Don't mind our differing opinions as if the Church is no better than other Faiths...

[foolishmortal]

…we are still here and Catholic; many are not (including many who think they are but practically are not). The Church has all the answers. The Catechism has nothing in error. Unfortunately, the events of the 60s set a lot of things into confusiuon because I guess people weren’t being filled in as to what Vatican 2 was teaching and opportunists who were ashamed of their Faith as it was and still is and the wealth of their Church (especially gold art that was dedicated to God) tried to give them what they wanted them to think it taught. Unfortunately, the Church didn’t seem to correct the ignorant very well or boot out the heretics who were trying to be heretics. Many don’t either know what changed or didn’t and many don’t care or don’t trust the Vatican or their country’s bishops to tell them. As wrong as the latter is in morally and in principle (people get self-righteous, angry, Prideful) many clergy did not give us much reason to believe them. \

Nevertheless, the Church itself is not in error nor was it or will be.  On the lesser things, the management can screw up;  on the fundamental teachings on Faith and Morals, they can't.  I understand Pope Sixtus V was about to sign a dogma that had heresy in it (I'm assuming he was ignorant of that) when he mysteriously died.  None of the too young Popes or the crooked ones put onto the seat of Peter ever tried to make a heresy, doctrine.  Any error is cosmetic or misinformation.  We have a Catechism and canon law.  That will prevent you from being confused by any erroneous cosmetic errors that could be taught by a priest, bishop or anyone else one may think has authority to give answers if those answers sound fishy.
  The gates of Hell will not prevail over the Church (the only one around at the time of Christ and the Apostles and the one whose churches were built and examined by the Apostles and Paul in the Bible itself.  The Holy Spirit makes sure the Church Christ built upon Peter cannot fail even if management should.  The Church hasn't failed us yet on matters of Faith and Morals.  The sad state of society, which has not kept these beliefs, demonstrate that reality pretty well, I think.

Thank God for the Church, which holds all the knowledge handed down by God to the prophets, taught through Jesus and to the Magisterium! Without it, we’d be living in truly dark days. Denying these truths, the world (thinking itself so justified because of some crusades, inquisitions and sex scandals by members of the Church went out of hand) is bringing about dark days because it is not rooted in the rock; but in passions, but the light of truth from the spotlight coming from the Church will prevent us from living in total darkness until people are ready to listen again…
Not to be triumphalistic. I’m just saying, despite the confusion, we’re on the right bandwagon. That is why I go to the Indult and am not cynical about every Vatican document because of the problems in the Church. I have hope. Things have gotten better before and they will again.

 

[Silvertip]

Amen and thank you! After just browsing a couple of hatefull “former catholics” websites, I was feeling down and discouraged.

God bless our Church and our Papa, Benedict XVI !!!

 

[foolishmortal]

You’re welcome. I am not against any particular Protestants because many do what they can with what they’re given, but their faiths are what they are–born of Pride. Many either are wanting in Faith or Charity so they range from promoting abortion to gay bashers on the sliding scale. Many cults lack one or both plus lack in hope in things getting better (especially doomsaday cults and sedevacantist groups–practical sedevacantists too, I’d suppose). The same goes with those of non-Christian religions that don’t worship God. Though maybe not all those are born of Pride, still, the God of the Gentiles (those worshipped by pre-Christianized non-Jews) are devils as Psalm 95 says.
I wrote this feeling guilty for ranting against what clergy are doing because some non-Catholics may think we don’t have it together. I recognize I have issues, but I have the fullness of the Faith in the Church by the grace of God only. I have salvation within the Church’s embrace if I don’t commit a mortal sin and I am not turned away by our Queen Mother and Mediatrix, the Most Blessed Virgin Mary at the hour of my death–especially if I have mortal sin on my soul at death.
We have the saints–THE saints (not merely the generic term given to the faithful in the Bible, but those who lived the Catholic-Christian life almost perfectly–some even receiving supernatural special gifts as a result of their extraordinary grace-inspired cooperation with His Will in order to serve Him further). Protestants may have Billy Graham, and I’m sure he is terrific, but do they have John of the Cross or Catherine of Sienna? Do they have the knowledge that can serve God as perfectly even at their best when Christ can’t tell them everything he has told his mouthpiece, the Catholic Church?
If anyone brings up scandals of the Church, it is to suit their passions, because Mother Theresa is still in our common knowledge. They know of examples of what one following the teachings and receiving the graces of the Catholic Church can do for Him. Knowing of the good done by Pope John Paul 2, whatever errors he may or may not have made in ecumenical pursuits and dealings with heresies that underlie sexual abuse, they cannot rightfully leave in minds of others the legacy of the Church at botched crusades, inquisitions, conquerings, missions and management over the past 2000 years.
We are made to feel like jerks for our Faith because our Faith threatens their sense of comfort in whatever vice they’ve fallen into or in rationalizing what mistakes they’ve made that they want to put out of their mind. A man named Dr. Steve Wood (s?) wrote a book called something like, “How the Catholic Church built (Western?) Civilixation”. I believe there is a book called “Triumph” that makes the Church look good. G.K. Chesterton is also a good read if pressure from anti-Catholics make you feel stupid for being Catholic or holding to its more conservative-sounding social doctrines. Don’t get stuffy either, of course.
God be with you! It’s a tough world out there but, as Carla said to Sam on Cheers, “Catholicism ain’t for wimps”.

 

[MommaKat]

Thank you for your wonderful post. I am glad to see there are others willing to be a faithful part of the Church Militant.

 

[foolishmortal]

Well, I have to admit, I’m too much head. I’m not as great in charity. I’ve been told to leave one newsgroup and I left this and others in the past. I’ve mellowed more since and I have questions about things also so, against my better judgment, I came back here again.

   I have nothing against Protestants despite what I've said about Protestantism.  They know they aren't Catholic and why.  Secularists know they aren't Christian or anything else and why;  it doesn't seem enough of us do.  In this time of Catholic identity crisis, Protestant elements in Catholic culture such as the charismatic movement, doesn't sound like a good idea--even if under a Catholic priest and oked by a bishop.  Though Jesus praised the faith of the centurion (who asks him to heal his beloved servant) in comparison to his flock, I don't think that Catholics today are so triumphalistic.  
 The far-left says we should be so open-minded but I think, in this materialistic world, we have opened our mind too far.  I like how  Jesus in "Jesus of Nazareth" says to Judas, when told to open his mind, not to open his mind;  but his heart".  It's not in the Bible but it is a great line and Jesus probably would say it.  What truth do we need but that which he taught us and what his Magesterium given them by Christ either directly or by the authority of the Apostles.  
 EWTN does promote the pre-Vatican 2 cultural works, but many still don't know about it or don't trust it because for 30 years, thanks to the "spirit" of Vatican 2, it sounds too conservative.  It's like that Bible passage about people will someday not listen to reason and listen to teachings that will tickle their ears.  Nowadays, Though more a traditional Latin Mass guy myself, I have hope that the rest of the Catholic world will catch up with EWTN, because pre-Vatican 2 only Catholicism won't catch on mainstream--besides, indult Mass people are ok with the neo-conservative stuff, but take little stock in charismatic movements and such.  I wish those traditionalist Catholics on the fringe-right would not bash neo-cons because neo-cons bash the fringe left and cafeteria Catholicism far more than they ever get on their case.

 

[foolishmortal]

I’m too heady. I don’t practice my Faith as much as I should and the weight of it is bearing down on me to where I’d like to join a religious order more now than ever. I like reading all about my faith but I’m still a wimp under pressure from family to help on a Sunday and things like that. I’m still too self-centered. We are all works-in-progress and habits are hard to break.