Is he Catholic?

[ConstantineTG]

Well this is interesting…
On the one hand my first reaction is that you might want to talk to his pastor about your concerns with his beliefs.
On the other hand, teaching catechism might actually help him to learn things about the faith and might help him as much as those he will be teaching…

Overall though it sounds like he needs to be taking the course, not teaching it.

Peace
James

The learning doesn’t stop when you teach. I became better with the faith because I taught. Of course there is a difference in attitudes.

Sorry, I was just ranting with my post.

 

[TradionalWay]

Well Catholic by “law” does not mean your catholic by heart as well

 

[robert7685]

Hi,

I have a bit of a problem. I have a friend who was born into the Catholic faith (we both grew up in the same Catholic parish) and has been practising off and on. He’s married a Catholic and has three children. However, he:

• doesn’t believe in transubstantiation
• does not believe in venerating Mary nor praying to saints
• attends Sunday Mass with his family but does not receive Holy Communion
• does not believe that confession is necessary for the forgiveness of sins
• (his words) “tolerates” statues in his house for peace with his wife
• believes in the rapture, tribulation, etc…

I’ve already asked the obvious question: why are you Catholic? The reply is around “I want peace in the family”, “I like the sacramental nature”, etc…

I have stopped short of saying to him that he’s not Catholic, because I’m not sure.

What do you think? Is he really Catholic?

If you haven’t, send him to the Faith section of this site. It’ll at least give him a better understanding of the basics.

I think I put that wrong, what he has said is he likes the ceremony, the incense, etc… it makes him “feel like he’s been to church”.

Sounds to me like he’d really enjoy the Traditional Latin Mass. Is there one near you?
(assuming you’re not referring to the Latin Mass already in your post)

 

[Rahn]

Sounds to me like he’d really enjoy the Traditional Latin Mass. Is there one near you?
(assuming you’re not referring to the Latin Mass already in your post)

Unfortunately (or maybe not), he’s back in Detriot and I’m here in Melbourne. But it’s a good suggestion, thanks!

 

[santodomingo]

I think that in order to be a catholic you need to believe what the Catholic Church teaches.

A catholic who doesn´t BELIEVE the Catholic Faith is an absurdity. They call them “Catholics in name only” (CINO´s).

Let´s just think of an easy example; was Martin Luther still a catholic after his excommunication? He fell into heresy by denying a whole list of dogmas, and as far as I now a heretic is not really a catholic, just as schismatics cease to be catholic when they cut themselves off from the Pope and the Catholic hierarchy.

The bottom line is this; if your friend persistently and consciously denies any dogma of the faith he has fallen into heresy, and cannot consider himself a catholic.