O
Orionthehunter
Guest
Much of what you have said through this thread belies a good heart. Praise be to God as His grace is working in you.
Why do you need to know this? Answer truthfully and probe your heart and mind carefullly and prayer. It might have something to do with her reaction to your question.
On another matter, there is a phenomenon among Catholics that is hard for many non-Catholic Christians to grasp. We often don’t know why the Church teaches in all matters and we sometimes don’t feel a need to know. Why? Because part of being Catholic is a heart of submission to the Church. If you asked my wife many questions that I find interesting, her answer is simply “the Church teaches it.” This answer is sufficient to her. Even though we are both cradle Catholics, it used to bother me. But now after decades of marriage, I understand that is part and parcel to her submission and obedience to Christ. She doesn’t care why only men can be Priests. Church teaches it. She doesn’t care why we should venerate the Mother of God. Church teaches it. She doesn’t care why we can’t recieve Communion except at Catholic Mass. Church teaches it.
For her non-Catholic friends, this is most frustrating. Sometimes they want to engage in theological debate (which she abhors) and sometimes they just want an honest explanation. While for them it was a cause of criticism of her (she doesn’t know her faith, she follows blindly, etc.), over time it has been an amazing teaching moment. They have come to see that she is on a walk of humility.
I tell you this as when I read your post in talking about your girlfriend, I see some of my wife in her. My wife sees these questions as a questioning of the Church’s authority. And she sees the questions of non-Catholics as similarly. Is she always right on this? No. However, she knows herself quite well and I need to respect that is her nature. She questions that which she thinks is her perogative to question. If it is God’s perogative, she feels called to submit and obey without question.
You mention that she has introduced some “borderline” sexual conduct to your relationship to which it appears you are uncomfortable. If you sincerely want her to change, I think if your girlfriend is as I suspect like my wife, the best way to do it is to show her how it is outside Catholic Teaching. I suggest this would be a good way to get her to go to Confession. Poor catechesis is a problem in the Catholic Church. If presented in the right light, you can do what will become your primary vocation if you get married- help her get to Heaven