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GKC
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GKC
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And, I suspect he has a sense of humor.
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steido01
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See page 1.
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Sy_Noe
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Currently non-practicing Roman Catholic. For one reason because I learned on CAF that I can not hold the political views I do (favor marital civil rights for SS couples for instance) and be a practicing Catholic. So after I was pushed enough away, I figured why even bother to practice in other ways if I am not one. And I’ve yet to join another faith community. Although I know that wouldn’t matter to the Catholic Church according to OCAC.
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Joelle_M
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I’m sorry you’re going through this. It can be really hard at times understanding why our faith can be so complicated. Can I make a suggestion though? Keep praying. Pray especially hard when times are hard. God knows what you’re going through and he wants to help you get past it. Continuing dialog with him is so important… it gives him the oportunity to speak to you. If you stop praying, God will respect your decision to stay away from him and you’ll grow increasingly farther from him.
I stopped going to church years ago and as time went on I realized that my catholic faith had morphed into something else. I didn’t know how to start over. I thought I was “all good”… until my sister recommended a book. The book was “Get us out of here”- a book about a mystic who was visited by the souls of purgatory her whole life. I had always been interested in the supernatural, I figured it would just be a good read. IT CHANGED MY LIFE. I started to pray St Brigit’s 12 year prayer and not long after fell ill with bronchitis. I was sick for almost 3 months- the doctors just kept pumping in the meds and my ailments just kept morphing into other things. At wits end- I spoke to my mom and she convinced me that there may be outside- malevolent- forces at work. I went to a priest, had a long conversation with him and got a special blessing after going to my fist confession in years. My ailments eventually finally left me (after getting worse for a few weeks first). Since then i’ve had amazing highs with my faith- and many downs as well- but I am continuing on my journey. I’m not perfect- God knows that- but he doesn’t expectbperfection- he only expects you to do your best and to continue to pray to do better.
I didn’t mean to write a novel- your comment struck a cord with me because i’ve been there. I just wanted to tell you that you aren’t alone- i’ve been there. Just continue the dialog. Read some good Catholic books- about anything really and God will speak to you through them.
God bless you- I’ll Keep you in my prayers!
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Confiteor_Deo
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You can and should be a practicing Catholic even if you are going against the Church in some areas. Continue to read the reasons the Church says what it does concerning the various political issues to which you disagree with and why the Church has the authority to say such things, and pray for the Holy Ghost to help you to understand it and accept it. You may be committing a sin by holding political views that go against the Church, but your other obligations in the practice of the Faith remain.
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Stylteralmaldo
Guest
Probably the best option for me would be “conservative Catholic that leans traditional”. I selected “conservative Catholic” in the poll.
I was born and raised post-Vatican II and have only been to a handful of Latin-spoken masses so it would be incorrect to call myself a traditional Catholic is the strictist sense of the word. I love the traditions of the Church and have a desire to conserve those traditions. I love the devotions of the Church like the Holy Rosary and Mother of Perpetual Help devotions and Stations of the Cross. I am passionate about the Church’s teachings regarding life including protection of the unborn which I believe falls under your typical “conservative Catholic” stereotype. That is a teaching I desire to conserve as well.
I prefer the Mass to have traditional music (not a fan of guitars in church for example) and am not a fan of choir in front of Church, but rather in the choir loft (if the church has one). I don’t freak out or think it’s wrong if these options are utilized, it’s just not my preference.
I prefer to not hold hands during the Lord’s prayer, but am not offended when others hold hands at Mass. I actually get irritated with people who make a bigger deal out of that issue than needs be…from both the pro-hand holders and con-hand holders.
I love icons and hope the Church preserves (conserves) it’s beautiful artwork. I don’t care for plain-looking church buldings…I don’t mind if people desire to worship in different settings, as this is my preference.
To me, it’s not a matter of things like this being “we need to go back to the way things were” kind if mentality. I do think it’s possible to be a liberal Catholic, although I do think it is impossible for a liberal Catholic to vote for a Democrat who has voted to uphold a woman’s right to kill her unborn baby (unless one does so with invincible ignorance of the Church’s teachings on formal cooperation in evil). I believe (as probably fits the conservative label) that protection of life in the womb is a far more pressing issue than goverment programs designed (in theory) to help the poor. Although both are important issues, life comes first.
Directly funding the murder of innocents comes before government funding of housing (for example). My view is that my church donations and other related (i.e. St. Vincent DePaul society, etc.) can do just as good, probably better job at helping the poor. I understand that some may disagree with that opinion and that’s fine. However, to knowingly support a candidate that votes to uphold abortion rights isn’t a Catholic in good standing in my opinion. I also recognize that what is considered a “Catholic in good standing” isn’t for me to determine.
I was born and raised post-Vatican II and have only been to a handful of Latin-spoken masses so it would be incorrect to call myself a traditional Catholic is the strictist sense of the word. I love the traditions of the Church and have a desire to conserve those traditions. I love the devotions of the Church like the Holy Rosary and Mother of Perpetual Help devotions and Stations of the Cross. I am passionate about the Church’s teachings regarding life including protection of the unborn which I believe falls under your typical “conservative Catholic” stereotype. That is a teaching I desire to conserve as well.
I prefer the Mass to have traditional music (not a fan of guitars in church for example) and am not a fan of choir in front of Church, but rather in the choir loft (if the church has one). I don’t freak out or think it’s wrong if these options are utilized, it’s just not my preference.
I prefer to not hold hands during the Lord’s prayer, but am not offended when others hold hands at Mass. I actually get irritated with people who make a bigger deal out of that issue than needs be…from both the pro-hand holders and con-hand holders.
I love icons and hope the Church preserves (conserves) it’s beautiful artwork. I don’t care for plain-looking church buldings…I don’t mind if people desire to worship in different settings, as this is my preference.
To me, it’s not a matter of things like this being “we need to go back to the way things were” kind if mentality. I do think it’s possible to be a liberal Catholic, although I do think it is impossible for a liberal Catholic to vote for a Democrat who has voted to uphold a woman’s right to kill her unborn baby (unless one does so with invincible ignorance of the Church’s teachings on formal cooperation in evil). I believe (as probably fits the conservative label) that protection of life in the womb is a far more pressing issue than goverment programs designed (in theory) to help the poor. Although both are important issues, life comes first.
Directly funding the murder of innocents comes before government funding of housing (for example). My view is that my church donations and other related (i.e. St. Vincent DePaul society, etc.) can do just as good, probably better job at helping the poor. I understand that some may disagree with that opinion and that’s fine. However, to knowingly support a candidate that votes to uphold abortion rights isn’t a Catholic in good standing in my opinion. I also recognize that what is considered a “Catholic in good standing” isn’t for me to determine.
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Sy_Noe
Guest
I just wanted to thank you and foremost for your prayers. James wrote to let us pray for one another. Some people may not like me praying for them but I am going to trust it is okay with you
so I shall keep you in mine as well. I’m not sure it’s so much that I find the Catholic faith complicated though. I actually find it quite simple if one simply has faith in Catholic authority and abides by what that authority says. But I suppose I’ve for a long time not had the required faith in authority that is necessary to be a practicing Catholic. CAF merely helped me to confirm this I suppose. Confiteor Deo was kind to say I can be a practicing Catholic even if I go against the Catholic Church in some areas. But if one is not faithful to teachings, a now retired bishop explained to me there are practicing Catholics and there are non practicing Catholics, determined to some extent on views held and as I read his reply to me, I fell into the non practicing mold. Maybe too it depends on what constitutes a “practicing Catholic”. Whether mere Mass attendance suffices or is there so much more. I see on the news subforum Catholic political figures such as Joe Biden and Nancy Pelosi frequently criticized and labeled. It seems even if they attend Mass regularly, they are not considered practicing by many there. And I can understand the Catholic view on many issues. I just find myself disagreeing on many. So I concluded I lack faith in Catholic authority or I would abide. I do pray though and continue a dialogue with God. I do believe my Creator knows what I go through and knows my mind, why I think as I do, and my heart. And knows that I do not believe I am all good and am not perfect. I’m just a human with a finite mind, not professing that I know with certainty I am right in regard to matters of faith. I believe it takes some degree of faith to believe one knows for sure. But I’m just on a journey, walking to the best of my human understanding of an infinite being God. Anyway I don’t want to make this thread about me. But just wanted to thank you. Peace and many continued blessings!
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KendraDZ1902
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I’m doing well. Thanks for asking.
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Peter_J
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An add-on to my Original Post (please read … although I guess you wouldn’t read “please read” unless you were reading in the first place 
uch.
Several people have said that they don’t want any adjective in front of “Catholic”. This isn’t precisely what I was seeking to learn with this thread, but I now think it should be included, especially since it is closely related. In retrospect, I probably should have expected this, considering that over the years I have encountered numerous people who don’t want any adjective in front of “Christian”.
When I chose the options for the poll (and also the suggestions that didn’t make it into the poll, but that I put in the OP) I mentally noted, but didn’t indicate, that some of them are (shall we say) generally agreed upon terms, whereas others are more argumentative.
Really I should say I mostly avoided argumentative adjectives – particularly ones of the “good Catholic vs. bad Catholic” or “real Catholic vs. air-quotes-Catholic” variety. Mostly but not completely. (“Cafeteria Catholic” being the glaring exception – I nearly omitted that one, but decided at the last moment in keep it in. I thought one or more Catholics might choose that, especially since the poll is anonymous.)
Anyhow, thanks to everyone who has voted and/or commented thus far, whether about a particular adjective in front of “Catholic” or about not wanting any. I hope the discussion will continue.
uch.Several people have said that they don’t want any adjective in front of “Catholic”. This isn’t precisely what I was seeking to learn with this thread, but I now think it should be included, especially since it is closely related. In retrospect, I probably should have expected this, considering that over the years I have encountered numerous people who don’t want any adjective in front of “Christian”.
When I chose the options for the poll (and also the suggestions that didn’t make it into the poll, but that I put in the OP) I mentally noted, but didn’t indicate, that some of them are (shall we say) generally agreed upon terms, whereas others are more argumentative.
Really I should say I mostly avoided argumentative adjectives – particularly ones of the “good Catholic vs. bad Catholic” or “real Catholic vs. air-quotes-Catholic” variety. Mostly but not completely. (“Cafeteria Catholic” being the glaring exception – I nearly omitted that one, but decided at the last moment in keep it in. I thought one or more Catholics might choose that, especially since the poll is anonymous.)
Anyhow, thanks to everyone who has voted and/or commented thus far, whether about a particular adjective in front of “Catholic” or about not wanting any. I hope the discussion will continue.
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peter26
Guest
First and foremost, I’d call myself an “Anglican-Use Catholic” or a “Catholic in the Ordinariate”. I’d also identify with “traditional Catholic” (which is basically a given in the Ordinariate) or “conservative Catholic”. “Thinking Catholic” would also work, I’d consider myself an intellectual who needs to understand the rational reason behind a concept. Practicing more certainly.
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clem456
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Despite the face that people disagree on the internet, prayers are appreciated on all sides, from all people, at all times, in all places.I just wanted to thank you and foremost for your prayers. James wrote to let us pray for one another. Some people may not like me praying for them but I am going to trust it is okay with you
As far as practicing your faith…we are all practicing, till the day we die.
If we practice it, we might not reach the perfect realization of it, in accordance with the catechism and other Church teachings etc…
but God will take care of us by his grace.
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Peter_J
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Oh and I don’t want to forget to thank the posters who contributed “Pharisaical Catholics”.
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Little_Sheep
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I know, right?
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tee_eff_em
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By way of information, I was once acquainted with an Episcopalian (and honest to goodness Episcopalian) who insisted on self-identifying as *Anglo-Catholic *or, sometimes, just *Catholic. *I know, right?
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GKC
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No kidding. Imagine that.By way of information, I was once acquainted with an Episcopalian (and honest to goodness Episcopalian) who insisted on self-identifying as *Anglo-Catholic *or, sometimes, just *Catholic. *
tee
GKC, *Anglicanus-Catholicus, posterus traditus Anglicanus *
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Peter_J
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I guess he/she knows a good word when he/she hears it.By way of information, I was once acquainted with an Episcopalian (and honest to goodness Episcopalian) who insisted on self-identifying as *Anglo-Catholic *or, sometimes, just *Catholic. *
tee
Can’t blame him/her for that! (I’ve also known some Catholics who wished to be called Orthodox.)But I also don’t want this thread to get too complicated.
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