How do you know which church you're supposed to belong to?

[fellowChristian]

**Your question can’t **really be answered without addressing the issues you don’t want to talk about.
I’m not going to get into contraception if you don’t want to, but it seems that you want to have your cake and eat it, too. To be TRULY Catholic, you must submit to the Magesterium of the Church because Jesus said so (Luke 10:16, John 16:13).
As Catholic_ Hammer said above, the Catholic Church is the true Church and THE only one established by Jesus Christ.
If you want to belong to HIS Church, THERE is where you need to be.

I agree. Is it because you think contraception was “made up” by the church? It is biblical.This website can show you were in the bible you can find it.scripturecatholic.com/contraception.html
And as for The Real Presence of Jesus Christ you only get the Body of Christ and the Blood of Christ in the Catholic Church. We are here to serve,not to be served.Every Protestant church is founded by a man.If you look back in history you’ll see that Protestants broke off from the Catholic Church in 1517 and continued splitting.Before that and all the way back to Jesus you will only find the Catholic Church serving Christ. God Bless you on your spiritual journey, I hope you find the answers to your questions.

 

[mrs_abbott]

Mrs Abbot -

Do you believe in the Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist?

Kage

yes

 

[mrs_abbott]

I think I just answered my own question.

From the Catechism:
426
“At the heart of catechesis we find, in essence, a Person, the Person of Jesus of Nazareth, the only Son from the Father . . . who suffered and died for us and who now, after rising, is living with us forever.” To catechize is “to reveal in the Person of Christ the whole of God’s eternal design reaching fulfillment in that Person. It is to seek to understand the meaning of Christ’s actions and words and of the signs worked by him.” Catechesis aims at putting “people . . . in communion . . . with Jesus Christ: only he can lead us to the love of the Father in the Spirit and make us share in the life of the Holy Trinity.”

1698
The first and last point of reference of this catechesis will always be Jesus Christ himself, who is “the way, and the truth, and the life.” It is by looking to him in faith that Christ’s faithful can hope that he himself fulfills his promises in them, and that, by loving him with the same love with which he has loved them, they may perform works in keeping with their dignity.

 

[manualman]

Try this on: I think you are saying that you are uncomfortable with catholic teachings on a few specific issues.

Perhaps you just need to be slightly unAmericanized! It is an American characteristic to imagine that we are each supposed to master our domain and have all the answers. Thus Americans approach religious topics with the bizarre expectation that we should be able to grasp it all!

Instead consider reshaping how you discuss the troublesome issues. In conversation, don’t say you “disagree” with Church teaching on them, just admit that you have ‘difficulties’ with that issue and decline to engage in debate. Don’t push your opinion. For heavens sake, don’t go trying to convert others to your difficulty! Admit that you haven’t been able to submit to these teachings, but that you continue to pray to God that the Truth will set you free. I bet you’ll find that all but the most abrasive jerks will respect you in this and accept you happily in parish life.

We ALL have issues. We are all sinful. We just need to stop pretending to have the answers and admit that where our consciences fail to align with church teachings, the problem is probably with us and we just haven’t been ‘fixed’ yet. You don’t have to pretend that the problem doesn’t exist, just refrain from pontificating that the problem lies in the Church!

The key phrase is “personal difficulties” rather than “doctrinal disagreements.” This difference is subtle, but life-changing.

 

[mrs_abbott]

Try this on: I think you are saying that you are uncomfortable with catholic teachings on a few specific issues.

Perhaps you just need to be slightly unAmericanized! It is an American characteristic to imagine that we are each supposed to master our domain and have all the answers. Thus Americans approach religious topics with the bizarre expectation that we should be able to grasp it all!

I have issues relinquishing control of my life to someone else, even God at times. I feel like I have to have a plan for everything and I know I need to trust God and His Plan for me.
You’re right! I need to be unAmericanized!!!

 

[manualman]

I LOVE being right!

I badly need to be de-Americanized!

 

[kage_ar]

yes

Then you would not want to leave that Precious Sacrement - You have the option of the Catholic Church - any of the various Rites or the Orthodox Churches who have valid orders and where Priests can bring you the Eucharist. Does not exist anywhere else.

Since you are in Kansas, not sure what Orthodox options you would have - so, my advice would be to really pray, really study, and God will give you the grace to continue in your Faith. Keep praying “Lord, I believe, help thou my unbelief”. Believe me - HE WILL. It might take hours, it might take years - just keep praying.

 

[BlestOne]

I LOVE being right!

I badly need to be de-Americanized!

Hahahahaha!!! So what you are saying is we Americans are a bunch of control freaks right??? I would buy that… I struggle with it every day!

 

[CCM08]

Finding a religion to suit me is like telling God what to do. I’m asking how to know where I belong. Some would argue that my disagreements with the CC are enough to unofficially excommunicate me (the radical traditionalists have mentioned it before).
The current calling is to find a way to reconcile my differences with the CC and “correct myself” because I just don’t see another option for me.

That’s exactly the same thing, you want to find a church that bends to your beliefs instead of bending yourself to the truth. Why not convert to Anglicianism? You can believe or not believe anything you want while receiving some bread from a lesbian “priestess” telling you the New Testament is a collection fo symbolic stories about a guy that probably never existed.

 

[mrs_abbott]

That’s exactly the same thing, you want to find a church that bends to your beliefs instead of bending yourself to the truth. Why not convert to Anglicianism? You can believe or not believe anything you want while receiving some bread from a lesbian “priestess” telling you the New Testament is a collection fo symbolic stories about a guy that probably never existed.

Where did I say all that?

 

[Cat]

so mrs_abbott, may I ask if you’ve made a decision about church to stay in the Catholic Church? Just curious.

 

[mrs_abbott]

so mrs_abbott, may I ask if you’ve made a decision about church to stay in the Catholic Church? Just curious.

Yes. Something in the Catechism just hit me (see post #23) and realized what I’ve apparently known all along but have just been suppressing it.

 

[Cat]

Well, I certainly wish you all the best in your church. I think it’s good that you’re searching and asking questions rather than just giving up and staying home and watching real estate shows and political commentaries on Sunday morning!

 

[mrs_abbott]

Well, I certainly wish you all the best in your church. I think it’s good that you’re searching and asking questions rather than just giving up and staying home and watching real estate shows and political commentaries on Sunday morning!

Couldn’t do that. I have a well-informed conscience that lays guilt on me if I start to get lazy.

 

[jmcrae]

Couldn’t do that. I have a well-informed conscience that lays guilt on me if I start to get lazy.

I recently heard on one of those tapes for evangelism, “Guilt is a gift from God.”

Welcome back, kiddo. :extrahappy:

 

[LittleDeb]

Yes. Something in the Catechism just hit me (see post #23) and realized what I’ve apparently known all along but have just been suppressing it.

Good to hear! If and when you want to discuss your topics I’m here for ya’! I promise to be gentle. My motto is “meet people where they are and go from there.”

 

[mrs_abbott]

Good to hear! If and when you want to discuss your topics I’m here for ya’! I promise to be gentle. My motto is “meet people where they are and go from there.”

Thanks! I appreciate that!!!
I’m hoping to track down the priest that married me and my hubby. I’ve known him my whole life and trust him but he has moved away (still within the state, though). I will contact the diocese and see what they can tell me. Hopefully I can find him and talk to him about my issues. He’s pretty straight-forward and to-the-point so he would tell me like it is. I need that!

 

[mrs_abbott]

I recently heard on one of those tapes for evangelism, “Guilt is a gift from God.”

Welcome back, kiddo. :extrahappy:

Oh, I know guilt is God’s way of telling me to quit doing what I’m doing. I may not like it but tough.
Yes, I’m back but I guarantee that there will be times where I’ll sway and stumble again.

 

[cazayoux]

The title says it all and it’s a serious question too (and not a trick question either).
I’ve visited a few churches that are not Catholic and none of them **felt **like home.
How do I know where I belong?

Truth is not relative.
Truth is firm regardless of where you feel like you belong or where you **feel **more comfortable.

Advice: find the Truth, and there is where you belong, regardess of your **feelings **about that Truth.

michel

 

[cazayoux]

I have issues relinquishing control of my life to someone else, even God at times. I feel like I have to have a plan for everything and I know I need to trust God and His Plan for me.

Don’t we all.
Pray for me.


michel