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netmilsmom
Guest
This statement scares me. What makes you think that it is God she is living with??
Sounds demonic to me.
The Devil will hide in the cloak of Our Lord to try to fool the pious.
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Sounds demonic to me.
The Devil will hide in the cloak of Our Lord to try to fool the pious.
S
Seeks_God
Guest
Robert in SD:
I don’t really think these are Kyle’s arguments. He is in highschool (I’m assuming) and struggling. I think it is important to keep him questioning; sometimes you have to question to understand the truth. It is more important to re-institute the ‘why’ of catholicism. besides, I would be concerned if the people I cared about told me I was worshipping Satan - I would take a step back and examine the situation.
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AuntMartha
Guest
Robert in SD:
Aunt Martha
Well, I have to agree with Robert here - who but a Protestant would imagine demons around the clergy of the Catholic Church?
Aunt Martha
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netmilsmom
Guest
Maybe he’s been watching too many Looney Tunes cartoons?
(sorry, bad joke)
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Scott_Waddell
Guest
I see the mass of cardinals as similar to when the disciples gathered at Pentecost when the Holy Spirit descended.
Scott
Scott
K
kyle8921
Guest
netmil(name removed by moderator):
I just have a lot of questions… if you don’t want to answer, then just don’t post.
It’s not that I imagine, or that I want to… it’s just when I see these ceremonies on TV, all they can make me think about it Satan and demons decieving millions of people!
I just have a lot of questions… if you don’t want to answer, then just don’t post.
S
Seeks_God
Guest
Then you are out of touch with the youth of today…there are less and less catholic youth. Therefore it only makes sense that they are going to talk to some protestants…which is exactly what happened. This kid is Catholic and the last thing he needs is someone telling him who THEY think he is…
I’m a devout Catholic and I’m telling ya I think some demons were running around the head of John Geoghan…but I still respect the clergy as a whole
Give Kyle a break…don’t turn him away, consider his feelings.
L
lydiaesther
Guest
I’m a re-vert (but consider myself a convert as I never knew my Catholic Faith). I know where you’re headed and I’m telling you I have NEVER FELT SO BLESSED and Happy and Proud to be Catholic! The Church is full of kisses from Heaven! 2000 years worth! I praise and thank God that I am finally home. Please really learn your faith before you try someone elses!! I’m an ex Pentecostal.
My evening rosary will be for you.
My evening rosary will be for you.
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Seeks_God
Guest
Kyle,
Please ask. Your faith is extremely important, but you have to question where you got the idea in the first place. Your friends sound protestant (most non-denominational christians can have their roots traced to the Reformation). How are you being deceived by the clergy in the Church? Have they lied to you? Whatever claims your friends have made about the Church, I can assure you that they can be refuted. Think about how many different denominational faiths attack the Church? Why do you think that is? Is it because the Church is Satan, because it is my belief that Satan will attack the Bride of Christ. Satan can hide himself in different forms and can tell those around him that he is from Christ. Oh? But than can be said of the Church too, right? I would encorage you to find out specific claims your friends are making about the Church and bring them here or take them to your Priest. No one wants you to leave the Church. Satan competes for souls and will do it any way possible; Christ wants you to choose him through the Church He established on earth.
SG
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kyle8921
Guest
Seeks God:
And there is a huge misunderstanding about Catholics. One teacher, when I was 8th grade heatlth class, asked why is abortion OK in Russia? And he said it was because they don’t believe in any God. So he asked, what is that called, a religion where there is no God? And this girl raised her hand and said “Catholics?”
Everyone treats it like a cult, where they are brainwashing you into becoming “sheep” or “Christ Crispie (like Rice Crispy.)” It’s almost as if Catholics don’t exist where I live. Nobody knows anything about the Church…
Relgion is nearly 100% absent from youth my age. You can find a few people who are really devoted to Christianity, but it’s rare.
And there is a huge misunderstanding about Catholics. One teacher, when I was 8th grade heatlth class, asked why is abortion OK in Russia? And he said it was because they don’t believe in any God. So he asked, what is that called, a religion where there is no God? And this girl raised her hand and said “Catholics?”
Everyone treats it like a cult, where they are brainwashing you into becoming “sheep” or “Christ Crispie (like Rice Crispy.)” It’s almost as if Catholics don’t exist where I live. Nobody knows anything about the Church…
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netmilsmom
Guest
Joke, did you read joke?
And I did post to you about Demons and your friend with wild animals jumping into her arms.
That was not a joke. Did you think about it?
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Tantum_ergo
Guest
WHY do you think about Satan and demons? I mean, you’re a baptized Catholic, right? You know your faith, don’t you? Didn’t you study your Church history? Don’t you know what this conclave means? Do you understand how these “huge churches” came about, and WHY people wanted to make things beautiful for God? (Hint: Check out the Bible and see what Moses, Aaron, David and Solomon had to say about the Ark of the Covenant and the Temple. See all that the people did. . .VOLUNTARY offerings of gold, silver, bronze, precious woods, ointments, expensive intricate embroided fabrics, exquisite decorations. . .not to mention the very BEST offerings of animals and grains. . .)
Do you really think that a gold chalice in a church means that the people in that church are Satan-riddled HYPOCRITES?
Ever checked out the “Crystal Cathedral”, the huge Morman Tabernacle, the glories of Westminster Abbey (Episcopal)? Ever looked at the spiffy three-piece suits, the comfy cars, the elegant houses of the big-name Protestant ministers. . .we aren’t talking their church, we’re talking their LIFE-STYLE. Now, the cardinals and bishops are not perfect, by any means, but do you realize that while Cardinal X may have a real nice house attached to his gilded church, when Cardinal X passes on (rest his soul) he and his family get zip, zilch, nada. . .because said church and house etc. belong not to the Cardinal but to the Church and are only for use of the Cardinal DURING HIS SERVICE TO THE PEOPLE.
Pope JP 2 the Great (God bless him) left NOTHING. He HAD NOTHING TO LEAVE. All the fuss about him wearing gold vestments and carrying splendid jewelry and priceless paintings etc. . .so, where are they? Did he leave them to his family? Nope–they weren’t his to leave.
OTOH, Mr. Roberts, Mr. Falwell, etc. have families and when they pass on (God rest them). . .do you think that the congregation will “share the wealth” or that the house, the car, the three piece suits and the stocks and bonds etc. will go to Sonny Boy or Little Girl?
Think about it. God asked Aaron to wear costly clothing and to use gold and silver and bronze objects and to offer the BEST of everything. . .and nobody bats an eye.
Protestant preachers stand up wearing Ralph Lauren suits and driving Ferraris, and nobody bats an eye.
A Cardinal going in his solemn duty to elect a leader of 1 billion people wears a nice red robe and jewelry. . .and he’s a HYPOCRITE, an extortionist, depriving the poor of their livelihood, greedy, rapacacious, pleasure-loving, a whited sepulchre. . .etc. etc.
Food for thought.
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Lost_Found
Guest
John 12: 6-8
Mary brought in a pound of** very costly** ointment, pure nard, and with it anointed the feet of Jesus, wiping them with her hair; the house was full of the scent of the ointment. Then Judas Iscariot - one of his disciples, the man who was to betray him - said, “Why wasn’t this ointment sold for three hundred denarii, and the money given to the poor?” He said this, not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief; he was in charge of the common fund and used to help himself to the contributions. So Jesus said, “Leave her alone; she had to keep this scent for the day of my burial. You have the poor with you always, you will not always have me.”
Kyle, please try to accept the above in the spirit it was written.
Mary brought in a pound of** very costly** ointment, pure nard, and with it anointed the feet of Jesus, wiping them with her hair; the house was full of the scent of the ointment. Then Judas Iscariot - one of his disciples, the man who was to betray him - said, “Why wasn’t this ointment sold for three hundred denarii, and the money given to the poor?” He said this, not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief; he was in charge of the common fund and used to help himself to the contributions. So Jesus said, “Leave her alone; she had to keep this scent for the day of my burial. You have the poor with you always, you will not always have me.”
Kyle, please try to accept the above in the spirit it was written.
K
kyle8921
Guest
Tantum ergo:
Wow. You made a good point. I’ll have to bring that up to my friends sometime. Thanks for helping me out here!
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Lost_Found
Guest
It doesn’t matter that you were speechless; Jesus didn’t pick his disciples from a debating team. He picked fishermen and tax collectors.
Most Protestants and the newer splinter groups put more emphasis on tricking, debating, contradicting, and above all asking hypocritical questions, so they sound more like the Pharisees than the disciples. In fact it is their trademark, and one of the many givaways to those who claim to be Catholic on this forum but are not so.
Jesus only cares about what is in your heart. You must remember that.
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Genesis315
Guest
Hi Kyle!
The hierarchy is entirely Biblical (except the title of cardinal, but those guys are also bishops anyway). Ask your fundie friends where their bishop is?
In the Bible God commanded people to make gold and ornate stuff in His honor. What’s wrong with glorifying God by building awesome and beautiful cathedrals that lead our thoughts and souls to him.
Dump the fundie friends if they won’t respect your faith. With friends like that, who needs enemies?
The hierarchy is entirely Biblical (except the title of cardinal, but those guys are also bishops anyway). Ask your fundie friends where their bishop is?
In the Bible God commanded people to make gold and ornate stuff in His honor. What’s wrong with glorifying God by building awesome and beautiful cathedrals that lead our thoughts and souls to him.
Dump the fundie friends if they won’t respect your faith. With friends like that, who needs enemies?
L
Lost_Found
Guest
If you’d prefer a bunch of slobs walking around in a pig stye, forget it.
I don’t see people complaining of their nation’s capitol having too many statues and their leader’s suits too expensive.
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StephanieC
Guest
Kyle: Rejoice! What is obvious to me is that you are a bright young person, with a desire to learn more about your faith. What a GIFT!! It sounds like you are in the minority where you live, which might make it harder, but worth every ounce of effort you put into learning. Start here on the Catholic Answers website, and investigate their library. Try not to be put off by the tone of some of the posts on this forum; just keep seeking and ye shall find the true answers!
kyle8921:
kyle8921:
kyle8921:
catholic.com/newsletters/kke_041116.asp
I meant what I said above, Kyle–I’ve been where it sounds like you are, and when I felt cynical about Catholicism, it was very easy to find simpler “truths” in other denominations. But when I actually put the effort into researching the things I questioned, and not just believing what I heard from other people, I found that I couldn’t deny the Truth of the one true Church.
Kyle, you should look into the history and meaning of those cathedrals, statues, white clothes & hats. The Catholic Church is full of Tradition (with a capital T!) that is not meaningless.
“Feelings” come and go. Today I “feel” joyful; yesterday I “felt” blue. You don’t really want to base your faith on your feelings, do you? Also, having been where you sound like you are now, I’d caution about looking to others, Catholic or not, to give you your own spirituality.
Read this about salvation & fundamentalism from Karl Keating’s newsletter:
catholic.com/newsletters/kke_041116.asp
I meant what I said above, Kyle–I’ve been where it sounds like you are, and when I felt cynical about Catholicism, it was very easy to find simpler “truths” in other denominations. But when I actually put the effort into researching the things I questioned, and not just believing what I heard from other people, I found that I couldn’t deny the Truth of the one true Church.
P
Pumpkin
Guest
Kyle,
I can see how you could feel uncertain about your faith when your friends question and challenge your faith. Growing up I knew many people of various religious backgrounds and in fact went to a Christian youth group that was not Catholic. There were times when I felt like you, when you explained feeling “spiritual” around your friends. Sometimes I felt like my non-Catholic friends seemed to know something I did not know and it was appealing. However, the rest of your statement “something that no Catholic has ever given me” Faith cannot be based on a feeling and no person can give you faith. If it were, the Catholic Church would not have lasted throughout the ages. Just imagine if the apostles based their beliefs on a feeling. As soon as they saw Jesus suffer and die on the cross, or when they suffered themselves for what they believed in they would not have professed their faith let alone continued to believe, because the feelings of persecution are not good.
The difference between your experience with your non-Catholic friends and mine was that no one was ever anti-Catholic in his or her interactions with me and no one ever tried to convert me actively. Before I go any farther, I will say something about people being anti-Catholic. Anti-Catholics takes many forms, some will be hostile, but many times, they will approach you with kindness and tell you they only have your best interest at heart. Honestly, I would have struggled if people had pushed me with questions when I was growing up, as your friends have pushed you, because I did not know enough to defend my faith. However, your friends are providing you with an excellent opportunity when they push you. The opportunity is to learn about your faith, as well as, help your friends understand the errors regarding what they believe our Catholic faith to be. They have been taught things about the Catholic Church that are false and if you do not know enough about your faith then you are in danger of believe what they tell you is true, when it is not.
You have posted several questions on various topics discussing the fact that your friends are questioning you, asking you these questions; you have stated these friends are Protestant and some are Atheist. These friends are trying to chip away at your faith and put a seed of doubt in your mind. When they question you always remember you have nothing to fear in the Catholic faith, it is God’s Church. Also, remember that each question they ask you has been asked before and the Catholic faith can guide you in an answer. Before you accept what they, say learn what the Church truly believes, read the Catechism, come here. So many people have answered these same questions before, so you do not have to figure it all out on your own. You may not feel comfortable at first answering their probing questions, but you study and learn the answers for yourself first so you can grow deeper in your faith.
I will pray for you and your friends in your journey for deeper understanding of your faith.
P
A
A_O
Guest
Hey Kyle,I see that you’re two years older than I am, but perhaps I can help?
I’m a convert from Protestantism, and before I converted I was very anti-catholic. I bought in to the demonic Catholicism bunk for awhile, and had been ‘saved’. If you ever want to talk about anything, drop me a PM and I’ll send you my e-mail address or AIM screen name.
God bless,
A&O
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