Do I have to agree with everything to be Catholic?

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annunciationbaby325

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I totally get it. Going on a Catholic forum and asking if I have to agree with your beliefs in order to be Catholic. It seems outright ridiculous. Hear me out though.
I haven’t been religious for a long time. I think maybe 5 years. Sue me I guess.
Anyway, recently things have been happening that seem too coincidental. I got into a car accident in August and my instinct was to hit the gas instead of the brakes after being hit (because of an accident my sister got in). Anyway, I was basically frozen on the gas but for some reason I was able to hit the brake right before I would have hit a church. Not as random, but I’ve had someone hear about my lack of religion lately and constantly text me verses in the mornings and wishing me a good day. The craziest to me is a dream I had. One night, I dreamt that God was speaking to me, telling me that I’m sinful and that I’m basically on thin ice. Like, that I wasn’t turning out to be a child of God and that I’m closer to Hell than Heaven. In the dream, I begged him for another chance, and then I just woke up in the middle of the night in a cold sweat.
Now I know that these could be ANYTHING. Not necessarily catholicism. However, in that time, I’ve visited both a Baptist church and a Catholic school where both groups prayed. I never felt like praying in the Baptist church, but in the Catholic school, it felt right to pray. I don’t know if it makes sense, but it felt better and drawing to pray in a Catholic school than the Baptist church. So I prayed for the first time in 5 years in the Catholic school.
Part Two. Woo. I don’t agree with everything. I don’t. I’m more liberal than conservative, but I claim as independent. I’m pro-choice, for LGBT rights, etc. I’m at a crossroads where I know that I can’t give up my beliefs in the world for religion, but I don’t want to lose my chance at faith. I know I could be anything else, that believing in God is not just primary to catholicism, but I know it felt right to pray with a group of Catholics.
I’m sorry if I’ve somehow offended anyone in this post, I hope I didn’t! Thank you all, I hope to get some answers soon.
 
annunciationbaby325 said:
Part Two. Woo. I don’t agree with everything. I don’t. I’m more liberal than conservative, but I claim as independent. I’m pro-choice, for LGBT rights, etc. I’m at a crossroads where I know that I can’t give up my beliefs in the world for religion, but I don’t want to lose my chance at faith. I know I could be anything else, that believing in God is not just primary to catholicism, but I know it felt right to pray with a group of Catholics.
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While I don’t think you have to believe everything I do think you need to believe most of what the Church teaches, and for what you don’t believe you need to live as if you do believe it.
 
Welcome! Thank you so much for asking this. I’m a recent revert and I’ve been having some of these same thoughts. The doubts tend to be magnified by the behaviour of certain types of Catholics, but I think it’s important to stick to the journey, regardless. Eventually, things will fall into place. Start with the little things, praying and going to Mass, and let the rest fall into place with time.
 
I would suggest that you investigate these questions on what and WHY the Church teaches these views. They aren’t just making rules for no reason. It may turn out that you still can’t accept them but at least you’ll know the reasoning behind them.

I’m not Catholic but I do understand what their reasons are. And as I’m sure others will tell you…talk to a Preist. It’s what they’re there for. Best wishes in your journey.
 
I would say your belief in the Creed needs to be there. You can’t really be Catholic e without believing in the Trinity, for example.

With other issues like reproductive rights, gay marriage, and similar, I’m a little more open to the idea of your beliefs evolving. Keep an open mind and learn why the Church teaches what she does.

The Church isn’t against abortion, for example, to discriminate against women or keep them down. Instead the Church understands that the embryo, small and vulnerable as it is, is still alive and needs to be protected. Many people ignore that there are two lives involved in an abortion. Of course the woman has rights. But do we totally ignore the other life involved?

Similar study and understanding are needed on other issues as well.
 
You need to consider that Our Lord is calling you to the Catholic Church. It is the one true church that Jesus founded on Peter, and it has the fullness of faith and Christian teaching. Go to Mass; go to Adoration; pray. Eventually you will have your answer.

Now, as to politics. Catholics can legitimately differ as to whether “liberal” or “conservative” politics have better solutions to the problems that any society faces. There is no “one size fits all”. You do have to be in some way “pro-life” and not “pro-choice”. How you get there is up to you. It is entirely possible to be a political liberal, yet recognize the sanctity of all life from conception onwards. Most orthodox Catholics, at least in this country, have politics that skew conservative, simply because conservative politicians tend more to preserve the sanctity of life and traditional values on marriage and the family. But that does not mean that you have to be a “conservative”, vote Republican, support the Trump administration, what have you.

As for LGBT rights, you can quite rightly oppose any measures that discriminate against LGBT people — housing, access to jobs, education, and so on. However, marriage is another thing. Marriage is constituted by Almighty God between a man and a woman only. So you cannot support same-sex marriage and be a faithful Catholic. Now, if two men or two women choose to live together and organize their lives — not just their sexuality — in a manner appropriate to a family, I would argue that this is largely their business. I would even go so far as to say — and this is merely my opinion, and you know what they say about “opinions” — that ensuring some kind of protection for a household (such as a civil union), taxation and insurance benefits, designation of someone as “next of kin”, and so on, does not in and of itself presuppose marriage and sexuality. If two people get a civil union or domestic partnership, then whether they go on to “take vows” of some sort is their business. Personally, I think such a stance is very liberal for a faithful Catholic, yet it does not in and of itself make any statement whatsoever about morality or “what constitutes a family”. I could be wrong, but I have thought the issue through, and I can’t see any intrinsic problem with civil unions. I do not “like” the fact that people sin sexually against Almighty God, but people do it all the time — both heterosexual and homosexual — whether they have a civil union or not.
 
In order to be Catholic, at a minimum you need to believe everything in the Profession of Faith, which is the prayer said at every Mass that begins, “I believe in God, the Father Almighty…” You will be expected to say this at every Mass you attend, and you can’t be saying you believe while thinking in your head that you don’t. This prayer deals with the doctrines and dogmas of the Church. It is not oriented towards LGBT or any other social issue.

With respect to social issues like pro-choice and LGBT, it’s important to
  • find out for sure what the Church actually teaches on these issues, preferably by reading the official catechism of the Church and other official sources
  • prayerfully consider the Church teachings and be open-minded to them, and to the extent you still have a doubt, pray to God to help your unbelief
  • not commit any direct violations of the teaching yourself in your actions: for example, don’t get an abortion yourself, don’t perform or arrange one for somebody else, don’t have gay sex yourself, don’t encourage other people to have gay sex, etc.
If and when you join the Church, you would have to make a statement like the Profession of Faith on this page.
http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/c...c_con_cfaith_doc_1998_professio-fidei_en.html

Everything up to “Amen” is the Profession of Faith said at every Mass, and the stuff after that are statements you make when you join the church.

Like I said it’s really important you understand exactly what the Church teaches definitively. On political and social justice issues, there is a lot of misinformation out there, or just clergy offering opinions that may differ from or go beyond the Church teaching.
 
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I think it’s exciting that the Spirit seems to be drawing you to the Church. As others have said, keep and open mind and listen to the views of the Church on the issues you have raised. Unfortunately, there is a “conventional wisdom” in the world today at odds with the Church, and the Church’s voice is all too frequently drowned out. Thankfully, through online resources and Catholic radio and TV, we are able to seek out the wisdom of the Church.

Blessings on your journey!
 
All I can say is talk to a priest, talk to a prolife expert if you can find one, and really study the crap out of the issues at hand from authoritative sources.

Might I recommend Equal Rights Institute, and Secular Prolife? They are great organizations. Be open minded, and don’t go into it looking to have your pre-existing beliefs prevail. Try to be open minded.
 
Sometimes I think it’s also worth asking, "this is what society (Western Civilization) has believed for about 2000 years. Is there something about these values that has kept society together and functional for those millennia? Is it possible that I’m wrong, or emphasizing the wrong things in how I think about these wedge issues? (Abortion, LGBTQ, etc.).
 
You do have to consent to all of the teaching of the Catholic Church to be Catholic. Relax a little though. This is a marathon not a sprint. Don’t try to be Catholic today it will never work. Instead just begin to have community with Catholics and work on each point you have an issue with. Allow the change in your heart and mind to be gradual. That’s okay! Join RCIA. If you don’t feel comfortable after the first year of RCIA then join again the following year and continue to learn and to grow. Just continue to keep fellowship and go to Church. Come as you are. Grow where you can and as God guides that growth. You’ll be fine as long as your determined to always be honest with yourself in the process. God bless!
 
You should grant intellectual assent to the teachings of the Church, even if you do not understand all of them. Remember that you are joining a radically counter-cultural organization and one must relinquish many personal and culturally-based beliefs in order to properly do so.

Best advice is to get and read a catechism, listen to Catholic radio and watch Catholic TV. The truth and beauty of the faith will unfold before you.
 
Hi. On top of everything that was said above, when you pray again, you should ask for the gift of faith. Its something that’s given.
 
At Baptism we renounce satan. That is crucial. A Catholic must agree with that point. Do you know the Creed? Either the Apostles Creed or the Nicene Creed? Get to know them and determine that you can agree with them.

This is the Apostles Creed.
I believe in God the Father Almighty, Creator of Heaven and Earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, His only begotten son
Begotten by the Holy Spirit
Born of the Virgin Mary
Suffered under Pontius Pilate
Was Crucified , died and was buried
He descended into hell.
On the third day He rose again
He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of God the Father.
He will come again to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Holy Catholic Church
The Communion of Saints, the forgiveness of sin
The resurrection of the body
And life everlasting

Can you agree to all these points? Do you know for example, what the Communion of Saints is .
 
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You should read more about the Catholic Church and the people who make up the Church.
 
You can’t believe just on the first take. You need God to illumine you and then you will see that those teachings aren’t as plastered as they might seem.
Perfect faith no one had except Jesus Christ.
Just keep an open mind to those ideas you don’t accept from the dogmas. Don’t be stuck into what you don’t believe. Give it reasonable doubt.
But the main point of belief is the Creed. And that the identity of the Messiah is Jesus Christ.
 
Mother Church is trustworthy and has 2000 years of Magisterium behind Her.

You aren’t expected to believe.

However, you are expected to obey!
 
Well,
  • Firstly, thankyou for your interest in the Catholic Church. You won’t regret it.
  • Secondly, prioritize the reception of the sacraments. Start with baptism. Then, proceed to Confirmation, and the Holy Eucharist.
  • Thirdly, ask questions when you don’t know why we believe something that we do. If you don’t understand properly, you are believing blindly, it is better to understand Church teaching behind one of its dictates.
  • Fourthly, never forget to thank God.
Here’s some advice in general for a new convert: Remember that life is temporary, that life’s ultimate goal is heaven (and nothing less), and that what we seek is God, though we most often (sadly) seek Him in that which mirrors His Goodness, and not He alone.
 
Since Francis became Pope there has been a lively discussion abut whether the Church is a “field hospital for the wounded” or a home for the perfect. Francis has emphasized accompanying the wounded, since all of us are wounded to some degree.

Believing with the Church is an objective that we strive for. We learn to discern what is good, to meet God in our conscience and learn from him. You will meet conservatives and liberals in the Church, people with a wide range of opinions on a wide range of topics. Our effort is to accompany them and learn from them to hear God’s voice more clearly.

In everything, the goal is always the Eucharist. Christ gave himself that we might live together, united at one table. Baptism and Confirmation are steps toward that, but it is unlikely you will encounter them separately. The three, baptism confirmation and Eucharist, are part of one initiation ceremony. God, a loving Father, will proclaim love for you at Baptism; the Spirit will come to you in Confirmation to guide you; and in one Spirit we will share in Jesus’ life in the Eucharist. This is what you will find, to one degree or another, in the Catholic Church.
 
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