If you are a Christian, what is the real reason for you not being a Catholic?

[marietta]

jimmy b:

Are Catholics the only ones who can go to Heaven?

marietta

 

[qui_est_ce]

qui est ce:
What if someone continues an offensive behavior without forethought; that is, not planning to, but because of circumstances?

marietta

What about it? If it is a sin, say an Act of Contrition, get over it, move on. Scrupulosity is sinful.

jimmy b:

Are Catholics the only ones who can go to Heaven?

marietta

I think you know the answer to that one.

God bless and have a peaceful in your soul night.:angel1:
Darn, there’s something in those prayers we learned as kids. It’s late, and I want to say the “Angel of God, my Guardian Dear” prayer. I even salvaged that picture!

 

[guanophore]

[What if someone continues an offensive behavior without forethought; that is, not planning to, but because of circumstances?

marietta

This might be a good example of falling into sin. When the HS is not in control of our lives, we will be on auto pilot, and frequently will follow our habits and circumstances. T’his is human nature. The more we are alert to the HS, we can catch these and turn around even if we are in the middle of them.

I found a great poem that I really like called a Hole in the Sidewalk.

lessons4living.com/sidewalk_of_life.htm

We all start out in chapter one, and hope to get to chapter five!

Are Catholics the only ones who can go to Heaven?

marietta

I am curious why you would ask this question
[/quote]

 

[qui_est_ce]

jimmy b:
Are Catholics the only ones who can go to Heaven?
marietta

I am curious why you would ask this question

She does ask curious questions

marietta:

bpbasilphx:
Do you believe that God hears only the prayers of Catholics?

marietta:

qui est ce:
By the way, are you divorced or did you seek an annulment?
marietta

 

[onmyknees]

Hi Marietta, Originally Posted by marietta View Post
What has God to say on repeat offenders, particularly as it relates to contraception? Abortion, murder, anything can be confessed and forgiven, repeatedly if necessary. Where is the deterrent?

I just wanted to add to the others’ answers to this question. Some deterrents are that contraception is intrinsically evil and so therefore it is a mortal sin. John 5:16- The difference between mortal(deadly) and venial(pardonable)sin. If a person continues in mortal sin with full knowledge and full consent of their will than they are putting their soul in danger. They are also unable to receive Jesus in the Eucharist until they go to confession and stop using contraception.
Anyone who is conscious of mortal sin is unworthy to receive the Eucharist. When one rejects evil, obeys the commandments of God,and prays they will become closer to Jesus. The closer they become to Him the more they will love Him and the more they love Him the less they will want to offend Him by sinning.

 

[onmyknees]

Sexual sins are no worse or better than any other sins. I note that Jesus spent the very least amount of time on those, and talked more about dishonesty, greed, etc.
Guanophore,
Sexual sins of thought, word and deed are worse that venial sins because they are considered mortal when they are done with full knowledge and full consent of the will.

 

[onmyknees]

Originally Posted by marietta View Post
bpbasilphx:
Do you believe that God hears only the prayers of Catholics?
I believe that God hears the prayers of anyone who prays to Him with a sincere heart. He loves us all and wants us to spend eternity in heaven with Him.

 

[guanophore]

Sexual sins are no worse or better than any other sins. I note that Jesus spent the very least amount of time on those, and talked more about dishonesty, greed, etc.
Guanophore,
Sexual sins of thought, word and deed are worse that venial sins because they are considered mortal when they are done with full knowledge and full consent of the will.

All of those sins are mortal sins. My point is that sexual sin is not in some category of “worse” mortal sins. All mortal sins are deadly. FOr some reason, people seem to focus more on the sexual sins. It is just as deadly for a priest to break his vow doing something else.

 

[onmyknees]

Hi Guanophore,
Are you saying that greed and dishonesty are mortal sins? I think that dishonesty can be mortal if it is regarding grave matter. For example ruining someone’s reputation with lies. Please let me know. I’m going on a silent retreat this weekend so I’ll catch your reply when I get back. Have a good weekend!

 

[D317]

Hi Marietta, Originally Posted by marietta View Post
What has God to say on repeat offenders, particularly as it relates to contraception? Abortion, murder, anything can be confessed and forgiven, repeatedly if necessary. Where is the deterrent?

onmyknees: Hope you have a great weekend in quite prayer & meditation. I’ve been traveling & just got home. Lots of posts since last week so I hope I’m not repeating or off-key with this.

Not sure what you mean by deterrent (I bold-ed it in your quote). If you mean the deterrent to sin with habitual “offenders” of God’s law [and I’m not an expert on what God says or thinks!] relative to confession, I believe that true contrition and firm resolution to sin no more come into play.

To be forgiven in a sacramental confession, one must be truly sorry for having offended God. Additionally, one must have a firm purpose of amendment (to not sin again). If someone did not meet this standard, it is my understanding that their sins are not forgiven. In your example of contraception, it would be tough to meet this standard [standard is probably NOT the correct term] if they intended to continue using contraception. You may want to validate this by discussing it with your priest.

There are no doubt circumstances where someone sins, is truly sorry and intends to not sin again; but they fall into the same sin. I guess that only God knows what is in a person’s heart.

It would seem that the real deterrent is the knowledge that Hell is a very real place and real people go there. God won’t condemn anyone to Hell, people condemn themselves when they turn away from him.

If you are answering another post, forgive me. If not, I hope this helps.

 

[Jimmy_B]

jimmy b:

Are Catholics the only ones who can go to Heaven?

marietta

Hello marietta, may God bless you and I thank you for your post.

For my full answer, please refer to the teaching of Roman Catholic Church, that is what I believe.

The Bible, Christianity and your question cannot be summed-up using a handful of Bible verses or a few sentences. Christianity is not a handful of Bible verses or a handful of sentences and should not, in any way, be minimized as such and this includes the answer to your question.

To answer your question on a personal note, here is my less than gifted attempt to try to summarize something that could take many years and many books to fully understand and appreciate, including a full or fuller understanding of the Bible, in context.

To answer your question, which is, "Are Catholics the only ones who can go to Heaven?”; the very, very, very short answer is, “Of course not”.

We are all God’s Children, created by God. Everything that is true and good in any Christian religion is true and good and any religion, which brings anyone closer to Jesus, is doing a good thing.

As a Catholic, I believe that many Christian religions, share with Catholicism, many Christian truths and I hope and pray that one day all Christians will share a single faith.

I do not disbelieve any Christian truths, found in any Christian religion, as many do exist, I do however believe that the fullness of God’s True Church can be found in the Roman Catholic Church. If I didn’t believe this, then I wouldn’t be a Roman Catholic, now would I?

Please do not confuse my defending my own faith, with any lack of love or respect for any other Christian religion. All properly baptized Christians are “brothers and sisters” in Christ.

Marietta, this is a Catholic forum after-all, and many are here (at CAF) like me, to defend their Catholic faith, which is at times misunderstood and under attacked.

Marietta, do you believe that Catholics will go to heaven, or do I need to abandon my faith to follow yours to get there?

BTW, what religion are you? Maybe we can start there.

I hope this helps, God bless.

 

[uglygal]

lack of love

 

[Huguenot]

If you are a Christian, what is the real reason for you not being a Catholic?

Are you ready for some truth; most people don’t like the truth so much?

The reason I asked this question is that I find many Christians somewhat disingenuous when it comes to the real reason or reasons that they are not Catholic or are no longer Catholic.

I feel that many of the Catholic dissenters here who love to quote Bible verses and argue against Catholicism have a personal reason for not being Catholic and not a biblical reason. That is why you can never get anywhere with these people. I have also found this to be true in my real-life contacts and conversations with Catholic dissenters.

For example, a vast majority of people I have met over the years who say that they left the Catholic Church, for this reason or that, it turns out, had no religion in their lives what so ever, for many years.

They didn’t leave the Catholic Church on Sunday to become a “Born-Again” on Monday. They left the Catholic Church on Sunday and became a “Born-Again” twenty or thirty years later.

They left their Faith, turned their back on God and did as they pleased, without guilt, what a life.

They where having “fun” living a promiscuous lifestyle and guess what the guilt finally catches up with them (sin has a way of doing that, don’t you know). They were just full of sin and at the point in which they felt it was time to “go back to church” they discovered that the Roman Catholic Church (actually that God) had a problem with their previous years of bad behavior and now their existed a hurdle or two to overcome and confession can be pretty humbling.

One thing leads to another and before you know it, these same people are now “former Catholics” and bible scholars, not to mention an authority on the Catholic religion, almost over-night. “It’s a miracle!”

It’s not a miracle, it’s disingenuous and hypocritical. Moreover, arguing now against Catholicism is a way for them to have God on their terms instead of His terms and to make them feel better about themselves. There isn’t’ anything wrong with experiencing guilt. We all sin and we all feel guilt, it is the human condition, welcome to life.

Here is some more reality; Many of these “on-fire” Christians who are bound and determined to save all us Catholics, it turns out, if the truth be known, would probably be Catholic today if it wasn’t for the three or four marriages, which occurred in the interim period, during their “non practicing, Christians years”, before they were on fire…

I also know of many other personal rather than biblical reasons why many are not Catholic, however there are too many to list here. Don’t get me wrong, I love all my Christian Brothers, but like an alcoholic, you have to admit you have a problem before you can seek a cure.

**Why aren’t you Catholic? Tell the truth. **

because there are doctrines I don’t agree with, so I find it would be hypocritical to convert to Catholicism … but I sometimes go to Mass, either because I’ve been invited by a Catholic or just “like that”, because I feel like it, and there are a lot of things I can fully associate with during Mass, for example when they say the Lord’s prayer , when they sing some hymns ( well it depends on how difficult the tune is … sometimes I can sing it with them, sometimes not but then I read the words … ) ; there are two or three Bible readings during Mass, I ask God to open my heart …
I don’t take part in the Eucharist because it is forbidden by the Catholic church for non-Catholics to participate ; I don’t believe in the real presence and some Catholics told me it is a sacrilege to take the host if you don’t believe in the real presence ( but some Catholics don’t believe in it either, according to a poll --in France-- so logically they shouldn’t take part in the Eucharist either ) ; moreover, if I am a “guest” somewhere, I find it normal to respect the rules of their house… so as long as it is forbidden I won’t do it, but during the Eucharist I remember our Lord’s death as atonement for our sins, I confess my sins ( to God ), I thank Him for his sacrifice …and since I know that Catholics also commemorate Christ’s death during the Eucharist, I feel in fellowship with the Catholics then, especially with those in the communion line but also with those who, for different reasons, don’t take the host …
If I could I think I would try at least once to take part in the Eucharist because I think that then I would feel in fellowship with the Catholics even more, but maybe it’s a false idea … and I don’t think I would do so from one day to another, I think I would like to speak with a priest first …

 

[Jimmy_B]

So, the real reason that you not a Catholic?** **Is because of three words, “lack of love”. This comment does not make any sense what so ever. Please give me an example or explain what you are talking about here.

Nice sound-bite, but right now that’s all it is a sound-bite and it doesn’t make any sense. I am going to need some more details, before I can give your comment, which lacks any foundation, any credibility. Are you sure, it wasn’t your lack of love?

What does love mean to you, how is it supposed to look or feel, according to you, in the context of Catholicism.

Please don’t confuse the truth, if you don’t agree with it, with a “lack of Love”. Is that the problem here?

 

[Jimmy_B]

lack of love

“Lack of love”, that’s cute. So, the real reason that you are not a Catholic is a “lack of love”. It Is because of three words, a “lack of love”. Do you think that the early Catholic martyrs who went 'Happily" to their deaths, were experiencing a “lack of love”?

This comment does not make any sense what so ever. Please give me an example or explain what you are talking about here.

Nice sound-bite, but right now that’s all it is, a sound-bite and it doesn’t make any sense. I am going to need some more details, before I can give your comment, which lacks any foundation, any credibility. Are you sure, it wasn’t your own lack of love? Or lack of true humility? Your comment shows a “lack of love” for one billion Catholics, does it not?

Sometimes our own ego can be the biggest barrier to love.

What does love mean to you, how is it supposed to look or feel, according to you, in the context of Catholicism.

I hope you are not confusing, not having things your way, with a “lack of love”. Please don’t confuse the truth, if you don’t agree with it, with a “lack of Love”. Is that the problem here? More information please, for us non-hippies, so that we might understand.

 

[Jimmy_B]

because there are doctrines I don’t agree with, so I find it would be hypocritical to convert to Catholicism … but I sometimes go to Mass, either because I’ve been invited by a Catholic or just “like that”, because I feel like it, and there are a lot of things I can fully associate with during Mass, for example when they say the Lord’s prayer , when they sing some hymns ( well it depends on how difficult the tune is … sometimes I can sing it with them, sometimes not but then I read the words … ) ; there are two or three Bible readings during Mass, I ask God to open my heart …
I don’t take part in the Eucharist because it is forbidden by the Catholic church for non-Catholics to participate ; I don’t believe in the real presence and some Catholics told me it is a sacrilege to take the host if you don’t believe in the real presence ( but some Catholics don’t believe in it either, according to a poll --in France-- so logically they shouldn’t take part in the Eucharist either ) ; moreover, if I am a “guest” somewhere, I find it normal to respect the rules of their house… so as long as it is forbidden I won’t do it, but during the Eucharist I remember our Lord’s death as atonement for our sins, I confess my sins ( to God ), I thank Him for his sacrifice …and since I know that Catholics also commemorate Christ’s death during the Eucharist, I feel in fellowship with the Catholics then, especially with those in the communion line but also with those who, for different reasons, don’t take the host …
If I could I think I would try at least once to take part in the Eucharist because I think that then I would feel in fellowship with the Catholics even more, but maybe it’s a false idea … and I don’t think I would do so from one day to another, I think I would like to speak with a priest first …

*“because there are doctrines I don’t agree with,” *

No, you just don’t understand them.

**

“so I find it would be hypocritical to convert to Catholicism …”

**

When you become Catholic, you won’t have to worry anbout this.

"*

but I sometimes go to Mass, either because I’ve been invited by a Catholic or just “like that”, because I feel like it, and there are a lot of things I can fully associate with during Mass, for example when they say the Lord’s prayer , when they sing some hymns ( well it depends on how difficult the tune is … sometimes I can sing it with them, sometimes not but then I read the words … )"

I am with you on this one, I can’t sing.

"there are two or three Bible readings during Mass, I ask God to open my heart …"

“I don’t take part in the Eucharist because it is forbidden by the Catholic church for non-Catholics to participate”
*
*
Good

“I don’t believe in the real presence”

**
Why not, do you not believe that God is capable of doing this? He is all-powerful, is He not? God is capable of doing anything, right? Besides, Jesus isn’t a lair and He, Himself said that it is His real body and His real blood.

“and some Catholics told me it is a sacrilege to take the host if you don’t believe in the real presence”

That is correct, and you have to be Catholic and are required to go to Confession prior, if you are in mortal sin.

"(* but some Catholics don’t believe in it either, according to a poll --in France-- so logically they shouldn’t take part in the Eucharist either ) ;*

"

Just because one ‘says’ he is Catholic, does not mean he is… God does not care about polls.

“moreover, if I am a “guest” somewhere, I find it normal to respect the rules of their house… so as long as it is forbidden I won’t do it, but during the Eucharist I remember our Lord’s death as atonement for our sins, I confess my sins ( to God ), I thank Him for his sacrifice …”

Good

"and since I know that Catholics also commemorate Christ’s death during the Eucharist, I feel in fellowship with the Catholics then, especially with those in the communion line but also with those who, for different reasons, don’t take the host …If I could I think I would try at least once to take part in the Eucharist because I think that then I would feel in fellowship with the Catholics even more, but maybe it’s a false idea … and I don’t think I would do so from one day to another, I think I would like to speak with a priest first .

*…"

Sounds good to me, I will pray for you, you will make a good Catholic.

 

[guanophore]

Hi Guanophore,
Are you saying that greed and dishonesty are mortal sins? I think that dishonesty can be mortal if it is regarding grave matter. For example ruining someone’s reputation with lies. Please let me know. I’m going on a silent retreat this weekend so I’ll catch your reply when I get back. Have a good weekend!

I recommend that you google “examination of conscience”. I recently found come very good documents to prepare for reconciliation. If we are going to discuss the difference between mortal and venial sins, we should start a new thread, or go to one that is already open, because I think it is off topic here, unless it is a “real reason for you not to be Catholic”

Jesus said you cannot serve both God, and mammon, and that the love of money is the root of all evil.

 

[guanophore]

because there are doctrines I don’t agree with, so I find it would be hypocritical to convert to Catholicism … but I sometimes go to Mass, either because I’ve been invited by a Catholic or just “like that”, because I feel like it, and there are a lot of things I can fully associate with during Mass, for example when they say the Lord’s prayer , when they sing some hymns ( well it depends on how difficult the tune is … sometimes I can sing it with them, sometimes not but then I read the words … ) ; there are two or three Bible readings during Mass, I ask God to open my heart …

Praise God! Maybe you are more Catholic than you realize?

 I don't take part in the Eucharist because it is forbidden by the Catholic church for non-Catholics to participate

This is very respectful of you, and I admire this a lot.

I don’t believe in the real presence and some Catholics told me it is a sacrilege to take the host if you don’t believe in the real presence ( but some Catholics don’t believe in it either, according to a poll --in France-- so logically they shouldn’t take part in the Eucharist either )

You are so right about this. I wish more “catholics” had your piety and respect for the sacrament. :bowdown2: Instead, they commit sacriledge, and bring condemnation upon themselves. I know, becuase I did it myself for years.

moreover, if I am a "guest" somewhere, I find it normal to respect the rules of their house... so as long as it is forbidden I won't do it, but during the Eucharist I remember our Lord's death as atonement for our sins, I confess my sins ( to God ), I thank Him for his sacrifice ...and since I know that Catholics also commemorate Christ's death during the Eucharist, I feel in fellowship with the Catholics then, especially with those in the communion line but also with those who, for different reasons, don't take the host ....

This is SO AWESOME!!

 If I could I think I would try at least once to take part in the Eucharist because I think that then I would feel in fellowship with the Catholics even more, but maybe it's a false idea .. and I don't think I would do so from one day to another, I think I would like to speak with a priest first ....

Yes, this would be the right thing to do.

Have you considered attending RCIA, to resolve the doctrinal issues? Does being on CAF help any with those? I have learned a great deal about my faith since I came here.

 

[1234]

“Lack of love”, that’s cute. So, the real reason that you are not a Catholic is a “lack of love”. It Is because of three words, a “lack of love”. Do you think that the early Catholic martyrs who went 'Happily" to their deaths, were experiencing a “lack of love”?

This comment does not make any sense what so ever. Please give me an example or explain what you are talking about here.

Nice sound-bite, but right now that’s all it is, a sound-bite and it doesn’t make any sense. I am going to need some more details, before I can give your comment, which lacks any foundation, any credibility. Are you sure, it wasn’t your own lack of love? Or lack of true humility? Your comment shows a “lack of love” for one billion Catholics, does it not?

Sometimes our own ego can be the biggest barrier to love.

What does love mean to you, how is it supposed to look or feel, according to you, in the context of Catholicism.

I hope you are not confusing, not having things your way, with a “lack of love”. Please don’t confuse the truth, if you don’t agree with it, with a “lack of Love”. Is that the problem here? More information please, for us non-hippies, so that we might understand.

“Love” has nothing to do with martyrdom and is not unique to the early Christians. Faith, testimony, witness, and no way to avoid it are the more usual reasons for martyrdom.

The current martyrs and the suicide martyrs all over the middle east, who die for Islam and Al-Quaida.

Most religions have had many martyrs in their midst–the Protestants in Europe burned and otherwise horribly martyred by your church, The Buddhists, killed by the hundreds of thousands by Islam in its expansion phase, Jews throughout their history, Hindus slaughtered by the Moslems and visa versa.

 

[Scanner]

I didn’t read all 63 pages (wow! must be stimulating discussion!) but I find this question asked in only a way an anonymous question could be asked - after all, you can post with little direct recourse. . .so it gives one a chance to be honest.

I appreciate the OP trying to cut through the “bunk” to get to the real issues.

I would fall into that category. . .someone who has “wandered away” from the Church.

I am no “saint”, nor do I pretend to be. . .and I don’t expect the Church to “meet my terms.” So I’ll post my reasons for my wanderlust here, in no particular order. . .sometimes it’s of conscience, sometimes it’s of weakness or humanity.

Again, in no particular order:

1. I find creationism hard, if not impossible, to reconcile with science and observation
2. I find it difficult to accept that God would leave his “word” on the earth, make it very difficult to decipher, and then if you don’t follow his instructions, you get damned to hell.

(and you are required to worship a God like this - kinda scary when you really think about it)

That is, the Bible to me, is really not the Word of God. . .it was a collection of tribal law and moral theology (and a very good one at that!).

1. I don’t like confession (again. . .I’m being “real” with you all here)
2. It would cause increased marital discord (my wife is aetheist, I am Intelligent Designer). I often prefer “peace” over being “right.”
3. I don’t feel God in a church. I tend to feel him more in nature.
4. I want some dominion over my own body (contraception).
5. My son is asking to go to Church but I find indoctrination of children distasteful. (still working on reconciling this one)
6. I find all religions tend to be divisive of family, people, and friends rather than unifying.
7. I don’t want to tithe (trading spiritually disiplined for financially undisiplined, which Catholics IMO often tend to be). I’d rather bequeath 10% to charity at the end of my life.

Okay. . .the list could go on, as you can see. . . from a mixture of selfish to conscience-involved objections.

I don’t want this to be a “greivance list” against the Church (but you asked). . .I think it shows it’s more than just one “Real Reason”. . .it becomes a lot of little reasons that maybe someone wanders away and just decides they are better off without each other.

“You live your life. . .and I’ll live mine” becomes the thinking, rather than a “I"m holier than thou.” (I’m not).

Now. . .it begs the question, why am I here?

Well. . .as my son has asked to go to Church (a protestant one - he’s 10)

I have just wondered if I am being a little too “picky”. . .like a spouse. . .you can make a laundry list too of imperfections. . . I am rethinking if I can be with the Catholic Church, much like I can be with my wife. . .even though she has faults (she can be unkind at times).

I hope this helps give you psychological insight into the can of worms of “sinners.”