Confused?

[3937mcallip]

I was raised a Roman Catholic my whole life, but for the last 5 months have lived as an atheist. It was not until a few days ago i have decided to give up that life and accept Jesus Christ once again. However, a problem has ocurred in my mind. I cannot decided whether to join the Episcopal church, or the Catholic church again. I feel like the RCC is the one true church, but i cannot except several teachings. For example, i believe women should be ordained and homosexuals ought to be accepted fully. I seem to be a dilema. Any words of advice would be much appreciated.

 

[His_little1]

I suggest you read up and find out more before you decide. While women have always had special roles in the church (Mary the mother of Jesus is a big one that comes to mind), I don’t have the wisdom to tell you why they are not ordained as priests. But as for the homosexual issue, that’s something we talk about in RCIA and I can try to explain the best I can.

It all boils down to the act of sex being a gift from God to be shared between a man and a woman in the bonds and relationship of a marriage. It is also believed to be for the procreation of children. To engage in sex without the possibility of children as a result (as in artificial birth control) would be against why God gave us this gift. Sex outside of this union is therefore considered wrong. That means if it is “solo” or with someone other than your spouse it is considered wrong. I believe the teaching would be that we should respect and love in Christian charity and minister to the person who is homosexual. It is not the person to avoid, but the temptation and action that would happen that would be the problem. (Just as you would look on a person who is not faithful to their spouse for example.) Now the question comes up, then why can’t two people of the same sex get married? Well that takes us back to the belief of sex being a gift to be shared between a man and a woman only in the union of marriage. It may seem harsh if a peson finds themself in that situation, but it is defined as it is.

Pray about it with a true desire to do what is pleasing to God and ask God to lead you back home to Him.
Peace.

 

[ralphinal]

I will offer some advice, but please do not take it the wrong way.

If you feel that women should be ordained based on Scriptures, make the case. If you feel that it is culturally acceptable today, please read the Scriptures. The priesthood is only open to men as motherhood is only open to women. Both bring life into the world, one spiritual and the other physical.

Homosexuals are accepted fully in the Catholic Church. We are willing to say that even though they did not choose to carry that cross, to give in to the desire puts their salvation at risk. Only someone with love for all mankind would be willing to say that. It would be an act of hate to say “Live as you wish” without saying “And risk eternal hell.”

Everyone who is unmarried is called to live a chaste life. It is not easy. It is what we are called to do by God. I cannot change what God has ordained. No one can.

 

[Psalter]

I was raised a Roman Catholic my whole life, but for the last 5 months have lived as an atheist. It was not until a few days ago i have decided to give up that life and accept Jesus Christ once again. However, a problem has ocurred in my mind. I cannot decided whether to join the Episcopal church, or the Catholic church again. I feel like the RCC is the one true church, but i cannot except several teachings. For example, i believe women should be ordained and homosexuals ought to be accepted fully. I seem to be a dilema. Any words of advice would be much appreciated.

I don’t get it. You feel like the RCC is the one true Church but also feel like some immoral practices (“ordaining” women, accepting homosexuality) are OK. How can the RCC be the one true Church yet wrong about its stance on women’s ordination and homosexuality? If you believe Catholicism is the one true faith–and it is, of course–you set aside your personal issues and give full assent to the Church’s teachings.

 

[love4mary]

The priests act in Persona Christi (hope I spelled that right) and because Jesus is a Man, it only makes sense that Men be ordained to the priesthood. Others smarter then me can give you more intellectual reasons.

As for homosexual “marriages”. All through scripture, from beginning to end, God has made His opinion very VERY clear as to what He thinks of this “union”. He said it was an Abomination!,pretty strong words ifen ya ask me.

Pray as to why our Lord spoke out Against homosexual practices and trust that He knows what He is talking about.

 

[grandfather]

I was raised a Roman Catholic my whole life, but for the last 5 months have lived as an atheist. It was not until a few days ago i have decided to give up that life and accept Jesus Christ once again. However, a problem has ocurred in my mind. I cannot decided whether to join the Episcopal church, or the Catholic church again. I feel like the RCC is the one true church, but i cannot except several teachings. For example, i believe women should be ordained and homosexuals ought to be accepted fully. I seem to be a dilema. Any words of advice would be much appreciated.

You do indeed seem confused. You also seem uncertain about things, kind of vascilating, changing. You might believe one thing today and another tomorrow. Whatever any individual believes about reality does not effect what reality is. If God exists and an atheist does not believe that, God still exists. If I refuse to believe that smoking cause lung cancer, my belief has no effect on what is.

This is also true of the moral law. It is what it is. So if Episcopalians believe it is moral to get an abortion and the Catohlic Church says it is murder of an innocent person, only one can have the truth on the matter.

Trying to find what religion to belong to by searching for one that agrees with me is kind of crazy. It is kind of backwards. Religion is supposed to inform us of spiritual truths, explain reality to us, not conform to what our explanation of reality is.

 

[ricko]

All the above are very good posts. The teachings of Jesus Christ do not change with the times, there is one truth and the Catholic Church has the fullness of that truth. If you decide that you know better than God what that truth is and choose what you will or will not believe then you are making up your own religion. Look around you and you will see exactly that going on today with hundreds of different religions teaching different things. Now that is confusion. It is not the Church that needs to change, and it never will, but your thinking. I also believe the CC to be the one and only true Church and since I do I also accept all of its’ teachings.

 

[churchcamefirst]

I was raised a Roman Catholic my whole life, but for the last 5 months have lived as an atheist. It was not until a few days ago i have decided to give up that life and accept Jesus Christ once again. However, a problem has ocurred in my mind. I cannot decided whether to join the Episcopal church, or the Catholic church again. I feel like the RCC is the one true church, but i cannot except several teachings. For example, i believe women should be ordained and homosexuals ought to be accepted fully. I seem to be a dilema. Any words of advice would be much appreciated.

Please remember before you make up your mind that if you know the RCC is the true church started by Christ, and then reject the church, you are rejecting Jesus Christ and your soul is in serious trouble.
I believe as a Catholic that gay people are accepted by Christ too. Since Jesus knows what you are to become, he already knows you will be gay, children find out they are gay at 12-13 years old. I don’t believe they are condemned to hell for all eternity. However, if as an adult you take advantage of the situation, God will not tolerate it.
Let God sort out the people, not you or I.