Cradle Catholics don't think!

[benotagoat]

Since my “cradle” days were in the pre-Vatican II years, I get in a lot of trouble on these forums expressing my opinions about the state of the Church and Catholicism today. I’m not lazy nor unthinking nor am I stupid, simply more cautious about what I say and where I say it.

Secondly, as a “revert” I tend to be more “protestant-like”, to use the OP’s inference, in my religious enthusiasm.

It’s funny as I feel the exact opposite of one poster here .In the Church with it’s emphasis on the catechism and avoidance of the bible, any interest in the bible has been forced on the Church as it denied us the use of it , I loved Jesus as a child and the Church nearly killed that ,and my developing mind, by treating us like goats to be herded .I went to a catholic schools ,primary and secondary ,as we all did, (6) with brothers and nuns and I really am wndering now if they believed in Jesus at all some of them .
I even have somewhere a certificate to say that I can teach in catholic schools,which means nothing as again it was all rote Learning to pass an exam ,and left no mark on me ,
that had any spritual value .
Anyway when a protestant pastor from the US came to live locally I was fulll of prejudice against them ;both because they were protestant, and also American ,and made everything seem so easy and so superficial . However 13 years on, I now know God sent them to me, as I needed to be able to talk about, and learn more about the Jesus of the bible ,as the catholics of europe, only talk about Mary and the saints ,which in my opinion can become a serious sin .

From them I not only learned much and could talk freely ,but I learned to look in the literature which I loved for those references to God which indicated the authors beliefs ,which I had never been pointed to . Almost none of them were catholic .

Protestants are always blamed for the reformation ,as though there was no serious fault in the Church which drove them to leave ; These serious flaws have never been recognised, always denied ,and still are .

 

[Mousey]

It’s funny as I feel the exact opposite of one poster here .In the Church with it’s emphasis on the catechism and avoidance of the bible, any interest in the bible has been forced on the Church as it denied us the use of it , I loved Jesus as a child and the Church nearly killed that ,and my developing mind, by treating us like goats to be herded .I went to a catholic schools ,primary and secondary ,as we all did, (6) with brothers and nuns and I really am wndering now if they believed in Jesus at all some of them .

After contemplating all your misinformation on the Church it is obvious that you are basing your view of what the Church is on “feel” and your own bias experience. How you can make the statement that the Church avoids the bible? It makes me believe you have never been to a mass. Denied the use of the Bible by whom upon what document are you basing this false as in bearing false witness on? Your statement calls into question your truthfulness.

 

[NoelFitz]

The posts now are still interesting, but the focus is being lost. Posters seem to be deviating from the original concerns. Could we return to the original topic or stop the discussion?

I am disappointed with negative and personal comments. In the past I admired the charity and courtesy of contributors to CA. . Even when we disagree can we remain civil?

 

[wcknight]

I might be considered a cradle catholic -from age 6- but I went astray for my young adult years searched other faiths for about 10 years, and found nothing profound or better and returned much more into our faith than ever before.

What I see most needed in our faith is the need to evangelize as some other faiths do and as our more recent popes have requested. Catholics in America in particular need to do so more vigorously. Maybe it is because Catholics in America have been discriminated against in the past or we are turned off by others trying to convert us. Either way we are very lacking in our willingness to share our faith,

That may change with the renewed call to spread our belief. IT will take some time for the old habits to change but we will, and with the help of more converts, it will become less prohibitive in the future.

 

[ProdigalSun]

Although I might get in trouble for this, I believe everyone is a cradle catholic. All non-catholic Christians and all baptized catholics. We all must have a conversion of heart. We all must decide to Love God. We all must step outside of ourselves to live a joyful enthusiastic life. We are all Lukewarm by degrees. Our conversions take a lifetime to complete.

Peace!

 

[ProdigalSun]

It’s funny as I feel the exact opposite of one poster here .**In the Church with it’s emphasis on the catechism and avoidance of the bible, any interest in the bible has been forced on the Church as it denied us the use of it **, THe Church has never denied the use of the bbile. Where I grew up in the 60’s we always had the bible open and set in a very prominent place in our living room. If you didn’t read scripture and learn about Jesus blame it on your parents and yourself. Not the Church. I loved Jesus as a child and the Church nearly killed that ,and my developing mind, by treating us like goats to be herded .I went to a catholic schools ,primary and secondary ,as we all did, (6) **with brothers and nuns and I really am wndering now if they believed in Jesus at all some of them **. You should indicate that this is just speculation as one should not judge what is in anothers heart.
I even have somewhere a certificate to say that I can teach in catholic schools,which means nothing as again it was all rote Learning to pass an exam ,and left no mark on me ,
that had any spritual value .
Anyway when a protestant pastor from the US came to live locally I was fulll of prejudice against them ;both because they were protestant, and also American ,and made everything seem so easy and so superficial . However 13 years on, I now know God sent them to me, as I needed to be able to talk about, and learn more about the Jesus of the bible ,**as the catholics of europe, only talk about Mary **This is a silly statement and find it hard to believe.and the saints ,which in my opinion can become a serious sin .

From them I not only learned much and could talk freely ,but I learned to look in the literature which I loved for those references to God which indicated the authors beliefs ,which I had never been pointed to . Almost none of them were catholic .

Protestants are always blamed for the reformation ,as though there was no serious fault in the Church which drove them to leave ; These serious flaws have never been recognised, always denied ,and still are .

There was no protestant reformation it was by definition a failed revolution. They were not trying to reform the church they were trying to destroy it and remake it in their image. They failed because the Church that Christ established is still here because Jesus promised that it would never fall. A Catholic Reformation certainly happened however and many problems with the church that were happening at the time of the revolution were looked at and studied and corrected. You really need to learn a bit of history before you spout off half truths and serious errors in history.

Peace!

 

[NoelFitz]

Although I might get in trouble for this, I believe everyone is a cradle catholic. All non-catholic Christians and all baptized catholics. We all must have a conversion of heart. We all must decide to Love God. We all must step outside of ourselves to live a joyful enthusiastic life. We are all Lukewarm by degrees. Our conversions take a lifetime to complete.

Peace!

1. I hope you did not, or will not, get into trouble for expressing your sincere beliefs here.
2. I also believe everyone is a cradle Catholic. Outside the Church there is no salvation, yet everyone can be saved. Baptism makes one a member of the Church, hence all are baptised. This baptism is called* baptism by desire*, even though the desire may be implicit.
3. No, baptism with water makes one a Christian, not a Catholic. Protestants who are baptised are baptised Christian. Protestants are not Catholics.
4. . Neither the minister nor the one baptised needs a conversion of heart. I was a few days old when baptised and did not know about conversion. The sacrament does not depend on the decision of the candidate to love God. It works ex opere operato, that is through the sacrament itself.

A discussion on baptism is not the focus of the thread.

 

[adawgj]

In the end convert or cradle.

We live happily ever Catholic.

 

[ProdigalSun]

1. I hope you did not, or will not, get into trouble for expressing your sincere beliefs here.
2. I also believe everyone is a cradle Catholic. Outside the Church there is no salvation, yet everyone can be saved. Baptism makes one a member of the Church, hence all are baptised. This baptism is called* baptism by desire*, even though the desire may be implicit.
3. No, baptism with water makes one a Christian, not a Catholic. Protestants who are baptised are baptised Christian. Protestants are not Catholics.
4. . Neither the minister nor the one baptised needs a conversion of heart. I was a few days old when baptised and did not know about conversion. The sacrament does not depend on the decision of the candidate to love God. It works ex opere operato, that is through the sacrament itself.

A discussion on baptism is not the focus of the thread.

I’m not discussing baptism you are! My main point is that all of us are imperfect and must be converting our heart and mind to God , To be more Christ like and less “of the world”

Even the great saints like Padre Pio took a lifetime to perfect themselves.

Peace!