Considering Catholicism

[Junebug999]

Ary-Girl
I like what the priest said about “let go of the wheel” – it puts Christ in the driver’s seat. And yes, I did feel a weight come off. And yes, I do still want to intellectually understand the Church and its teachings, but I have the rest of my life to do that. Intellectual understanding is easier from the perspective of “I believe, I accept, Lord I will follow you.” CA is a wonderful place to learn, AFF/RCIA – the Church has other Bible studies as well. One things I love is that there are some rules. When I was a Protestant I used to wonder, “Who’s in charge here???” Every pastor of every protestant church on every street corner was making up different rules. When I was a kid and my dad was an ordained “Landmark Missionary Baptist Church” minister, my mother was not supposed to wear red, sleeveless dresses, and I could not wear pants (slacks – clarifying “pants” – sigh ) on Sunday. I rememer my poor mother having to wear a dress when some of the church people went to the mountains to go camping or to go to the snow. The LMBC would not allow any member to work in any establishment that sold alcohol. Little boys and little girls could not have their feet in a wading pool at the same time (mixed bathing to them was a sin). Also, no dancing, not even square dancing in school. Now, there were some RULES!

We’ll just keep praying Ary-Girl, and when you believe the Lord is calling you, you can answer. God’s will be done in your life. (please keep us posted.)

 

[Ary_girl]

Ary-Girl
We’ll just keep praying Ary-Girl, and when you believe the Lord is calling you, you can answer. God’s will be done in your life. (please keep us posted.)

Thank you for the prayers and I keep you updated, if you are interested. Wow, no dancing I don’t know if I could survive, lol. At times, set rules can be helpful, especially if there is some objective sin that it would be nice to know to avoid. At other times, rules seem like just more opportunities to sin. It definitely gives a person more opportunities to witness, such as having someone ask you why you go to church and why you don’t swear.

 

[hasikelee]

I am just confused why there has to be so many rules. It would seem to me that it might be easier if their were less rules and people could make up their minds. I suppose that the rules are there to help people live holier lives. It’s like procrastinating: you know you need to do something, but it sure is a lot easier to do it if there is a deadline.

Well, Ary_girl, I know there are some free-spirited people who enjoy life without rules, but when you are talking about millions of people all unified in one church, rules are a necessity.

Are you employed at this time? If so, think of the many rules your company has for its employees. Remember your musings on how people interpret the Bible a bajillion different ways…if no one had ground rules, would not employees, or members of a church, interpret things very differently?

This might also be another good example of the difference between church rules and actual Teachings of Christ. Think of a company in America. They have to abide by government, Federal law. But, they also have their own rules for their employees. These rules can change at any time, for any reason. The employees still have to follow the new rules.

 

[Junebug999]

Oh, there is an interesting postscipt for me if we are talking about “rules” and “sin.” Before the “I beieve” decision on Highway 99 just south of Tulare, California??? – I was the chief of sinners when it comes to swearing, and guess what? It’s gone, just gone, I am not even having to make an effort not to swear anymore – it was like I was healed or something. Believe me I could swear, ask my husband, I said the bad words, and I took our Lord’s name in vain (often). And something feels different in my heart – can’t put my finger on it…could it be…PEACE??? (imagine my saying that in my best “church lady” voice). Funny thing, but I never thought before of God “healing me from the sin of swearing.” I thought it was something I had to control, but the desire to say something bad has gone away. Hmmmmmmmmm wonder what other ugly habits He can heal me from…Who said, “If I could just touch the hem of his garment I will be healed.”

 

[Ary_girl]

Well, Ary_girl, I know there are some free-spirited people who enjoy life without rules, but when you are talking about millions of people all unified in one church, rules are a necessity.

Are you employed at this time? If so, think of the many rules your company has for its employees. Remember your musings on how people interpret the Bible a bajillion different ways…if no one had ground rules, would not employees, or members of a church, interpret things very differently?

This might also be another good example of the difference between church rules and actual Teachings of Christ. Think of a company in America. They have to abide by government, Federal law. But, they also have their own rules for their employees. These rules can change at any time, for any reason. The employees still have to follow the new rules.

You know, that makes a lot of sense. With so many people there needs to be a set of rules to maintain order and this is where the CCC and Code of Cannon law comes in, no? I think it just clicked. I’ll have to meditate on that tonight.

 

[catherineajt]

ary_girl, you’re on an interesting journey, to say the least. You said you were torn between Orthodoxy and the Catholic Church. I was a “cradle Catholic” who converted to the Orthodox Church in America, and now am returning to the Catholic church via the Ruthenian Byzantine Church (one of the Eastern Catholic churches).

I can say that I am so happy and feel blessed that the Catholic Church truly is like a mother–willing to welcome her children back with open arms!

If you want to talk about some of the differences I noted between the two churches, feel free to PM me. I don’t want to clog up your thread.

 

[MariaG]

Maria, I did find it interesting that Orthodox and Catholics can look at the same ECF and come to two different conclusions. I mean, if you think about it, it is a lot like the Bible, where one would think that it would be self-explanatory, but at the same time people obviously can view it in two different ways. One must be right, but which one?

The good news is it the answer to the question of which church has narrowed considerably once all the Protestant Churches are out of the equation

But that is a good point about “the first among equals.” I haven’t read enough church history to know whether or not the bishop of Rome really used his power in such a way that parallels that popes power today. It reminds me of the president, over the years he has gained more and more power because of certain events that came about such as the civil war and the depression. The papacy appears very similar to a mere political development.

While I do in fact believe there has been a devopment in understanding of the popes role, I would disagree with you that it is a mere political development and is part of the Holy Spirit “leading us to all truth”, as well as adjusting to the needs of a growing church.

I think we can still see the “power” and leadership of the Pope in scripture, as well as the infallibility of the pope versus impecability. Peter was given a vision that there was no unclean food. Taught this, the whole church proceded to teach this, yet did not practice it and had to be chastized by Paul.

I also noted you said something about liking icons and kissing. Such things are not truly Catholic versus Orthodox, but more cultural and part of different Rites. You may find that you are attracted to the Eastern Rites more than the Latin Rites, and there are many Eastern Rites in communion with the Catholic Church. It does not have to be an either or. It can be both. I know I personally, agree with many practices of the Eastern Rites and could have easily thought I needed to be Orthodox instead of wishing to seek out an Eastern Rite Catholic Church. ( I did neither:shrug: I am a Roman Rite Catholic, but still, I am much attracted to the Eastern Rites and practices especially baptism, confirmation and communion as infants. )

The previous poster catherineajt could probably give you some good insight on that

God Bless,
Maria

 

[catherineajt]

I know I personally, agree with many practices of the Eastern Rites and could have easily thought I needed to be Orthodox instead of wishing to seek out an Eastern Rite Catholic Church. ( I did neither:shrug: I am a Roman Rite Catholic, but still, I am much attracted to the Eastern Rites and practices especially baptism, confirmation and communion as infants. )

The previous poster catherineajt could probably give you some good insight on that

God Bless,
Maria

I told our current priest at the Ruthenian church, “If I had only known about the Eastern Catholic Churches before I found the Orthodox Church, I would never have left the Catholic Church.”(Bless him, he said, “I don’t judge about that. There’s one Judge, and I’m not Him, you know. You’re back where you belong and you feel prayerful, that’s all that matters.” ) I find in the eastern tradition a fullness of worship that I never felt before in the Latin church. It is not the faith that is different, but the worship.