How come so many Catholics don't follow Church Teachings?

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JoeShlabotnik said:
Rather than worry about the sins committed by others, we all would be much better off by taking care of our own sins.
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You’re creating a false dichotomy. There is absolutely no reason we cannot and should not do both.

Matt 7:5
You hypocrite, remove the wooden beam from your eye first; then you will see clearly to remove the splinter from your brother’s eye.
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Yes, we must work on our own sins, but we are still obligated to assist our brothers and sisters. When we have so many high-profile, public, “Catholics” saying and doing things that are directly opposed to Church teaching we have a right and an obligation to admonish them for it.
 
It is not up to us to help others with their sins, unless they ask us for help.
But some who have posted here seem to think it is their duty to point out the faults of others.
 
Yes, and not only high profile, but our brothers and sisters whom we know.

Recieving Eucharist enjoins us to one another in a profound way. Like a family. Family doesnt say “Its none of your business if I want to sin against the family, and still consider myself a good standing member!”.

That would be a religion very different from Christianity.
 
JoeShlabotnik said:
It is not up to us to help others with their sins, unless they ask us for help.
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This is just blatantly contrary to Church teaching. We are obligated to admonish our brothers and sisters as our relationship allows. A person who is never confronted with the truth of their actions will never seek help.

Matt 18:15
“If your brother sins [against you], go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have won over your brother.
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Given that we believe that sin affects the whole Church, not just the individual, any sin, especially a sin committed in public which causes grave scandal, is a sin against the individual as well as the whole. Jesus doesn’t tell us to wait until they ask for help, He tells us to admonish privately, then with others, and then ultimately to treat them like the gentiles and the tax collectors. In other words, to treat them as those outside of God’s people.
 
Ammi said:
If they dont respect the Church, then they are not practicing the religion, are they?
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I don’t think that is a question that matters. I think the question is, are they doing their personal best to grow in their spirituality and their relationship with God? And, truthfully, it is a question that is nobody’s business but their own and those they choose to share with.
 
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“Personal best” is irrelavant. We need His Holy Spirit to overcome, not our personal best. Our personal best will gain us nothing.

We must be humble and recognize that only God’s mercy and strength gives us life.

If the Church formally calls an action or belief a sin, then you have two choices.

1.) Repent, and strive not to do it, or to call it permissible.

2.) Call it alright and keep doing it, but refrain from Eucharist.
 
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Ammi said:
“Personal best” is irrelavant. We need His Holy Spirit to overcome, not our personal best. Our personal best will gain us nothing.
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I am sorry if you see “personal best” as irrelevant. I am pretty sure that isn’t the way God sees it.

Glad you aren’t around to admonish me. I would be one of those who would not respond well to it.

Muting conversation, now.
 
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JoeShlabotnik said:
My sins are my sins. They are not your sins.
When I go into the confessional, you are not there with me. It is me, God, and the priest.
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From the CCC

Reconciliation with the Church

1443 During his public life Jesus not only forgave sins, but also made plain the effect of this forgiveness: he reintegrated forgiven sinners into the community of the People of God from which sin had alienated or even excluded them. A remarkable sign of this is the fact that Jesus receives sinners at his table, a gesture that expresses in an astonishing way both God’s forgiveness and the return to the bosom of the People of God.

1444 In imparting to his apostles his own power to forgive sins the Lord also gives them the authority to reconcile sinners with the Church. This ecclesial dimension of their task is expressed most notably in Christ’s solemn words to Simon Peter: "I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. “The office of binding and loosing which was given to Peter was also assigned to the college of the apostles united to its head.”

1445 The words bind and loose mean: whomever you exclude from your communion, will be excluded from communion with God; whomever you receive anew into your communion, God will welcome back into his. Reconciliation with the Church is inseparable from reconciliation with God.
JoeShlabotnik said:
There are many Catholics who seem to have some sort of modern-day pharisee complex.
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This isnt about judging or pointing fingers. It’s about lovingly walking with your neighbors.
 
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This is it…today people are glorifying these sins.

While there may be many reasons ‘Catholics’ do not actually follow Catholic teaching, I think two major ones are: the world we’re living in putting so much propaganda and pressure out against Catholic teaching, in addition to a world pushing individualism very hard, and two, the Church/parents for the past two generations at least failing to really teach Catholic teaching, or why we believe what we do or the concept of authority.

Speaking for myself, I grew up watching my parents go to church every Sunday and then pick and choose which teachings to actually follow. In retrospect, we really didn’t live a Catholic lifestyle apart from church on Sunday and fish on Lenten Fridays. That was about it. My mother was very upfront about using birth control and not wanting more children.

I started my married life this way because it was the example I saw and I was told, growing up, that we WERE ‘good Catholics.’ It’s hard to think outside of what you’ve been taught your entire life and see everywhere around you.

I feel very fortunate–more, that God had a plan for me–that I met a friend who very gently challenged me on why I called myself Catholic if I didn’t actually believe Catholic teaching or intend to follow it. I think it’s a fair question. And it completely changed my life.

I agree that we should pray for such people, but I think it’s also right to speak gently as to those blatantly breaking God’s laws especially while calling themselves Catholic.
 
Not sure how you got that from what I wrote, but apparently you weren’t the only one so I editted my post. My point is that someone attempting to admonish me in the manner being discussed isn’t going to get the outcome they are hoping for. Their objective won’t be achieved. I will let them know in clear terms what I think about their attempt, and it won’t be a pleasant conversation.
 
None. The MYOB approach. You have made it clear you aren’t willing to accept that so there isn’t much left to discuss.
 
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Imagine if society did this. Criminals just free to have their way, and tell others to mind their business.
 
JMMJ said:
Their objective won’t be achieved. I will let them know in clear terms what I think about their attempt, and it won’t be a pleasant conversation.
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In all charity, you could be surprised. Sometimes it just takes one word to change one’s heart. It also depends on the manner and timing. As I have said several times we don’t point fingers or accuse but loving share our faith and guide someone on the wrong road.

I have been there and for many years wouldn’t listen, but the advise did enter my heart and in time I came to understand what was being said to me. I am ever so grateful to those who weren’t afraid to tell me the truth about the wrong path I was on.

Also, as Mother Teresa says, we are not called to be successful, just obedient.
 
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So you wouldn’t stop to think if that person is right in what he/she is correcting you on? See if there are things you are not doing properly that need changing? You’d simply remain hung up on the fact that someone corrected/admonished you? Do you think after we leave this world we will be praised for minding our own business? Aren’t we called to be lights? Lights guide and sometimes people do wrong because they do not understand a particular teaching and so simply do not accept it. Are we not to at least try to help people and bring them closer to God? Sin separates us from God, if we love God, why would we not be grateful that someone takes time and courage to correct us and why would we not do the same for others? Salvation is personal, true, but our time here on earth should be spent sowing seeds and helping to lead souls to Christ. I struggle with the “mind your business” mentality, there are so many conversion testimonies of people that have become great assets to the church and the catholics that helped them on that journey. Speaking to someone is hard, believe me, it is easier to be silent. But, we have not been called so life can be easier for us.
 
Well said.

And I wouldnt be offended if a person said to me. “You are wrong, let’s go talk to a couple other members about this, or our pastor.”

I wouldnt approach someone if I wasnt willing to take that walk with them.

It’s about being one body, and taking care of each other. Like MagdalenaRita quoted, “As iron sharpens Iron, so one man sharpens another.”

Next week, I may need my brother admonishing me.
 
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