Devout Catholics: Do you lack understanding and/or acceptance of some Church teaching?

[Burdock]

I agree its a vocation but that doesnt mean that they shouldnt be allowed to marryif this continues there will be a dire lack of priests.

 

[redrosetea]

The original 12 were not married Christ set the standard for his priest when he picked the 12 apostles

We will cope and God will provide. He always does…Struggle is nothing to new Holy Mother Church

In Ireland the priest had to be underground for a very long time…

Most Catholic I know prefer a celibate clergy

I have seen enough to know that marriage is no magic solution for more priests

 

[Prayer_Warrior]

i don’t look at it this way… (though, i used to, have to admit - when i was young and didn’t know anything)… . NO - i am not trying to insult anyone… just saying what comes to mind… so please don’t go off on a tangent…

I hope i dont make you angry but i am getting tired (again, just being honest, if that is OK?)… of this inference that is made, that somehow being married precludes being devoted to Christ…

I am not saying you said that exactly, but it was definitely implied… and has been by others on the forum…

Yes, there ARE marriages that take away from our walk with Jesus … maybe there are more of them than i ever dreamed of… This is one area where i am not well informed because i have never been married…

No worries, I’m not a ranter. But I suppose I disagree to an extent. I do not think that one can be ‘wholly’ devoted to Christ and be married. Well, not in any marriages I have seen. A priest does not need to go out to work to support his family, nor does he have to prepare meals, help with homework and shuttle the kids to soccer. An unmarried priest can totally focus on feeding and tending the flock, rather than be partially distracted (for lack of another word) by the duties of married life, not to mention the obligations of parenthood. And I believe this is what St. Paul was getting at in 1 Cor 7:32-35.

Please don’t feel that I do not think married couples can be devoted to Christ. Of course they can! Some of the holiest people I know are married and work together in every way they can to serve the Lord. However, I personally do not believe that a couple, who have bound themselves together (with God), can be quite as devoted as a single person who has bound himself to God alone.

 

[tobinatorstark]

some stuff I do lack full understanding. I yearn to know what I don’t and let others know what I know. Some stuff is too hard to explain to non Catholics. I have always accepted what is taught now am I am finally learning some of the things I didn’t full understand

 

[distracted]

to desracted i also think priests should be able to marry. I did read recently that two young men said that they would consider becoming a priest if they would be allowed to marry. Also there is a shortage of priests. To avoid thar situation from becoming worse i think the church will have to consider priests marrying.

i understand this “reason” for priests to be married, but it is not one of my main reasons… i guess my main concenr was that, since it is often very difficult to always subdue my every physical desire… i know how priests must feel… & men are supposed to have more of a struggle w/ that thna women…

But now i am beginning to see the Church’s views… I mean, the last 2 pope’s views… not granting dispensations… but then… there isthis other thing: what if a priest is called out of the prieshood to be married? it could happen, it seems… because God … is God…

 

[elts1956]

Another issue is that without the sacrament of confession available to them, any protestants or non-Christians that came forward for Holy Communion might be in a state of mortal sin.

Just to argue the point; it just popped into my head really. I am not arguing for inter-communion with non-Catholics, but what if the NC does not realize s/he is in the state of Mortal Sin? Just a thought. I know Mortal sins should be obvious when committed, but in this relativistic world we live in, one may not understand???

 

[distracted]

I do not think that one can be ‘wholly’ devoted to Christ and be married. Well, not in any marriages I have seen.

i tend to agree… though about a week ago, i wouldn’t have said that… I am learning things… God is revealing things to me… Don’t hold me to something i say today, beause i may change my mind by tomorrow… I’m kinda like Martin Luther that way only i didn’t and won’t leave the Church… (big difference, huh?? )…

A priest does not need to go out to work to support his family, nor does he have to prepare meals, help with homework and shuttle the kids to soccer.

Except for that middle one,i don’t know of any married man who does those things…

An unmarried priest can totally focus on feeding and tending the flock, rather than be partially distracted (for lack of another word) by the duties of married life, not to mention the obligations of parenthood. And I believe this is what St. Paul was getting at in 1 Cor 7:32-35.

I would have argued with you a week ago about this… but not now… and i dont’ think i will ever go back to my old position… Like i said, things are being shown to me bout this issue…

However, I personally do not believe that a couple, who have bound themselves together (with God), can be quite as devoted as a single person who has bound himself to God alone.

I have mixed feelings about what you say here… i think that if both are devoted to Christ and they pray togetehr and all… I think they can actually do more for the Kingdom than they could if single… Two heads are better than one and all that… Also: It is not good for man to be alone… (etc)…

 

[distracted]

I agree its a vocation but that doesnt mean that they shouldnt be allowed to marryif this continues there will be a dire lack of priests.

i think there are other reasons for there not being many priests… for one thing, this society we live in is SO materialistic and SO sensuality-minded… that many men just can’t conceive of giving anything up, much less for the rest of their lives…

I think the Church is somewhat at fault for this, if not very much at fault… Because we Catholics do not stand up for our Faith… I am guilty ofthis also, even though i do evangelize… I don’t do it as often or as well as i would like… the devil gets us so afraid of things that, if we think about it, will rarely harm us… and even if we get harmed, look how Jesus was harmed by doing God’s will?? by evangelizing…

Anyway… I am not so sure allowing priests to marry would solve the shortage probelm… I guess it is one of those things where u can’t tell until it happens?? I don’t know… but anyway…

 

[Burdock]

IM not saying that there arnt other reasons for a shortage of priests but i still think that other men would consider it if they could marry.

 

[Steve12045]

I originally came from the Lutheran church. I converted 21 years ago. There are still some things I don’t really understand. For instance, it took me a long time to understand, sort of, the teaching of purgatory. We didn’t have that in the Lutheran church. But that didn’t mean that I did not accept it .Another thing I don’t really understand but accept is indulgences. But I accept it as valid church teaching. Just because I can’t get something thru my head, doesn’t make it wrong. After all the Catholic Church has been around for about 2000 years and I’ve only been here 63. So I think that the church may be just a little bit smarter than I.

 

[elts1956]

YES!

While I accept that man is affected by original sin, I struggle with accepting that he receives the guilt of original sins.

I struggle with accepting the literalness and eternalness of Satan and Hell.

I struggle with the purpose of communion, ie I find the receiving of our Lord and Savior in communion to be beneficial and an outpouring of grace, but I struggle with not finding Eucharistic Adoration either idolatry or improper use of a sacrament.

And lastly, I struggle with the idea that Native Americans who practice Native American rituals (or Indians practicing Hindu rituals, and any indigenous person practicing any indigenous ritual) is somehow worshiping demons, and that if they continue some of their practices when they become Catholic, they aren’t really Catholic, but somehow when the Catholic Church adopted Pagan Roman customs, this was okay. Sorry, this last thing just really “grinds my gears.” Thankfully, the people who say “Native Americans worship demons” et al are just spouting theological opinion and not doctrine.

Of course, though, with these theological struggles, I have faith in Jesus Christ that His Church is teaching the Truth, and I constantly pray “Lord, I believe, help my unbelief.”

I don’t know a lot about Native American worship or religion, but from what I do know, I think most Native American’s who are not Christian and completely follow the old religions of the ancestors gravitate toward those spirits they believe to be good. Much of their religion, I think, and I could be wrong, has developed from observing nature and their gods are in nature. (ie. what we would call being aware of the environment, for every act there is a reaction,( global warming, scarcity of food etc.)They believe in a Great Spirit, although this Great Spirit to some is not the definitive being over all. Theirs is a spiritual religion developed through an awareness of all aspects of daily living. Very deep.

There still are bad shamans, men/women, who will lead the unaware astray. Some of this to us is superstition, but I am sure much of what we believe would be superstition to them.

 

[distracted]

But I accept it as valid church teaching. Just because I can’t get something thru my head, doesn’t make it wrong. After all the Catholic Church has been around for about 2000 years and I’ve only been here 63. So I think that the church may be just a little bit smarter than I.

i’m sure many of us here could say the same thing…

about Purgatory… do you know about the scirptures about that:
St. Matthew 18:23, St. Matthew 12:32, Revel 21:27 , 1 Cor 3:13…

Purgatory actually makes a lot of sense… (though that isn’t the reason the Church, as some think, “invented” it )… If no “unclean thing will enter” Heaven, it just stands to reason we would have to be purged before getting in… and if we are Christian but not purged sufficiently by time of death, it is only right that God give us more time to “work out our salvation with fear and trembling” (Phil 2:12)…

God bless…

 

[distracted]

They believe in a Great Spirit, although this Great Spirit to some is not the definitive being over all. Theirs is a spiritual religion developed through an awareness of all aspects of daily living. Very deep.

:

i think in some ways (big ways) the Indians and the Blacks were more spiritually evolved than the so-called Christians who came and took over this nation… I just saw this show on PBS about Blacks and slavery in some state (can’t think which one)… They were supposed to be Christian but bought slaves even ater the law in the US said NO more slavery… In 1808, there wre to be no more slaves brought to the US… but this family (deWolf) did it anyway, yet were respected in the community… (probably because of al lthe jobs they provided in sugar industry)…

It’s all about $…

The Blacks and the Indians were seemingly much closer to God than their captors were… because they were (seemingly) content just to live and let live… until the White man came and threatened them… just my opinion…

 

[brigid12]

Accept, yes.
Understand, no.

I am Catholic, which means I fully accept all that the Church teaches.

I do not fully agree with all that the Church teaches, but this is due to:
a) My lack of fully understanding various Church teachings (I’m working on it, God, I’m working on it)
b) My sinful pride and arrogance in listening to the Church but not really hearing Her (Yeah, that’s a work in progress also)
c) My lack of faith (Lord, I believe - help me in my unbelief)

:yup:

Throughout my journey I come up against a teaching here or there that I may not fully (or even at all) understand, but since I am Catholic I need to be obedient to HMC even (especially?) when I don’t understand and then pray and study and pray… Then thank Him!

 

[CatsAndDogs]

i think in some ways (big ways) the Indians and the Blacks were more spiritually evolved than the so-called Christians who came and took over this nation…

The Blacks and the Indians were seemingly much closer to God than their captors were… because they were (seemingly) content just to live and let live… until the White man came and threatened them… just my opinion…

Right. The amerind peoples never had slavery as an institution (wrong!). The Aztecs and various other meso-/south-american amerinds never had human sacrifice (wrong!).

Who do you suppose it was that sold conquered african tribal people to the europeans (and arabs, and whomever would buy them)? It was their rival, and stonger, tribal africans.

Yes. They were SO much closer to God than those God informed of His ways personally and explicitly.

The lack of quality education of reality, and the massive nonsense passed off as “edu-tainment”, in the world today is truly amazing, is it not?

 

[elts1956]

i think in some ways (big ways) the Indians and the Blacks were more spiritually evolved than the so-called Christians who came and took over this nation… I just saw this show on PBS about Blacks and slavery in some state (can’t think which one)… They were supposed to be Christian but bought slaves even ater the law in the US said NO more slavery… In 1808, there wre to be no more slaves brought to the US… but this family (deWolf) did it anyway, yet were respected in the community… (probably because of al lthe jobs they provided in sugar industry)…

It’s all about $…

The Blacks and the Indians were seemingly much closer to God than their captors were… because they were (seemingly) content just to live and let live… until the White man came and threatened them… just my opinion…

Again complex issues. Many of the people belonging to Indian Nations and Black tribes had a very simplistic view of the supernatural ie. not a lot of rules and explanations. Things for them, just “were”. I will never understand what motivated the Europeans who came to this country to think that slavery and decimation of the Native Americans was “right”. The Catholic missionaries attempted to convert and help materially. The Quakers attempted to help materially and give sustinance. Those are the only two groups of people “I” know of that didn’t treat the Blacks and Native Americans like second and third level beings. I think most settlers considered them to be souless so this calmed their consciences in their horrible treatment of these people.

I am into genealogy and have a history book of the area where my relatives were born and lived. Even in the 1880s and beyond, the NA who once inhabited those lands were called “savages”. Even today some of my relatives and neighbors use the N word. I usally say something to let them know I don’t like it.

 

[distracted]

Who do you suppose it was that sold conquered african tribal people to the europeans (and arabs, and whomever would buy them)? It was their rival, and stonger, tribal africans.

They couldn’t have done it without the Whites… There are always those in any group who are corrupt… I only meant to say what i said GENERaLLY speaking… Sorry i forgot to add that word…

Yes. They were SO much closer to God than those God informed of His ways personally and explicitly.

What good is it to be informed of his ways (via the One True Church) if one is not going to adhere to those ways?? To whom more is given, more is required…

The lack of quality education of reality, and the massive nonsense passed off as “edu-tainment”, in the world today is truly amazing, is it not?

The lack of polite-ness is even more amazing…