M
MelanieAnne
Guest
I have a question for those who have posted to this topic. This is a serious question, I’m not looking for excuses to bash anyone. I am looking for information.
There is a member of CAF who claims to be a Catholic Mormon, or perhaps I should say a Mormon Catholic (I’m not sure the order of the words has any significance… ) My understanding is that, due to the profound differences between the two faiths, a person could never TRULY be some sort of hybrid of the two faiths, nor could they be both Mormon and Catholic at the same time.
But perhaps I am wrong and that is why I am asking for information.
For me, the departure of Mormonism from Catholicism begins with the understanding of what Mormons call “the Godhead” and what Catholics call “the Trinity”. Mormons believe that God (who they call “Heavenly Father”), Jesus, and the Holy Spirit are 3 separate “personages”. Mormons believe that God and Jesus both have physical bodies and, as such, are distinct from one another (and they also believe that their founder Joseph Smith actually saw both of them together, pretty much confirming this view) but the three “personages” are “one in purpose” and compose some version of a Mormon “trinity”. The word “trinity” is seldom used by Mormons but it is not unknown.
The above description departs from our understanding of God/the Trinity in a number of ways. Because of that, while I do not get into the argument of whether or not Mormons are Christians as some do, I have always understood, very clearly, that at the very least, Mormonism and Catholicism were utterly incompatible and a person could not claim to be both Mormon and Catholic without betraying one or both faiths.
The person that claims to be a Mormon Catholic (or a Catholic Mormon) feels that they “experience God” in both church buildings ~ both Mormon & Catholic ~ and, while they, at least currently, sustain a belief in the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon, they feel more comfortable, at least NOW, going to Mass.
I am at a loss as to how to understand this. My thinking is that a person can be one or the other ~ you can be Mormon or you can be Catholic ~ but not both at the same time. I shudder to think of the consequences of a “Mormon Catholic” accepting the Eucharist in a Catholic Church. Do they do so, with a belief in the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon, to their own damnation?
But maybe I’m wrong? Anyway, that’s why I am asking the question.
Zerinus, this isn’t a question for you.
There is a member of CAF who claims to be a Catholic Mormon, or perhaps I should say a Mormon Catholic (I’m not sure the order of the words has any significance… ) My understanding is that, due to the profound differences between the two faiths, a person could never TRULY be some sort of hybrid of the two faiths, nor could they be both Mormon and Catholic at the same time.
But perhaps I am wrong and that is why I am asking for information.
For me, the departure of Mormonism from Catholicism begins with the understanding of what Mormons call “the Godhead” and what Catholics call “the Trinity”. Mormons believe that God (who they call “Heavenly Father”), Jesus, and the Holy Spirit are 3 separate “personages”. Mormons believe that God and Jesus both have physical bodies and, as such, are distinct from one another (and they also believe that their founder Joseph Smith actually saw both of them together, pretty much confirming this view) but the three “personages” are “one in purpose” and compose some version of a Mormon “trinity”. The word “trinity” is seldom used by Mormons but it is not unknown.
The above description departs from our understanding of God/the Trinity in a number of ways. Because of that, while I do not get into the argument of whether or not Mormons are Christians as some do, I have always understood, very clearly, that at the very least, Mormonism and Catholicism were utterly incompatible and a person could not claim to be both Mormon and Catholic without betraying one or both faiths.
The person that claims to be a Mormon Catholic (or a Catholic Mormon) feels that they “experience God” in both church buildings ~ both Mormon & Catholic ~ and, while they, at least currently, sustain a belief in the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon, they feel more comfortable, at least NOW, going to Mass.
I am at a loss as to how to understand this. My thinking is that a person can be one or the other ~ you can be Mormon or you can be Catholic ~ but not both at the same time. I shudder to think of the consequences of a “Mormon Catholic” accepting the Eucharist in a Catholic Church. Do they do so, with a belief in the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon, to their own damnation?
But maybe I’m wrong? Anyway, that’s why I am asking the question.
Zerinus, this isn’t a question for you.
Some may or may not. I now a convert from LDS who went up for communion for 8 or 9 years. He joined RCIA and stopped going up for Communion until he was baptized.
) The concerns of the person in question seem to center around whether the faiths are spiritually uplifting, whether the people that follow the faiths are good people, whether the Spirit of God is “felt” at the services of each faith. Sounds all “touchy/feely” and “warm/fuzzy” to me, and little if any focus on the sacrifice of Jesus and His command to particpate in the Holy Eucharist.