https://www.quora.com/What-do-Protestants-and-Catholics-think-of-Mormons/answer/James-Hough-1

[lokisuperfan]

Do you have a sponsor?

Yes, my older cousin is sponsoring me.

Do you think it teaches God is to be feared and that Catholics are discouraged from forming a personal relationship with him?

It doesn’t. But like I said, I really don’t remember where I heard that, as it was a very long time ago and I’ve had it stuck in my head since then.

 

[SunshineGrandma]

Yes, my older cousin is sponsoring me.

And your sponsor hasn’t helped you in your understanding of having a personal relationship with God?
They have never heard of the gifts of the Holy Spirit?

If not, you need to have them participate in the Chosen study with you or get a new sponsor.

The role of sponsor is very important.

What saint have you chosen?

It doesn’t. But like I said, I really don’t remember where I heard that, as it was a very long time ago and I’ve had it stuck in my head since then.

So you are saying a past comment by a religious education teacher “you can’t remember “ is more meaningful than an excellent confirmation preparation program that challenges your old ideas?

This doesn’t appear to be about religious education or lack thereof.

 

[lokisuperfan]

So you are saying a past comment by a religious education teacher “you can’t remember “ is more meaningful than an excellent confirmation preparation program that challenges your old ideas?

They’ve yet to teach me something that contradicts that, and that’s why I still thought it was true.

Yes, my older cousin is sponsoring me.

My cousin lives in another state, but he’s the only one eligible to be my sponsor according to all the requirements.

What saint have you chosen?

Saint Cecilia

 

[lokisuperfan]

As I have already shown, it is included in your book.

We almost never do work out of our books. There was one time when we read a group prayer, but other than that we watch the videos and do discussions.

And I’m not denying that it’s in the book and that we’re supposed to be taught it, I’m saying that I’m still waiting to hear the words come out of my catechist’s mouth. My catechist only recently converted to Catholicism a few years ago, so she’s not very well-versed in this topic.

Therefore, you must have a female sponsor.

It doesn’t say that in the requirements I was given. And the lady who runs the CCD thing didn’t say anything about it, soo…

I’m having a hard time believing you really are a 14 year old Catholic girl preparing to make her Confirmation in June. Nice try though.

Wow…that was unnecessary.

 

[Mi_Rose]

The old Code of Canon Law required a sponsor of the same sex. That is no longer required since the 1983 code.
Fun fact in 1961 my parish had one female sponser for all the girls and the same male one for all the boys.

 

[Canterbury]

I’m an Anglican, but have been active in debating Mormons since the 1970’s. They certainly are NOT Christian. The say, in fact, that all the Christian Creeds are an abomination and that all who profess those creeds are “corrupt.” Their founder, Joseph Smith, called the Holy Trinity a MONSTER. He also taught that their “heavenly father” was once a sinful man on another planet who had a father, grandfather, and so on. Their “heavenly faither” was exalted to become a god, and then the Council of gods appointed him to rule over planet earth. All men who follow the rules of Mormonism, get married and have special “endowments” in their temples can also become “exalted” to godhood. This is called “exaltation” in Mormonism. All of us were supposedly born of heavenly father and one of his wives as spirit babies in Premortal life. Jesus was the first spirit baby, an Lucifer was the second spirit baby. Thus, we are all spirit brothers and sisters, making Jesus our spirit brother and also Satan’s spirit brother. I currently administer a forum on FB called “Christianity and Mormonism Compared,” where you can find out why Mormonism is no more Christian than Shintoism. I hope some will come to that site. We are NOT anti-Catholic. Not as long as I’m administering that site. Furthermore, no Church which is truly Christian recognizes Mormon baptisms since they denounce the Trinity. Remember, Mormonism is not Christian, don’t let your children date Mormonis, and be wary of any Mormon who comes knocking at your door: Go to Youtube and search for “Mormons are not Christian.”

 

[AngelaMarie]

You must be a female since you chose Saint Cecilia as your saint.

Not true. A person can pick a confirmation saint that is of the opposite gender. Happened in my RCIA class

 

[AngelaMarie]

I’m having a hard time believing you really are a 14 year old Catholic girl preparing to make her Confirmation in June. Nice try though.

Sarah has been clear from the beginning that she has a social disorder. That, coupled with her being 14 makes her responses very credible in my view.

 

[SunshineGrandma]

You initially presented yourself as a go-getter trying to get answers and compare teachings on religion.

Now you are a passive “they haven’t spoon fed me so I don’t think the Catholics teach it” kind of a person.

You have shown to be very adept at looking up LDS beliefs on women’s rights but then say I never knew the Catholic Church taught about the gifts of the Holy Spirit.

If you truly are a 14 yo Catholic girl being raised by a super strict Catholic dad and attend a religious education that is as bad as you say then-
-Please explain why your dad is so uninvolved and isn’t talking with your teacher, DRE, and pastor
-why doesn’t he give you basic Catholic teaching on these topics
-why doesn’t he know that your sponsor must be female
-why isn’t he reading the paperwork that is coming home regarding the seriousness of your confirmation commitment or questioning the absence of it
-why isn’t your dad questioning why there aren’t regular information meetings for parents and sponsors
-why doesn’t your very religious dad care that you are struggling with your faith due to poor catechesis

If you are about to make the sacrament of confirmation without basic knowledge, without proper support from dad/teacher/DRE/priest/sponsor, then you are in a bad place. Reach out to the DRE or pastor then let us know what they say.

It’s very hard to believe a parish that is committed enough to purchase the Chosen Confirmation program (which is considered to be the best preparation program to date) would be so lax in their confirmation classes that the students don’t even know to have a sponsor that is the same sex.
That information comes from the DRE not the teacher usually, btw.

 

[AngelaMarie]

The old Code of Canon Law required a sponsor of the same sex. That is no longer required since the 1983 code.
Fun fact in 1961 my parish had one female sponser for all the girls and the same male one for all the boys.

So it is ok for Sarah to have a male sponsor

 

[AngelaMarie]

would be so lax in their confirmation classes that the students don’t even know to have a sponsor that is the same sex.

Look at what a previous posted noted in the 1983 code

 

[SunshineGrandma]

Sponsors .—The Church prescribes under pain of grievous sin that a sponsor, or godparent, shall stand for the person confirmed. The sponsor should be at least fourteen years of age, of the same sex as the candidate, should have already received the Sacrament of Confirmation, and be well instructed in the Catholic Faith. From this office are excluded the father and mother of the candidate, members of a religious order (unless the candidate be a religious), public sinners , and those who are under public ban of interdict or excommunication . Except in case of necessity the baptismal godparent cannot serve as sponsor for the same person in confirmation .

https://www.catholic.com/encyclopedia/confirmation

 

[SunshineGrandma]

Okay, if her confirmation preparation is as bad as she says, this is the least of her problems.

 

[lokisuperfan]

-Please explain why your dad is so uninvolved and isn’t talking with your teacher, DRE, and pastor

My dad has social anxiety and doesn’t like doing that kind of thing. Plus, I don’t really tell him. I had no idea my catechists were bad before I started this thread, so I didn’t really have a reason to anyway. And my parents aren’t a big fan of the people at my church either, so they don’t want to deal with talking to them.

-why doesn’t he give you basic Catholic teaching on these topics

He knows that religion is a sensitive topic for me so he steers clear of it unless I bring it up.

-why doesn’t he know that your sponsor must be female

We just went over this. My sponsor doesn’t have to be female.

-why isn’t he reading the paperwork that is coming home regarding the seriousness of your confirmation commitment or questioning the absence of it

Umm…because there isn’t any? I’ve never been given anything like that. They gave us a packet at the beginning stating all the things that were required for confirmation, but nothing like that.

-why isn’t your dad questioning why there aren’t regular information meetings for parents and sponsors

My dad has social anxiety. He doesn’t question people. He’s too busy worrying if he said something wrong.

-why doesn’t your very religious dad care that you are struggling with your faith due to poor catechesis

He doesn’t think I’m struggling with my faith. Never has. I pray every night for an hour before bed and go to mass every Sunday, even when I have to drag him out of bed. He’s never questioned my devotion to God. Ever.

 

[AngelaMarie]

Here is a thread from 2014 that discuss the question about gender of confirmation saint and sponsor

Must your Confirmation Saint and Sponsor be the same gender as you? Traditional Catholicism

you did not break any rules. these were simply suggestions that you are not bound to follow. if having a male as your saviour is not awkward,having a male as your confirmation saint or sponsor is not awkward. intratext.com/IXT/ENG0017/_P33.HTM says nothing about gender of sponsor, so you did not violate the code of canon law. your confirmation is valid and licit.

 

[SunshineGrandma]

Encourage your dad/parents to send emails.

Changing parishes is often necessary. Catholics are allowed to do that. Mormons must attend their local ward house but Catholics aren’t required to.

Don’t sit back and take a passive role in your faith. Catholics are encouraged to ask questions and use our reason to grow in our faith.

I have two children with (extreme) social anxiety so I get it.

You came onto this thread claiming you were more interested in Mormonism than Catholicism. Now you say you weren’t questioning your faith until now.

Your very religious dad needs to be dragged out of bed on Sunday to attend mass? Sigh.

Okay, I’m done.

I wish you all the best.

God bless.

 

[Mi_Rose]

Yes. It happens a lot that kids have sponsors of the other gender.

 

[SunshineGrandma]

Okay…I look forward to hearing from TOm regarding our previous conversation.

And the quote and link from Augustine showing that the early Jews and Christians believed God was a man like you and me, with flesh and bones and had a father. Just like the LDS God.

 

[lokisuperfan]

Changing parishes is often necessary. Catholics are allowed to do that. Mormons must attend their local ward house but Catholics aren’t required to.

There isn’t another parish close to where we live. The nearest one besides the one we go to is about 30 minutes away, as compared to the 5 minute drive of the one we go to. It’s not worth the drive, especially since there’s nothing wrong with the priest and administration, it’s just the catechists and people that we have a problem with.

Don’t sit back and take a passive role in your faith. Catholics are encouraged to ask questions and use our reason to grow in our faith.

I ask lots of questions, I just don’t get satisfactory answers.

You came onto this thread claiming you were more interested in Mormonism than Catholicism.

True. Still am. The CoC caught my attention quite firmly. As did the Book of Enoch, but that’s an entirely different story.

At the beginning of my research, I prayed and asked God when I would know what I was looking for. It’s a terribly long and complicated story, so I won’t get into it, but He said that I would be firm in my decision after 150 days, the amount of time Noah was in the ark before it came to rest on solid land. My 150 day mark is April 25, so I’ve got quite a lot of time before I make a final decision.

Now you say you weren’t questioning your faith until now.

When did I say that?

 

[Horton]

I am the youth director at my parish and we use the program Chosen. If you are not learning about what you should be learning, you may not be paying attention. Everything needed for a youth with basic Catholic religious education should be able to grasp the material by watching the videos and participating in the discussion.

Chosen was not designed for a catechist to stand at the front of the room and teach. It was designed for be interactive, to prompt discussion, and to allow teens form educated opinions about their faith.

Sarah - You say you have a social disorder which keeps you from learning about Catholicism, however you were able learn about the LDS just fine. If you were to put that same energy into learning the truth about the Catholic Church your questions would be answered. Read the Chosen work book, pay attention in class, watch the videos, and participate in the discussions.

@SunshineGrandma I am the youth director in my parish and the teens may choose someone of the opposite sex as a sponsor.