Is there anything you dislike about being Catholic?

[distracted]

I have a question, we follow Jesus’ teachings right? People say with Jesus’ new laws he did away with the old ones, right? Where did Jesus say we had to “go forth and multiply”?

Jesus often quoted from the OT…

also… He said that he did not come to destroy the law but to fulfill it… not one jot or one tittle will pass away from the law… until God says…

and also, God instituted a Church to teach us about things we may not naturally know about or know about from Sctipture… things such as stem cell research that weren’t around back then.,… artif birth contr…

just because the peole in the Church are corrupt and evil doesn’t mean the Church itself is to be… rejected…

 

[distracted]

There is NOTHING that compares to that. NOTHING. No sex, no money, no scandal, NOTHING, that will keep me away from the Eucharist anymore.

So when I consider all of that, and compare it all to the Eucharist, it’s nothing. Because Christ is everything.

Really.

i can relate to a lot of this… (only quoted a small part of your post…)

a good priest once directed me to spend a period of time @ the Blessed Sacrament… for penance and well… it didn’t seem much like penance… and now it definitely doesn’t… (except there are times when it… seems more like being in deep Purgatory than at other times??? but it is always powerful, even when it feels… not so wonderful…)… In any case,
the Real Presence is w aht began to make me love the Church probably more than anything… which i guess goes w/o saying…

but anyway… that stuff one poster wrote about O’Grady and all that other stuff just didn’t do much for my faith… and yet… i remember t he Real Presence… and i am back on track…

there will always be evil Catholics (and we are evil Catholics, just some of us don’t give in to our every desire or inclincation)… but God (i tell myself) will give t hem exactly waht they deserve some day… as He will all of us… If i work on my own back yard… I may just end up cleaning it up a bit… and that is the yard i am going to be judged for… not someone else’s…

hard to pray fro someone like O’Grady but… its a cross we Crhistians should bear…

 

[graceandglory]

• boring youth groups (so I send my kids to the prot one for depth and growth)
• bad music (at my parish-level) my kids get to experience worship concert like music at a prot service
• lack of zeal, commitment to Christ among parishoners
• lack of evangelism

being misunderstood by my long time evangelical friends
Only cause you asked. But, all this said… I LOVE BEING CATHOLIC, and wouldn’t trade it for the world!!!

 

[distracted]

It’s all pretty well documented. The movie Deliver us From Evil documents the cover-up of the sex abuse, and you can find numerous articles on the internet, e.g. thisislondon.co.uk/news/article-23369148-details/Pope+‘led+cover-up+of+child+abuse+by+priests’/article.do

As far as JP II kissing the Koran, again, it’s all over the internet, as you can see here.

images.google.com/images?hl=en&q=pope+kissing+koran&gbv=2&aq=f&oq=

As someone returning to the faith after a long absence, it’s these kinds of things I struggle with. I believe in the faith, but I often find myself hating the Church.

i have read some of this stuff… For one thing, the RCC has always desired to try its own priests in its court… before the securlar cts. A good example of WHY is in the movie (true story) Becket, when the priest is accused of abusing a girl… you should see the movie to know what all i am saying…

anyway… i don’t buy something that is printed by the seculr press… I need more info than that…

i am thinking that the pope may not so much be trying to cover up as to deal with it in a way that the secular people won’t. After all, we cannot forget that the secular world HATES the Church… larely, the secular wrld hates Christ …

in the movie becket, it is shown wht can hapen when the Chruch is not allowed to deal w/ its own… and the secular “law” is trusted…

it is always good to assess both sides of a situation like this… and not believe all that you read…

 

[distracted]

• boring youth groups (so I send my kids to the prot one for depth and growth)
• bad music (at my parish-level) my kids get to experience worship concert like music at a prot service
• lack of zeal, commitment to Christ among parishoners
• lack of evangelism

being misunderstood by my long time evangelical friends
Only cause you asked. But, all this said… I LOVE BEING CATHOLIC, and wouldn’t trade it for the world!!!

i can relate to 3 and 4… but not the others…

i love the music… don’t know much about youth groups except that i don’t think we should require everything in our children’s lives to be “exciting” before we will approve of it … too much excitemnet creates children who need excitement… can’t stand boredom… so called… Not good…

 

[GodIsGracious]

i can relate to a lot of this… (only quoted a small part of your post…)

a good priest once directed me to spend a period of time @ the Blessed Sacrament… for penance and well… it didn’t seem much like penance… and now it definitely doesn’t… (except there are times when it… seems more like being in deep Purgatory than at other times??? but it is always powerful, even when it feels… not so wonderful…)… In any case,
the Real Presence is w aht began to make me love the Church probably more than anything… which i guess goes w/o saying…

but anyway… that stuff one poster wrote about O’Grady and all that other stuff just didn’t do much for my faith… and yet… i remember t he Real Presence… and i am back on track…

there will always be evil Catholics (and we are evil Catholics, just some of us don’t give in to our every desire or inclincation)… but God (i tell myself) will give t hem exactly waht they deserve some day… as He will all of us… If i work on my own back yard… I may just end up cleaning it up a bit… and that is the yard i am going to be judged for… not someone else’s…

hard to pray fro someone like O’Grady but… its a cross we Crhistians should bear…

The Holy Eucharist is what brought me back to the Catholic church (as recent as this past christmas!) I hear it is what brings converts into the Church too.

Christ leads us to His Church, the Catholic church.

It is unfortunate that the actions of a few taint the many. But bear in mind that regardless of what is “shown” about the Catholic church, it is not about Christ’s bride, but about the actions of those few individuals. She is protected by the Holy Spirit, and she prevails. I had heard that inspite of the scandals, people still converted. And that is testament to the draw of the Holy Eucharist.

Recently I was having a real problem with why is it ok for Protestants to be saved yet do not have all the requirements that us Catholics do? Why do THEY get to kneel before a plain cross, say a few lines in a prayer and VOILA! They’re saved! The kingdom of God is theirs! When Catholics have so many “requirements.” What the… ??? Then it dawned on me. They may have a chance at salvation but they don’t get Christ. They don’t get to be incorporated into His body and they certainly do NOT get to receive His precious body and blood in the Holy Eucharist.

I will gladly follow those requirements to the best of my ability if it means I can have Christ.

 

[distracted]

Recently I was having a real problem with why is it ok for Protestants to be saved yet do not have all the requirements that us Catholics do? Why do THEY get to kneel before a plain cross, say a few lines in a prayer and VOILA! They’re saved! The kingdom of God is theirs! When Catholics have so many “requirements.” What the… ??? Then it dawned on me. They may have a chance at salvation but they don’t get Christ. They don’t get to be incorporated into His body and they certainly do NOT get to receive His precious body and blood in the Holy Eucharist.

I will gladly follow those requirements to the best of my ability if it means I can have Christ.

what do you mean they don’t get Christ?

i feel they get Him… but not in the fullness… not to the extent that He would desire…

or maybe they get Him to that fuller extent after having been in Purg for awhile?? As you may know Protestants spend more time in Purg than Catholics…which makes sense because they don’t generally believe atonement is necessary…

 

[GodIsGracious]

what do you mean they don’t get Christ?

i feel they get Him… but not in the fullness… not to the extent that He would desire…

or maybe they get Him to that fuller extent after having been in Purg for awhile?? As you may know Protestants spend more time in Purg than Catholics…which makes sense because they don’t generally believe atonement is necessary…

Sorry if I was not clear.

What I mean by “they don’t get Him,” is they don’t get the Holy Eucharist. And as we know, the Holy Eucharist is the body and blood of our dear Lord Jesus Christ. They don’t get that. We do.

I hope that makes sense. At this point, I’ve had a glass of wine so if I’m unclear, by all means ask me more questions.

 

[sawman]

God is Gracious, and distracted,
God bless you two. I love your faith and concider it an honor to be associated with believers like you two.
Peace,
Tom

 

[roveau]

There’s not a lot I dislike about being Catholic. I don’t like the contemporary church music but that’s hardly important. I dislike discovering new sins all the time - I can’t believe how these just jump out at you unexpectedly from time to time.

I have other probably more major bugbears but dismiss them because for obedience reasons or put them on the ‘to be researched and prayed about’ list so I can obtain a greater understanding of them.

Rove

 

[kevrx3]

Honestly, one thing I don’t particularly like is confession. Not the concept of it but the feeling; I’m sure a lot of us get nervous and don’t really like going in there and telling your sins to a priest you might know. But, it is one of the greatest things out there in the church so I wouldn’t say completely hate it. Once I go in there and get it over with, the feeling kind of subsides.

 

[Gabriella_San_S]

• boring youth groups (so I send my kids to the prot one for depth and growth)
• bad music (at my parish-level) my kids get to experience worship concert like music at a prot service
• lack of zeal, commitment to Christ among parishoners
• lack of evangelism

being misunderstood by my long time evangelical friends
Only cause you asked. But, all this said… I LOVE BEING CATHOLIC, and wouldn’t trade it for the world!!!

You sound like the** perfect** convert to start a Catholic youth group in your parish!!! The music is*** very*** important for the youth-ask your Pastor if you can put an ad in the bulletin to start a music ministry with guitars and such. Have you ever sent your kids to Franciscan University Youth conferences?? You’d never go to another Protestant prayer meeting again, if you experience even once, a Eucharistic FOP (festival of praise). Call your diocese and ask for the “charismatic arm” nearest to you, or take a trip to Steubenville if you get a chance!! God may be calling you and your children to share your gifts of evangelization! :bounce:

 

[Absolution]

I had heard that inspite of the scandals, people still converted. And that is testament to the draw of the Holy Eucharist.

Yes, I’m one of those who converted after and in spite of the sex abuse scandal. I’m not saying it should cause us to abandon our faith. If anything the trial of our faith provoked by such things should build deeper faith in the faithful (James 1:3,4), and possibly cause the departure of some who were not rooted in the faith (Matthew 13:21).

 

[Absolution]

i have read some of this stuff… For one thing, the RCC has always desired to try its own priests in its court… before the securlar cts. A good example of WHY is in the movie (true story) Becket, when the priest is accused of abusing a girl… you should see the movie to know what all i am saying…

anyway… i don’t buy something that is printed by the seculr press… I need more info than that…

i am thinking that the pope may not so much be trying to cover up as to deal with it in a way that the secular people won’t. After all, we cannot forget that the secular world HATES the Church… larely, the secular wrld hates Christ …

in the movie becket, it is shown wht can hapen when the Chruch is not allowed to deal w/ its own… and the secular “law” is trusted…

it is always good to assess both sides of a situation like this… and not believe all that you read…

I’ll take a look at Becket. However, in the case of O’Grady and many others like him, there’s no questions that they’re guilty, and the Church made it impossible to look at both sides because they just clammed up. They didn’t present any alternative to the facts that were being dug up by the secular media, so the secular media is all we have to go on. But even the secular media is using sources inside the Church, e.g. Fr. Tom Doyle. I like what Fr. Doyle said in Deliver Us From Evil; a good Catholic is not someone who protects the Church at all costs and refuses to hear the evidence against it. A good Catholic is someone who brings the evil of the church into the light and forces us to deal with the issues. That’s a paraphrase as I don’t remember the exact quote. I’ll take the word of this priest who gave up a career in the Vatican for the sake of his conscience over the word of bishops and cardinals who have done all they could to cover up the scandal since day one. Again, this isn’t an indictment of the Catholic faith. There have always been wicked men in the church, there will always be wicked men in the church. Jesus will one day separate the wheat from the tares. I just find it a struggle to deal with this fact, that’s all. (And I also hope that I don’t lose my faith and become one of the tares myself!)

I also think we need to be honest about why the world hates the Church. Yes, it’s partly because they hate Christ, but a lot of the world’s hate for the Church is because they see the Church preaching about morality, especially morality regarding sexuality, while its leadership is apparently engaging in or covering up the worst kinds of sexual depravity.

 

[Gabriella_San_S]

Again, this isn’t an indictment of the Catholic faith. There have always been wicked men in the church, there will always be wicked men in the church. Jesus will one day separate the wheat from the tares. I just find it a struggle to deal with this fact, that’s all. (And I also hope that I don’t lose my faith and become one of the tares myself!)

If we*** lose*** our FAITH because of* wicked* men, then we must ask ourselves the question…
"WHAT IS MY FAITH IN? THE TRIUNE,ALL-HOLY GOD, OR, WICKED MEN???

Don’t forget that God has to work through imperfection, or else He couldn’t work through* you* or me or any other person who is in the Church. Why else would we have needed a Savior? But you are right in desiring perfection, for yourself, and for those who lead us in the Church. A holy hour before Our Lord in the Most Blessed Sacrament is a beautiful act of reparation for this purpose.

 

[GodIsGracious]

If we*** lose*** our FAITH because of* wicked* men, then we must ask ourselves the question…
"WHAT IS MY FAITH IN? THE TRIUNE,ALL-HOLY GOD, OR, WICKED MEN???

Don’t forget that God has to work through imperfection, or else He couldn’t work through* you* or me or any other person who is in the Church. Why else would we have needed a Savior? But you are right in desiring perfection, for yourself, and for those who lead us in the Church. A holy hour before Our Lord in the Most Blessed Sacrament is a beautiful act of reparation for this purpose.

Excellent post. :clapping:

 

[distracted]

Sorry if I was not clear.

What I mean by “they don’t get Him,” is they don’t get the Holy Eucharist. And as we know, the Holy Eucharist is the body and blood of our dear Lord Jesus Christ. They don’t get that. We do.

I hope that makes sense. At this point, I’ve had a glass of wine so if I’m unclear, by all means ask me more questions.

is that why you chose to be Catholic… so you could drink wine?

if i was protestant, that would do it for me… (if nothing else, that is…)

 

[distracted]

I’ll take a look at Becket. However, in the case of O’Grady and many others like him, there’s no questions that they’re guilty, and the Church made it impossible to look at both sides because they just clammed up. They didn’t present any alternative to the facts that were being dug up by the secular media, so the secular media is all we have to go on. But even the secular media is using sources inside the Church, e.g. Fr. Tom Doyle. I like what Fr. Doyle said in Deliver Us From Evil;

thanks for the interesting post…

i am very disturbed by the O’Grady thing… I thoght i was beyond ever feeling like - or being tempted to think of - leaving the Church. Of course, i am not going to leave (it is the True Church Christ instituted) but… i never thoguht i would ever again even get the notion… (albeit for only a few seconds)…

this info angers me to the depths . I just don’t u/stand why higher-ups in the Church woudl do this kind of covering up…

where cn i get more info? Where can i get or see the movie Deliver us from Evil?? I wouldn’t htink it would be at a public library???

i too have had problems in my dealings w/ higher ups in the Church… and i have, in the past, gotten very angry and disgusted… but this takes the &^$ cake…

i just can’t htink of anything that could “excuse it”… even that stuff i wrote about how the Church should be able to deal w/ its own…

it doesn’t sound like anyone WAS dealing with him or the others… it seems as though they don’t care about the victims…

there is NO excuse… unless there is something i don’t know and i am hoping that’s the case…

 

[distracted]

i justj don’t trust the secular media…

and can’t believe a blasted thing they say anymore…

 

[GodIsGracious]

is that why you chose to be Catholic… so you could drink wine?

if i was protestant, that would do it for me… (if nothing else, that is…)

LOL!

I know there are some Baptists (I believe) who do not drink or dance. And it was some of the Southern Baptists’ influence as to why we have the “blue laws” here. (I’ll PM that to you sometime this weekend or you can look those up in relation to Texas.)

I know that sometimes I’d joke around and say, “Hey, at least you can drink and dance being a Catholic!” (I love dancing. :extrahappy