Ask a Catholic what you've been wanting to ask

[Telstar]

Hi Newsy,

I had never thought of it in quite that way before, but it’s true! And the narrowness isn’t a bad thing; it’s a good thing.

Thank you for that little sentence.

Xuan

Very true! Narrow is good because it’s hard to lose the direction to follow. If the path is really wide, it’s hard to tell if you’re going the right way or not. You could just be going around in big circles, or completely turn around in the other direction, and never even realize it until it’s too late.

 

[Calgar]

Okay, well don’t you guys believe in different severities of sin? Is adultery a big one or a little one?

 

[Newsy]

Okay, well don’t you guys believe in different severities of sin? Is adultery a big one or a little one?

Yes, there are diffences in sin. 1 John 5:16 states, “Suppose you see your brother or sister commit a sin. But that sin is not the kind that leads to death. Then you should pray for them. And God will give life to them. I’m talking about someone whose sin does not lead to death. But there is a sin that does lead to death.”.

Adultery is a Mortal sin. If someone is in the state of Mortal sin, their soul is in danger. If they are being hypocritical, that is another sin. We must be careful not to judge a Church by its members, or I doubt we would find one left standing. As for the person in Mortal sin, we should pray for their repentance and for God’s mercy on them.

 

[JustaServant]

Okay, here’s one I’ve been curious about.

Is it considered a sin for a Southern Baptist to commit adultery?

I have to ask because the Southern Baptist men I know have girlfriends in addition to their wives and they spend their time telling me that I’m not a true Christian because I don’t want to be involved with their church. They also partake in recreational drugs and act like all of this is perfectly alright as long as they go to church every now and then.

Is this acceptable behavior for Southern Baptist?

Fixed it for you.

 

[ChrisB103]

Okay, here’s one I’ve been curious about.

Is it considered a sin for a catholic to commit adultery?

I have to ask because the catholic men I know have girlfriends in addition to their wives and they spend their time telling me that I’m not a true Christian because I don’t want to be involved with their church. They also partake in recreational drugs and act like all of this is perfectly alright as long as they go to mass every now and then.

Is this acceptable behavior for catholics?

We have the commandments in our Bibles too

 

[jmcrae]

The answer is yes. Just because no one is there doesn’t mean animals and insects don’t hear it.

The termites that caused it to fall must have heard it.

 

[jmcrae]

How many angels really can dance on the head of a pin? I’m cheating, of course, being I’m Catholic I already know the answer-I’d just like confirm it with yours.

As many as Sister invited to the dance, of course!

My question is, if they are dancing on the head of a pin, what is the location of the pop machine where the boy angels are hiding from the girl angels and talking about football, and what is the location of the bathroom where the girl angels are hiding from the boy angels, and gossiping about their other friends behind their backs?

(I bet nobody saw that one coming … )

 

[Calgar]

How wonderful. I asked a question that I was sincerely interested in learning the answer to (as was invited by the OP), it was taken in the worst possible light and used to belittle and insult me.

I should have expected it. Lesson learned.

 

[JustaServant]

How wonderful. I asked a question that I was sincerely interested in learning the answer to (as was invited by the OP), it was taken in the worst possible light and used to belittle and insult me.

I should have expected it. Lesson learned.

You ask an insulting question and then complain when it is turn back upon you,
We should expect that. Lesson learned.

 

[Telstar]

How wonderful. I asked a question that I was sincerely interested in learning the answer to (as was invited by the OP), it was taken in the worst possible light and used to belittle and insult me.

I should have expected it. Lesson learned.

You were given the very obvious, serious answer to your question in the very next post, after you asked it. Was it not the answer you expected or wanted? Catholics, as a rule, don’t approve of adultery any more than any other good Christian would. It’s defined as a mortal (serious) sin, by the Church. Just because some Catholics are poor examples, that doesn’t mean that all Catholics ignore what it means to really live a life faithful to God’s teachings.

Do you only have ‘perfect people’ in your church? Do you kick them out if they aren’t always perfect? Don’t you know any other habitual sinners that might claim to be Christians, but really don’t practice what they preach, except, maybe on Sunday? I know a lot of them, from lots of different churches. Your question seemed to be a bit condescending toward Catholics, or the Church in general, as if we’re all supposed to be perfect examples of holiness, at all times. If some of us aren’t, then you seem to imply that the whole bunch must be just as bad. We never claimed to be a Church for ‘perfect people’, only. We’re a Church where all sinners can find forgiveness, if they really want it, so they can learn how to give up their sinful ways. After all, Jesus came to save sinners, not ‘perfect people’.

Contrary to some people’s erroneous view of Catholics always being so serious, we really do have a sense of humor, and, we know how to use it.

 

[Calgar]

We really do have a sense of humor, and, we know how to use it.

Good. Keep it up.

 

[Conor7]

How wonderful. I asked a question that I was sincerely interested in learning the answer to (as was invited by the OP), it was taken in the worst possible light and used to belittle and insult me.

I should have expected it. Lesson learned.

Calgar, you did seem a little insincere, so I’m going to help you out.

What I think Calgar wants to ask is: Protestants have been given the impression by ill-behaved, yet a large minority of Catholics that Catholics can sin all they want as long tell a priest and spritz with a little holy water. Can you elaborate on the reasons for this phenomenon while explaining actual Church teachings on the subject?

Does that sound about right, Calgar?

 

[Telstar]

Good. Keep it up.

I always have to keep my sense of humor engaged. If I didn’t, I’d be living in a nice big building, in my very own, special, little padded room, weaving baskets and making shadow puppets on the wall, all day long.

In a nutshell, people that act the way you described your ‘acquaintances’ (or just some guys you heard about from someone else… aka: gossip around the water cooler), are not typical Catholics that really believe in what the Church teaches. If they think they can do those things and just go to confession and all will be forgiven, then they really don’t know much about confession. Your sins are only absolved (forgiven and forgotten) if you are truly sorry, and make an effort to never repeat them in the future. They might be able to fool the Priest into thinking they’re sincere, but they will never fool God. He always knows whether we are truly sorry for our sins or not. If they think they’ve got it made, then they’ll be mighty surprised when they stand in Judgement. The best thing we can do if those guys are friends or relatives, is to pray that they will finally see what they’re really doing wrong, before it’s too late.

 

[Whadyamean]

…, why does Peter refer to himself as only a fellow elder in 1 Peter?
.

I understood that Peter didn’t write either 1 or2 Peter. eg gcfweb.org/institute/general/peter.pdf

 

[PbloPicasso]

Here my friends in an opportunity to ask that question you’ve “alway’s” wnated to ask

God Bless,
Pat

Why do Catholics worship Mary and statues?

Oh, that’s right, they don’t.

I get tired of these constant insinuations. It drives me bonkers.
However, I may come up with some questions of my own.

 

[Phyllo]

I’m actually curious about the answer(s) in the book . Could it have anything to do with the changes in the Mass ( and the music ) post Vatican ll ? I’m old enough to remember the Mass pre-Vatican ll , and I thought we did a better job , in general , back then . No insult to today’s choirs .
I still prefer the more traditional church music .

Right on. I am with you.

 

[Stephen_W]

What I think Calgar wants to ask is: Protestants have been given the impression by ill-behaved, yet a large minority of Catholics that Catholics can sin all they want as long tell a priest and spritz with a little holy water. Can you elaborate on the reasons for this phenomenon while explaining actual Church teachings on the subject?

QUOTE]

Thanks for articulating that! Could someone please address this question?

 

[JustaServant]

Protestants have been given the impression by ill-behaved, yet a large minority of Catholics that Catholics can sin all they want as long tell a priest and spritz with a little holy water.

Who are these people?
Cause I’ve never met them. It’s a typical stereotype (normally foistered by fundamentalists) that “Catholics can raise hell on Saturday and go to confesson on Sunday”.
In the fifty years I have spent on Planet Earth I have never met anyone like the above discribed.
It’s like asking are you still beating your wife?
It’s a childish question. Thats why nobody wants to answer it.

 

[jmcrae]

Who are these people?
Cause I’ve never met them. It’s a typical stereotype (normally foistered by fundamentalists) that “Catholics can raise hell on Saturday and go to confesson on Sunday”.

Even if you could find a practicing Catholic who thinks it’s okay to sin all night on Saturday night and then go to Confession on Sunday, where is this mythical Catholic going to find a priest to hear his Confession on a Sunday?

Priests are very busy with saying Mass and celebrating Baptisms on Sundays; Confessions are heard on Friday and Saturday afternoons, typically.

 

[Telstar]

"Conor7:

What I think Calgar wants to ask is: Protestants have been given the impression by ill-behaved, yet a large minority of Catholics that Catholics can sin all they want as long tell a priest and spritz with a little holy water. Can you elaborate on the reasons for this phenomenon while explaining actual Church teachings on the subject?

Thanks for articulating that! Could someone please address this question?

I’m pretty sure several people already have, including me. It’s a huge misconception that Catholics believe they “can sin all they want as long as they go to confession”. It implies that Catholics really don’t ‘practice what they preach’. While that may be true of some (even many) Catholics that behave badly, thinking that all will be forgiven, but that’s not the intended function of confession, nor is it the way most Catholics live their faith. As I said before, God is the final judge of who is actually forgiven because He knows what’s really in the heart of the person in the confessional. Anyone that goes to confession with no real intention of giving up their sins, is lying to the Priest and to God, whether they realize it or not. I don’t think He appreciates being lied to when someone comes to Him begging for mercy, when all they really want is a ‘free pass’.

I’m not sure if the Absolution given by a Priest would override that fact. That’s a question that’s better answered by a Priest or a theologian that understands it better than I do. Maybe it would be a good question for the “Ask an Apologist” section of the forum. But, I’m pretty sure there would still be some kind of restitution due to God for that kind of sin, either in this life, or in the next.