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Jimmy_B
Guest
Lol…Lol…:extrahappy:
Oops…I mean…me too …Ooops …I mean that is why I am Catholic
Thanks for making me laugh Curious!
Peace
If you are a Christian, what is the real reason for you not being a Catholic? - 2
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Oops…I mean…me too …Ooops …I mean that is why I am Catholic
Thanks for making me laugh Curious!
Peace
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Curious
Guest
Lol…I’m glad you enjoyed it Jimmy. 
It is the truth, though.
Curious
It is the truth, though.
Curious
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MelanieAnne
Guest
Curious, I was where you are once upon a time. Born & raised Protestant, and stayed that way a very long time, now Catholic.Lol…I’m glad you enjoyed it Jimmy.
It is the truth, though.
Curious
It only seems hard. It really isn’t. Jump in the Tiber & swim for the side. We’ll all be there to help you to shore, trust me.
And Jimmy is a big buff retired cop! So his arm is strong!
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Curious
Guest
It only seems hard. It really isn’t. Jump in the Tiber & swim for the side. We’ll all be there to help you to shore, trust me.
heheh…I appreciate that Melanie. This makes about the third time I’ve began my flirtation with the Catholic Church, and then (mostly for psycho work schedule issues), I end up dropping the whole thing for awhile and then starting it up again. It seems though that each time I’ve come just a wee bit closer. And while it is kind of safe and comfy being a beachcomber rather than a swimmer, I don’t know if I’ll ever be happy unless I take the plunge.And Jimmy is a big buff retired cop! So his arm is strong!
If I do, you and Jimmy better save me from the sharks and crocodiles and stuff.
Curious
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MelanieAnne
Guest
We’ll be right here.heheh…I appreciate that Melanie. This makes about the third time I’ve began my flirtation with the Catholic Church, and then (mostly for psycho work schedule issues), I end up dropping the whole thing for awhile and then starting it up again. It seems though that each time I’ve come just a wee bit closer. And while it is kind of safe and comfy being a beachcomber rather than a swimmer, I don’t know if I’ll ever be happy unless I take the plunge.
If I do, you and Jimmy better save me from the sharks and crocodiles and stuff.
Curious
Let Jesus work wonders in your life.
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Jimmy_B
Guest
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Jimmy_B
Guest
No problem…… while it is kind of safe and comfy being a beachcomber rather than a swimmer, I don’t know if I’ll ever be happy unless I take the plunge.
If I do, you and Jimmy better save me from the sharks and crocodiles and stuff.
http://www.fire.lacounty.gov/Lifeguards/Photos/WhoIsHistoryByDecade3.jpg
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Iwesshome
Guest
In a nut shell it has to do with abortion, contraception and homosexuality and the churches stances with these issues. Let’s start with abortion. I am not a fan of abortion and in the majority of ways I find it to be used as a way to elevate ones responsibilities as a convenient “birth control” and not something I would condone abortion to be used for. I myself would only like to see abortion to only be used when a mother’s life is medically in jeopardy. In some ways I would extend it to rape and incest but since I am not a woman I leave that opinion to them. Since the debate on this issue is either for or against and no middle road can be compromised on I must remain Pro-Choice to ensure that Woman and people that don’t share the same beliefs as the majority of Catholics and other Christians for example have the right to decide what is best for their body.
The next would be contraception and in extreme cases the Morning-After pill. Now the MA pill could be considered by some as abortion but since the majority of times it used now is within 24-48 hours I would consider it more a contraceptive since there is no way of knowing life had even been created and would like to see it only used in cases again of rape and incest. As for the normal pill and condoms well this is a different story. I see no issue with people using them. With the amount of diseases and that fact that well no one other than me will be responsible for supporting a family I will choose how large it will be. There is nothing wrong with promoting abstinence but being realistic it isn’t full proof so if someone is going to have sex they should have protection.
The last but not least is Homosexuality. I am not homosexual but I have had homosexual friends in the past and understand their viewpoint. I believe that heterosexuals and homosexuals are both equal and loved the same by God. I don’t think homosexuals acts are a sin and support the ability for them to marry. If a church does not wish to support the marring of homosexuals so be it and since you are not required to be married in a church in the United States I say let them be married by a Justice of the Peace and enjoy their lives if the law would support it.
Now my opinions are my opinions and may or may not be shared by the majority. I am not here to flame a heated debate or say my way is better than yours but as long as my beliefs conflict with that of the church I can’t become Catholic and lie about what I believe in to please church doctrine nor do I consider these acts as a mortal sin. I believe that when we die we are judged on how we lived our life not by all the acts in which we performed. So this will eventually push me to accept a Protestant religion if one so exists in how I believe instead of the RCC I have been wishing to be a part of these last few years. I guess you can say it’s like standing outside always looking in to what you can’t have.
The next would be contraception and in extreme cases the Morning-After pill. Now the MA pill could be considered by some as abortion but since the majority of times it used now is within 24-48 hours I would consider it more a contraceptive since there is no way of knowing life had even been created and would like to see it only used in cases again of rape and incest. As for the normal pill and condoms well this is a different story. I see no issue with people using them. With the amount of diseases and that fact that well no one other than me will be responsible for supporting a family I will choose how large it will be. There is nothing wrong with promoting abstinence but being realistic it isn’t full proof so if someone is going to have sex they should have protection.
The last but not least is Homosexuality. I am not homosexual but I have had homosexual friends in the past and understand their viewpoint. I believe that heterosexuals and homosexuals are both equal and loved the same by God. I don’t think homosexuals acts are a sin and support the ability for them to marry. If a church does not wish to support the marring of homosexuals so be it and since you are not required to be married in a church in the United States I say let them be married by a Justice of the Peace and enjoy their lives if the law would support it.
Now my opinions are my opinions and may or may not be shared by the majority. I am not here to flame a heated debate or say my way is better than yours but as long as my beliefs conflict with that of the church I can’t become Catholic and lie about what I believe in to please church doctrine nor do I consider these acts as a mortal sin. I believe that when we die we are judged on how we lived our life not by all the acts in which we performed. So this will eventually push me to accept a Protestant religion if one so exists in how I believe instead of the RCC I have been wishing to be a part of these last few years. I guess you can say it’s like standing outside always looking in to what you can’t have.
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emeraldcoast
Guest
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jay29
Guest
They should never welcome sin nor teachings that conflict with the Word of God.Great post! Always know that the Episcopal Church welcomes all.
God Bless!
Abortion is baby murder, no matter what.
Homosexual acts violate the Word of God and the Laws of nature.
Both are damnable offenses, yet the Episcopal Church allows them! Way to go.
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MelanieAnne
Guest
A very wise person once told me, long before I thought of being Catholic, that our job is not to twist God into someone acceptable to ourselves, but instead is to conform ourselves to God. That’s how we draw nearer to God.
Trying to turn God into someone different is really just a rationalization of your own choices. When you stop doing that, God’s will becomes really easy, God’s ways become really obvious and the path becomes really clear.
Trying to turn God into someone different is really just a rationalization of your own choices. When you stop doing that, God’s will becomes really easy, God’s ways become really obvious and the path becomes really clear.
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emeraldcoast
Guest
Even if you feel that way, who are we (or you or the Catholic Church) to deny someone the opportunity to join in worshipping the Lord and receiving his sacraments - last time I checked those were His sacraments, not ours. The Episcopal Church provides those rejected by many other faiths the opportunity to commune with the Lord and other Christians and to get some spiritual guidance on these issues. Can the Catholic Church or some of the more fundamental denominations say as much? 2 Corinthians 5:10 states: “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.” Christ will judge us for our thoughts and words and sins in this world - not anyone else. As is said in 2 Timothy 4:2: “Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching.” It is hard to “reprove, rebuke, and exhort” and patiently teach those we exclude from the body of the Faith.They should never welcome sin nor teachings that conflict with the Word of God.
Abortion is baby murder, no matter what.
Homosexual acts violate the Word of God and the Laws of nature.
Both are damnable offenses, yet the Episcopal Church allows them! Way to go.
Finally, for many it is hard to take seriously the judgements of Catholic Church leaders, when for years they systematically covered-up (and by their omission tacitly condoned) many instances of pedophilia by priests. How can someone accept judgmental attitudes from a group whose hands are far from clean? Matthew 7:2-5 declares, “For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.” I think this verse can apply to many clergymen, faiths, and Christians.
Romans 10:13 " For whoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved."
I don’t believe that this excludes the sinner. The church is the perfect place for all that are not perfect!
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allhers
Guest
You got that right, the Catholic Church has always been made up of sinners and Saints!!!
…and in your last post here it sounds like YOU are being a little judgemental yourself there.
**Just my observations. **
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Servus_Pio_XII
Guest
Jimmy,
Forgive me for finding the opening post incredibly judgemental and, frankly, crass.
You accuse these people blanketly of awful things for which you have no evidence. As convenient as ad hominem can be, it rarely leads to Truth.
The sincerity of converts is their own lookout, and God’s, not yours or mine. We must take them at face value, judging them not as insincere, lest we ourselves be judged in a like manner.
-SPXII
Forgive me for finding the opening post incredibly judgemental and, frankly, crass.
You accuse these people blanketly of awful things for which you have no evidence. As convenient as ad hominem can be, it rarely leads to Truth.
The sincerity of converts is their own lookout, and God’s, not yours or mine. We must take them at face value, judging them not as insincere, lest we ourselves be judged in a like manner.
-SPXII
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emeraldcoast
Guest
Just for clarity, I will bold the statements I am referring to and post my responses in blue.You got that right, the Catholic Church has always been made up of sinners and Saints!!!
…and in your last post here it sounds like YOU are being a little judgemental yourself there.
**Just my observations. **
Excuse me but…the Catholic Church was founded by Jesus Christ and the Church still upholds HIS teachings, so, the fact that the Catholic Church can deny someone the Sacraments is a fact. (They don’t want to play by HIS rules, then they need to go elsewhere.) No one in the Catholic Church deny’s anyone the right to Worship HIM, and if they are worshipping HIM instead of the false gods of their own making they will be able to receive the Sacraments.
You can make a case that the Catholic Church, since before the fall of the Western Roman Empire, strayed from the path of the church as founded by Jesus. If the Church was not full of abuses, why would Luther take such a chance and openly dissent? A lot of risk in his actions - few rewards. Many non-Catholics (not necessarily me) feel that only by NOT being a Catholic can you follow Jesus’ true path. ALL denominations claim (with some truth) that they uphold Jesus’ teachings.
Yes, as a matter of fact, the Catholic Church does give them the Spiritual guidance that they need, they obviously reject it though. Otherwise why would they go elsewhere??
If spirtual guidance is “my way or the highway - straight to hell” - I guess that is true. Not a lot of Christ-like forgiving or support in that attitude.
They aren’t excluded from attending Mass, the teachings of the Church, the Bible studies, etc…, they exclude themselves.
They are excluded from the sacraments - the most important parts of the Faith. Why should they attend a church where they can’t receive the sacraments and their lifestyle and choices (some aspects of which are beyond their control) are condemned regularly? Does that make sense?
I** have never seen any evidence that they condoned that!! **
This link is to Boston Globe article that highlights some of the issues regarding the cover-ups and omissions in the Boston area. boston.com/globe/spotlight/abuse/scandal/
You can google around the web and find that these instances were by no means isolated to that area. Some might say that is old news, but not to the victims.
You got that right, the Catholic Church has always been made up of sinners and Saints!!!
As is the Episcopalian Church, and all other denominations.
…and in your last post here it sounds like YOU are being a little judgemental yourself there.
I fully acknowledge the “planks” in my eyes, thanks for pointing them out.
God Bless!
“Were you the kid who got in trouble in Sunday School for asking too many questions? …Come join the rest of us"
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jay29
Guest
Christ DID NOT give the Episcopal Church His Sacraments at all. Sorry…
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jay29
Guest
The Catholic Church will NEVER accept abortion or homosexual acts, both condemned by the Word of God. The Episcopal Church, of all churches, has strayed from the true teachings beyond measure. There is no such thing as right or wrong anymore in that church. You can do no wrong. It is all acceptable.
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emeraldcoast
Guest
Jay - we do frown upon intolerance, hard-heartedness, and bigotry.The Episcopal Church, of all churches, has strayed from the true teachings beyond measure. There is no such thing as right or wrong anymore in that church. You can do no wrong. It is all acceptable.
Go in Peace to Love and Serve the Lord! Amen!
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jay29
Guest
Jesus NEVER taught tolerance of sin. He told sinners to “sin no more” Does your Church? Nope would be the answer. That is why it has no moral compass at all.
The Word of God has some VERY hard teachings. Some things your church glosses over and puts aside. Bigotry? Nope. The Word of God is not bigotry.
I do, according to HIS WORD and not how I wish His Words were! Amen!
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Brian_Millar
Guest
The #1 reason many protestants do not convert to Catholicism is due to the out right lies they are being told by their own clergy and members. I was amazed recently at how deep it went, and utterly astonished at the accusations made. I had to clarify one point after another to them, and some of these charges were out right insulting. They make us out to be closer to Pagans then Christians, the bottom line.
Not attending mass is not turning your back on God, don’t confuse that one, it just means you have been cold in regards to the church itself. This happens with priests as well, if you flat out say, there is no God, or Christ didn’t die for your sins, or you say the Bible is not the word of God, then you have dire issues, for that is truely rejecting him.
I stopped going to mass for a while, I did nievly think at one point that all denominations based upon the same gospel were equal and were the same church, boy did I learn I was mistaken, and it wasn’t until recently that I did so. Part of that does have to do with the fact, I was trying to unify, to create peace where there was strife, I thought I was doing what God wanted, for he loves the peace makers.
Keep in mind, in my case, the pivotal moment where I decided not to go to mass was when I was searching for a deeper relationship with God. I sought out literally, what it takes to become born again, and I received little difinitiave answers, from my priest, from other church leaders, from other denominations, and it was a quest at that point for me. With the original church I used to go to, the priest was very charasmatic, his presence really bound the clergy together, and when they relocated him to another church, it was never the same, when they relocated the church to a new building in a different part of town, even the remnents of what felt like our family that were left were stripped away. The priest that finally took over that church, after a long line of temporary ones, did not fill the original ones shoes nearly as effectively. I then combine that with the fact, all during CCD, my peers shunned me, I was a social outcast at the school we all attended, and this transfered to the classes we were attending during that time, so there was nothing endearing community wise to this individual at all, it was just cold, spiritually as well as emotionally with how I was treated.
Always though, I kept the thoughts, the warm memories and even several of the things the original priest taught during his sermons close to my heart. He passed away from lung cancer a couple of years after he was relocated, so in a way, with some of the tidbits I was able to retain, I was able to continue to spread what he taught, this time to protestants. He was also the first priest I confessed to, and I remember it clearly, it was on mothers day to boot.
So, in regards to the OP, there are too many assumptions being made from the beginning, do not assume you understand the motivation behind someone no longer attending mass, for there are many reasons, sure in some cases the original statement is true, but I very much would not lump this in to apply to all people.
Not attending mass is not turning your back on God, don’t confuse that one, it just means you have been cold in regards to the church itself. This happens with priests as well, if you flat out say, there is no God, or Christ didn’t die for your sins, or you say the Bible is not the word of God, then you have dire issues, for that is truely rejecting him.
I stopped going to mass for a while, I did nievly think at one point that all denominations based upon the same gospel were equal and were the same church, boy did I learn I was mistaken, and it wasn’t until recently that I did so. Part of that does have to do with the fact, I was trying to unify, to create peace where there was strife, I thought I was doing what God wanted, for he loves the peace makers.
Keep in mind, in my case, the pivotal moment where I decided not to go to mass was when I was searching for a deeper relationship with God. I sought out literally, what it takes to become born again, and I received little difinitiave answers, from my priest, from other church leaders, from other denominations, and it was a quest at that point for me. With the original church I used to go to, the priest was very charasmatic, his presence really bound the clergy together, and when they relocated him to another church, it was never the same, when they relocated the church to a new building in a different part of town, even the remnents of what felt like our family that were left were stripped away. The priest that finally took over that church, after a long line of temporary ones, did not fill the original ones shoes nearly as effectively. I then combine that with the fact, all during CCD, my peers shunned me, I was a social outcast at the school we all attended, and this transfered to the classes we were attending during that time, so there was nothing endearing community wise to this individual at all, it was just cold, spiritually as well as emotionally with how I was treated.
Always though, I kept the thoughts, the warm memories and even several of the things the original priest taught during his sermons close to my heart. He passed away from lung cancer a couple of years after he was relocated, so in a way, with some of the tidbits I was able to retain, I was able to continue to spread what he taught, this time to protestants. He was also the first priest I confessed to, and I remember it clearly, it was on mothers day to boot.
So, in regards to the OP, there are too many assumptions being made from the beginning, do not assume you understand the motivation behind someone no longer attending mass, for there are many reasons, sure in some cases the original statement is true, but I very much would not lump this in to apply to all people.
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