"catholic priests" vs Catholic priests

[liebenlieben]

catholic vs Catholic

I had the misfortune of commenting on an article written in the online magazine “America,” in which a well known media priest described Purgatory as a place of conversion leading to Heaven. (Meaning that atheists would be there to repent and become “pleasantly surprised” that there is a God).

My question is how much freedom do priests have in teaching their own version of the Catholic faith?

The commenters (also priests) told me that they were “small c” catholic and not Catholic.

 

[bmullins]

Well when the word is used with the small c it indicates the universal church. The Catechism teaches that all believers are part of the universal church. What it means when they say they are part of the catholic, instead of the Catholic is that they do not recognize the authority of counsels or the pope, and instead can teach whatever they want. (At least that would be my impression.)

Essentially they are saying they are baptized but not bound by any tradition or authority other than what they perceive from God.

*Note: Most of the time when someone purposely uses the small c towards someone else they are saying something to the effect of “You’re not a good catholic” or don’t believe everything the church teaches but most of it.

 

[nickybr38]

I agree with what the above poster said.

I would point out that such people are nearly impossible to debate with so I don’t know if I’d take them on unless you think you’re prepared to be impossibly annoyed.

If they are the authority you can’t gain any headway because their translation and interpretation ALWAYS trumps yours. Always.

 

[liebenlieben]

Thanks for the replies.

I guess I was just wondering why Catholic priests have the nerve to write articles or teach things that are so obviously not Catholic. Why be a priest if you believe in Universal Salvation? Are they deliberately using their position to lead others astray?

Why doesn’t their religious order correct their errors in print and digital media?

I think it’s a real evil to promote non-Catholic ideals under the guise of our Church.

 

[nickybr38]

Thanks for the replies.

I guess I was just wondering why Catholic priests have the nerve to write articles or teach things that are so obviously not Catholic. Why be a priest if you believe in Universal Salvation? Are they deliberately using their position to lead others astray?

Why doesn’t their religious order correct their errors in print and digital media?

I think it’s a real evil to promote non-Catholic ideals under the guise of our Church.

But they aren’t Catholic priests? you said they called themselves catholic priests. In which case they aren’t part of the Catholic Church.

 

[Waiting]

Thanks for the replies.

I guess I was just wondering why Catholic priests have the nerve to write articles or teach things that are so obviously not Catholic. Why be a priest if you believe in Universal Salvation? Are they deliberately using their position to lead others astray?

Why doesn’t their religious order correct their errors in print and digital media?

I think it’s a real evil to promote non-Catholic ideals under the guise of our Church.