I’m in a dilemma and would appreciate advice and/or information.
Hey Alex…I’m no long time catholic but I love our faith and would looove to give you my 2cents…
I’m in RCIA and considering becoming Roman Catholic, partly because I got disgusted by hearing blatant radical feminism and New Age fluff preached by the clergy at the Episcopal church I was attending (not to mention the national leader of the US Episcopal church).
Good for you…keep it old’skool…I myself am a 27 (oh **** I just had a bday, make it 28) year young lady and dont buy into the radical feminism movement and/or new age fluff…Liberals seem to be so happy the younger generations are going to grow up and have this line of thinking, but I’m pretty sure they’re wrong, everyone I kick it with seems to think theres definite roles for women, as mothers, as wives…no, theyre not defined by those roles, but rather respected for em’…I think a lot more people are going back to their roots…what they know…
But I’ve become increasingly dismayed because the RCIA teachers, including the priest, are showing similar tendencies: they use the same annoying so-called “gender-inclusive language” to refer to God; last week one of the teachers referred to the “Sophia” passages in the bible as supposed evidence for a female God (as far as I know those passages are actually a poetic device personifying wisdom but not remotely referring to an actual god or part of the Godhead, and I spoke up in class and said so); also last week the same teacher said that you don’t have to agree with the church on everything, and specifically brought up abortion and said that you can be “pro-choice” and Catholic.
OK, heres what I know…I know theres NO such thing as a pro-choice catholic. CC has orthodoxy, a set of SET beliefs, to stray from them would be UNorthodox and/or, protestant? would that be a good word to use? Sometimes I get the jist but dont know how to put it in words yet…anyhoo…No such thing as a catholic who supports abortion, and I would think that what you should do is bring this up the next time this is brought up in RCIA. and I would definitely advise them, as well as your classmates the teachings of the CC and that it is def. against our beliefs. If you dont, they could be miseducated, then go out in the world, and create more nancy pelosi’s…
One of the big reasons I waited as long as I did to even consider officially becoming Catholic was that I used to be pro-abortion, and while I like a lot about the church I didn’t want to be a hypocrite. I’ve recently had a major change of heart regarding abortion, so it sort of annoys me to finally come to RCIA only to be told essentially that it doesn’t matter; that you can supposedly believe any kind of ultra-liberal fluff and still be Catholic.
no, i think that your background is actually good in this situation. like myself, i’ve lived a life less than…well…lmbo…‘holy’. my whole family is VERY liberal, moms a gender feminist (thats probably why they drive me crazy) and i myself was pro-choice most of my life…it wasnt until i SAW firsthand the after effects of abortions( not myself but friends) that I chose to be against it…and it actually helped lead me into my faith…you see, someone can TELL you its wrong, but sometimes…
the best lessons are hardest learned…I wouldnt worry so much as being a hypocrite (you’d be one if you preached against it and then went out and did it) as being someone who knows from experience…I do think that you can be liberal, and be catholic, i dont think your religion should have too much impact on your political affiliation, i mean there are dems who dont support abortion…((i hope))
I’m also disheartened by things like Catholic Campaign for Human Dignity supporting far-left causes (including until recently ACORN); the huge number of radical feminists in church leadership; and the fact that several national church organizations support Obamacare. (I’m glad the Stupak amendment passed, but it’s still an abomination that raises serious concerns about subsidiarity, euthanasia, and rationing.)
AHHHH! totally all things that raise the freakn hairs on the back of my neck as well…but pouting doesnt solve anything…speak up…DO something…I been gettin’ so politically active since all this has been goin on hecka my girlfriends think im nutso…
So, did I **just happen **to walk into the most liberal parish in the US?
NO!!
God works in mysterious ways and I’m sure it was NO mistake he sent you into that messed up parish…your obviously needed there, to just pack up and leave and go to another parish wont solve anything,
GO SET EM STRAIGHT!
God bless you my friend and I praise you for wanting to teach His truth
I entered the Church at Easter Vigil 2008, and in my decision to do so, I faced some of the same types of concerns. I was coming from a protestant background where there was much room for personal interpretation, and my view of the Roman Catholic Church was initially shaped by Catholics that I knew. Many of the Catholics I knew rejected many of the Church teachings, and would justify there actions and beliefs all week long, go to mass on Sunday, receive communion and pretend that they were following the rules. I even knew a priest who was a “practicing alcoholic” and would go about business as usual and never got any help. The thing is all Christians are sinful, and make mistakes, and it has been that way from the beginning. Our faith existsjust as it did 2000 years ago that has been preserved and passed down through the help of the holy spirit throughout Roman Catholic history. Times change, popular culture changes, people make mistakes (this includes clergy too). But doctrine of the Church (capital C) is sound, even if many of her people fall away by becoming seduced by what is popular or socially acceptable. Don’t let anything other than the truth of the Church guide your decision and keep in mind that even church-going Catholics, and even priests can be duped and lured away from the true teaching of the Church.