Can Catholics and Mormons work together?

[Annie_B]

Thanks for the reply RC_Matt

I would NEVER tell anyone that they are going to “burn in hell” That is up to God and God alone. I have heard people from many denominations/churches say that exact thing about the people from many denominations/churches. Nobody - and I mean NOBODY knows the condition of another’s soul at the moment of death; that is why it is left up to God - and not man - to judge.

Annie

 

[Jerusha]

Sure, in theory Mormons and Catholics can work together. However, few Mormons, in my experience, have respect for the faith of a Catholic. Therefore, there are massive trust issues. I now regard trust issues as something separate from “prejudice”. Individually, I cannot work with Mormons because of the massive abuse I have suffered from them. And no, I am not an “exMormon apostate” as Zerinius so uncharitably calls them. My trust issues arise from the fact that my ethnicity, religion, place of birth, and geneaology do not suit them.

And Annie, I wish you would tell your fellow Mormons that such a curse is not “Christian”. I have been cursed in such a way by a Mormon. You actually sound more Catholic than you would like to admit.

 

[Annie_B]

Sure, in theory Mormons and Catholics can work together. However, few Mormons, in my experience, have respect for the faith of a Catholic. Therefore, there are massive trust issues. I now regard trust issues as something separate from “prejudice”. Individually, I cannot work with Mormons because of the massive abuse I have suffered from them. And no, I am not an “exMormon apostate” as Zerinius so uncharitably calls them. My trust issues arise from the fact that my ethnicity, religion, place of birth, and geneaology do not suit them.

And Annie, I wish you would tell your fellow Mormons that such a curse is not “Christian”. I have been cursed in such a way by a Mormon.

Oh Jerusha - I am so sorry for what you have been through:hug1: . I wish that I could “tell my fellow Mormons” (as you put it) that such behavior is not the way of Christ. I can speak only for myself and it is only God that will change the hearts of those filled with such hatred.

I myself have found (in regards the the issue of respect that you brought up) that there are very few Catholics (at least here) who have respect for the faith of the Mormons. I wish that people would understand that you can respect the belief s of another without agreeing with those beliefs!

You are in my prayers
Annie

 

[RebeccaJ]

Annie, it is what your church teaches, fellowship through service.

If I were working a soup kitchen, and you were working the same soup kitchen, I would have no problem with that, at all.

It is when your church organizes service projects, it does so with the goal in mind of helping AND converting. Your church’s literature if chuck full of stories about converting people by helping. And, your church instructs people to help others, befriend them, and attempt to convert them. So, what it is to me, is that your church is trying to convert those they are helping. So if I am working with your church, I am helping them to accomplish their goals of conversion. I want no part of either being converted, or helping Mormons convert others.

Individuals like yourself, I never know what the goal is. All I know is that every Mormon neighbor who has ever befriended me, offered help, has also asked me to go to church. It gets to where I don’t want to make friends with my Mormon neighbors because I don’t trust that they are doing anything but targeting me. I am friendly, talk to them, I would help them if they needed help, but I don’t attempt to be best pals with them.

 

[Annie_B]

Annie, it is what your church teaches, fellowship through service.

If I were working a soup kitchen, and you were working the same soup kitchen, I would have no problem with that, at all.

It is when your church organizes service projects, it does so with the goal in mind of helping AND converting. Your church’s literature if chuck full of stories about converting people by helping. And, your church instructs people to help others, befriend them, and attempt to convert them. So, what it is to me, is that your church is trying to convert those they are helping. So if I am working with your church, I am helping them to accomplish their goals of conversion. I want no part of either being converted, or helping Mormons convert others.

Individuals like yourself, I never know what the goal is. All I know is that every Mormon neighbor who has ever befriended me, offered help, has also asked me to go to church. It gets to where I don’t want to make friends with my Mormon neighbors because I don’t trust that they are doing anything but targeting me. I am friendly, talk to them, I would help them if they needed help, but I don’t attempt to be best pals with them.

Ok - point taken. But, since when is it a crime to invite your neighbor to church? Are you saying that Catholics don’t do this? If not, why not?

Annie

 

[RC_Matt]

Thanks for the reply RC_Matt

I would NEVER tell anyone that they are going to “burn in hell” That is up to God and God alone. I have heard people from many denominations/churches say that exact thing about the people from many denominations/churches. Nobody - and I mean NOBODY knows the condition of another’s soul at the moment of death; that is why it is left up to God - and not man - to judge.

Annie

Hi Annie:

Yeah, it’s not just Mormons (not all inclusive) that blow everybody else off to hell; I’ve also had it from Southern Baptists and Nazarenes. Too bad these people don’t realize that what they’re really saying is something like, “I’m a total idiot, my church teaches nonsense and I have no brain myself…”

Seriously, everybody could work perfectly well together, and we’d live in an entirely different word, if people followed Jesus’ command to “love your neighbor as yourself.” The problems arise when we start behaving like latter day Pharisees, and that’s precisely what Jesus warned us against. I think most people are inherently decent, but sometimes we let “rules” or “dogma” get in the way and divert us from our true nature. I may think some of the Mormon stuff is kinda corny, but all that kind of stuff is really pretty superficial anyway and I don’t think it matters at the end of the day. If Mormonism is the avenue that brings you closest to God, and most effectively helps you to follow Christ’s teachings, than that is exactly where you should be. What really matters is how we treat each other, and we pretty much reap what we sow there.

That said, to the extent that I can, I will not let proselytizing Mormons get away with the “milk-before-meat” thing. That’s dishonest. I’ve been around this stuff all my life and I know more about Mormon teachings and history than a lot of the missionaries. If someone knows the whole story and wants to convert, that’s cool; but I’ve seen people get converted via “milk-before-meat” and it’s caused major problems in their lives once they’ve been baptized and the meat starts coming to light. That’s why we have RCIA, it prevents any misunderstandings down the road.

By any chance, were you a Catholic convert? If so, LOL, some of it still shows…

 

[Annie_B]

Hi Annie:

Yeah, it’s not just Mormons (not all inclusive) that blow everybody else off to hell; I’ve also had it from Southern Baptists and Nazarenes. Too bad these people don’t realize that what they’re really saying is something like, “I’m a total idiot, my church teaches nonsense and I have no brain myself…”

Seriously, everybody could work perfectly well together, and we’d live in an entirely different word, if people followed Jesus’ command to “love your neighbor as yourself.” The problems arise when we start behaving like latter day Pharisees, and that’s precisely what Jesus warned us against. I think most people are inherently decent, but sometimes we let “rules” or “dogma” get in the way and divert us from our true nature. I may think some of the Mormon stuff is kinda corny, but all that kind of stuff is really pretty superficial anyway and I don’t think it matters at the end of the day. If Mormonism is the avenue that brings you closest to God, and most effectively helps you to follow Christ’s teachings, than that is exactly where you should be. What really matters is how we treat each other, and we pretty much reap what we sow there.

That said, to the extent that I can, I will not let proselytizing Mormons get away with the “milk-before-meat” thing. That’s dishonest. I’ve been around this stuff all my life and I know more about Mormon teachings and history than a lot of the missionaries. If someone knows the whole story and wants to convert, that’s cool; but I’ve seen people get converted via “milk-before-meat” and it’s caused major problems in their lives once they’ve been baptized and the meat starts coming to light. That’s why we have RCIA, it prevents any misunderstandings down the road.

By any chance, were you a Catholic convert? If so, LOL, some of it still shows…

You caught me I have been bouncing between the Catholic and Mormon church for years. I was raised Catholic until my parents stopped going to church when I was seven, received first communion when I was 15 - never was confirmed. Stopped going to church when I was in my 20’s. Was married (and widowed) outside the church. Joined the LDS church in 1994. Tried coming back to the Catholic church last year but ran into a serious roadblock that does not want to move. Soooo, I still associate with the LDS church - but more as a technicality than anything else.

Annie

 

[Annie_B]

ps - one of the things that turned me away from the Catholic church and toward the Mormon church was all the “nice Catholics” who told me my husband would go directly to hell for killing himself. How awful is that??? I now know that the church has softened her teaching on this matter and it sure hepls.

Annie

 

[ibkc]

ps - one of the things that turned me away from the Catholic church and toward the Mormon church was all the “nice Catholics” who told me my husband would go directly to hell for killing himself. How awful is that??? I now know that the church has softened her teaching on this matter and it sure hepls.

I am so sorry, both for your loss and for your treatment by mean people. The question of suicide came up in our RCIA class and Father told us that there isn’t a simple answer; that people who commit suicide often have complex mental and emotional problems that prevent them from thinking clearly, and that their ultimate fate is between them and God, just like everyone else. It was very cruel for anyone to speak to you in that way.

 

[Jerusha]

ps - one of the things that turned me away from the Catholic church and toward the Mormon church was all the “nice Catholics” who told me my husband would go directly to hell for killing himself. How awful is that??? I now know that the church has softened her teaching on this matter and it sure hepls.

Annie

From 1958 Edition of Mormon Doctrine by Bruce R. McConkie: “Suicides. See Murderers. Suicide is murder, pure and simple, and murderers are damned. There is no more justification for self-murder than for the wilful destruction of another. There is a common and supposedly compassionate tendency on the part of many to reason that all who commit suicide must be mentally unbalanced and that therefore they are not accountable for their crimes……But the great probability is that nearly all self-murderers–though they may be depressed an mentally ill–do in fact know right from wrong, the same as most killers do. No murderer hath eternal life abiding in him.”

mormonstories.org/?p=85#more-85

That is sad, Annie. However, as you can see, LDS has also taught that.

My own belief is that God is the only judge. And only my faith in God, and knowlege of his judgments, has prevented me form committing suicide.

 

[Annie_B]

mormonstories.org/?p=85#more-85

That is sad, Annie. However, as you can see, LDS has also taught that.

My own belief is that God is the only judge. And only my faith in God, and knowlege of his judgments, has prevented me form committing suicide.

They may have taught “that stuff” but at least nobody ever said it to my face. How was I ever going to raise a daughter in a church where others would tell her that her beloved “Papa” was in hell?? I made a choice that I thought was the best one. I am not beyond making new choices

Annie

 

[Annie_B]

<<My own belief is that God is the only judge. And only my faith in God, and knowlege of his judgments, has prevented me form committing suicide.>>

You are right, Jerusha; God is the only one who can really judge us. My husband was mentally ill - VERY ill. The God I know would not send him to hell for what he did anymore than he would send a cancer patient to hell because they are sick. I for one am glad that you are alive and well on the CA discussion boards!

Annie

 

[Annie_B]

I am so sorry, both for your loss and for your treatment by mean people. The question of suicide came up in our RCIA class and Father told us that there isn’t a simple answer; that people who commit suicide often have complex mental and emotional problems that prevent them from thinking clearly, and that their ultimate fate is between them and God, just like everyone else. It was very cruel for anyone to speak to you in that way.

Thank you for your kind words FYI - I now have a beautiful, successful and bright 19 year old girl and a husband that would be the envy to all women (nope - I am not biased - not one single bit )

Annie

 

[why_me]

They may have taught “that stuff” but at least nobody ever said it to my face. How was I ever going to raise a daughter in a church where others would tell her that her beloved “Papa” was in hell?? I made a choice that I thought was the best one. I am not beyond making new choices

Annie

As you know Annie, the lds concept of hell is quite different from the catholic. The lds believe that very few people will go to hell and certainly your husband is not one of them.

I do believe that the lds church stands alone with its hell concept. The three kingdoms of glory seems to counter most christian hell claims.

Sorry about your husband.

 

[why_me]

My gosh, are the catholics on this thread judgemental of mormons? You bet they are. It is unfortunate and probably not based in reality but in assumptions. The mormons that I know do not do things to convert people but because they want to do them. And that includes service projects with people of other faiths.

Most mormons that I know keep their faith to themselves. Religion is not a water cooler topic.

 

[Annie_B]

mormonstories.org/?p=85#more-85

That is sad, Annie. However, as you can see, LDS has also taught that.

My own belief is that God is the only judge. And only my faith in God, and knowlege of his judgmentshe way, has prevented me form committing suicide.

By the way - when I read that quote that you posted the link to, I almost didn’t get to the bucket in time However, the Catholic church used to teach the same thing and has, in recent times, softened their position on suicide, just as those in the LDS church have. I have never heard that a suicided victime is going to hell in the LDS church as long as I have been there. There have been several talks regarding suicide over the years I have been a member and they all have stated - in one way or another- that those who do kill themselves can only be judged by God and not man and that they are not automatically cast into hell for all eternity.

Annie

Annie

 

[RC_Matt]

ps - one of the things that turned me away from the Catholic church and toward the Mormon church was all the “nice Catholics” who told me my husband would go directly to hell for killing himself. How awful is that??? I now know that the church has softened her teaching on this matter and it sure hepls.

Annie

Annie:

I’m really, really sorry to hear about your husband; I can’t imagine what that would be like, but I know it’s been a very rough road for you and I’ll keep you in my prayers - really. My best friend, who was truly another brother to me, did essentially the same thing three years ago; I still feel the loss and morn for the life he might have had. As far as those “nice” Catholics are concerned, you already know what’s up with them; they’re insensitive mindless idiots and I wouldn’t dignify those comments by ever giving them another thought. Stupidity knows no bounds, religious or otherwise.

Sounds like you’re your hanging in there pretty well though; keep the faith (whichever one you ultimately choose, LOL). Your presence is a very nice addition to this board.

Matt

 

[RC_Matt]

As you know Annie, the lds concept of hell is quite different from the catholic. The lds believe that very few people will go to hell and certainly your husband is not one of them.

I do believe that the lds church stands alone with its hell concept. The three kingdoms of glory seems to counter most christian hell claims. (

For crying out loud dude, will you please STOP already??!!! Your comment reminds me of Mormon funerals, nothing but additional, and highly inappropriate, opportunities to proselytize. And, if you think that we poor pagans don’t see through that, you’re totally deluded.

 

[RC_Matt]

My gosh, are the catholics on this thread judgemental of mormons? You bet they are. It is unfortunate and probably not based in reality but in assumptions. The mormons that I know do not do things to convert people but because they want to do them. And that includes service projects with people of other faiths.

Most mormons that I know keep their faith to themselves. Religion is not a water cooler topic.

LOL, holy puppies! You must be on Kolob! The Mormons here on earth, where there are many heathens of other faiths, take every opportunity to help us learn of our errors and teach us about the one true church.

You are too much!

 

[Annie_B]

For crying out loud dude, will you please STOP already??!!! Your comment reminds me of Mormon funerals, nothing but additional, and highly inappropriate, opportunities to proselytize. And, if you think that we poor pagans don’t see through that, you’re totally deluded.

RC_Matt, while I appreciate your sympathy for me, I do not appreciate the above response to a post for me. The comments by Why Me were appropriate and comforting.

Annie