S
SElizabeth
Guest
Tweety,
What church and in what city are you an RCIA instructor?
What church and in what city are you an RCIA instructor?
- Status
T
tweetymom
Guest
And you ask this because?
T
Tantum_ergo
Guest
Interestingly, the Orthodox, who do not permit reception of the Eucharist by non-Orthodox, are seldom if ever mentioned by Protestants who ‘protest’ the ‘exclusion’ of Catholic communion.
This could be because Protestants do not know much about the Orthodox, or because they consider them ‘part of the Catholics’, or for other reasons. I imagine that it’s an individual thing. Some Protestants are extremely well educated about Catholics and Orthodox; some are not.
This could be because Protestants do not know much about the Orthodox, or because they consider them ‘part of the Catholics’, or for other reasons. I imagine that it’s an individual thing. Some Protestants are extremely well educated about Catholics and Orthodox; some are not.
T
Tantum_ergo
Guest
“Closed communion” was also practiced in many Protestant churches throughout history. Although some groups have more or less always been more ‘open’, usually only the most ‘recent’ groups have a ‘continuous’ history of ‘open communion’ as it has been more (though not exclusively) something associated with the 20th century.
S
SElizabeth
Guest
Tweety, Your Bishop needs to read your posts.
T
Tantum_ergo
Guest
Of course, all Christians who truly strive to follow Christ will pray for unity so that one day we all will truly be able to share communion --a true union, not a false one in which any group --Catholic **or **Protestant–is forced to deny its teachings in order to ‘satisfy’ the demands of the other. Jesus asked that “we all be One” so in humility and charity I ask that we listen to His voice and heed HIS word --not ‘my word’ or ‘your word’ but His word.
T
tweetymom
Guest
Well elizabeth you need to take a mind your own business pill. Thank you and God Bless
T
Tantum_ergo
Guest
We also need to be aware that charity and tolerance do not mean that we must set aside truth and justice. It is not ‘charity’ to let a person expose himself to danger.
For example, a 2-year-old might whine, scream, cry, and even hit her mother because the mother refused to let her touch a hot stove. No sane person would say, “You are a cruel mother not to let your child do as she wishes” in such a situation. “Feelings of hurt” are certainly not what we wish others to suffer, but they are also not a legitimate reason to 'do wrong."
For example, a 2-year-old might whine, scream, cry, and even hit her mother because the mother refused to let her touch a hot stove. No sane person would say, “You are a cruel mother not to let your child do as she wishes” in such a situation. “Feelings of hurt” are certainly not what we wish others to suffer, but they are also not a legitimate reason to 'do wrong."
T
Tantum_ergo
Guest
Thus, while a Protestant’s feelings of hurt, anger, and offense are perfectly understandable feelings (just as the 2-year-old’s feelings of hurt, anger and offense are perfectly understandable as well) they are not ‘reasons’ to allow either to have ‘what they want.’
S
SElizabeth
Guest
Tweety,
This is my business. Anyone purporting to be an RCIA instructor that does not believe in the Caholic Church totally has no business “teaching” others. You are scandalizing the Church. If it does not bother you and you think your Bishop would be OK with reading your posts, then give us the information. If you are bothered by him reading your posts, then you will tell me to mind my own business or say something totally off topic. It is truly wrong that you are teaching others while not believing what you are teaching.
This is my business. Anyone purporting to be an RCIA instructor that does not believe in the Caholic Church totally has no business “teaching” others. You are scandalizing the Church. If it does not bother you and you think your Bishop would be OK with reading your posts, then give us the information. If you are bothered by him reading your posts, then you will tell me to mind my own business or say something totally off topic. It is truly wrong that you are teaching others while not believing what you are teaching.
T
Tantum_ergo
Guest
It is a very difficult distinction to distinguish between compassion for the ‘hurt feelings’ yet the duty which insists that what is ‘desired’ is not ‘appropriate’ at the time. . .no matter how desirable.
10 years from now the 2 year old (now a 12 year old) will be perfectly capable of using a stove without any danger, and, in fact, it is highly responsible for her parents to insist that she learn how to use the stove and to prepare simple meals for herself in order for her to be able to care for herself when she is on her own someday. Keeping her from the stove as a 2 year old does not mean she will be kept away ‘forever.’
The situation is slightly different for the Protestant in that it is not simply ‘years’ that keep the Protestant from the Eucharist. However, the ‘years’ that separate the 2 and 12 year old aren’t necessarily just to be considered ‘years’. After all, the 12 year old may have a mental disorder in which she may never ‘touch the stove’. . .but in that case, she will always have someone to ‘care for her’ and to guide her as far as possible into having the kinds of desires that CAN be met.
10 years from now the 2 year old (now a 12 year old) will be perfectly capable of using a stove without any danger, and, in fact, it is highly responsible for her parents to insist that she learn how to use the stove and to prepare simple meals for herself in order for her to be able to care for herself when she is on her own someday. Keeping her from the stove as a 2 year old does not mean she will be kept away ‘forever.’
The situation is slightly different for the Protestant in that it is not simply ‘years’ that keep the Protestant from the Eucharist. However, the ‘years’ that separate the 2 and 12 year old aren’t necessarily just to be considered ‘years’. After all, the 12 year old may have a mental disorder in which she may never ‘touch the stove’. . .but in that case, she will always have someone to ‘care for her’ and to guide her as far as possible into having the kinds of desires that CAN be met.
T
Tantum_ergo
Guest
Some Protestants may, with the passage of time (short or long period), learn and study and may become Catholic. . .and thus, be able to receive the Eucharist.
Some may, with the passage of time, learn, study, not be convinced of Catholic teachings and, because of their knowledge and study, not want to receive the Eucharist, knowing that they are NOT in union with the Catholic Church and having an appreciation of what that means.
Some may, with the passage of time, learn, study, not be convinced of Catholic teachings and, because of their knowledge and study, not want to receive the Eucharist, knowing that they are NOT in union with the Catholic Church and having an appreciation of what that means.
T
tweetymom
Guest
Listen dear lady my priest knows all about me and I do not teach anything contrary to the CC. So go and mind your own business I do not care what you think. In the first place this thread is not about me and you and others have completly gotten off subject and you have made personal attacks on me which are being reported. So thank and God Bless
T
Tantum_ergo
Guest
The difficulty seems to be (for the most part) among those few for whom the Eucharist is something which they personally do not agree with and do not accept, but (because it is ‘denied’ to them), they feel ‘must be given to them’.
This is in stark contrast to the group (and it is not that small a group) of nonCatholic Christians for whom the Eucharist is something that they understand, love and revere, but which they cannot have without becoming Catholics. . .and that step is one which they just cannot (yet) take. These people are often articulate, deeply loving Christians. If ‘merit’ were ‘All’ that was required to receive the Eucharist, surely these people would deserve it far above most, even most Catholics… .but merit is NOT all that is required. This is one of the difficulties for Catholic and Protestant alike. I am very thankful for the many fine Protestants in this category who, at great sacrifice to their own ‘desires’, respect the Catholic Church’s teaching and do not receive. These people are a wonderful Christian witness and I bless them and thank God for them.
This is in stark contrast to the group (and it is not that small a group) of nonCatholic Christians for whom the Eucharist is something that they understand, love and revere, but which they cannot have without becoming Catholics. . .and that step is one which they just cannot (yet) take. These people are often articulate, deeply loving Christians. If ‘merit’ were ‘All’ that was required to receive the Eucharist, surely these people would deserve it far above most, even most Catholics… .but merit is NOT all that is required. This is one of the difficulties for Catholic and Protestant alike. I am very thankful for the many fine Protestants in this category who, at great sacrifice to their own ‘desires’, respect the Catholic Church’s teaching and do not receive. These people are a wonderful Christian witness and I bless them and thank God for them.
S
SElizabeth
Guest
Tweety,
As I suspected, you do not want your Bishop to read your posts. Ok, I will not be replying again to you. If you are truly and RCIA instructor I will be praying that your heart will change and God will lead you to the truth. Thanks
As I suspected, you do not want your Bishop to read your posts. Ok, I will not be replying again to you. If you are truly and RCIA instructor I will be praying that your heart will change and God will lead you to the truth. Thanks
T
Tantum_ergo
Guest
Finally, we come to Catholics themselves. As I said, Catholics should be in a state of grace and should fully understand the nature of the sacrament in order to receive worthily. Unfortunately, some do not. . .and this in no small way contributes to the anger and hurt of Protestants, who see those who ‘should NOT’ be receiving ‘permitted’ to do so simply because they call themselves Catholic and show up in Church. . . We need to pray for greater Catholic education and above all for a greater call to humility and obedience among all Catholics.
T
Tantum_ergo
Guest
May God bring us all, of every nation, race, color, and creed, into His One Church, His One Body, His One Faith, and may we all, one day, celebrate with Him in Heaven, for eternity.
T
tweetymom
Guest
I am truly an RCIA instructor, My heart is right with God and as far as you?Who cares? not me.
T
tweetymom
Guest
Amen Glory to God, what a day that will be.
A
Apryl
Guest
Wow, Tweetymom… that’s an awful lot of hostility!
And it’s only Sunday evening
Ok… all kidding aside: even if your parish priest knows all about you… perhaps with all the other challenges and drama that he has to deal with, he doesn’t say anything about that right now.
People have to pick their battles.
OR, he could be aware, and think it’s nothing wrong. He’s a priest. Not God. And we all, as humans, have someone to answer to. He has to answer to his Bishop in this life, and to God in the next.
Even if you were to go to him and say, ‘should I be doing what I’m doing?’, and he answers in the affirmative, as an RCIA, you are not only responsible for your own soul, but those who you are evangelizing to, and those who you are teaching. If you know better, you should do better.
While the parish priest may give you a pass, you know better. This is a topi that has been addressed on CAF for a while, and you have posted (so I’m going to guess, been reading) for a while.
Rather than being upset with others for pulling your coattail, be GRATEFUL that we care enough about you and those who you affect, and wrangle in your personal stake in this.
It’s not about you. It’s not about popularity or common consent. You, nor your parish priest, heck, not even the Bishop of your diocese haas the authority to change the church’s teachings.
You are an RCIA instructor… you are being held to a higher standard than the rest of us.
Do right. Be a warrior for God.
- Status