Did I make a mistake becoming Catholic

[Thinker55]

I think you’ve heard the Creed/maybe even said it and don’t realize that’s what it is. It’s said at every Mass. Here it is…

I believe in one God, the Father almighty,

maker of heaven and earth,

of all things visible and invisible.

I believe in one Lord Jesus Christ,

    the Only Begotten Son of God,

    born of the Father before all ages.

God from God, Light from Light,

    true God from true God,

begotten, not made, consubstantial

   with the Father;

    Through him all things were made.

For us men and for our salvation

    he came down from heaven,

    and by the Holy Spirit was incarnate

    of the Virgin Mary,

    and became man.



For our sake he was crucified

  under Pontius Pilate,

    he suffered death and was buried,

    and rose again on the third day

    in accordance with the Scriptures.

He ascended into heaven

    and is seated at the right hand of the Father.

He will come again in glory

    to judge the living and the dead

    and his kingdom will have no end.

I believe in the Holy Spirit,

    the Lord, the giver of life,

who proceeds from the Father and the Son,

who with the Father and the Son

    is adored and glorified,

    who has spoken through the prophets.

I believe in one, holy, catholic,

 and apostolic Church.

I confess one baptism for the forgiveness of sins

    and I look forward to the resurrection

    of the dead and the life of the world to come.

Amen.

I have said that and believe it! Thanks for your kind words and understanding.

 

[WingsOfEagles]

I have said that and believe it! Thanks for your kind words and understanding.

No problem. Peace of Christ.

 

[Thinker55]

It’s also been tough for me to trust the Church after some of the transgressions from priests. One of them baptized my sister in the late 1970’s. I have become weary of trusting the Church but I am working on it. I think the Pope just spoke about that a few hours ago! It’s not going to happen overnight but I’m working on it!

 

[VivienneJ]

Tough to find a church in the middle of a 20 mile hike! It’s a day to hike in and a day to hike out. When I get out in nature I don’t mess around haha. No roads, no path most of the time. A topo map and a compass. Like I said I was going to go to mass the day before I left (and still will) but I guess I will have to be in fear of mortal sin and confess asap when I get back to civilization. Just seems strange to me that being in nature for a few days could put my soul at risk.

I will talk with my priest asap about this.

I meant to add that you can be dispensed from Mass attendance in this situation. Someone has mentioned that, and talking with your priest will also give you that information.

I think you are correct. Skimming some of the threads on this board have made me think everything is a sin and it’s impossible to please God. As you can tell I have a bit of a worry problem! I like Matthew 6:25-27. It’s part of what brought me to the Church. The more I read the less I think that verse is possible. Sadly I don’t recall learning the creed in RCIA.

Glad you now know that it the Creed - lots of confusing information at some points in RCIA and we are inclined to use words that we know the meaning of, forgetting that the term may not be familiar.

A note of caution, extensive reading on CAF can indeed make you think everything is sin and that you can never please God. As you read more you will get to see which posters post their opinions as facts; which posters post their opinions backed up by the relevant church documents; which posters back up their opinions with what appear to be authoritative documents but are recommendations to specific groups (and you are often not part of that specific group). Always when in doubt refer to your own priest.

Note that coming into the Church at Easter is not the end of your journey, it’s the point where you got off one train onto another. You’re still on a journey of discovery; may you continue to find the answers.

 

[Thinker55]

A note of caution, extensive reading on CAF can indeed make you think everything is sin and that you can never please God. As you read more you will get to see which posters post their opinions as facts; which posters post their opinions backed up by the relevant church documents; which posters back up their opinions with what appear to be authoritative documents but are recommendations to specific groups (and you are often not part of that specific group). Always when in doubt refer to your own priest.

Note that coming into the Church at Easter is not the end of your journey, it’s the point where you got off one train onto another. You’re still on a journey of discovery; may you continue to find the answers.

Thanks for the warning! I read threads that made me think all hope was lost so to speak. I am going to keep my head up and heart open.

 

[LilyM]

The mortal sin portion is tough to agree with for me. It was not covered at all in RCIA. I just find it hard to believe that some child rapist would face the same punishment as a 16 year old who watched a porn movie. If the rapist confessed he would be saved but if the kid was ashamed he would end up in hell?

Maybe I’m cynical but missing mass once is a mortal sin? Same class of sin as murder? Am I not missing something here? I have read the explanation why missing one mass is a mortal sin here. Third commandment says keep that sabbath holy I believe? To equate that to missing a mass being a mortal sin is a stretch to me. Christ was a Jew, I thought the sabbath was on Sat. for Jews? What about Matthew 18:20? I like mass but I don’t agree with encouraging attendance with fear.

I am going to miss it in a few months. I am going to be in the middle of no where on a hike in fishing trip. Seeing the sun rise over a lake with a couple of friends is keeping the sabbath holy to me. Being in nature is being surrounded by the holy spirit to me! If I pray that day like I always do I have still committed a mortal sin? If I die on a 20 mile hike back to the car I will go to hell for missing one mass? I thought I could go before the trip but that would not cover the mass for Sunday I guess.

When I hear missing mass is a sin my mind thinks they want butts on the benches for bucks in the baskets. I can’t help it. I just think that is a dated way to scare people into giving money to the church. Many people think they can go to mass and then do manual labor the rest of the day. Is that keeping the sabbath holy?
Perhaps I am just confused. To be honest some of the answers I have seen on this forum made me more confused/scared of the church. I thought there was only one sin that was not forgivable? The bible never mentions what sins are mortal, right? It’s scary having to rush to confession or be damned!

As has been pointed out, not all mortal sins or their punishments are necessarily equal. Neither are all deaths - some are much more lingering and painful than others. But you DO end up in hell for all mortal sins just as you are dead regardless of whether your death was quick and painless or the opposite.

It’s also been tough for me to trust the Church after some of the transgressions from priests. One of them baptized my sister in the late 1970’s. I have become weary of trusting the Church but I am working on it. I think the Pope just spoke about that a few hours ago! It’s not going to happen overnight but I’m working on it!

Yes, priests are sinners. So were the Apostles - collectively they denied, betrayed and persecuted Christ. And there’s no indication that they were much better afterwards, if the disagreement amongst them that led to the Council of Jerusalem in Acts is any guide. Nonetheless Christ trusted them to teach correctly. So can we trust our priests and bishops.

 

[Christy_Beth]

RCIA is sort of like kindergarten. Only so much can be presented. Then it’s left up to you on wat to do with the information. You can stick with just that, or you can go out and learn more about the church and why some things are so central to faith and stuff. I entered the church at the Easter Vigil 1997. There have been tmes I had to wonder the same thing. But it was usually due to human failings. Those of others and myself. So, don’t give up on the church. I’m sure you wouldn’t want your girlfriend to give up on you. There’s alot out there. Be prepared for the long haul here.

 

[Thinker55]

As has been pointed out, not all mortal sins or their punishments are necessarily equal. Neither are all deaths - some are much more lingering and painful than others. But you DO end up in hell for all mortal sins just as you are dead regardless of whether your death was quick and painless or the opposite.

Yes, priests are sinners. So were the Apostles - collectively they denied, betrayed and persecuted Christ. And there’s no indication that they were much better afterwards, if the disagreement amongst them that led to the Council of Jerusalem in Acts is any guide. Nonetheless Christ trusted them to teach correctly. So can we trust our priests and bishops.

Last I read God judged who ended up where after death. You can THINK you know, but you don’t (and neither do I). Are you claiming hell has different levels of punishment?

Did you mean to say we can trust them? Or we can trust them?

 

[jmcrae]

Last I read God judged who ended up where after death. You can THINK you know, but you don’t (and neither do I). Are you claiming hell has different levels of punishment?

A lot of very smart thinkers believe so, yes.

Did you mean to say we can trust them? Or we can trust them?

Jesus trusted them with His Church. If Jesus trusts them, so should we.

 

[steve_b]

The mortal sin portion is tough to agree with for me. It was not covered at all in RCIA.

Really? You went to all the classes … right?
T:

I just find it hard to believe that some child rapist would face the same punishment as a 16 year old who watched a porn movie. If the rapist confessed he would be saved but if the kid was ashamed he would end up in hell?

Your example merely shows one confessed their sin (presumably you mean sacrament of penance) and the other didn’t confess…right?
T:

Maybe I’m cynical but missing mass once is a mortal sin?

Do you know why deliberately missing mass on Sundays and holy days is a mortal sin?

Heb 10: (all emphasis mine)
23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful; 24 and let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, 25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near. 26 For if we sin deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, 27* but a fearful prospect of judgment, and a fury of fire which will consume the adversaries. 28* A man who has violated the law of Moses dies without mercy at the testimony of two or three witnesses. 29* How much worse punishment do you think will be deserved by the man who has spurned the Son of God, and profaned the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and outraged the Spirit of grace?

Notice

• deliberately missing mass Sunday, is already a very serious sin worthy of judgment, and a fury of fire which will consume the adversaries
• because there no sacrifice for sins as a result of deliberately missing mass.
• It is a profaning of the blood of the covenant for deliberately missing mass
• It spurns the son of God and outrages the spirit of grace

Why does missing mass do all that?

• the sacrifice for sin and blood of the covenant refers to the Eucharist. The summit of our faith.
• Matthew 26:28 This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. Jesus the son of God said those words instituting the Eucharist the night before He died.*. *Jesus further describes the importance of the Eucharist for the soul.
• Jn 6:53* unless you* eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you*. 54 Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day*. Life of the soul is grace in the Eucharist*.*

Therefore, the one who deliberately misses the Eucharist on Sunday, after being given the knowledge of truth, says in effect, I’m interested in other things more than this.

so for them,

• no sacrifice for sin is left for THEM.
• they profane the blood of the covenant
• they spurn the son of God & outrage the spirit of grace
• judgment awaits them

all that for deliberately missing mass on Sunday?

I didn’t make that up. It’s right from scripture.

If there was any doubt in you mind about this, now you know how important the Eucharist is. And by definition then, the consequences for deliberately missing mass i.e. the Eucharist, describes committing a mortal sin. One who dies in mortal sin won’t be going to heaven
T:

Same class of sin as murder?

1 John 3:15
you know that no **murderer **has eternal life residing in him.

Revelation 21:8
But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars—they will be consigned to the fiery lake of burning sulfur

 

[hamandcheese]

Seeing the sun rise over a lake with a couple of friends is keeping the sabbath holy to me. Being in nature is being surrounded by the holy spirit to me! If I pray that day like I always do I have still committed a mortal sin? If I die on a 20 mile hike back to the car I will go to hell for missing one mass? I thought I could go before the trip but that would not cover the mass for Sunday I guess.

This way of thinking is backwards. God gave you everything you have, your health, your family, your job and you cant be botherd to give him an hour on Sunday? Remember that the next time your suffering and asking him for help! Watching the sun rise over a lake with a couple friends sounds more like a tampon commercial to me then a sabbath!

 

[kimg901]

Ill be honest and say I dont agree with everything the Church teaches. I am a follower of Christ. I beleive in the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist and that to me trumps everything men have written.

 

[steve_b]

Ill be honest and say I dont agree with everything the Church teaches. I am a follower of Christ. I beleive in the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist and that to me trumps everything men have written.

With all due respect, there is a serious contradiction in that statement.

 

[Thinker55]

A lot of very smart thinkers believe so, yes.

Jesus trusted them with His Church. If Jesus trusts them, so should we.

Sounds like a poem I once read…

The guy I was referring to was hardly and apostle. If you had a child and a priest was a pedophile who claimed to have repented would you allow a child to be around him alone? Maybe after he was moved from one location to another to start over? It’s easy to say trust someone like that, to actually do it is not.

In any event he didn’t do anything to my sister, she was the wrong gender. It just drove many in the area away from the church. Right or wrong they left. For along time things like that made me not even consider the Catholic church. I’m back now though!

 

[jmcrae]

Sounds like a poem I once read…

The guy I was referring to was hardly and apostle. If you had a child and a priest was a pedophile who claimed to have repented would you allow a child to be around him alone? Maybe after he was moved from one location to another to start over? It’s easy to say trust someone like that, to actually do it is not.

In any event he didn’t do anything to my sister, she was the wrong gender. It just drove many in the area away from the church. Right or wrong they left. For along time things like that made me not even consider the Catholic church. I’m back now though!

I misunderstood you - I thought you were asking why we can trust the Apostles that Jesus gave us the Mass and requires us to attend every Sunday.

 

[Thinker55]

This way of thinking is backwards. God gave you everything you have, your health, your family, your job and you cant be botherd to give him an hour on Sunday? Remember that the next time your suffering and asking him for help! Watching the sun rise over a lake with a couple friends sounds more like a tampon commercial to me then a sabbath!

When is the last time you witnessed a sunrise over a lake in the middle of no where after a 20 mile hike the day before? Or climbed a mountain? I’m going to guess never. God can be seen all around you when you are in the solitude of nature. If you read my posts you would see that I don’t do this every weekend. Also, tampon commercials don’t involve men and fishing.

 

[Thinker55]

I misunderstood you - I thought you were asking why we can trust the Apostles that Jesus gave us the Mass and requires us to attend every Sunday.

My mistake, I was referring to the priest in my area that did terrible things. People like him made it tough to trust the church for many here (not saying it was right).

 

[jmcrae]

When is the last time you witnessed a sunrise over a lake in the middle of no where after a 20 mile hike the day before? Or climbed a mountain? I’m going to guess never. God can be seen all around you when you are in the solitude of nature. If you read my posts you would see that I don’t do this every weekend. Also, tampon commercials don’t involve men and fishing.

As beautiful as it is (and I love the mountains! I live near the Rockies) it is still God’s creation - not God Himself as we encounter at Mass.

 

[jmcrae]

My mistake, I was referring to the priest in my area that did terrible things. People like him made it tough to trust the church for many here (not saying it was right).

I wouldn’t want to be him on the Judgement Day. Jesus said, better never to have been born, than to offend His little ones.

 

[Francoist]

Hello all,
I became Catholic at this years Easter vigil. My future wife has been fantastic. and encouraged (not forced) me to join the church. I have always been Christian but lost my way in high school and college. I developed a drinking (and occasional drug) problem. I also fornicated with women. Sadly I was living the way most in college seem to live in these troubled times. The more bad I did the easier it became to continue! Sin truly is a slippery slope! That seems to be the way sin works. Since I started attending church I have been a much happier person. I am not quick to anger like I was in the past and I am seeing life in a new manner. I have found my way back to Christ. I enjoy going to mass and I like my parish very much. RCIA was a great experience but I did not learn much about some important topics.

Here is my dilemma. During the Easter vigil I repeated after the priest that “I believe and profess all that the holy Catholic Church believes,teaches and proclaims to be revealed by God”. I said this without knowing some of the Churches views on certain issues. After stumbling on this forum I can say I do not believe everything the Church says (on certain mortal sin for example).

I’m not one to fall in and not question some orders so to speak (unless it’s in the Bible) Some of what I read in the Bible and the churches interpenetration don’t add up to me. If I do not believe with all my heart some things in the Catechism should I stop receiving the Eucharist? I am going to make an appt. to talk to my priest about my concerns. I will continue to attend mass but will not receive the Eucharist if needed. When I make a commitment I follow through. I was not informed enough to make the profession of faith. I should have done more research I suppose. My question is if I disagree with some things should I look somewhere else to worship Christ?

Thanks for your time!

Edit:
If this is in the wrong section my apologies. I’m new here!

Welcome! Before addressing specific issues (which has already been done to a point in the thread), what I think is most important is that you properly conceptualize the Church (since you’re wondering if you made the right decision). You wonder if you have made an actually informed decision… you did. “Informed decision” doesn’t mean that you had to know absolutely everything. Most converts (myself included) don’t realize that you’re not allowed to believe that St. Christopher had the head of a dog. I thought that was really funny until I saw a Coptic icon with a dog-headed St. Christopher. And then in an archaeology magazine they misidentified St. Christopher as Anubis in a Coptic fresco of the saints and tried to claim that early Christians worshiped Anubis (first, the dog-headed god is Wepwawet, not Anubis, who had the head of a jackal, which is a different animal from a dog, and second, it was not an Egyptian god at all but St. Christopher). The point is, there is such a large amount of knowable things that you almost surely won’t know them when the point comes to sign on the dotted line. That’s fine. But you did sign up. You’re a Catholic now.

Which leads me to the main point: you have essentially joined a military organization. Your tour of duty is the rest of your life and there is no leave. You can go AWOL but the fact is that you have joined. It is called “The Church Militant” for a reason! There’s a war on. The commander in chief is Christ the King and His XO is the Pope. The various prelates (bishops, archbishops, cardinals, etc.) are like the general officers. As one of the troops, you will come to regard some of them as wise and even heroic. Others you will come to regard in a way that I cannot put on this forum without being banned. You get the idea. Priests are like the junior officers. You’re one of the grunts.

Again, you’ll come to regard your fellow Catholics the way a soldier would regard his comrades. Some are heroes and others are cowards. Some will remind you of Delta Force, others will remind you of Gomer Pyle. They’re all your comrades, even though some will flee in the face of the enemy or betray the cause for the most paltry reasons.

Part of being in such a hierarchy during a time of war (against Satan, the Enemy) is that it is important to follow orders. You cannot be ordered to do something morally evil (it doesn’t really count as an evil at that point), but you can be ordered to do something you personally disagree with (and feel is unwise, disastrous, stupid, illogical, etc.). Your job is to obediently carry out your orders. That is what you have agreed to do.

Now, I’m speaking spiritually because the Church is not going to order you to go dig a ditch… though you may find yourself digging ditches because of your commitments. You have made a spiritual commitment to live according to the will of Jesus Christ, your King. That is not to be taken lightly. Fortunately, the Church will (spiritually) feed you, heal you, and help you find the resources to carry out your mission.

Don’t doubt for a moment, however, that you have taken an oath to the death. Rather, take strength from it. ¡Viva la muerte! ¡Viva Cristo Rey!