Is Your Neighborhood/Area "Catholic"

[De_Maria]

And when we, AS A FAMILY, figured out what was lost, we ALL acted on it and changed it.

That’s commendable. Too bad you also thought it necessary to put the Church down when it is clear that the fault lies in your lack of interest.

But you know. We don’t take personal responsibility in my family.

You hadn’t mentioned this fact until now. And you continue to blame the Church for that which you lacked before this happened. And it is getting clearer and clearer that the Church had very little to do with your lack of catechesis.

 

[Xanthippe_Voorhees]

She.

1. no, an 11th grader is not a small child But prior to that, I was a child. You continue to try to blame a child. At what age was I supposed to have taken my faith by the reins, gotten myself to the vatican and begain learning?
2. I did have questions and my parents answered the same way their parents did. “Catholics don’t do that anymore” or “Catholics just have to go to Mass”. We had school libraries but our town did not have a library. They were very faithful to what they knew–and passed it on. However, what they knew was very, very little. I do not blame them for not knowing. Not one bit.
3. I’ve told you about our “mcdonald” homilies. My parish had no youth group, no parish activities, no extras besides CCD. The knights did a dinner every now and then, but they were mostly known for smoking and selling insurance. The parish that I went to with lifeteen was not my parish.

I am dyslexic. I’m a curious child but I don’t read much. My gradeschool teachers would tell you that I learn well but I don’t think any would laude my student qualties.

 

[Xanthippe_Voorhees]

The church had EVERYTHING to do with my lack of Catecetics. Just like they had everything to do with my parents and their parents. My grandparents were told by the priest and nuns to throw out their Baltimore Catchisms. This is the new way. Jesus loves you. No more memorization, no more rules.

They took their children to Mass and CCD. They were told that Jesus loves them and the Bible is a nice book.

My parents took me to CCD. I was told that Jesus loves me and the Bible is a nice book.

It wasn’t until I attended lifeteen that my parents discovered what being Catholic meant. My own grandmother had no idea that the church still offered Adoration. She thought that went away in the 60’s along with everything else she knew.

Granted, until the days of the internet one would not leave one’s parish and would have no idea of Adoration a few towns over.

 

[De_Maria]

You just contradicted yourself. You said that there are devout Catholics who have good reasons to live in an area without a Catholic church. Then in the next sentence you say you doubt that a devout Catholic would choose to live somewhere that isn’t near a church.

No contradiction there. Devout Catholics who have good reasons to live in an area without a Catholic Church, don’t choose to live there. It is something beyond their control.

As long as a person can get to mass, he is close enough to a church to be a devout Catholic. This could mean driving a distance to get there.

No question. But no one has yet answered the question why a devout Catholic would choose to live in an town where there is no Church?

 

[LittleWay16]

It isn’t attacking the Church to say that our catechism needs improvement. The current catechism, at least where I was confirmed, is not very detailed. My father took me out of the parish classes and privately instructed me with the Baltimore catechism.

Not everyone’s dad is as knowledgeable about church teaching as mine. This is why the Church needs better catechism courses, to help teach those who may not have as much support at home in forming their faith.

 

[LittleWay16]

No contradiction there. Devout Catholics who have good reasons to live in an area without a Catholic Church, don’t choose to live there. It is something beyond their control.

Yes they do choose to live there. They decide that their other obligations are more important than living in the same town as a church. They choose to make the sacrifice to drive further to mass because their priority criterion for choosing a home is something else. It is a choice.

 

[adamhovey1988]

I live in the so-called Bible Belt, I’ll leave it at that

 

[Xanthippe_Voorhees]

It isn’t attacking the Church to say that our catechism needs improvement. The current catechism, at least where I was confirmed, is not very detailed. My father took me out of the parish classes and privately instructed me with the Baltimore catechism.

Not everyone’s dad is as knowledgeable about church teaching as mine. This is why the Church needs better catechism courses, to help teach those who may not have as much support at home in forming their faith.

It’s funny you mention Baltimore Catechism. My husband’s family history is much the same as mine, but his mom decided to homeschool him. At the time it was only legal if you used a curriculum. Wanting to stay away from Bob Jones, his mom picked Seton.

When she opened the box to find Baltimore Catechism she called her mom to ask if this is what she’d grown up on. She was amazed and loved it tremendously. She asked why her mom had not had a copy at their house growing up.

“the church threw them all away, so did my mother. I didn’t know they were still good”

 

[De_Maria]

“Too seriously?” You’re the one setting-up an alleged obligation

What obligation am I imposing? I’m asking a question.

vis a vis one’s residence that the Church does not in fact impose. And you’re dodging my question:

You’re the one dodging the question.

What’s “an area without a Catholic church?”

What do you think it is? Is a block too far away for you to attend easily? Is a mile too far away? If so, why would you move to an area where you did not have a Catholic Church readily available? The question is directed to you.

 

[LittleWay16]

What do you think it is? Is a block too far away for you to attend easily? Is a mile too far away? If so, why would you move to an area where you did not have a Catholic Church readily available?

Are you saying, then, that as long as a person can get to mass, whether walking, driving, etc., that they are close enough to be “devout”? Because that’s pretty much exactly what I’ve been saying this whole time.

 

[De_Maria]

You have said that ‘good’ Catholics do XYZ.

Quote me.

I do not. That’s basic inference.

Why didn’t you infer your catechism in the same way?

You still are doubting my experiance.

I’m doubting what you claim is your experience, yes.

There’s not enough eyeroll. Why to you continue to have such an issue with my personal testimony?..

1. It seems extremely unlikely that anyone living in a devout 3rd generation Catholic family would manage to have nothing of the faith at least rub off up to the 11th grade.
2. And even if that were possible, to blame the Church for that state of affairs is, in my opinion, a complete rejection or denial of your personal responsibility in the matter.

 

[Xanthippe_Voorhees]

Ok then. Me bad liar. You good. We get it. You just don’t believe my reality.

You refuse to believe that my father was 50 before he knew of, and was able to enjoy adoration.

We also acted to change what we saw—my parents–and them myself—when we did know better.

But you know.

All our faults, no personal responsibility.

 

[LittleWay16]

I’m done with this thread. I will pray that all of us, no matter how devout we believe we are, can look into our hearts and realize that we are not any better than our neighbors. If we are truly devout Catholics, we need to follow Jesus’ teachings and love one another, not compare ourselves to each other. There is no blue ribbon in heaven as first prize for being “Best Catholic, As Demonstrated By Living Next Door to the Town Parish”.

Peace be with you all.