I could NEVER be a Catholic because

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Why do you say Jesus is not doing such? It seems to me you’ve been given plenty of access to Catholic sources.
What is a “strangely warm” feeling, and how does it relate to the question of religion?
 
Shakuhachi said:
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Darryl_B:
The Catholic Church does not exclude women.
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It excludes women from the official hierarchy.
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Do you mean the priesthood? If so, yes, she does. And for the very reason that Jesus Himself, the Founder of the Catholic Church, excluded them.
 
And that reason is?

Not many women around the Vatican either.
 
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lilypadrees said:
And that reason is?

Not many women around the Vatican either.]/quote]

[quote="You’ll have to ask Jesus when you see Him. The Catholic Church obeys Him.
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Philosophy Christ followed the Sacred Traditions of the OT where the Priesthood was reserved to the male-gender. BUT it’s deeper and more profound than THAT. God; Yahweh, Created a MALE Gender human being FIRST and then Eve, a females gender person out of /FROM the rib of Adam.

It is NOTABLE that while it was EVE who first was seduced by Satan; and ate fruit from the ONLY forbidden tree; and she then seduced Adam who was complicit in the Original sin. Yet it is ADAM that God address…“So the YOU have eaten of the fruit of Good and Evil.” …

WHY did GOD not blame Eve?

Because God has entrusted her care to ADAM whom He held primarily responsible.

So the complaint of the RCC does not admit women is a false charge. Their complaint is with GOD; not God;s Catholic Church. Further Popes JP II and Benedict XVI both expanded the presence of women in the Vatican.

Patrick [the OP]
 
I am sure no expert and probably ruffle some feathers but that take on the Genesis narrative seems to infantilize women as a myth taken too literally.
 
Never say NEVER! Am an SDA leaning very heavily toward RCIA classes. Reading Catholic and Christian, Faith of our Fathers, Faith of Millions, the Catechism, and watching RCIA classes on line from Plymouth, MI and LOVING THIS FORUM!
 
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For one thing, I just don’t believe it. Coming from another Abrahamic faith, the Christian version of the creation and the whole salvation narrative just don’t really make sense to me. More practically, I don’t like the hierarchical nature of the Church as I’ve seen it so far, it seems very clericalist. Like, I don’t care if women can’t be priests, but if you have a central authority like a Pope and more than half or the population would never have even the breath of a chance of sitting on the council that elects the Pope, that’s sort of shenanigans to me. More emotionally, I don’t know why, but Catholic services weird me out. I’ve been to both a Roman and Orthodox church at this point and both of them make me profoundly uncomfortable.
 
I kind of understand where you are coming from. Culturally, Christians are very different from Muslims. It can be quite off putting.

I would say that Popes have been elected by popular proclamation back in the day (like a thousand and a half years ago). The Pope could change how the next Pope is elected if he wanted to. Basically, the Church believes that it’s the Holy Spirit who votes for the Pope. So it doesn’t really matter how or who gets to vote. But it is tradition that Cardinals elect the Pope and that will probably be the way for a very long time into the future.
 
Hello PJM. Congrats to you too. Yeah, 50 years with the same woman, I’d do it all over again. Today, my Emily has a rare terminal illness, a slow growing carcinoid, elusive, somewhere in her body. Each day, I ask my Lord to “Give us this day, our daily bread”. My attitude is to build each day into a year. As for the post that we wrote a few days ago, the Encyclicals written by our Popes, they prove to be prophetic; Leo-XIII, Pius-XI, Paul-VI, John Paul-II, just to name a few. An encyclical(a circular) is usually a letter, intended to guide bishops in their relations with their flocks. They define past and present Church teaching. They are not an invocation of Infallibility. Emily and I, we love being Roman Catholic. God Bless. Jim…
 
Jimnem61 said:
Hello PJM. Congrats to you too. Yeah, 50 years with the same woman, I’d do it all over again. Today, my Emily has a rare terminal illness, a slow growing carcinoid, elusive, somewhere in her body. Each day, I ask my Lord to “Give us this day, our daily bread”. My attitude is to build each day into a year. As for the post that we wrote a few days ago, the Encyclicals written by our Popes, they prove to be prophetic; Leo-XIII, Pius-XI, Paul-VI, John Paul-II, just to name a few. An encyclical(a circular) is usually a letter, intended to guide bishops in their relations with their flocks. They define past and present Church teaching. They are not an invocation of Infallibility. Emily and I, we love being Roman Catholic. God Bless. Jim…
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Thank you and Bless you sharing such a deep profound love.

Please know that you both will be in my daily thoughts and prayers

Patrick
 
shazirah said:
For one thing, I just don’t believe it. Coming from another Abrahamic faith, the Christian version of the creation and the whole salvation narrative just don’t really make sense to me. More practically, I don’t like the hierarchical nature of the Church as I’ve seen it so far, it seems very clericalist. Like, I don’t care if women can’t be priests, but if you have a central authority like a Pope and more than half or the population would never have even the breath of a chance of sitting on the council that elects the Pope, that’s sort of shenanigans to me. More emotionally, I don’t know why, but Catholic services weird me out. I’ve been to both a Roman and Orthodox church at this point and both of them make me profoundly uncomfortable.
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That my FRIEND is very SAD

I’ll pray for you,
Patrick [the OP]
 
nearlycatholic said:
Never say NEVER! Am an SDA leaning very heavily toward RCIA classes. Reading Catholic and Christian, Faith of our Fathers, Faith of Millions, the Catechism, and watching RCIA classes on line from Plymouth, MI and LOVING THIS FORUM!
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That my friend is a VERY long and no doubt difficult journey.

I was married near Plymouth Mi, and we all met there after the wedding

You’ll be in my prayers
Patrick [the OP]
 
Ms.Sarah said:
The main reason that I am not Catholic is because Jesus has not called me to be so. I have studied and read a lot, and had many hours of conversations with knowledgeable priests, sisters, deacons and others. I have prayed and attended mass and explored everything I could, and yet I have not found my heart “strangely warmed” and moved towards Catholicism.

However, I’m following Christ and doing the best I can.

Pax et Bonum
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Ms Sarah, what you claim is IMPOSSIBLE:thinking:😄

WHY?
Because my friend logic and elementary morality Can and should tell us

That their CAN BE only One True God {the 1st Commandment}

That God in order to be GOD: defined as ALL GOOD THINGS PERFECTED {emphasis not shouting}; can have only One True set of Faith beliefs which:

*He left to the RCC He founded {Mt 10:1-4; Mt 16:15-19; Jn 17:17-20; and Mt 28: 19-20] ALL of which are precisely worded’ singular tense, direct and exclusive to the RCC and ist affiliate churches of the SAME Faith

** And could not have waited for the 12th Century Great Easter Schisn NOR the 16th Century to make His Faith known
Eph. 4: 1-6 “1] I therefore, a prisoner in the Lord, beseech you that you walk worthy of the vocation in which you are called, [2] With all humility and mildness, with patience, supporting one another in charity. [3] Careful to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. [4] One body and one Spirit; as you are called in one hope of your calling. [5] One Lord, one faith, one baptism. [6] One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in us all”

“I AM the Way; the TRUTH, and the LIFE” ALL singular tende

Because Truth can ONLY be singular per defined issue; anything else is a myth
1st. Tim. 2:3-4 teaches Christ Desires that ALL be saved

Only the CC CAN because of the 7 Sacraments put you into the Divine Presence of Jesus [literally]; forgive your sins GOD’S way {Jn 20:19-23}, and teach you the FULLNESS of His truths :Jn 17:17-20; Mt 28:18-20}

It would be PRUDENT for you to keep on praying AND talk to a Catholic Priest

With Prayers
Patrick [the OP]
 
Hello Kei, and thanks for the reply.

I can’t really say why Jesus is or is not guiding me to the Catholic Church. I have turned it over in my mind for years now, and explored it as deeply as a person can, but I still do not feel guided by the Holy Spirit to become Catholic. I am sensitive to the promptings of the Spirit and do my best to listen when I am called. Perhaps the Catholic Church is not the best place for me to be? Perhaps Jesus has some work for me on this side of the Tiber? Perhaps it is because I cannot honestly say I believe all that the Catholic Church teaches? I can honestly say I don’t know.

What I will say, though, is that I have been enriched by my journey. I have learned so much and met so many wonderful brothers and sisters in Christ. My learning about Catholicism has definitely been part of a larger period of spiritual growth, and for that I am thankful.

In the meantime, I will continue to listen to the Spirit, and follow the footsteps of Christ.

Pax et Bonum

P.S. The “heart strangely warmed” phrase is a reference to John Wesley experiencing a conversion of the heart in regards to his faith in Jesus. I think it, along with the “still, small voice” aptly describes what the urging of the Holy Spirit feels like to me. I apologize if I was not clear.
 
Hello, PJM, thank you for your reply.

I can see that you are very passionate about your faith and have poured a lot of time into learning about it, may God guide your pursuits.

I can only say in return that it is not impossible that God has not called me to be Catholic. I have listened intently to the promptings of the Spirit, and have not been prompted across the Tiber. My duty is to follow Christ wherever He leads and He has not lead me there. In the meantime I continue to work out my salvation with fear and trembling.

Pax et Bonum
 
I’m glad that you are exploring the Catholic Faith.

I find it odd because the Wesley-like feelings is not our guide in the Catholic Faith. Feeling would be a secondary accomplice upon a decision, so it is a little odd to me.
 
Hi, Kei

I understand that the Catholic paradigm is somewhat different. I think perhaps the Spirit moves us in ways that we will best understand? For me, the Spirit makes itself known with a certain clarity that cannot be denied. It guides me and will not let me rest until I follow the path it directs. It pesters me for His purpose and pushes me closer to Christ.

That’s as close as I can come to describing what the Holy Spirit is like for me.

I want to thank you and everyone else here for providing me with a valuable insight into Catholicism. I have been reading (but not registered) for over ten years. I have learned a lot and am closer to Christ because of it. 🙂

Pax et Bonum
 
As someone but is sort of an agnostic who is from a Muslim background who does sort of want get behind Catholicism. Things that come off the bat. Not never per session but more like huddles.
  1. A bit of my ego. I used to be an “New Atheist” type, a scoffer of religion. To surrender myself to a faith I used to mock so freely, I admit would wound my pride a bit.
  2. Cynicism: The world is too much of a harsh place and I’m a cynic so it does seem like Catholicism is too good to be true at times.
  3. I might not like all of the “rules” I have to follow.
  4. This is the biggest reason probably. Explaining my possible conversion to my family. Religious conversions are basically in unheard of in the Islamic world. Me and my family live in the West and we’re pretty moderate. Yet, it might hurt my family emotionally and they will lose face in front of other Muslims. My other relatives will mock my family. This is a hot button issue in the Muslim world.
    I still want to keep an open mind about Catholicism.
 
You are right to show concern for your family. If Catholicism would have you alter some aspects of your life, then make small changes. They may be more pleasing to God than abandoning one visible set of rituals in favour of another set. I imagine those internal changes will be largely unnoticed by others.
 
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