I disagree with some Catholic teachings... How do I deal with this?

[mercygate]

I’m not suggesting that I’m allowing myself to dissent from the Church teachings. I’m merely saying that I have issue with some of those teachings. To go back to my original examples (which again were probably poorly chosen) I DO in fact not eat meat on Fridays, I DIDN’T live with my wife prior to being married.

I suppose this opens another door… If I’m ACTING like the Church wants me to act but I’m having issue while doing it, am I as much in the “wrong” as if I weren’t “going through the motions”?

chewie

I think you are actually quite “average” for a faithful Catholic. But I would advise you to get off this thread and stop being lectured by people telling you to be a good little Catholic and just “suck it up.”

It’s a WHOLE lot more productive and a WHOLE lot more fun to look into the teachings that you find objectionable to see where they came from and what they are for and WHY the Church makes a big deal about 'em. Honest.

This thread is already turning into a whining and whomping session. Get outta here and go read the *Catechism. *

 

[BlaineTog]

I suppose the only way that I would respond to this would be to say if it’s the “Truth” then I’d expect them to find their way there on their own.

That’s an unfair expectation. The Truth is a difficult thing to discern.

Also, would you let your children start smoking without telling them that smoking is bad for you? Would you let them start stealing without so much as a word? Would you let them pick their own food? Without telling them what is and isn’t healthy?

This may be where my big issue is and I’ve never realized it before. I have a hard time believing that all things tht the Magisterium teach are to be accepted as dogma. The Pope is human. He was fallible before he was Pope and he continues to be now that he’s been appointed (again, my opinion)

When the Pope is speaking from the chair of Peter on a subject involving matters of Faith and/or Morals with all the authority of the Catholic Church behind him, he is prevented from making errors by God himself. That’s a fundamentally Catholic belief. It speaks to the heart of the religion.

 

[Subrosa]

Not sure where I should ask this or if it’s been asked before. If it has I do apologize. If someone could point me in the right direction I’d greatly appreciate it.

So here’s my question.

How do I reconcile the fact that I disagree with some of the teachings/traditions of the church with the fact that I want to lead a good life, be a good Catholic and raise my kids in the proper fashion?

Hi iuchewie -

You need to satrt educating yourself and these forums are a good place to start. Let us begin.

No meat on Fridays during Lent.

I think this is silly. Perhaps its because I don’t know the full history of it, but I doubt that you could show me a reason that would change my mind on this one. If it’s just a matter of me “showing my faith and showing my respect” then I’d counter with the fact that I do many other things year round that accomplish the same thing.

This is one way we, as Catholics, FAST. Fasting for forty days during Lent (the NO MEAT ON FRIDAY season) is our way of “walking with Jesus in the desert” where he fasted for forty days. Then we see His followers fasting after He Ascends into heaven. Here’s a good webpage that spells it out.

Living in sin.

I personally never lived with my wife (also a Catholic) prior to getting married (ten years this summer by the way!) but my brother lives with his girlfriend and I’m finding that I have no issue with it. They are living with one another for financial reasons and plan to marry shortly. I suppose in this instance I’d prefer that they live together for while and realize that they aren’t compatible rather than get married and end up as another divorced couple.

*Priests are taking a soft stance on this issue lately, dealing with the reality of present society. One error you are making is thinking that your opinion matters. You need to think in terms of what God thinks. Keep in mind that the Church is only the messenger and teacher when it comes to what God and Jesus teach. The Church is also God’s enforcer and many people do not like that aspect of it.

Study up on it with some research.

As I said there are many issues but this is just two examples. How can I be a good Catholic father and bring up my boys (2 years and 7 weeks) to respect and follow the church’s feelings if I myself to agree with all of them?

Thanks in advance for your constructive feedback.

chewie

Good Catholics understand that what the Catholic Church is telling us comes from God. You need to look at it from that perspective.

In a real sense we need to submit to what it teaches in order to do God’s will, not our own. This is a straight and hard fact that many in the modern age refuse to accept, not wanting to give up personal freedoms that we are all used to.

God’s kingdom is not a democracy. Like any kingdom we need to submit to the King in order to come into favor with Him (salvation). Whether or not you or I agree doesn’t matter.

Subrosa

 

[buffalo]

I’m not suggesting that I’m allowing myself to dissent from the Church teachings. I’m merely saying that I have issue with some of those teachings. To go back to my original examples (which again were probably poorly chosen) I DO in fact not eat meat on Fridays, I DIDN’T live with my wife prior to being married.

I suppose this opens another door… If I’m ACTING like the Church wants me to act but I’m having issue while doing it, am I as much in the “wrong” as if I weren’t “going through the motions”?

chewie

No it is admirable that you have self mastery, despite doubts.

Another way to look at this - if your son is in sports, will you lead him and direct him? Will you encourage him to practice?

The same with his faith - you must lead. Start him off in the search for the truth. Teach him how to discern the truth. We all are on a journey and different points. You must show him the way to heaven. Encourage him and teach him critical thinking skills and how to fully inform his conscience so he doesn’t fall into the conscience of convenience trap.

 

[Kay_Cee]

I’m not suggesting that I’m allowing myself to dissent from the Church teachings. I’m merely saying that I have issue with some of those teachings. To go back to my original examples (which again were probably poorly chosen) I DO in fact not eat meat on Fridays, I DIDN’T live with my wife prior to being married.

Okay, fair enough. Then you need to learn why the Church teaches what it does.

For the record, I didn’t understand why the Church would condemn contraception until I researched it. Now that I have, the ban makes perfect sense.

I suppose this opens another door… If I’m ACTING like the Church wants me to act but I’m having issue while doing it, am I as much in the “wrong” as if I weren’t “going through the motions”?

chewie

Just so we’re clear–are you worried about being hypocritical? I wouldn’t call submitting to the authority of the Church hypocritcal at all. You don’t have to understand in order to submit to authority; that’s where faith comes in until you understand the reason for the issues you have a problem with. After all, when God instructed Abraham to get up and leave his native homeland for parts unknown, Abraham didn’t understand why, but he complied.

May I suggest starting a thread for each issue you’re having trouble understanding? There are a lot of knowledgable folks here.

 

[sodak]

I have a couple of areas that I have “reserved judgement” on. For me, that means that until/unless I research them, I’m officially undecided, but I still submit to the authority of the Catholic Church.

I realize that for the last 2000 years many, many people who are a WHOLE lot smarter than I am devoted their lives to this. I don’t have the time , training, (or sometimes the inclination) to do an exhaustive analysis, so I trust the Church to give me the right answer.

When in doubt, I remember, “Not my will, but yours be done”. I figure if that’s good enough for Jesus, it ought to be more than good enough for me.

 

[fellowChristian]

**How else will we learn if we don’t ask questions?
I think of asking questions as a sign of intelligence.

Ok so the no meat thing. Real simple.**

Jesus gave up His flesh for us on Friday.
So out of respect and as a reminder we give up flesh (meat) for Him.
The blood in His Body is warm so no warm blooded animals.

Old Testament

Daniel 10:2-3

2 In those days, I, Daniel, had been mourning for three entire weeks.

3 I did not eat any tasty food, **nor did meat **or wine enter my mouth, nor did I use any ointment at all until the entire three weeks were completed.

From the begining to now fasting has always been a practice of the Church.

New Testament

Acts 13:2-3

2While they were ministering to the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.”

3Then, when they had **fasted **and prayed and laid their hands on them, they sent them away.

Acts 14:23

23When they had appointed elders for them in every church, having prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord in whom they had believed.

There are alot more passages of recorded instances of fasting and praying. Fasting is to refrain or abstain.

So some more from our recorded salvation history aka The Bible

1 Corinthians 7
Teaching on Marriage

** 1** Now concerning the things about which you wrote, it is good for a man not to touch a woman.
** 2** But because of immoralities, each man is to have his own wife, and each woman is to have her own husband.

---

8But I say to the unmarried and to widows that it is good for them if they remain even as I.

9But if they do not have self-control, let them marry; for it is better to marry than to burn with passion

---

28But if you marry, you have not sinned; and if a virgin marries, she has not sinned. Yet such will have trouble in this life, and I am trying to spare you.

Hebrews 13:4

Marriage is to be held in honor among all, and the marriage bed is to be undefiled; for fornicators and **adulterers **God will judge.

And Saint Paul is recorded in the Bible saying that if we need answers on how to behave who to go to…

**1 Timothy 3:15 **

but in case I am delayed, I write so that you will know how one ought to conduct himself in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and support of the truth.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church
usccb.org/catechism/text/entiretoc1.htm

Scripture Catholic
scripturecatholic.com/

List of Popes
newadvent.org/cathen/12272b.htm

 

[fellowChristian]

Something else to think about…

Ephesians 5

22 Wives, be subject to your own husbands, as to the Lord.

23 For the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ also is the head of the church, He Himself being the Savior of the body.

24 But as the church is subject to Christ, so also the wives ought to be to their husbands in everything.

25 Husbands, love your wives, just as **Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her, **

26 so that **He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, **

27 that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that **she would be holy and blameless. **

28 So husbands ought also to love their own wives as their own bodies. He who loves his own wife loves himself;

29 for no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it,** just as Christ also does the church**,

30 because we are members of His body.

31 FOR THIS REASON A MAN SHALL LEAVE HIS FATHER AND MOTHER AND SHALL BE JOINED TO HIS WIFE, AND THE TWO SHALL BECOME ONE FLESH.

32 This mystery is great;** but I am speaking with reference to Christ and the church. **

33 Nevertheless, each individual among you also is to love his own wife even as himself, and the wife must see to it that she respects her husband.

The Church is His Bride and the two became one.
And He has given her the authority to teach.

 

[CatsAndDogs]

There’s a lot here and I’m going to try and respond to all of it in a constructive manner. I do have to say though that I think it’s this line of thinking that causes alot of the “crazy Catholic” sentiment across the world.

By “this line of thinking” do you mean “actually believing what you believe, one item of which is that the dogmas of the Church are to be believed as true”?

If you don’t believe what you must believe, which defines you AS being a member of what you do believe is the SINGLE BEST “place” to be (being the Church), then you define yourself as something other than being in communion with what you “profess” to want to be in communion with.

It’s fine to “have trouble with” a dogma of the Church. But what you are “having trouble with” is not the truth of the dogma, but rather how the dogma IS the truth. You are misidentifying the object of your discontent.

Once you realize that your difficulty is with HOW a dogma is true, and not that it simply isn’t true, you have a choice to make. The choice is to either continue in your prideful insistence (and therefore mortal sin of accepting contradiction as truth), or to work hard to figure out how a dogma IS indeed true.

Quote:
Originally Posted by CatsAndDogs
Then your concept of what the Church is is in error. The teachings of the Magisterium are to be accepted as dogma. If you can’t do that then do the best you can, and don’t accept the Host as that would be a lie on your part, as to not believe the Church is the Church is to accept a contradiction as your belief, which is a lie to yourself (and God, actually).

This may be where my big issue is and I’ve never realized it before. I have a hard time believing that all things tht the Magisterium teach are to be accepted as dogma. The Pope is human. He was fallible before he was Pope and he continues to be now that he’s been appointed (again, my opinion)

Do you REALLY know what the Magisterium teaches as dogma, and what is only disciplinary, and what is only speculation and/or suggestion?

It IS a dogma, to use your example, that it is a mortal sin to having sex with someone you’re not married to. That is a dogma which you MUST believe.

If you believe that that dogma is incorrect, and not just that you don’t understand how that dogma can be true, then you are in mortal sin due to accepting, simultaneously, the truth that the Church IS what it says it is and that the Church is NOT what it says it is.

The Pope is human, but the Church is incapable of magisterially proclaiming error. The "state"of the Pope as a person is not relevant to the Church (qua THE Church) being simply incapable of teaching error.

If you believe otherwise, then what have you defined yourself as?

 

[CatsAndDogs]

Quote:
Originally Posted by CatsAndDogs
Only if you can become “comfortable” with hypocracy can you become “comfortable” with not believing the Church is the Church qua THE CHURCH.

Keep delving into the distinction between discipline and dogma, and read the CCC as regards what you MUST believe, and why, versus what you THINK you can’t believe because “it’s against your principles”.

There is nothing that I “must” believe.

This is where you are quite simply, purely and utterly mistaken.

I have a hard time with being called a hypocrite because I question something.

It’s not your “questioning” a dogma, but your drawing a CONCLUSION that a dogma of the Church is not true.

You are OBLIGED (whether you like it or not) to believe that all Church dogmas in fact true (somehow), BUT you are NOT OBLIGED to know WHY they are true,… although this SHOULD prompt you to try to figure out said dogmas ARE in fact the truth, mostly via exploring the consequences of people ACTING on their disbelief of particular dogmas.

I started the thread so I’m completely open for it, but I’d rather come to the Truth after answering my questions. Blindly following (or following on faith because “that’s what we’re told”) leads to the type of actions that caused Christ to be crucified.

Christians NEVER blindly follow their faith.

ALL articles of faith (dogmas) are perfectly reasonable. But many people’s practice of reasoning is not reasonable. God’s reason, which is that “spoken” by the Magisterium, is not man’s reason.

Your choice is to bow to God’s reasoning, or to insist on your own.

What is the meaning of “overiding God’s reasoning” in preference to one’s own? Where does that act get you?

Now, what “questions” do you need answered, other than you must accept Church dogma as Church dogma, and struggle to work out how that dogma is true while you fail to understand how it is true?

Please clarify what you need to know before you will give up your (presently) sinful BELIEF that the Church is wrong? That is a very differrent thing than having a BELIEF the the Church is correct but that you dn’t understand why, which is NOT sinful.

 

[johnlavelle]

This thread is already turning into a whining and whomping session. Get outta here and go read the *Catechism. *

I think you are mistaken here. Someone asking questions with sincerity and others exchanging their views is not whining and whomping. It may even be how the magisterium works.

 

[beckycmarie]

To the OP -

You might find this essay helpful:

**Obedience, the First and Foundational Virtue **
by Bro. Ignatius Mary

Here’s an excerpt:

I have found obedience to be a salvation. Two examples:

My Conversion to the Catholic Church: When I finally sat down and took a look at Scripture honestly (and literally) I found that it was the Catholic Church, not the Baptist Church who truly interpreted Scripture literally. (i.e., the Real Presence, the Chair of Peter). When I looked at history I found that, too, the Catholics were right after all. When confronted with these Truths, I had a decision to make. Either obey Truth, or follow delusion—either become Catholic, or remain Protestant. I obeyed the Truth even though I didn’t understand it all.

My devotion to Mary: Although I was convinced of the authority of the Church, the Real Presence, and all, I was not so convinced about the communion of the saints and the doctrine on Mary. That took a little while longer. But since I knew that the Church had the AUTHORITY to declare these doctrines, I simply OBEYED.
Was my “belief” from the heart? No. Did I “feel” the devotion to Mary? No. I merely obeyed the Church and believed in the doctrine of Mary and the communion of the saints out of shear cold obedience.

But then something odd happened. Almost immediately after I obeyed the Church on this and submitted my mind and will to the Church’s teachings, all of a sudden, I began to understand the doctrine. It was almost like magic. I began to “know” what these doctrines were about. In short order I found myself no longer obeying in cold submission, but in understanding also. I had come to understand and to agree with the doctrine through the reason of my mind.

Still, something was missing—the devotion of my heart. Within one month after the cold obedience, followed by the revelation of intellect given to me to understand (only after the obedience), finally came an understanding of the heart.

Within five months of confirmation I had joined the Lay Carmelite Order and now I am a professed brother (in private vows) in the Order of the Legion of St. Michael working with Mary in spiritual warfare.

I can give other examples of this, but the chronology is always the same:

1. shear cold obedience
2. understanding of intellect
3. understanding and application of heart and spirit

 

[CatsAndDogs]

Quote:
Originally Posted by CatsAndDogs
BUT,… in the meantime do what you can to “be a good Catholic” while realizing you exist in mortal sin. God is more than a little merciful to folks like you and me who spend longer or shorter periods of time in the state of mortal sin.

Live and learn, and do your best!

I’m living in mortal sin because I’m questioning the church’s teachings?!?!? I’m sure there is a Bible passage to back this statement up but I’d like some clarification on it if you would.

It’s not your QUESTIONING of Church teachings which is sinful, but rather your CONCLUSION that they ARE wrong. You are operating on the basis of these “dogmas you don’t like” being untrue, instead of acting on the basis that the dogmas are true but you don’t understand why. Operating on your present basis “taints” every action you perform as a person.

At your baptism (or confirmation?) you renounced Satan in every way, and to accept a lie as the truth or the truth as a lie you kick in with the father of lies, thereby mucking up your vow.

Many people here have given you MANY biblical reasons why Church teachings are to be believed even if not understood as to WHY they should be believed.

 

[iuchewie]

Just so I’m clear with what everyone is saying.

Catholic law is dogma and I and commanded to believe that it is the Truth whether I “agree” with this Truth or not. I’m not committing a sin by questioning this as long as I follow that path and lead my life accordingly.

I should teach my boys to abide by these laws and teachings because it’s the Catholic way regardless of my personal feelings on the matter.

All things that are in the Bible and things that the Pope says are statements of fact and cannot possibly be wrong.

ALL articles of faith (dogmas) are perfectly reasonable.

There has never in the history of the Catholic teaching been an error and those who carry out those teachings have never been in error.

All people who do not believe in the Catholic teachings are living in mortal sin and regardless of how they live their life outside the Catholic church they will never make their way to His side in Heaven.

That about sum it up?

chewie

 

[CatsAndDogs]

Just so I’m clear with what everyone is saying.

Catholic law is dogma and I and commanded to believe that it is the Truth whether I “agree” with this Truth or not. I’m not committing a sin by questioning this as long as I follow that path and lead my life accordingly.

Only Catholic DOGMA is dogma. What is “Catholic Law”? Canon Law is not Dogma, but Canon Law, which may reference dogma and/or discipline, but is not “dogma” as such as only DOGMA is dogma, is NOT dogma per se.

What is the sense of “disagreeing with”, which is CONCLUSION and NOT a suspension of DISbelief, a TRUTH?

How is it POSSIBLE to not accept TRUTH as TRUTH?

…and yes, you are to NOT draw the conclusion that dogmatic truth is untrue, and to live AS IF (while not needing to understand why) dogmatic truth is true and LIVE (act/behave) accordingly.

I should teach my boys to abide by these laws and teachings because it’s the Catholic way regardless of my personal feelings on the matter.

YOU are not the “expert” in what is truth and what is not truth. That’s the Church’s job. Do you often overule a proper authority in an area of expertise because you “know better”?

All things that are in the Bible and things that the Pope says are statements of fact and cannot possibly be wrong.

Only dogmas are dogmas. Please learn, once again, the distinction between dogma and non-dogma.

ALL articles of faith (dogmas) are perfectly reasonable.

Correct.

There has never in the history of the Catholic teaching been an error and those who carry out those teachings have never been in error.

No dogmatic statement has ever been in error. MANY people have interpreted those dogmas in errant ways.

All people who do not believe in the Catholic teachings are living in mortal sin and regardless of how they live their life outside the Catholic church they will never make their way to His side in Heaven.

Incorrect! Mortal sin REQUIRES conscious “turning away” from God’s commands. MANY people are not culpable of their “turning away”, because their “intent” is not due to defiance, and they are therefore NOT in mortal sin for their “turning away”.

Please read in the CCC how it is that those “outside the Church Proper” still have the POSSIBILITY, by God’s grace, of finding their way to His side.

That about sum it up?

chewie

“From those who have been given much, much is required.”

That is the “burden” of having figured out that the fullness of the faith is found in the Church. It puts you in the position of being held to a higher standard.

It is therefore yet another “force” (enticement?) pushing (pulling?) us toward NOT putting our “wants” above God’s “gotta do’s”, and working on trying to figure out WHY dogmatic truths ARE true!

 

[buffalo]

Just so I’m clear with what everyone is saying.

Catholic law is dogma and I and commanded to believe that it is the Truth whether I “agree” with this Truth or not. I’m not committing a sin by questioning this as long as I follow that path and lead my life accordingly.

Correct

I should teach my boys to abide by these laws and teachings because it’s the Catholic way regardless of my personal feelings on the matter.

Correct

All things that are in the Bible and things that the Pope says are statements of fact and cannot possibly be wrong.

Correct

ALL articles of faith (dogmas) are perfectly reasonable.

Correct

There has never in the history of the Catholic teaching been an error and those who carry out those teachings have never been in error.

Incorrect -

All people who do not believe in the Catholic teachings are living in mortal sin and regardless of how they live their life outside the Catholic church they will never make their way to His side in Heaven.

Incorrect

That about sum it up?

chewie

 

[Inman]

I suppose this opens another door… If I’m ACTING like the Church wants me to act but I’m having issue while doing it, am I as much in the “wrong” as if I weren’t “going through the motions”?

chewie

I think this depends on the particular issue and what your attitude is toward the particular issue. I think a prior poster touched on difference between dogma and discipline.

As for matters of discipline, obedience may be enough. Take the example of current requirement that priests not be married. Provided you agree that the Church has the authority to make that decision, I think you can in good consience believe that its a bad rule and incur no sin. I think your opinion of on meat on Fridays in lent, while obeying the rule is ok, again provided you agree that the Church has the authority impose the requirment. It is kind of like a tax imposed by Congress. You can think that a tax is unfair, but if you are going to live in the US, you have to pay the tax and recoginize the have the authority to levy it. Being a divine insitution, the Church’s decisions on discipline deserve much more respect and obedience than a federal law.

As for matters of faith, mere assent of the will is not enough. For example, you can’t just follow the church’s rule and rituals on confession and other sacrements. You have to also believe they confer the grace the church teaches that the sacrement gives. Having doubts is ok provided we are trying to both understand why the church teaching something and accept it. The real problem is when you close off your mind and heart to trying to accept what the church teaches.

My suggestion is that for the issues you disagree with the church about, particularly for matters of faith, approach them not with the attititude that I am right and the church’s is wrong, but rather with the attitude of: “Lord, I do not understand why the church teaches this. Please help me to understand and accept it.”

When I converted, I had to do this. There were just some issues I still was unsure about leading up to my confirmation.

As for your children, I can only suggest that you do your best to teach them to love and trust the church on matters discipline. Convey why the church thinks a particular practice is the best course. With respect to matters of faith, you need to do your best to teach them that the church’s dogma is the Truth, without letting them know about your doubts.

I wish you the best and will keep you and your family in your prayers.

 

[iuchewie]

My suggestion is that for the issues you disagree with the church about, particularly for matters of faith, approach them not with the attititude that I am right and the church’s is wrong, but rather with the attitude of: “Lord, I do not understand why the church teaches this. Please help me to understand and accept it.”

Thank you for such a constructive post Inman. Just to clarify. I’m not saying that “I’m right and the church is wrong” on any of these issues. I’m merely saying that I don’t understand why the Church is right. A major distinction in my mind.

I obviously have some additional learning/reading to do which I have absolutely no problem with.

Unfortunately I simply cannot live my life under the “it is what it is and you must accept it” rule. The responsibility lies with me to find those answers which I accept. That being said, I don’t view myself as a hypocrite or a bad Catholic while I’m on my journey to the Truth.

Thanks again,
chewie

 

[Franciscan]

Thank you for such a constructive post Inman. Just to clarify. I’m not saying that “I’m right and the church is wrong” on any of these issues. I’m merely saying that I don’t understand why the Church is right. A major distinction in my mind.

I obviously have some additional learning/reading to do which I have absolutely no problem with.

Unfortunately I simply cannot live my life under the “it is what it is and you must accept it” rule. The responsibility lies with me to find those answers which I accept. That being said,** I don’t view myself as a hypocrite or a bad Catholic while I’m on my journey to the Truth.**
Thanks again,
chewie

Neither do I.

 

[CatsAndDogs]

Thank you for such a constructive post Inman. Just to clarify. I’m not saying that “I’m right and the church is wrong” on any of these issues. I’m merely saying that I don’t understand why the Church is right. A major distinction in my mind.

I obviously have some additional learning/reading to do which I have absolutely no problem with.

Unfortunately I simply cannot live my life under the “it is what it is and you must accept it” rule. The responsibility lies with me to find those answers which I accept. That being said, I don’t view myself as a hypocrite or a bad Catholic while I’m on my journey to the Truth.

Thanks again,
chewie

Just so that I’m not misunderstood by what I’ve said… and to commend you…

The responsibility DOES lie with you to find what is true, but it is not your responsibility to find “answers” (reasons for something being true) which you will accept BEFORE accepting the truth of Catholic dogma.

We struggle with finding the reasons for truth being true AFTER we find religious truths, which are given to us AS truths dogmatically by the Magisterium.

You not only can, but must live your life acting as if these truths are true whether you understand why they are true or not.

That is our common cross to bear. And one we should be happy with, as it leads (compells?) us toward God, although if we find it more “comfortable” to feel unhappy instead of happy about our burden, then we can be propelled away from God, hearing comforting words from the great deciever.

Don’t get comfortable with unhappiness. Be happy while struggling and don’t confuse struggle with unhappiness.