I'm having doubt..please help

[latingirl]

Hi, I’m a new Catholic.
I thought this would be a good place to come.

When sharing my salvation story with Protestant friends…and strangers ( I just can’t keep it in) I constantly hear of the Church’s “false doctrines” We are accused of twisting and ading to the Scriptures (by teachings such as those of Ignatius, Clement and Augustine). I think that to dismiss ANY extra-Biblical evidence of Christianity is one of the most ridiculous things I’ve ever seen. All the laws and teachings for every facet of Christianity MUST be in the Bible or else it’s false.
O Scriptura! (sorry Carmina Burana pun)

I am told that while an earnest Christian, I should leave the Catholic church because “they messed everything up” What did they mess up? They ask me why I decide to stay in a church so ridden with error. What errors am I facing?

Granted the Catholic Church has a horrible record of persecution and power-abuse, but does that make the entire faith false?
I’m beginning to have doubts about the saints, Mary and Apostolic Sucession. I mean can men really have powers only meant for Christ?

I have been searching for the face of Christ since my Confirmation and feel His presence in the Eucharist. When you get down to Scriptural evidence, even Baptists have to second-guess their assumption the Lord’s Supper is a symbol.
I’m worried about the Church’s doctrines, do we put too much importance on tradition? Why do our traditions seem “ritualistic” in comparison to the simple Gospel of the Apostles? Why does the Pope wear a golden ring when Christ wore a crown of thorns? Why do we in fact (though not descended from pagan religions) have so much in common with them?

I want to be finally home. I don’t want to believe that God tricked me (or even worse Satan).

**Help me! **

 

[BootCampJr]

Questions, I too, have had at some point in my life. What I can tell you though, is that the answers to these questions will come in God’s time. Be not afraid of what others may say, think, or do. In the end, it will just be you, your Catholic family, and Jesus. Take solace in that alone.

 

[JPUSC]

Hi, I’m a new Catholic.
I thought this would be a good place to come.

When sharing my salvation story with Protestant friends…and strangers ( I just can’t keep it in) I constantly hear of the Church’s “false doctrines” We are accused of twisting and ading to the Scriptures (by teachings such as those of Ignatius, Clement and Augustine). I think that to dismiss ANY extra-Biblical evidence of Christianity is one of the most ridiculous things I’ve ever seen. All the laws and teachings for every facet of Christianity MUST be in the Bible or else it’s false.
O Scriptura! (sorry Carmina Burana pun)

I am told that while an earnest Christian, I should leave the Catholic church because “they messed everything up” What did they mess up? They ask me why I decide to stay in a church so ridden with error. What errors am I facing?

Granted the Catholic Church has a horrible record of persecution and power-abuse, but does that make the entire faith false?
I’m beginning to have doubts about the saints, Mary and Apostolic Sucession. I mean can men really have powers only meant for Christ?

I have been searching for the face of Christ since my Confirmation and feel His presence in the Eucharist. When you get down to Scriptural evidence, even Baptists have to second-guess their assumption the Lord’s Supper is a symbol.
I’m worried about the Church’s doctrines, do we put too much importance on tradition? Why do our traditions seem “ritualistic” in comparison to the simple Gospel of the Apostles? Why does the Pope wear a golden ring when Christ wore a crown of thorns? Why do we in fact (though not descended from pagan religions) have so much in common with them?

I want to be finally home. I don’t want to believe that God tricked me (or even worse Satan).

**Help me! **

Protestantism has only been around for 500 years and doesn’t have apostolic succession. The Catholic Church was founded by Jesus Christ Himself and he made St. Peter the first Pope. You can’t go wrong here.

As for the not-so-perfect history of the Church, remember that it is a institution run by humans, who are affected by original sin. No human is free from sin except Christ and His Mother (who was immaculately conceived in order for Christ to be born). Christ promised that, “And so I say to you, you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it.” (Matthew, 16: 18)

Protestants have their own history of violence and power-abuse. Just look at all the bloody conflicts during the Reformation and the wars between the Protestants and Catholics in Ireland. Even today, you can see that they make mistakes too. A recent example I could think of is the Ted Haggard scandal.

Come to think of it, even though Protestants despise the Pope, they too try to seek the guidance of a spiritual leader. Most Protestants depend heavily on their pastors for spiritual advice. These pastors aren’t even descended from the apostles, so what gives them the authority to do that?

I think it would be scandalous for the Pope to wear a crown of thorns. The Pope is not Christ, and is only His humble representative on earth.

Here is information about the Pope’s ring: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ring_of_the_Fisherman

It’d symbolism is derived from the tradition that the apostles were “fishers of men” .

The Church Christianized certain pagan elements because most of the converts were ex-pagans and it symbolizes that Christ conquers all false gods. One example is Dec 25, Christmas Day, which used to be a day for sun-worship, now it’s the day of the Son.

The ritualistic nature of the Mass is from the days of the apostles. Our roots come from Judaism as Christ and the apostles were Jews and the God of Abraham is the one true God. Plus, the consecration during the Liturgy of the Eucharist has to follow a specific formula in order for transubstatiation to occur.

Many non-denominational Protestant churches have no rituals or liturgies because they are missing the Mass and the Sacraments and are in effect, prayer groups or faith communities.

Tradition and scripture go together. The New Testament did not exist for the first hundred years after Jesus’ acension into Heaven, so in a way, Scripture used to be oral tradition also.

Here is scriptural evidence on why the early apostles and current-day priests have the power to forgive sins:

John 20:21 - before He grants them the authority to forgive sins, Jesus says to the apostles, “as the Father sent me, so I send you.” As Christ was sent by the Father to forgive sins, so Christ sends the apostles and their successors forgive sins.

John 20:22 - the Lord “breathes” on the apostles, and then gives them the power to forgive and retain sins. The only other moment in Scripture where God breathes on man is in Gen. 2:7, when the Lord “breathes” divine life into man. When this happens, a significant transformation takes place.

John 20:23 - Jesus says, “If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven. If you retain the sins of any, they are retained.” In order for the apostles to exercise this gift of forgiving sins, the penitents must orally confess their sins to them because the apostles are not mind readers. The text makes this very clear.

scripturecatholic.com/confession.html

 

[htk553]

I get that from Protestants too. I, too, questioned the Catholic faith being “correct”. I found my answers on this forum. A person here gave me this link. Listen to the free mp3s on Apologetics. They will be well worth your time.

Peace be with you

 

[latingirl]

I have read the passages in John but how come only Catholics see Apostolic Succession in them?

I see that Catholics have an interpretation of the Scriptures that is very different from other churches. Not necessarily wrong but different. Is our evidence for Apostolic succession, the primacy of Peter and the Eucharist as real presence is truly…true, why are we single in believing it that way?

Why don’t the other churches have sacraments? Because they see them as twists in the doctrine. They see the sacraments as mere, over glorified rituals. Yes Catholicism does have the ritual element of Judaism but didn’t Jesus condemn the law-stickling traditions of the pharisees?

maybe I’m playing devil’s advocate here…

You make a very good point, for the Pope to wear a crown of thorns would be scandalous. Thanks.
By the way I think Pope Benedict XVI is awesome but as to his writings which I have read a few of, why does he often use pagan philosophy as a source? Maybe I’m overlooking something but I think pagan elements can threaten our purity. It is precisely these elements that has Protestants accusing us of being stained with pagan doctrine.

 

[VociMike]

Granted the Catholic Church has a horrible record of persecution and power-abuse

How horrible, exactly? Aren’t you just assuming what the enemies of the Church say about her?

I’m beginning to have doubts about the saints, Mary and Apostolic Sucession. I mean can men really have powers only meant for Christ?

What powers? And how does one know what powers were only meant for Christ? Didn’t Paul raise a young man from the dead?

I’m worried about the Church’s doctrines, do we put too much importance on tradition? Why do our traditions seem “ritualistic” in comparison to the simple Gospel of the Apostles?

Was there ever a more “ritualistic” religion than that of Judaism, and were not each of those rituals ordained by God himself? Don’t assume “ritualistic” means “not of God”.

Why does the Pope wear a golden ring when Christ wore a crown of thorns?

Are you suggesting every Christian should wear a crown of thorns? For we are all to imitate Christ.

Why do we in fact (though not descended from pagan religions) have so much in common with them?

Why do non-Catholic Christians have holy buildings and holy books and sacred music and religious leaders and worship ceremonies and prayers? Pagan religions have all of those things too.

I want to be finally home. I don’t want to believe that God tricked me (or even worse Satan).

You are home. Become like a child and trust. There will come a time when you are so strong in your faith that none of these objections (all heard and answered centuries before you were born) will have any impact on you.

 

[MariaG]

Hi, I’m a new Catholic.
I thought this would be a good place to come.

When sharing my salvation story with Protestant friends…and strangers ( I just can’t keep it in) I constantly hear of the Church’s “false doctrines” We are accused of twisting and ading to the Scriptures (by teachings such as those of Ignatius, Clement and Augustine). I think that to dismiss ANY extra-Biblical evidence of Christianity is one of the most ridiculous things I’ve ever seen. All the laws and teachings for every facet of Christianity MUST be in the Bible or else it’s false.
O Scriptura! (sorry Carmina Burana pun)

I am told that while an earnest Christian, I should leave the Catholic church because “they messed everything up” What did they mess up? They ask me why I decide to stay in a church so ridden with error. What errors am I facing?

Granted the Catholic Church has a horrible record of persecution and power-abuse, but does that make the entire faith false?
I’m beginning to have doubts about the saints, Mary and Apostolic Sucession. I mean can men really have powers only meant for Christ?

I have been searching for the face of Christ since my Confirmation and feel His presence in the Eucharist. When you get down to Scriptural evidence, even Baptists have to second-guess their assumption the Lord’s Supper is a symbol.
I’m worried about the Church’s doctrines, do we put too much importance on tradition? Why do our traditions seem “ritualistic” in comparison to the simple Gospel of the Apostles? Why does the Pope wear a golden ring when Christ wore a crown of thorns? Why do we in fact (though not descended from pagan religions) have so much in common with them?

I want to be finally home. I don’t want to believe that God tricked me (or even worse Satan).

**Help me! **

First, they must dismiss any “extra-biblical” interpretations because they all support the Catholic Church. Second, all they really are asking you to do is to replace the interpretation of the Catholic Church (supported by ECF), for their own personal interpretation that can be no older than 500 years old, frequently as new as 200 years.

As for the rule all laws and teachings must be in the bible, where exactly is that in the bible? I got scripture that tells me the church is the authority, follow tradition whether by word or by letter but nowhere do I see where it says we wrote it all down now, it has to be in the bible or it is wrong.

As for what errors, NONE! They need to tell you what errors they would be referring to, and each and everyone, I am sure they are not actually teachings of the Catholic Church. Or conversely, they are not interpreting scripture correctly.

Which powers “only meant for Christ” are you referring to? You need to be more specific about what you mean about ritualistic as opposed to the simplistic “Gospel of the Apostles”.

As for Satan tricking you, you are close to being tricked right now. The biggest lie of Satan was the “reformation” and the lies about the Catholic Church.

May God keep you safe,
Maria

 

[JPUSC]

I have read the passages in John but how come only Catholics see Apostolic Succession in them?

I see that Catholics have an interpretation of the Scriptures that is very different from other churches. Not necessarily wrong but different. Is our evidence for Apostolic succession, the primacy of Peter and the Eucharist as real presence is truly…true, why are we single in believing it that way?

Why don’t the other churches have sacraments? Because they see them as twists in the doctrine. They see the sacraments as mere, over glorified rituals. Yes Catholicism does have the ritual element of Judaism but didn’t Jesus condemn the law-stickling traditions of the pharisees?

maybe I’m playing devil’s advocate here…

You make a very good point, for the Pope to wear a crown of thorns would be scandalous. Thanks.
By the way I think Pope Benedict XVI is awesome but as to his writings which I have read a few of, why does he often use pagan philosophy as a source? Maybe I’m overlooking something but I think pagan elements can threaten our purity. It is precisely these elements that has Protestants accusing us of being stained with pagan doctrine.

We are single in believing in that because the Church is inspired by the Holy Spirit and is the original Church. Historically speaking, the Popes can be traced from Peter. The personal interpretations of scripture by other faith communities are not fully correct.

The Sacraments are from Scripture. It’s all in there. I don’t know why the Protestans took them out.

For further reading, see:
ewtn.com/library/PAPALDOC/JP2SEVEN.HTM
newadvent.org/cathen/13295a.htm
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sacraments_of_the_Catholic_Church

If Protestants really do believe that we are stained with pagan doctrine, tell them to stop celebrating Christmas, Halloween and to stop using the names of the days of the week or the names of the planets or even the calendar.

The Catholic Church purified and sanctified these pagan things and replaced them with Christ. It was part of inculturation. God Himself did the same thing with the image of Our Lady of Guadalupe because He knew people would listen to something they understood (something a part of their culture and heritage).

As you know the image of Our Lady of Guadalupe was not produced by man (as scientific evidence has proven) and miraculously appeared on a tilma.

The aureole or luminous light surrounding the Lady is reminiscent of the “woman clothed with the sun” of Rev. 12:1. The light is also a sign of the power of God who has sanctified and blessed the one who appears. The rays of the sun would also be recognized by the native people as a symbol of their highest god, Huitzilopochtli. Thus, the lady comes forth hiding but not extinguishing the power of the sun. She is now going to announce the God who is greater than their sun god.

The Lady is standing upon the moon. Again, the symbolism is that of the woman of Rev. 12:1 who has the “moon under her feet”. The moon for the Meso-Americans was the god of the night. By standing on the moon, she shows that she is more powerful than the god of darkness.

The eyes of Our lady of Guadalupe are looking down with humility and compassion. This was a sign to the native people that she was not a god since in their iconography the gods stare straight ahead with their eyes wide open.

The angel supporting the Lady testifies to her royalty. To the Meso-American Indians only kings, queens and other dignitaries would be carried on the shoulders of someone. The angel is transporting the Lady to the people as a sign that a new age has come.

The mantle of the Lady is blue-green or turquoise. To the native people, this was the color of the gods and of royalty. It was also the color of the natural forces of life and fecundity.

The girdle or bow around her waist is a sign of her virginity, but it also has several other meanings. The bow appears as a four-petaled flower. To the native Indians this was the nahui ollin, the flower of the sun, a symbol of plenitude. The cross-shaped flower was also connected with the cross-sticks which produce fire. For them, this was the symbol of fecundity and new life.

happycatholic.blogspot.com/2005/12/our-lady-of-guadalupe.html

For further reading see:
catholic.com/library/is_catholicism_pagan.asp
catholic.com/thisrock/2005/0505fea4.asp

 

[latingirl]

Wow, you guys are great. Thank you. I will need prayer to get over these residual doubts. Please pray for me. Sometimes, when you don’t have a strong Catholic Community and are being attacked by all sides, it’s easy to be overwhelmed.

I believe that God led me to Catholicism and that he continues to speak to me. I’m sure you can imagine it’s hard for a new convert to be in this “confusing faith”. If Catholicism were simple, surely they would understand it. The same could be said for God.

 

[OnlyAmbrose]

I believe that God led me to Catholicism and that he continues to speak to me. I’m sure you can imagine it’s hard for a new convert to be in this “confusing faith”. If Catholicism were simple, surely they would understand it. The same could be said for God.

It was C.S. Lewis (a Protestant himself) who wrote: “It is no good asking for a simple religion. After all, real things are not simple.”

Hang in there

 

[yinekka]

How disappointing it must be for you when you try to share your happiness with friends and others to have them criticise you. An analogy is when a child gets a bicycle for Christmas and for the other kids to criticise it and make fun of the kid because he/she can’t ride like a pro. My suggestion is for you to learn how to ride that bicycle really well before you show it off to others; learn your Faith before you tell others about it – especially those who are anti-Catholic.

First off let me assure you that for every criticism of the Church there is an answer.

A few good books are: 1. *Catholicism and Fundamentalism *by Karl Keating available from Catholic Answers and Amazon
2. *The Essential Catholic Survival Guide *– Available from Catholic Answers and maybe Amazon
3. Defend the Faith, volume IV from the Christ the Teacher Series – this book can be read online at www.lumenverum.org
4. Catholic Answers website has a lot of good information
5. *The Compendium of the Catechism of the Catholic Church *– available online just google

Keep your mind firmly fixed on the fact that the Catholic Church was founded by Jesus Christ and ask the Holy Spirit to help you to find an answer to other’s criticisms.

To strengthen you in your faith
Read the *Surprised By Truth *series by Patrick Madrid. These books contain stories of converts who entered the Catholic Church.

Listen to The Journey Home on EWTN with Marcus Grodi
ewtn.com/vondemand/audio/seriessearchprog.asp?seriesID=-6892289&T1=the+journey+home
The Journey Home has converts - mainly ministers and pastors - who tell their story of their journey to the Catholic Church.

 

[Deconi]

I have read the passages in John but how come only Catholics see Apostolic Succession in them?

I see that Catholics have an interpretation of the Scriptures that is very different from other churches. Not necessarily wrong but different. Is our evidence for Apostolic succession, the primacy of Peter and the Eucharist as real presence is truly…true, why are we single in believing it that way?

Why don’t the other churches have sacraments? Because they see them as twists in the doctrine. They see the sacraments as mere, over glorified rituals. Yes Catholicism does have the ritual element of Judaism but didn’t Jesus condemn the law-stickling traditions of the pharisees?

maybe I’m playing devil’s advocate here…

You make a very good point, for the Pope to wear a crown of thorns would be scandalous. Thanks.
By the way I think Pope Benedict XVI is awesome but as to his writings which I have read a few of, why does he often use pagan philosophy as a source? Maybe I’m overlooking something but I think pagan elements can threaten our purity. It is precisely these elements that has Protestants accusing us of being stained with pagan doctrine.

While others explain well the other aspects of your ‘fears,’ let me take a crak at the “pagans” aspect.

Pagans, like us, are ALL sons of God, created in His image! Pagans are defined only as ‘different’ from Godly, because they all practiced an assortment of rituals they thought were correct, and pleasing to ‘a god.’ Pagans, were offering rituals to ‘shadows’ and ‘gods’ because they only had an image, or some idea, of what a ’ god’ must be like.

With the arrival of Christ, ALL pagan rituals are illuminated by His Light…which shows where they were in error, and how far they were away from worshipping the One True God!

With Christ’s arrival, God IS REVEALED and we now KNOW HIS NAME! So, it is only ‘natural’ that pagans of old, should reallign their rituals and beliefs to Christ!

Remember, pagan or Jew, every human being is created in God’s IMAGE and are therefore BROTHERS.

I live in the Pacific, and our ‘pagan rituals’ are still in PRACTICE, but now the ‘images of gods’ is no longer the object of those rituals, for we now know WHO GOD IS!

 

[yinekka]

If your Protestant friends and strangers have criticisms against the Church take them **one at a time **and try to find the answer.
If people make claims against the Catholic Church it is up to them to provide the solid evidence for their claims and then you can investigate to see if the claims hold up… Remember though, that for every defence you come up with they will come up with more criticisms. The best way to convert people is by your witness. They will see you being kind and patient, giving to charity, helping out the poor, seeing Christ in others etc and they will come to the conclusion that there is something in this Faith of yours.

What false doctrines?
What did they mess up?
What errors?

**Adding to the scriptures **– it was the Catholic Church who gave us the bible. The complete canon of scripture was affirmed at the Council of Rome in 382AD. The whole Christian world followed this canon of scripture until Martin Luther removed some books. He wanted to remove some of the New Testament also but his followers stopped him. Ignatius, Clement and Augustine added nothing to the bible, they taught from the bible.

All the laws and teachings for every facet of Christianity MUST be in the Bible or else it’s false.

This is not what the Church teaches. Catholicism rest on three supports – **Scripture, Tradition and the Magisterium *– the teaching authority of the Church. Tradition with a capital T is the teaching of Jesus handed down by the apostles and their successors. Remember John said that 25 But there are also many other things which Jesus did; were every one of them to be written, I suppose that the world itself could not contain the books that would be written.*Tradition with a small’ t’ are the customs which have grown up over 2000 years and these, being the traditions of men, can be changed. Your family might have the tradition of turkey for Christmas but can change to pork without any upset.

Magisterium – teaching office of the Church. In Matthew 16:19, Matthew 18:18 Jesus told Peter and then the apostles – I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; and whatever you bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall have been loosed in heaven." Jesus was giving Peter and the apostles the power to teach and makes rules for the people which would be confirmed in heaven.

*The Catholic Church has a horrible record of persecution and power-abuse, but does that make the entire faith false? *

We don’t abandon Jesus because of Judas who betrayed Him or Peter who denied Him three times so we don’t abandon the Church He founded because of some few bad people. Protestants burned heretics and witches what do your friends have to say about that?

Why do our traditions seem “ritualistic” in comparison to the simple Gospel of the Apostles?

What do you mean by ‘ritualistic’ What traditions seem ‘ritualistic’?
Birthdays have rituals associated with them as have weddings and funerals and worship services. Are those rituals bad? Is ritual necessarily bad?

The simple Gospel of the Apostles is the acorn from which the mighty oak of the Church has grown as you would expect after 2,000 years. The simple lifestyle of people has changed in 2000 years too. Most people in the time of the Apostles had a very basic level of education and as time passed and more and more people became literate and went on to higher levels of education, the teaching of the Church developed along with it. You don’t teach a 5 year old what you would teach a 15 year old.

[Why does the Pope wear a golden ring when Christ wore a crown of thorns?

There is no analogy to be made between Christ’s crown of thorns and a ring.

Why does a minister wear a golden wedding ring? He wears a wedding ring because it signifies his commitment to his wife. The pope wears the ring of the fisherman because it signifies his commitment to the Church which is the bride of Christ.

Why do we in fact (though not descended from pagan religions) have so much in common with them?
What do we have in common with pagan religions?

I want to be finally home. I don’t want to believe that God tricked me (or even worse Satan).
Be careful that Satan is not trying to get you out of the Church Christ founded using well meaning Protestants.*

 

[Church_Militant]

Hi, I’m a new Catholic.
I thought this would be a good place to come.

Yeah, it is!

When sharing my salvation story with Protestant friends…and strangers ( I just can’t keep it in) I constantly hear of the Church’s “false doctrines” We are accused of twisting and ading to the Scriptures (by teachings such as those of Ignatius, Clement and Augustine). I think that to dismiss ANY extra-Biblical evidence of Christianity is one of the most ridiculous things I’ve ever seen. All the laws and teachings for every facet of Christianity MUST be in the Bible or else it’s false.

O Scriptura! (sorry Carmina Burana pun)

Make them show specifically where it says in the Bible that everything that Christians believe and practice has to have a basis in the Bible?

They can’t do it, but watch what they give you. A metric ton of scripture and not a blessed one will say what they are trying to tell you is in the Bible. Why?

Because it’s just simply not in there. Here’s a link to my latest blog article that I posted on this very topic. (Y’know, I was a little rattled the first time that I realized that Sola Scriptura is a huge and fundamental error, but after that I have found it very liberating. Truth is like that, isn’t that what Jesus is saying in John 8:32?

I am told that while an earnest Christian, I should leave the Catholic church because “they messed everything up” What did they mess up? They ask me why I decide to stay in a church so ridden with error. What errors am I facing?

That’s basically what CAF and my blog (Apocalypsis) are all about. People talk a lot of smack about our most holy faith, and I came home to the faith in the very fires of that kind of apologetic conflict. It wasn’t easy by any means, but I found that for every argument there is a better answer and that’s what got me into apologetics to begin with.

Granted the Catholic Church has a horrible record of persecution and power-abuse, but does that make the entire faith false?

It does? Worse than the Protestants and al their modern post reformatio step children?!!!

I’m kidding…Certainly the church has had its share of all too human (sorry Mr. Nietzsche, but I love that line…) failures, but if you simply read the history of those who left the faith and then follow the current events back to them, you’ll find that thinsgs are pretty messed up in equal measure, except that the other guys have only been loose on the world for a little less than 500 years.

I’m beginning to have doubts about the saints, Mary and Apostolic Sucession. I mean can men really have powers only meant for Christ?

Here’s some blog links that may help with some of your confusion.
Communion of Saints
Mary

Articles here at CA.
Apostolic Succession (Fathers*)
The Authority of the Pope Part 1 (Fathers*)
The Authority of the Pope Part 2 (Fathers*)
Origins of Peter as Pope (Fathers*)
Papal Infallibility
Peter and the Papacy
Peter the Rock
Peter’s Primacy (Fathers*)
Peter’s Successors (Fathers*)

If you clarify what these supposed powers are that only Christ is supposed to have then maybe we have a point for debate, but let’s remember what our Lord Himself said about the believers who would come after him. John 14:12 Otherwise believe for the very works’ sake. Amen, amen I say to you, he that believeth in me, the works that I do, he also shall do; and greater than these shall he do.

(Cont’d)

 

[Church_Militant]

I have been searching for the face of Christ since my Confirmation and feel His presence in the Eucharist. When you get down to Scriptural evidence, even Baptists have to second-guess their assumption the Lord’s Supper is a symbol.

Yep, you’re right about that! The Eucharist IS Scriptural

I’m worried about the Church’s doctrines, do we put too much importance on tradition?

Why are you worried about that? Even the apostles them selves taught from Sacred Tradition. Infallibility & How The Apostles Taught the Study of Sacred Tradition.

Why do our traditions seem “ritualistic” in comparison to the simple Gospel of the Apostles?

Probably because the real New Testament Gospel is not as “simple” as the n-Cs have sought to make it appear. That is precisely why I wrote the following article.
Who REALLY Preaches “A Different Gospel”?

Why does the Pope wear a golden ring when Christ wore a crown of thorns?

It’s simply a sign of his office. Is what you are really asking more like this from the AAA forum?

Recommended Reading:
Shouldn’t the Church sell off its artifacts?

What’s the Church’s teaching on money and wealth?

Why do we in fact (though not descended from pagan religions) have so much in common with them?

Really? Let’s see what is really going on here.
Is Catholicism Pagan? Essentially, it’s specious anti-Catholic propaganda.

I want to be finally home. I don’t want to believe that God tricked me (or even worse Satan).

**Help me! **

No problem little sister!

If you have any more problems then by all means feel free to PM or e-mail me through CAF here and I’ll work through each one with you. As you can see…I may well have already dealt with it myself, so don’t feel all alone.

I’ll be remembering you at Mass as well in the morning.

 

[Church_Militant]

BTW, here are some GREAT Catholic sources that will really build you up. Check them out.

(Oh, and if you want a strong community…BE the seed of it and gather in others as part of the Body of Christ. There’s no way that you’re the only person fighting this fight, as we have all sort of shown you so far. You knew Our Lord had work for you in His Church when He called you didn’t you? )
Bible Christian Society Free Catholic MP3 Bible studies.
Catholic Home Study Service Free Catholic correspondence courses.
San Juan Catholic Seminars (Get their first booklet at least. It ROCKS!)
Searchable Catechism of the Catholic Church
Compendium of the Catechism of the Catholic Church
Catholic Tracts

 

[Shlomey]

I have read the passages in John but how come only Catholics see Apostolic Succession in them?

I see that Catholics have an interpretation of the Scriptures that is very different from other churches. Not necessarily wrong but different. Is our evidence for Apostolic succession, the primacy of Peter and the Eucharist as real presence is truly…true, why are we single in believing it that way?

Why don’t the other churches have sacraments? Because they see them as twists in the doctrine. They see the sacraments as mere, over glorified rituals. Yes Catholicism does have the ritual element of Judaism but didn’t Jesus condemn the law-stickling traditions of the pharisees?

maybe I’m playing devil’s advocate here…

You make a very good point, for the Pope to wear a crown of thorns would be scandalous. Thanks.
By the way I think Pope Benedict XVI is awesome but as to his writings which I have read a few of, why does he often use pagan philosophy as a source? Maybe I’m overlooking something but I think pagan elements can threaten our purity. It is precisely these elements that has Protestants accusing us of being stained with pagan doctrine.

Don’t forget the Eastern Orthodoxy please!

We traditional Christians: Catholics and the Orthodox make up together about 2/3 of the entire Christian population.
We believe in the 7 sacraments, in Apostolic succession, in the visibility of the Church, in the hierarchical system, etc… and all this long BEFORE the new protestant heresies came up.

It’s them who have to explain things…

 

[VociMike]

While others explain well the other aspects of your ‘fears,’ let me take a crak at the “pagans” aspect.

Pagans, like us, are ALL sons of God, created in His image! Pagans are defined only as ‘different’ from Godly, because they all practiced an assortment of rituals they thought were correct, and pleasing to ‘a god.’ Pagans, were offering rituals to ‘shadows’ and ‘gods’ because they only had an image, or some idea, of what a ’ god’ must be like.

With the arrival of Christ, ALL pagan rituals are illuminated by His Light…which shows where they were in error, and how far they were away from worshipping the One True God!

With Christ’s arrival, God IS REVEALED and we now KNOW HIS NAME! So, it is only ‘natural’ that pagans of old, should reallign their rituals and beliefs to Christ!

Remember, pagan or Jew, every human being is created in God’s IMAGE and are therefore BROTHERS.

I live in the Pacific, and our ‘pagan rituals’ are still in PRACTICE, but now the ‘images of gods’ is no longer the object of those rituals, for we now know WHO GOD IS!

Paul understood this as well. From Acts 17:

[22] So Paul, standing in the middle of the Are-op’agus, said: "Men of Athens, I perceive that in every way you are very religious.
[23] For as I passed along, and observed the objects of your worship, I found also an altar with this inscription, To an unknown god.' What therefore you worship as unknown, this I proclaim to you. [24] The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in shrines made by man, [25] nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all men life and breath and everything. [26] And he made from one every nation of men to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their habitation, [27] that they should seek God, in the hope that they might feel after him and find him. Yet he is not far from each one of us, [28] for In him we live and move and have our being’;
as even some of your poets have said, `For we are indeed his offspring.’

 

[CarolinNC]

Latingirl, take heart and be gentle with yourself. Your protestant friends are well meaning, but mistaken. They most likely have never even tried to study the Catholic faith and are only repeating what someone else has told them about the Catholic Church.

All new comers to the faith have heard these criticisms from friends, strangers, and family. Continue to share your good news with others, and read and learn your faith. Don’t let doubts conquer your faith, but let them challenge you to read and seek answers in the truth of our faith.

Listen to the CD’s by Scott Hahn (especially his conversion story) and read his books, read books by Patrick Madrid, Karl Keating, Fr. Corapi, and Fr. Groeschel, watch EWTN and listen to Catholic radio stations (if available in your area) use all the Internet resources and pray, especially the Rosary (it will make your faith strong and pure).

Be of good cheer for you ARE home and the church is a loving family following the sure path lead by our precious Lord Jesus.

 

[Spots]

Remember too- Satan may attack hardest those he is in the most danger of losing.