Everyone Has An Excuse For Not Wanting To Become A Catholic.

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Righteousone

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I have heard over and over again how people here were going to become Catholic but a priest said this, or a priest said that, or someone here said something I didn’t like, or I don’t like this person who is Catholic, therefore I won’t become one, I don’t care for the Mass…etc…there are countless invalid excuses for not wanting to become a Catholic.

What about becoming a Catholic because CHRIST STARTED THE CATHOLIC CHURCH? How about that reason? There will be people here finding fault with this statement as well, but to reject Christ’s one true church because of something someone said is totally absurd and a terrible excuse for not wanting to be with Jesus Christ and His Roman Catholic church.
 
Hello 🙂

From a post I made last year:
Because being Catholic is not easy. We do not participate in an altar call and consider the job done. We are to be held accountable for our sins and confess them regularly. Not easy. We are to be open to life and put aside our personal desires to live a life that is exemplified in the secular world. We are to attend Mass at the very least every Sunday and participate in the Mass fully irregardless of our social plans and vacation schedules. We are to take the marriage covenant made with God seriously. In the OT, they used to cut animals in half and both parties would walk between them (like bride and groom walking down the center aisle), indicating that if the covenant was broken, may the same fate of the animals befall me. Jesus clearly believes that marriage is forever, though sometimes things ‘just don’t work out’ and we must either work to maintain and improve the marriage or civilly divorce and remain single. Not easy. To be Catholic means that you must put Christ first, others second and yourself very last. Not easy in a society which encourages selfishness. We have a 2000+ year history and man Church Fathers for our earliest examples of Church doctrine. Many people prefer to pave their own history path because it allows them to pick and choose what fits their personal lifestyle instead of doing as Christ wanted. In a time when people require proof of everything and have little faith in anything, the mysteries and miracles within the Catholic Church are not easy to accept. They are the very same miracles that St. Justin Martyr spoke of in his First Apology written in 150 A.D. to pagan Roman emperor Antonius Julius which were being celebrated by the earliest Christians. It is easier to be concerned about what is happening to ‘me’ today, than to think about what some men dead a couple of thousand years said. People don’t follow the dots to how this affects them today; they want to focus on their own selfish lives and not on Christ and his wishes. It is all about what do I want. I suggest that anyone who wants easy should not look to the Catholic Church. Because the TRUTH is not always easy.
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Some people outright disagree with many Church teachings, but there are countless others that are better described by many of the sentiments I listed above. Ultimately, it is up to us to plant the seeds but the Holy Spirit works on the growing. Free will is God-given and it can be difficult to just sit back and pray for His will to be done.

Peace to you,

Kelly
 
Righteousone said:
I have heard over and over again how people here were going to become Catholic but a priest said this, or a priest said that, or someone here said something I didn’t like, or I don’t like this person who is Catholic, therefore I won’t become one, I don’t care for the Mass…etc…there are countless invalid excuses for not wanting to become a Catholic.

What about becoming a Catholic because CHRIST STARTED THE CATHOLIC CHURCH? How about that reason? There will be people here finding fault with this statement as well, but to reject Christ’s one true church because of something someone said is totally absurd and a terrible excuse for not wanting to be with Jesus Christ and His Roman Catholic church.
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It is in fact relevant to look at the present fruit of the ecclesial body calling itself the Catholic Church. If that body does not consistently bear qualitatively better fruit than all other Christian bodies, then one can have some reasonable doubt as to whether it is qualitatively superior to all others in the way it claims.

Christ obviously did not found an institution possessing every characteristic currently possessed by the Roman Communion, or any other communion of Christian churches existing today. All Christian bodies have developed in various ways. The question is: is there one Christian tradition that has preserved the fullness of the Faith as instituted by Christ? If there is, it’s almost certainly your Communion. (The Communion of Constantinople, which calls itself the Orthodox Church, is a runner-up.) But it’s not self-evident that there is any such tradition.

Edwin
 
Righteousone said:
I have heard over and over again how people here were going to become Catholic but a priest said this, or a priest said that, or someone here said something I didn’t like, or I don’t like this person who is Catholic, therefore I won’t become one, I don’t care for the Mass…etc…there are countless invalid excuses for not wanting to become a Catholic.

What about becoming a Catholic because CHRIST STARTED THE CATHOLIC CHURCH? How about that reason? There will be people here finding fault with this statement as well, but to reject Christ’s one true church because of something someone said is totally absurd and a terrible excuse for not wanting to be with Jesus Christ and His Roman Catholic church.
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If I believed the CC was started by Christ, I would be Catholic…but I don’t…I do not find the evidence compelling at all…I see history and a growth of an emerging organization that “claims” to be what I do not find any evidence in those claims.

I have been to mass, but do not find it “speaks to my condition”…I don’t need to make up “invalid” reasons to not be Catholic…I have very valid reasons…I simply do not believe it’s claims…but for those who do IF it answers the questions of their lives and brings them closer to God…IF being Catholic brings them closer to their neighbor and causes them to be kind, considerate of others, show mercy, compassion, seek justice for those who cannot speak for themselves…live according to the two greatest commandments…great!!! My deepest longings and needs have been answered elsewhere.
 
Kelly, you take the words from my mouth in your post.

Being Catholic is definitely not easy. In fact, it gets downright tough sometimes. Because I feel the need to unite with Christ in the Blessed Sacrament, it’s a high priority for me to go to daily Mass as much as I can. This requires, of course, the need to examine my conscience often, sporadically through the day. It requires that me to be in a state of grace and to refrain from behaving in a manner that Christ would not approve. It necessitates envisioning Christ in everyone I meet and sometimes that’s very difficult to do. It often calls for an act of kindness towards someone who hasn’t been so kind to me. And I haven’t even scratched the surface really. Getting down to it, it’s just plain not easy for us to do all this.

But I will say, I thank God I am Catholic. My conversion came as a gift from the Holy Spirit a year and a half ago and I would glady sacrifice all just to receive the precious Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of our Lord, Jesus Christ.

God bless you,
 
Jacquelinem said:
Kelly, you take the words from my mouth in your post.

Being Catholic is definitely not easy. In fact, it gets downright tough sometimes. Because I feel the need to unite with Christ in the Blessed Sacrament, it’s a high priority for me to go to daily Mass as much as I can. This requires, of course, the need to examine my conscience often, sporadically through the day. It requires that me to be in a state of grace and to refrain from behaving in a manner that Christ would not approve. It necessitates envisioning Christ in everyone I meet and sometimes that’s very difficult to do. It often calls for an act of kindness towards someone who hasn’t been so kind to me. And I haven’t even scratched the surface really. Getting down to it, it’s just plain not easy for us to do all this.

But I will say, I thank God I am Catholic. My conversion came as a gift from the Holy Spirit a year and a half ago and I would glady sacrifice all just to receive the precious Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of our Lord, Jesus Christ.

God bless you,
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Hi Jacquelin, welcome. I relate so closely to your story. I swam home at a time when there were no conversions in my neighborhhod. the parish I entered had no RCIA program as there was no need for one, since there were no converts. the pastor was extremely liberal, a nice man, but without any witness of the faith that I could discern at the time. The parish nun wore a pantsuit to work you could not tell from looking at her or talking to her that she was a nun. there is more, but you get the idea I think.

on top of that I was coming out of a very conserrvative type of evangelical viewpoint, very anti catholic. My daily experience in that parish was almost like drinking castor oil, it was offensive, and difficult. I was criticised by my protestant sisters and brothers, and shunned by some. when it turned out that an old marriag needed an annulment proceeding before I could enter the Church, my protestant friends hooted and hollered and said, see there?

many times I came to a point of backing out. it would have been so much easier to do so. Yet every time I considered backing out, the attraction grew stronger. I had plenty of reasons to be irritated at the Catholics I saw in that parish, but the truth of Catholicism had notning to do with any of them. no this was about truth and my own personal response to it, come hell or high water.

Like you I thank God that He gave me the strength to see it through, and continues to give me strength to grow in the faith day by day. NOT being Cathlic is NOT an option, there is no truth, no happiness, outside the Catholic Church.
 
I really like the take Fr. Larry Richards’ take on our faith. He has a program on relevantradio.com Changed Forever. He says the difference in our faith and other faiths, or those who are seeking faith…is that other spiritualities are always looking for God.

But as Catholics we know that it’s a little bit different…in fact it’s God who is always looking for us.
Like the Good Shepherd looking for his lost sheep…
The woman who searches for her lost coin.
Like the father running out to meet the prodigal son.

I like that reasoning…and that’s one of the most comforting things I find as a Catholic.
 
Publisher said:
If I believed the CC was started by Christ, I would be Catholic…but I don’t…I do not find the evidence compelling at all…I see history and a growth of an emerging organization that “claims” to be what I do not find any evidence in those claims.

I have been to mass, but do not find it “speaks to my condition”…I don’t need to make up “invalid” reasons to not be Catholic…I have very valid reasons…I simply do not believe it’s claims…but for those who do IF it answers the questions of their lives and brings them closer to God…IF being Catholic brings them closer to their neighbor and causes them to be kind, considerate of others, show mercy, compassion, seek justice for those who cannot speak for themselves…live according to the two greatest commandments…great!!! My deepest longings and needs have been answered elsewhere.
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You don’t find the evidence compelling? Oh my…that’s all there is is HISTORICAL FACT AND EVIDENCE…you are in the correct thread though…
 
As I said, your “evidence” is not compelling for me. However IF it is for you I’m pleased you have found a faith tradition which answers your needs. As I said before, I don’t have to “make up invalid” reasons for not being Catholic…my reasons are valid enough for me…I have found a faith that “speaks to my condition” as no other tradition has.
 
Publisher said:
As I said, your “evidence” is not compelling for me. However IF it is for you I’m pleased you have found a faith tradition which answers your needs. As I said before, I don’t have to “make up invalid” reasons for not being Catholic…my reasons are valid enough for me…I have found a faith that “speaks to my condition” as no other tradition has.
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I am interested in knowing about your ‘valid’ reasons for not wanting to be Catholic, after all your extensive research. What faith ‘speaks’ to your condition if not the church from Jesus?
 
I’m sure if you search my posts you will find where I have provided my views on the subject of the church, so I don’t see a reason to rehash it here.

I am content to accept my place in the Body of Christ through the one baptism which makes us members of His church…the baptism of the Holy Spirit is what makes a person a member of the church…it is not a building or an organization…it is made of flesh and bones of those who have put their faith in the One who speaks to our condition.
 
Publisher said:
I’m sure if you search my posts you will find where I have provided my views on the subject of the church, so I don’t see a reason to rehash it here.

I am content to accept my place in the Body of Christ through the one baptism which makes us members of His church…the baptism of the Holy Spirit is what makes a person a member of the church…it is not a building or an organization…it is made of flesh and bones of those who have put their faith in the One who speaks to our condition.
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Then why does 1Timothy 3:15 say “The church is the pillar of truth”?
If it is just a building? Would you like about 20 more quotes that states how important the church really is? The church is an organization. A “visible” one as Jesus has himself stated.
 
Righteousone said:
Then why does 1Timothy 3:15 say “The church is the pillar of truth”?
If it is just a building? Would you like about 20 more quotes that states how important the church really is? The church is an organization. A “visible” one as Jesus has himself stated.
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No, no proof texting will be necessary Friend Righteousone, I am content with my faith, I know you are with yours. Let us both follow the Light of Christ as He leads us…let us both allow the Spirit of Christ to guide us in speaking gently with one another and bear testimony to the Life He has provided us through the One who speaks to our conditions. Let us cultivate this Life we have in Christ to “walk in the Light as He is in the Light.”

Let us walk in peace with each other and be a mirror of His grace to a world that needs to know that “there is One, even Christ Jesus that can speak to their condition.”

Peace to you.
 
The Catholic Church is not, has never been and will never be a fit or a home for everyone. Jesus himself recognized that of the many who saw and heard him while he was among us, only a small number would become followers. Why should any church expect any better recruiting results 2000 years later?
 
Publisher said:
As I said, your “evidence” is not compelling for me. However IF it is for you I’m pleased you have found a faith tradition which answers your needs. As I said before, I don’t have to “make up invalid” reasons for not being Catholic…my reasons are valid enough for me…I have found a faith that “speaks to my condition” as no other tradition has.
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Please do tell us about your faith that speaks to your condition. I would like to hear about it. I don’t know about your previous threads and so your view is a mystery to me.
 
Yes, and here is yet another honest, heartfelt excuse from a Protestant. Granted, the Church holds a certain place in my heart. Otherwise, why would I be here reading this forum, trying to gain a more open understanding and appreciation of Catholic views? I abhor mindless attacks based off of ignorance as much as you… Yet, I keep finding myself coming back to a point of difficulty regarding the Catholic Church. It mostly comes from history.

It’s when a medieval Pope says that salvation is dependent upon subjection to him (ie Pope Boniface VIII) I become a bit apprehensive. Whose interests was he really looking out for? Another is the Eucharist. I don’t think Jesus said that only the Catholic wafer became his flesh, therefore if you want to force someone to submit to your authority, well… just withhold that wafer. How can you not take these claims as suspect? Isn’t really just about power?

I’m not trying to be rude. Honestly, I’m not. But the CC’s history isn’t perfect, yet its history is often revered as infallible. Arrogant Catholics (every belief system has them) attack the Protestant of being bas**rd children, but honestly can’t you at least understand why some, in the past, would object to the authority of the Roman pontiff? Sure, many people seized it as a means of political gain, but I’d be horrible to say that ALL early Protestant theologians were not sincere in their misgivings.

In the end, it’s a bunch of finger pointing. If we’re really going to come to a greater unity, I think we could do well to follow the words of Jesus and turn the other cheek. When ignorant Protestants attack you, deal with it like Jesus dealt with the Pharisees when he said “Leave them; they are blind guides. If a blind man leads a blind man, both will fall into a pit.”

Hmmm… I think this post got away from me. 🙂 But in the end, I’d like to say this: I have problems with the Church’s history but I don’t know how to reconcile it with today’s Church. Any insight into this would be most helpful.
 
Righteousone said:
I have heard over and over again how people here were going to become Catholic but a priest said this, or a priest said that, or someone here said something I didn’t like, or I don’t like this person who is Catholic, therefore I won’t become one, I don’t care for the Mass…etc…there are countless invalid excuses for not wanting to become a Catholic.

What about becoming a Catholic because CHRIST STARTED THE CATHOLIC CHURCH? How about that reason? There will be people here finding fault with this statement as well, but to reject Christ’s one true church because of something someone said is totally absurd and a terrible excuse for not wanting to be with Jesus Christ and His Roman Catholic church.
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**The argument from its origin, put in that form, may well convince some people. **​

**The problem with it, is that, stated in that form, it is vulnerable to many objections. I would be very worried, if I seriously imagined that no stronger case could be made. As a reason for being Catholic, that takes a great deal for granted. **

For instance:
  • it assumes without examination that the CC then is no other than the ecclesia/church founded by Jesus.
  • It is taken for granted that the moral objections to CCism as it is today can be outweighed by the CC’s foundation by Christ
  • **It is a fact that nowhere in the NT is any of the Church but one small part specified as “Roman”: later developments leading to a wider application of the word may be legitimate - but legitimacy cannot be taken for granted **
  • Peter called himself a “fellow-presbyteros”; but that hardly describes the Pope, & hasn’t for a long time.
    There is also this:
  • **If OSAS is invalid when applied to individuals, why should it be valid when applied to churches ? If a Christian can fall from grace finally, despite God’s repeated promises to the contrary, why should the promises of God be incompatible with the final fall of a Church ? **
    **We may not be well aware of the reasons that people find the CC “problematic” - does that mean no one else is ? **
**Maybe that sounds “anti-Catholic” - I hope not. Because one is Catholic, one wants to see arguments that are less open to objection; that is, surely, anything but an “anti-Catholic” attitude. **

Sorry to find fault again 😦
 
wow, after that fairly combative, throw-down-the-gauntlet post, nary an uncharitable word from our separated brethren (and sistren). bravo to you.

maybe if we were better catholics there would be one less obstacle to conversion.
 
kell0618 said:
Hello 🙂

From a post I made last year:

Some people outright disagree with many Church teachings, but there are countless others that are better described by many of the sentiments I listed above. Ultimately, it is up to us to plant the seeds but the Holy Spirit works on the growing. Free will is God-given and it can be difficult to just sit back and pray for His will to be done.

Peace to you,

Kelly
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Some of us stay in our own religion because (amazingly enough), we believe it to be the truth, and we are happy here.

Only those who are unhappy in their religion go searching elsewhere.

As for the idea that Catholicism is “hard”, I feel Orthodox Judaism is much harder!

The things Catholics find “hard” about Catholicism (no artificial birth control, no divorce, no abortion, etc) would not at all be a problem for me because I have never used artificial birth control (only NFP), do not believe in abortion, and am opposed to divorce except in the hardest of situations.

My reason for not being Catholic is: I believe in Judaism, I believe I have an obligation to follow the One God and do what He says, and even if I did not feel a loyalty to Judaism, I could never be Catholic because some of the beliefs I find personally distasteful (notably the transubstantiation issue and the obedience issue.)
 
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