I have considered and reconsidered the teachings of the Holy Catholic Church many times over. And I have come to the conclusion that the Church does have authority, was instituted by Christ and guided by the Holy Spirit. The “rules” are there to guide me to heaven, and I thank God for those guidelines because I need all the help I can get.
IF OP and wife have since seen the light and been living and receiving sacraments at their church, would it not only be possible but also adviseable to do this as a private matter with the Priest to avoid potential scandal? Just curious.
Based on the OP’s statements thus far, I would be surprised if he is receiving the sacraments in the church. He obviously needs to work through some theological questions he has before he embraces a sacramental life. One would not seriously question an institution’s validity all-the-while practicing the belief system it preaches.
Boy, oh boy if that were only partialy correct!
There are a lot of people warming pews every week with questions of validity of what they are doing - why do you suppose the numbers are so high for Catholics who do not believe in the “Real Presence.” (I sure don’t notice 60-75% of people abstaining from Communion…
) But your point is well taken, one hopes your observation is correct…(I know the moderator is watching…) 
When you say that Tradition is just as important you are contradicting your self.
We do not only live by what the Bible says. We live by the bible, tradition and those put in charge… St Paul tells us to hold fast to the Traditions that we were taught whether in person or by letter. Christ set up a Church and gave it the authority to make these decision. The Church has never preached Bible Alone and Christ never taught that. Who made the decision about what books are in the bible? The Church did. They have the authority. You have an issue with authority. Catholics believe in a three legged stool- Holy Scripture, Sacred Tradition and the Magesterium.Christ promised that the church would have guidance and the gates of Hell would not prevail against it. That’s why I don’t worry about these decisions that you seem to have an issue with.
If the responses offered have proved sufficient and there are other questions regarding the authority of the Church in general, it would more appropriate to initiate a thread on those questions in the Apologetics forum.**
The Church has total authority.It was given to it by Christ.Even You have it in the Gospel, You still have to believe in it.If You don’t, You have to pray for faith more!
It’s just funny to me that the two of us and a priest standing there in his back office with his desk, papers, filing cabinet, etc. is so much more meaningful of a service to God than the beautiful ceremony we had by the waterfront, with the sunset and many other views of God’s beauty beside us.
My husband and I had our ceremony in the sanctuary. It was us, our children and two witnesses. The total cost was $25 and the priest did not want to take that.
I don’t fault anyone for their beliefs and adherence to Catholic teachings, but this goes back to a basic notion I have that a LOT of stuff in the Bible, not only the most beautiful piece of literature ever but also easily the most symbolic, is taken wayyyy too literally sometimes. And somewhere along the way there became more bureaucratic rules and regulations than our current NY state government, and that is saying a lot.
Bible and Tradition (capital T) tell us what the sacraments are.
I am just asking folks to consider the possibility that some of the foundation of what we have been taught for hundreds of years has been misrepresented to us in some areas by the Catholics who developed these rules. I’m speaking specifically of the couple hundred years after Christ when all of these other things came out such as Lent, priests no longer allowed to marry, the actual date of Christmas, etc.
Nope not misrepresented. Corrected when needed. But mostly IMHO just made official so everyone was on the same page.
I’m still looking for something in the Bible that states that all weddings must take place in the church. The state can make its own rules on marriageit is their right to see to it that society is protected. But, if you want the Church to recognize it then you follow the Church’s rules. As simple as that IMHO. With all due respect, “What God hath joined together” doesn’t really cement that.
I’ve been asking questions and discussing my issues with the “bind and loose” term when discussing Church authority, and I even gasp dared to question whether or not some important aspects of the Bible have been taken too literally.
