Catholics who reject Church authority--what to do with 'em?

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Bezant

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By inconsistent, I mean Catholics who reject the Church’s teaching authority, and as a consequence, any number of Church teachings.

Obviously, we should try to bring them back into the fold. But what if there are a few, or some, who won’t be reconciled to Her?

Should these people bother to stay, continuing to attend Mass (assuming they are) and do other nice Catholic things, while in disobedience to the Church

Need any clarification, just ask.
 
A persons relationship with the Church, or with God for that matter, if nobody elses business. We are not supposed to be judging anyone, but it seems that most humans go out of their way to attempt to judge the religious merits of others.

Since none of us has any authority to excommunicate another person, we really do not have any voice in this matter.

It was Jesus himself that told us, “He who is without sin, cast the first stone”. So, why are so many “so called Christians”, so very ready to cast verbal stones at each other?
 
Ora et Labora

Pray and work …(new evangelization…apologetics…do penance for them etc …)
 
The church is a hospital for sinners so I think that they should be welcomed and allowed to stay just like those members who support all of the church teachings.

Obedient members can by good example and gentle evangelization help those who are struggling.

No one should be driven away.
 
There is nothing we do to them.

They separate themselves by their disobedience.
 
Encourage them to read the “Catechism of the Catholic Church, Second Edition”.
This is one of the best ways to evangelize so that they will know the truth, rather than human error and human bias.

In many cases their situtation is due to poor catechesis.

And then pray for them.

All Catholics are obliged to attend Mass on Sundays and Holy Days of Obligation.
Never advise anyone not to attend Mass.
 
Old_Medic said:
A persons relationship with the Church, or with God for that matter, if nobody elses business. We are not supposed to be judging anyone, but it seems that most humans go out of their way to attempt to judge the religious merits of others.

Since none of us has any authority to excommunicate another person, we really do not have any voice in this matter.

It was Jesus himself that told us, “He who is without sin, cast the first stone”. So, why are so many “so called Christians”, so very ready to cast verbal stones at each other?
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:D:thumbsup:👍👍
 
Pray for them. When possible point out to them where they are in error and where they can find legitimate church teaching. And above all " preach the gospel incessantly, if necessary use words"
 
If they are open and brazen about their dissent from defined Church teaching,
pray for them,
and you might want to gently remind them
that if their dissent involves, for example, their open practice
of fornication or sodomy because they don’t believe it is wrong,
then if they receive the Eucharist while practicing such sins,
they will be committing a very grave act of sacrilege.
Not a good thing to do, you know.

And do pray for them that God will open their eyes.

Love,
Jaypeeto4
 
What to do with them? If they’re at church the same as you do with anyone else there. Welcome them, pray for and with them and TRUST in God. I rejected Church teaching but kept coming around.There was no better place for me to be than in the Lord’s House to experience what Church is really about. It was the people there who welcomed me while remaining true to the faith that inspired me to learn more about those teachings I rejected. Since then I have not only accepted those teachings but have embraced and fallen in love with them.Perhaps more people are rejecting Church teaching than in other time periods. I don’t know. But I do know that MANY of us are hungry for the truth that is found in the Catholic Church and we are desperate to return. We don’t always do it gracefully(pun intended!) but we are coming home.

At first reading the title of this thread - my warped humor responded “Choot 'em!” But I realize this is a serious issue for some. So I refrained!
 
When someone believes heresy assume it is because they were badly catechized. Many people were very poorly catechized.
 
The Church already has a mechanism (excommunication) for dealing with people who reject Church teaching in a very serious or harmful way. Keep in mind that the purpose of excommunication is not punishment, but a call to repentance.

As for the rest, we are all sinners and in need of God’s grace. People who struggle with Church authority may need even more grace, so who are we to turn them away from such a rich source of grace? I’m sure we all have struggled with Church authority at some point; it’s a very difficult thing to accept.
 
Bearontherun said:
The church is a hospital for sinners so I think that they should be welcomed and allowed to stay just like those members who support all of the church teachings.

Obedient members can by good example and gentle evangelization help those who are struggling.

No one should be driven away.
Click to expand...
These are all interesting responses, although I didn’t mean to suggest what we should do to such Catholics (i.e., driving them away, encouraging such Catholics) – only what such Catholics should do.
 
Bezant said:
By inconsistent, I mean Catholics who reject the Church’s teaching authority, and as a consequence, any number of Church teachings.

Obviously, we should try to bring them back into the fold. But what if there are a few, or some, who won’t be reconciled to Her?

Should these people bother to stay, continuing to attend Mass (assuming they are) and do other nice Catholic things, while in disobedience to the Church

Need any clarification, just ask.
Click to expand...
What do you think should happen? I mean, you say “should these people bother to stay” but it’s not like an outside party can do anything about their choice to come or go. Your poll talks about a person’s own actions, and then you ask what should happen to them, which implies another person taking an action. Exactly what do you think should happen to someone who doesn’t accept every single thing coming out of the Magisterium?
 
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