CAF vs general population

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This is not a randomly selected group. It is a self-selected group of people who have an interest in religion–for or against. Most people have no interest in religion at all–they’re not for or against it, they just have no interest. And of course the internet attracts people with strong opinions, one way or the other. So I think you get more extremists here (yeah, me too). So by no means is it representative of the population of any country or all countries.
 
On the good side, I’ve encountered people who truly seem like they care about living out the gospel. Some posters are utterly sincere with their advice and suggestions. They seem like Christ is the center of their life and existence.
 
I’ve literally never met a Catholic in person. I’m in Australia and we seem very Pentecostal heavy here. I’m joining RCIA soon and hopefully that will be good. So for me, the difference between CAF vs general population at the moment is that I can ask questions without getting shot down. Catholicism is not looked upon favourably by anyone in my world.
 
A Catholic apologist on the previous CAF format, Fr Charles Grondin, addressed the issue a number of times. Unfortunately some of his answers I can no longer pull up as the pages no longer exist. But here is an answer I found.

“Anyone baptized Catholic is considered a Catholic. They are counted as Catholic even if they are not going to Mass or are attending a non-Catholic community. This is the same as counting a blood relative as a member of your family even if they “disown” their family, once a member of the family you are always a member of the family.”
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Ex-Catholics being counted as Catholics Non-Catholic Religions
This is a follow-up to a question I asked in the Ask An Apologist section this morning. Hello, How does the Catholic Church determine the number of Catholics in both the United States as well as the world? Does Omnium in mentem, which removes the process by which one can formally defect from the Church mean that the totals given in the Annuarium Statisticum Ecclesiae include those who are practicing a non-Catholic Christian faith, a non-Christian faith, or no faith at all? The Annuarium …
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And as well, even excommunicated Catholics are still Catholics. They are not to receive the sacraments nor hold a parish position until they are reconciled and are in full communion. Yet they remain Catholics.

And I found this for you as well in regard to Catholics who live in a manner inconsistent with the teachings of the Catholic Church:

“Catholics who marry outside the Church are still Catholic. They may be in an invalid marriage and living in a manner inconsistent with the teachings of the Church, but they are still Catholic.”
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Are we no longer Catholic? Ask an Apologist
OK, a few issues here. Marriages of Catholics outside of the Church (without dispensation) are not valid. It might be a legal marriage in the civil law, but it is not a valid sacramental marriage. A Catholic is required to be married in the Church. Legal marriages that are invalid sacramental marriages can become valid sacramental marriages. Its called a validation and is a rather simple process. Its basically a process through which both spouses give assent to the Church’s teachings o…
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I don’t know that many Catholics in real life, but I the ones that I do know agree with the Church’s teaching and practice the Holy Faith. I guess I would probably more of a conservative ideology? but, I am trying to be less judgemental and be more loving and merciful in my interactions with my neighbor. Which is not to say that I would condone things that go against the Church, but act according to the way that humility and charity dictate.
 
I am inclined to parse out the population differently.

I know a number of liberal Catholics; and what I have found is that they tend to approach a fair amount of what comes under the term “Catholicism” with an emotional outlook and response. they tend to be very strong supporting what they perceive to be the charge by Christ to tend to the poor and disadvantaged. So they tend to be bifurcated; they do not seem to support the sexual moral world of Catholicism, but heavily support their understanding of the Sermon on the Mount.

Then there are the moderate Catholics. They support the Pope, the Magisterium; and most of sexual moral law, and they also work to support the poor. most often locally (meaning they get their hands dirty, and don’t look primarily to federal programs). The support good liturgy, and in my parish and a number of others in my state, they support either periodic Adoration, or Perpetual Adoration (my parish, e.g.).

And then there are a group which can vary somewhat, and appear to consist of conservatives to arch-conservatives. They seem to be focused on rules and regulations, sometimes to the point of participating in the SSPX; often have something between a strong and a profound dislike for the OF, and as yet I have to hear them speak of being Christ centered and seeking to be more Christlike. That is not to say they do not seek it, but their discussions never seem to include it.
 
I don’t think it has been said yet, but one can be conservative and not Republican. I consider myself fairly conservative on a lot of issues especially small government. However I don’t vote down party lines. I can’t support democrats because most if not all these days are pro abortion. I don’t vote Republican because they are mostly fake who pretend to have morals to pander to the conservative right, but are just as bad as the democrats when it actually comes down to the real issues. The two party system in America is a sham and I wish more people would see through it. There isn’t a party that is truly pro life in the fullness that the label really carries… from compassion to the poor and suffering and passion for protecting the life of the unborn and everyone in between.
 
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Agree many CAF Catholics are more hardcore than IRL for sure. Also agree it’s a fine line between ‘hardcore’ and orthodox, given the openness/secularism trends of so much of mainstream Catholicism these days. Still you get a pretty wide variety of Catholics on CAF. Maybe we just love our religion, politics. And religion especially is not really discussed, understood, debated in so much of real life anymore. Sometimes I think CAF gets too hardcore though, a minority. Extremism aside, I wish the real RCC had more CAF Catholics, the moderate, orthodox variety. The Church and society would both benefit.
 
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Hi
What is IRL? You may want to put the word in w first usage w a () including the initials??? There are a few, I filing know. Sorry
In Christ’s Love
Tweedlealice
 
I think people are using IRL to be the TLA (three letter acronym ) for In Real Life. IDK (I don’t know) for sure. ISA (it’s sure annoying) though. 🙂
 
Yes one can when clearly they state that. We see it all the time on these boards.
“Direct them to a homeless shelter”. You’re kidding right? Like someone has no idea where to get help. Like someone doesn’t have a ruined leg from the service. Like no one has ever driven them to a shelter. Like no one has ever fed them. These people are down. Way down. They are depressed, not able to be in a hospital, no friends, no family, living under the stars, and you think they can just pick themselves up and mosey on down to a shelter, or that no ever has offered them rides, or resources?

Really?

Have you ever worked with the homeless, the mentally ill, the disabled veterans?
The typical response here is “they should help themselves”.

They cannot. One cannot fathom, unless one has worked with these people, their level of despair.
It’s crushing. If they say a sincere thank you and are able to squeeze out a tear to my five bucks? It’s a win.

Catholics in real life walk the walk. The really do. It’s not all casual discussion and "what if"or “maybe one should” like it is online.

Nothing is more real than REAL LIFE. Sometimes you just have to be compassionate. Christ call us to this.

Unsubscribing.
 
I go to school in a city with a lot of professional pan handlers. I get accosted by the same people walking down town who always change their stories: what their job is/was, how many kids they have, whether they have a spouse, etc.

No need to get emotional. Also, I find it extremely judgmental of you to think that people who don’t give money to panhandlers don’t care about the poor. Have you even asked them what they do for the poor? Perhaps they give money to specific charities or volunteer their time.

Also, if you think I’m cold, I’ve been been asked by blind people in the city to help direct them to their train before. I do it. But, at this point in my life, I don’t have any money of my own. It’s my parents money. I am very careful on how to spend it, otherwise it’s theft.
 
My brother was born and raised Catholic but is an atheist now. According to you, Sy_Noe, he is still Catholic. There is no way he can become un-Catholic. And in a certain sense, he cannot denounce his baptism into the Catholic faith. I suppose he could say he has let go his commitment to the Church made at Confirmation, but I’m not sure if Confirmation itself is a commitment because the Holy Spirit is conferred upon you. Again, you may not be able to escape it.

But the trouble with this is there is no way for a Catholic then to denounce his religion. Perhaps we are more Muslim than we thought.

Still, I see fallen away or liberal Catholics as Protestants in disguise. Protestants from the beginning were Catholics who had a problem with certain of the Church’s teachings, ie. Martin Luther. Would you say Martin Luther was a Catholic?
 
It’s really just an extension of the Catholic teaching on Baptism. Baptism places an indelible mark on a person’s soul that can never be removed. So, in that sense, you cannot “undo” becoming Catholic. Once you are baptized Catholic, you will always be Catholic. You have been marked! 😉

But, of course, most people aren’t super theologically precise in day-to-day conversation. I don’t generally correct people if they say they are no longer Catholic. I know what it means: they no longer believe and/or practice the Catholic faith. But it can be useful to make the distinction at times, such as when people wonder why the Church counts all the baptized as Catholics or why it is not necessary to be “re-baptized” if the person eventually decides to return to the Church.
 
SnowRose said:
This is - compared to the US - a very liberal and scientifically minded place.
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The US is a big place. If you’re hanging out at Harvard or in Manhattan, people will be very “liberal and scientifically minded”. If you’re in a small town in Kentucky, not so much.

I’d suggest you not make generalizations about a huge, diverse country.
 
I am aware that the US is a huge diverse place. I apologize for giving the impression I was being ill informed.
If anything I was being tongue-in-cheek about the prejudices and misconceptions surrounding my own region.
 
Lara said:
But the trouble with this is there is no way for a Catholic then to denounce his religion. Perhaps we are more Muslim than we thought.
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No, we don’t call for execution of those who try to leave . . .

hawk
 
Catholics can denounce his religion if he wants to. He can leave the Catholic Church if he wants to. That’s what many have been doing. Just leave and do want he/she wants to do. What’s the difference does it make if one wants to leave?

Theologically, we cannot undo Baptism but it does not mean that one is saved if one does not live by it.

It also being relevant if one wants to revert to Catholicism in the future as there is no necessity for re-baptism. Normally a Confession is enough - such is the mercy of God, like a loving Father He is, in welcoming back a prodigal son.
 
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