

Thats actually quite kind of you. I’m not sure though I’ve posted a bit on this forum and most people seem to just try to tear me apart…this whole forum has been quite a scary experience. Either way I cannot post it today because I have to go to bed in a couple of minutes maybe if you send me a pm tomorrow or even send me an email. Do you have msn though? I’d love to talk to you there

You can PM me ANYTIME, and I would like to talk to you about this, either here or on the forum. You are my top priority here now. I mean that.


And, I am gratefull to Mrs Abbott, who gave me this chance.

 

[shadow_fire]

You can PM me ANYTIME, and I would like to talk to you about this, either here or on the forum. You are my top priority here now. I mean that.


And, I am gratefull to Mrs Abbott, who gave me this chance.

Well thats great to hear I’m actually looking forward to talking to you about this tomorrow (I usually don’t look forward to talking to catholics about religion ) anyways I was JUST able to send this message before having to go to bed so I got to go or my mom will rip me apart anyways goodnight! So just send me a pm and I’ll respond to it tomorrow.

 

[Rabbititus]

I mostly lurk, and I do sometimes wonder about certain church teachings. I would consider myself a cradle Catholic (I was baptised in an Anglican Catholic church, but was otherwise raised Roman Catholic), and I can’t really imagine belonging to any other religion.

 

[Rabbititus]

Oh yeah, and I should also mention that I was oblivious to what non-Catholics thought of Catholics until High School, when I had a classmate who thought we worshiped not only Mary, but all the other saints too - and he believes that we worship the particular saint that the church we attend is named for (meaning the Catholics at St. Peter’s church worship Peter, the ones at St. Mary worship Mary, etc.).

 

[Hellisreal]

Oh yeah, and I should also mention that I was oblivious to what non-Catholics thought of Catholics until High School, when I had a classmate who thought we worshiped not only Mary, but all the other saints too - and he believes that we worship the particular saint that the church we attend is named for (meaning the Catholics at St. Peter’s church worship Peter, the ones at St. Mary worship Mary, etc.).

We dont worship Mary as God.

We dont worship saints, we pray to them though.

(too big a topic to cover on this thread )

We do say a prayer and seek prayers from the saints (yes, your parish saint is mentioned at Mass)

But, I dont know if this thread is the place to address your concerns about this.

This thread seems to have another agenda.

 

[kellie]

You probably won’t catch many (actually millions) of them on a site like this. This place is for the eager RCIA types. The cradles don’t care and don’t know enough to be bothered.

Argh. I have read quite a few of your posts believers, and am tired of you putting ‘cradle Catholics’ down.

I am a huge supporter of these forums, as you can see by my number of posts.

But I am not what one would call a devout Catholic. I am rather like the OP. Some of the teachings really annoy me, I am not afraid to admit.

Stuff like contraception, and things like fasting on Good Friday.

I understand why the Church has all these rules, and I try and follow them all as best I can.

But I do sin, and I pray all the time that God will help me become better.

Hanging around these forums has helped me appreciate the wonderful faith I am a part of, and have been a part of since the cradle.

I have never been to Adoration, or a Tridentine Mass, 2 things I will do one day however.

To the OP, don’t feel bad if you don’t agree with some of the Church’s teachings.

I don’t think it was meant to be easy to follow Jesus in the Church He founded.

 

[kellie]

I used to live in New Orleans where many many many people are Catholic. They have internet and this site would definitely be last on their list to visit.

I don’t understand how that makes them “poor” Catholics.

Maybe all these cradle Catholics with the Internet feel computer technology takes away the sacredness of their Faith, and therefore they don’t ‘google’ Christian forums, or forums of any kind.

I know a lot of people who have Internet access at home, and they don’t like forums or chatting. They use the net for emails, and research, and paying bills etc.

There is a lot more to the net than forums like this, and you are wrong to make blanket generalisations on ‘cradle Catholics’ just because of the lack of them here.

 

[Hellisreal]

I don’t understand how that makes them “poor” Catholics.

Maybe all these cradle Catholics with the Internet feel computer technology takes away the sacredness of their Faith, and therefore they don’t ‘google’ Christian forums, or forums of any kind.

I know a lot of people who have Internet access at home, and they don’t like forums or chatting. They use the net for emails, and research, and paying bills etc.

There is a lot more to the net than forums like this, and you are wrong to make blanket generalisations on ‘cradle Catholics’ just because of the lack of them here.

While I agree with most of your post, I must take issue with your considering the OP to be a Catholic.

Did you bother to visit her profile?

I think she once was a Catholic. But, lets leave it up to the OP about that one.

 

[kellie]

While I agree with most of your post, I must take issue with your considering the OP to be a Catholic.

Did you bother to visit her profile?

I think she once was a Catholic. But, lets leave it up to the OP about that one.

“Take issue”?? How could it offend you if I think the OP is Catholic??

Anyway, I have seen Mrs Abbott say she was born and raised a Catholic in other threads, and how she still struggles with some of it.

 

[Hellisreal]

“Take issue”?? How could it offend you if I think the OP is Catholic??

Anyway, I have seen Mrs Abbott say she was born and raised a Catholic in other threads, and how she still struggles with some of it.

She states she is Christian, that’s all.

By the way, how often is Good Friday?

Once a year???

You have a problem with fasting on the one day Jesus Christ was Crucifyed?

 

[Hellisreal]

Just to ward off the Protestant come backs-

Catholic is Christian.

Therefore, someone purporting to be Catholic and puts “Christian” in their profile is not aware of it, or protesting it.

 

[LilyM]

She states she is Christian, that’s all.

By the way, how often is Good Friday?

Once a year???

You have a problem with fasting on the one day Jesus Christ was Crucifyed?

Ash Wednesday as well, so it’s a whole two days out of the year - what an imposition!

 

[kellie]

She states she is Christian, that’s all.

By the way, how often is Good Friday?

Once a year???

You have a problem with fasting on the one day Jesus Christ was Crucifyed?

I am being honest. I do fast on this day, but if given a choice I wouldn’t, I like food too much.

 

[Eddy]

I know that there are alot of folks here who are really devout Catholics (and there’s nothing wrong with that, btw ) and I admire that.
Don’t know if this is the right place for this or not but I know the mods will move it if it isn’t.
Just didn’t know if there were other Catholics who are having issues with certain aspects of the CC, like maybe not believing completely in the Marian doctrines, or the teaching on contraception, etc. (just to name a few, I know there are others)?

It really depends how you define ‘devout’ and ‘dedicated’. I’ve found this forum to be a scarey place in many ways, and I do feel I’ve been judged fairly frequently. And at times I’ve reacted badly to that (which is generally an indicator that I need to take a few days off).

I think, by the standards of many posters here, I would not be regarded as ‘devout’ or ‘dedicated’ - I have issues with several church teachings, and my experience of pastoral work means I’m very reluctant to condemn people or positions without trying to understand them. I am totally against abortion. But I see the pain in the 14 year old who’s been raped by a family member. I know enough about world cultures to know that that child giving birth may well result in her being murdered (honour killings are all too appalling a reality in our world). I understand problems with contraception, but wonder if it isn’t condemning married women in Africa, whose husbands have been unfaithful, to a terminal illness, through no fault of their own. And I find it impossible to get hot under the collar about a tambourine or guitar in Mass. When I first came here I was contemplating rejoining the Catholic Church. I’m now back, but I’m not sure my return is one many Catholics on this board would welcome! Fortunately I have lots of ‘real time’ Catholics who are delighted .

However, I attend daily mass when I can. I pray frequently. I make an annual retreat. I volunteer for faith groups, and I do a lot of pastoral volunteer work. My full time work is decided and defined by the principles of my faith. Am I dedicated? Yes. Totally. But as I’ve said before, I’m dedicated first to Jesus. Everything else is secondary.

 

[Steadfast]

Shadowfire,

With all due respect, a good deal of what you post here has to do with homosexuality.

But it’s not a homosexual message board.

It is a Catholic message board and you know perfectly well what the Church teaches about homosexuality.

If you have been “torn down” I regret that and I think most here would as well; but if what has happened is that you’ve received a healthy dose of Catholic teaching on the matter then that is not the same as an attack.

This is something it is very important for you to realize.

Blessings,

Mike

 

[tee_eff_em]

For a such a huge organization, the total it is very few. Most of the people who debate are converts. I’ve run into very few who are cradles.

I said it before, and I’ll say it again: “Bah!”

Full-moon effect sez I. (It may also depend on what area(s) of the forum one spends his time in – I really cannot say because I know I do not attend equally to all areas)

:twocents:
tee

 

[suupah]

Me 1
Me 2

Wow, I agree with almost every point on your list. especially about the bishops. I wish that more of them were in prison.

 

[lorathon]

My view on being a cradle Catholic (I am one).

I was always comfortable with my faith. As I believe all of my friends that I grew up with were. Of course we didn’t know everything but who does. I never wanted to study it because I thought I knew enough. And if you know the highlights I think you DO know enough. Every catholic that goes through CCD gets enough of the faith to follow it. You get taught the sacraments, the sins, the basics, the bible. And so the question comes to the cradle catholic, Why search for more? I have all I need.

My view on a being a convert Catholic (My wife is one)

My wife wanted to join the Church after we got married.  She asked questions I never thought to ask. Why? Because it was NEW to her.  She was older and wiser than when I was brought to the faith.  She was hungry to find the faith.  

I believe this is why more cradle Catholics don’t come on sites like CAF.  I never thought to until I worked with an OSAS fellow who gave me a tongue lashing about Catholicism and I didn’t know the answers.  You have to remember that a lot of cradle Catholics live and are friendly with other Catholics.  This means NO NEED TO DEFEND THE FAITH.  I never came up against anything like this before.  I had no answers for him.  Or at least not full answers.  So I decided to find the explanations.  I did not understand the teaching behind what we believe ( I just had blind faith).  CCD never went into WHY we believe; so much as this is what we believe.  There was a little of the WHY but not in depth.  He was quoting bible versus and other such things and I was unarmed.  Once I started to really look into my faith and grow, I have actually grown to love it even more.

Most converts have friend who are not Catholic so they need the armor right away.  They have already been searching so they already have more questions to begin with.  This was how my wife was.  From day one of RCIA she had to begin defending her decision to her SDA sister.  It was tough for her.  So she ended up knowing more of the faith then me.  Was she more Catholic because she knew more than me? I don’t think so.  Is the Priest more Catholic than the poor farmer in South America that attends mass every Sunday and follows the faith? No.  You just are Catholic.  There is no grey.  In or Out.  And I believe EVERYONE is Catholic, some just don’t know it yet. :thumbsup:

Back on Topic
Not all Catholics need to understand everything about there faith. Who could understand it all anyways. Some don’t feel they need to. They are happy just following the Church. And that is all you need when you get right down to it anyways. FOLLOW THE CHURCH. If you disagree, well that’s ok as long as you understand that if the Church says so its so. My kids disagree with me all the time but still do what I say. I am not throwing them out on their ear because they disagree with me. (At least not yet ). And as everyone knows, If it was easy everyone would do it. I think that the Protestant churches are filling up because they are EASY. You can figure out what you believe yourself. Nobody really tells you that you are wrong. I mean they all interpert the bible differently so who can say who is right and who is wrong. Its EASY. The Church is different. We all believe the same things. All 1 billion. I think it is comfortable myself knowing that we believe the same truths.

 

[Rabbititus]

We dont worship Mary as God.

We dont worship saints, we pray to them though.

(too big a topic to cover on this thread )

We do say a prayer and seek prayers from the saints (yes, your parish saint is mentioned at Mass)

But, I dont know if this thread is the place to address your concerns about this.

This thread seems to have another agenda.

Those points were just things a classmate of mine in high school thought - they aren’t concerns for me as I know that we don’t worship saints or Mary and never thought we did. Nothing I could tell this particular classmate could change his mind about Catholics, though.

 

[mrs_abbott]

“Take issue”?? How could it offend you if I think the OP is Catholic??

Anyway, I have seen Mrs Abbott say she was born and raised a Catholic in other threads, and how she still struggles with some of it.

I am a Christian, first and foremost. I attend a Catholic Church every Sunday, though.