I want to remain Catholic but I am having doubts

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Bill6

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Greetings in Christ,
I have reccently come back to the Catholic Church. I feel very confused about my faith.
Over the past few days, I have been wondering how important faith is. Many Catholics say that people can be saved without being Christian so I started thinking that faith is not very important and that evangelization is unecassary and uncharitable.

My conflict is this: When I listen to Protestant Pastors give sermons, they emphasize faith in God and the need to be a believer. I want to be Catholic but I am feeling like my spiritual life is consisting of just doing things without any meaning to them. I would just like to know what you guys think. I really want to remain Catholic but it feels like Catholicism doesn’t emphasize Faith in God. I love our Church and Our Lady and the Saints.

I think this is one of the main things I am struggling with: I don’t see how faith can be important if faith is unnecassary for salvation. I know faith is necassary to please God, but since the Churhc teaches that people who do not have faith can please God and be saved, then it seems that logically one must conclude either (1) the Church is wrong in teaching that non-Christians can be saved or (2) faith is unnecassary since one can be saved without faith in God. I know that neither conculsion is a good one, so I am confused.
 
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“Many Catholics” are pretty poorly catechized. Look to what official Church teaching says, not Joe Schmoe Catholic on the street.
 
Pray like the father of the epileptic: ‘Help my unbelief’. Open your heart to the gift of faith.
 
Thank you for your reply. It seems like the Church nowadays is very interested in ecumenism and do not seem to believe that faith in God is important. For Example, Pope Francis said that God wills Non-Christian religions and I have witnessed liturgical abuse at my own Parish (and others) numerous times. It sometimes feels like faith is seen as nice but not really necessary. I also sometimes feel that criticizing the Pope and Liturgical abuse makes me uncharitbale and self-righteous. It just feels like the Church discourages Catholics from promoting Catholicism as the true religion instead of a nice choice amoung many religions. God Bless.
 
I would strongly recommend praying the Rosary, daily if you can. I was in a similar position when I first returned Home to the church. Praying the rosary alone or in a group before the start of mass certainly helped me during those times.

Maybe Alos arrange to have a personal chat with a priest and explain to him you have doubts. Their advice will be beneficial as they too will have had, and experienced in other similar things at times.

I’ll pray for you. (i don’t know your name so I will refer to you as Bill in my prayers, friend) 😀
 
Well, your Catholic friends here are sort of right; non-Catholics may (that is a ‘conditional’ verb, it’s not a guarantee) be saved. But that doesn’t mean that being Catholic isn’t important.

Let’s compare Catholicism to, say, a top notch guide to the SATs. It includes personal tutors who will go over your studies with you for six full months, 24/7 access, a book of tips and techniques for memorizing, six full months of remedial/catchup work for anything you have deficiencies in, plus a ‘spa package’, relaxation techniques, and bonus packages for 1 year after to help you brainstorm the best colleges for you based on the top scores you will achieve through this guide.

Now let’s compare Protestantism. They have an incredible variety of guides to the SATs; some are long, some are short, some are offered with special booklets on certain narrow areas like Modern Christian Authors and Revival History, some come with CDs of praise and worship music to help you ‘get ready’, some eschew music completely and want you to work in a spartan environment, some emphasize prayer as a heavy component in doing well and claim that the more you pray–and for $10 more, you can get a special poster with a cute praying kitty!–the better you will do on the SAT. . .but if you don’t do well, it’s cause you didn’t pray enough. . .

Now if a person buys the Catholic guide which has the biggest selection of helpful and useful tools, they are (if they study and use the tools properly) going to do far better on the SAT than somebody who uses a Protestant guide that is short, heavy on the “if you pray for it, you will get it” and who, on top of that, doesn’t even really bother to study at all.

However, even a person with the itty bitty guide, if that person is already Young Sheldon or somebody with a terrific life who has already studied hard from age 3 planning to ace the SATs. . .might ace them due to natural ability.
And even a person who bought the big Catholic guide, if he just put the guide on the table and never cracked it open, might have an epic fail at the SATs despite having an incredible tool kit.

On the whole though, the better the package for salvation (the Catholic way), the smarter we’d be for picking it.
 
This may be a call to you to deepen your own faith. I’ve been called a “zealot” and “too spiritual” half jokingly by some people in my parish. I take my faith seriously since I never had a faith practice until I came to the church at the age of 38. I don’t mince words about the nature of right and wrong or where I feel God is directing me on an issue. Not to be accusatory to others, but there’s a difference between the “nice” and The Good. And I’ve found the more forthcoming I am with others, the better my relationship with more people of solid faith, which I never would have known if I hadn’t gone deeper in my own search.
 
Bishops are not always going to be the greatest examples of the faith. Look to the early fathers and Saints for guidance. I’m sure there is a place you can find as your spiritual home in your community.

ZP
 
As a former protestant/Baptist, generally the services are more charismatic and the sermons very emotional. It’s easy to get caught up in that emotion - but when it’s you and God, you need to be able to rely on your personal relationship, not the high that you get from a highly charged environment. I now find my relationship with Christ more meaningful and deep. Don’t trust a feeling - talk with your priest. Prayers.
 
Bill6 said:
It seems like the Church nowadays is very interested in ecumenism and do not seem to believe that faith in God is important.
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Ecumenism has reunification of the Christian churches as its goal. Not sure where you get the idea faith isn’t an important part of that goal. Read Ut Unum Sint.

Inter-religious dialog is the dialog between the Catholic Church and non-Christian religions. Evangelization is the goal. Read Dominus Jesus.
Bill6 said:
For Example, Pope Francis said that God wills Non-Christian religions
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Well, no, he didn’t actually say that the way you are implying. God’s permissive will allows them. His Divine Will does not will disunity.
Bill6 said:
I have witnessed liturgical abuse at my own Parish (and others) numerous times.
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People are quick to say “liturgical abuse” when they don’t like or don’t understand legitimate choices in the mass. If you have concerns talk to your pastor. So called liturgical abuses have nothing to do with Church teaching on salvation.
Bill6 said:
I also sometimes feel that criticizing the Pope and Liturgical abuse makes me uncharitbale and self-righteous.
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Perhaps it does.
Bill6 said:
It just feels like the Church discourages Catholics from promoting Catholicism as the true religion instead of a nice choice amoung many religions. God Bless.
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Then I don’t think you’ve been reading any Church documents which clearly do exactly that.
 
Those were good answers. I hope they help our friend here.
 
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Have you watched the movie The 10 Commandments? There is a scene in the movie where Moses approaches the burning bush. This is the image I hold in my mind when I come into the church.

We have the bread from heaven. The Body and Blood of Christ is truly present, our food for the journey. Don’t miss out. Welcome home.

(Please Note: This uploaded content is no longer available.)
 
Extra ecclesiam nulla salus, mate. There is no salvation outside of the church. Anyone that says otherwise probably misunderstands ‘‘nostra aetate’’ and hasn’t read Pope Paul VI’s ‘‘Evangelii Nuntiandi’’

Evangelii Nuntiandi - Papal Encyclicals

To the Episcopate, to the Clergy and to all the Faithful of the entire world. Venerable Brothers and dear Sons and Daughters: health and the apostolic blessing. 1. There is no doubt that the effort to proclaim the Gospel to … Continue reading →
www.papalencyclicals.net www.papalencyclicals.net

Never forget, OP, that the Catholic faith is the authentic faith. We have history, tradition, and the bible on our side.
 
You see belief in God and faith faith faith hammered constantly outside of the Catholic Church…

…because quite often, that is ALL they have. Is it enough? One must undergo particular judgment to know with certainty. Consider that they have:

No Sacraments.
No adoration of the Blessed Sacrament.
No Communion of Saints.
No 1,986 year history.
No Gregorian chant.
No devotions.
No contemplative prayers.
No sacramentals
No Doctors of the Church.
No authority…

…and the list goes on and on.

Do not be lured away by emotion, polemics, histrionics and fiery oratory. Bible alone/megachurch faith is often like a hot-air balloon: it must be constantly puffed up to stay aloft.

You need Jesus Christ in His Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity. You can find that only in one* place. I refer all crises of faith immediately and directly to adoration of our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament.

Go there and sit in silence. God is found in silence. Look at Him while He looks at you. Pray. Read scripture. Tell Him your doubts and confusions. Then, be as patient with Him as He has been with you.

And when you become aware that He is there…

…you will be changed.

You will be home and will desire to go nowhere else, because Christ is truly and substantially present. Never mind all of the sinners - of which you and I are members in good standing.

Just go.

He is waiting for you.
 
Be careful with that though. When Dr. Scott Hahn inquired about converting a priest advised him to stay protestant. He’s not the only one either.

Op is right that ecumenism has gone wild and I’m okay, your okay attitude is a very prevalent.
 
Bill6 said:
I want to be Catholic but I am feeling like my spiritual life is consisting of just doing things without any meaning to them. I would just like to know what you guys think. I really want to remain Catholic but it feels like Catholicism doesn’t emphasize Faith in God. I love our Church and Our Lady and the Saints.
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You will be happy you are Catholic on your deathbed, having the sacraments and all the possible means for a happy death. After all, a lifetime of sin without ever having a sacramental confession, makes for an uneasy death.

But religion and faith without works and transformation of heart is useless and leads one into hypocrisy. As for salvation outside the Church, the Church teaches that it is possible for non Catholics to be saved if one is invincibly ignorant of the truth and lives a righteous life seeking to know God, and having a perfect contrition for having offended a God Possible? Yes. Likely? That’s a different story. Without the help of the 7 Sacraments? It makes it difficult. Only God knows.

It’s possible to row a boat across the sea, doesn’t mean you won’t get lost at sea, assailed by pirates, capsize in a storm, or eaten alive by sharks.

Don’t abandon the mothership, this video is for you:

 
hi Bill

i’m a ‘late believer’ and a convert from Protestant/Evangelical Christianity

The Holy Catholic Church TOTALLY emphasizes Faith brother

its what its all about! : )

its just a ‘given’ fact…folk don’t necessarily feel the need to ‘bang on about it’…a practicing Catholic is just busy living it…quietly/humbly

the standard Evangelical v Catholic myth is that they do ‘relationship’ whereas we do ‘religion’

ie their worship is ‘full on’, ours is ‘empty show’

don’t be fooled by that (often unspoken) attitude

it ALL depends on what’s in the individuals heart

its entirely possible for someone to be dancing around waving their arms in the air (nothing necessarily wrong with that at all) but have little love in their heart

and also for someone to be quietly praying The Holy Rosary, or sitting silently before The Blessed Sacrament, or following every word, sight, sound, smell and gesture in Holy Mass with a heart bursting with the Love of God

and of course…vice versa!

so appearances can be deceptive

a lot of Evangelical worship is founded in the ‘feel good factor’…generating/getting ‘a buzz’…in a manner not dissimilar to attending a pop concert

now…i’m very sure that’s still pleasing to Jesus, especially after Him having stood before a crowd baying for His execution on Good Friday

but you are truly in ‘the right place’ in The Holy Catholic Church

it IS the Church Jesus founded

AND we get to eat The Flesh and drink The Precious Blood of Jesus Christ, Our Lord and Savior…at every Holy Mass

that is INCOMPARABLE brother!

personally, i absolutely do believe non-Catholic Christians are saved

they are held in ‘spiritual communion’…as when a Catholic cant get to Mass

but the fullness of Christian understanding/teaching is only found in Holy Mother Church

The Holy Rosary of Our Blessed Mother Mary is definitely the answer to your difficulty

meditate on the Life of Our Savior…with His Mom…with YOUR Mom

lots of love…to one and all

Pax Christi
 
Bill6 said:
I know that neither conculsion is a good one, so I am confused.
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Your concerns are not misplaced. Unfortunately, many laity and some clergy as well believe non-Catholics will be saved. Usually the most common defense of this view is invincible ignorance, which is entirely different than outright rejecting Jesus and the Church.

Now certainly God can save whomever He chooses and there is a possibility that He will save an untold number of those outside of the Church, but this shouldn’t be taught as a means of salvation. He gave us the means by which we shall be saved and these aren’t found anywhere outside of the Church.
 
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Bill6 said:
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Try reading the Catechism:
1814 Faith is the theological virtue by which we believe in God and believe all that he has said and revealed to us, and that Holy Church proposes for our belief, because he is truth itself. By faith "man freely commits his entire self to God."78 For this reason the believer seeks to know and do God’s will. “The righteous shall live by faith.” Living faith "work through charity."79

1815 The gift of faith remains in one who has not sinned against it.80 But “faith apart from works is dead”:81 when it is deprived of hope and love, faith does not fully unite the believer to Christ and does not make him a living member of his Body.

1816 The disciple of Christ must not only keep the faith and live on it, but also profess it, confidently bear witness to it, and spread it: "All however must be prepared to confess Christ before men and to follow him along the way of the Cross, amidst the persecutions which the Church never lacks."82 Service of and witness to the faith are necessary for salvation: "So every one who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven; but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven."83
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http://www.vatican.va/archive/ccc_css/archive/catechism/p3s1c1a7.htm
 
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