Name 3 reasons you are not Catholic (yet).

[Ramalama]

Is not Christ worth the wait?

Maybe God is trying to teach you the fruit of patience?

So where will you be in 1 to 2 years if you don’t take the time to become a Catholic Christian? Same place you are now. Where will you be if you exercise patience for 1-2 years and follow the process? Happily Catholic

God Bless,
Maria

Of course it’s worth the wait. I’m hardly leaving. My wife and I go to mass every Sunday, we’re meeting with the RCIA (or is it RICA) sister, we say the Rosary every evening, etc. Actually I consider myself Catholic.

I just wish they could do it maybe twice a year rather than once.

 

[Ramalama]

The wait is worth it because in the end, you will received Jesus Christ, the same Christ who walk with the Apostles upon your own mouth.

Could you give me a little help with that?

 

[Carol_Coombe]

Why do you allow people (like kujo and believers), who are clearly stuck fast in their own conceptual framework and even more clearly will refuse to be moved by any argument or evidence, dominate this discussion? They have derailed it, they have abused it, they have possibly violated rules as far as I can see.

They demean you, you let them demean you. They force the discussion to degenerate into their own chaos.

And yet posters persist in trying to engage with them, without any possibility of effect.

Why not push your ignore button? Why not just read and pass by? Why not refuse to let them dominate the thread?

This happens again and again on the Forum, and is not helpful to any of you who are discussing, or any of us who are reading.

 

[guanophore]

Is this thing really 56 pages long!?!

I’m not a Catholic yet because the process takes too long. My church only accepts catechumens and candidates once per year. That’s really a long time from now. I’m frustrated!

You don’t have to wait Ramalama. Start your studies right now! Go to the library link above, and start reading. Read the daily readings in your bible, listen to Catholic Radio, attend Mass as often as you can and enjoy our discussions. You will have your hands full!

Of course it’s worth the wait. I’m hardly leaving. My wife and I go to mass every Sunday, we’re meeting with the RCIA (or is it RICA) sister, we say the Rosary every evening, etc. Actually I consider myself Catholic.

I just wish they could do it maybe twice a year rather than once.

There are confirmations during the year. Are you baptized? If your priest knows that you are so eager, and you are already catechized through individual study, and agree to go through the RCIA later it might be workable. It all depends upon the parish and bishop you are under.

 

[Mannyfit75]

Could you give me a little help with that?

Sure.

Do you want me to give an Mass intension on your behalf this coming Sunday? The Mass is very powerful in helping People especially possible new converts. You will have to pm me your full name. How else can ask a petition on your behalf if I don’t know your full name.

 

[Mannyfit75]

If I remember the link of Fr. Corapi’s Teaching of Jesus Christ on MP3 I would give it to you. He explains the Catholicism very well.

 

[MariaG]

Of course it’s worth the wait. I’m hardly leaving. My wife and I go to mass every Sunday, we’re meeting with the RCIA (or is it RICA) sister, we say the Rosary every evening, etc. Actually I consider myself Catholic.

I just wish they could do it maybe twice a year rather than once.

Yes, it would be nice. However, how greater a thing than to be joined with the church at Easter time!

 

[Mannyfit75]

Here you go. RyanL posted these.

forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=108346

 

[Mommyof02green]

If that is true, then how can Irenaues, who lived from 130-202 AD, quote from twenty-four of the twenty-seven books of the New Testament taking over 1800 quotations from the New Testament alone?
Clement of Alexandria lived from 150-215 AD. He cited all the New Testament books except Philemon, James and 2 Peter. He gave 2400 citations from the New Testament.
Tertullian lived from 160-220 AD. He made over 7200 New Testament citations.
Origen lived from 180-254 AD. He made nearly 18,000 New Testament citations.

By the end of the 3rd century, virtually the entire New Testament could be reconstructed from the writings of the church fathers.

Again, this is plagiarized from William Webster. I believe the moderators have already warned you about quoting without reference?

Nope. Not from Webster. However, I find that you have no answer to this post other than to avoid the issue.

In their writings is many references to the Gospels and letters that we call the New Testament.

The “early church fathers” believed in “sola scriptula”. It’s the RCC who said “but if this, then that” and strays from the focus of Scripture.

I’ve glanced at Sola Scriptura and the Early Church by William Webster. The comments made in post 791 can be found here: christiantruth.com/solascriptura.html

At least be honest where your opinions some from….

 

[Rachel_Malloy]

Let’s stick to the topic of the thread please.

Thanks and God bless-

Rachel

 

[Mommyof02green]

Of course it’s worth the wait. I’m hardly leaving. My wife and I go to mass every Sunday, we’re meeting with the RCIA (or is it RICA) sister, we say the Rosary every evening, etc. Actually I consider myself Catholic.

I just wish they could do it maybe twice a year rather than once.

It’s RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults)

 

[SyCarl]

I’ve glanced at Sola Scriptura and the Early Church by William Webster. The comments made in post 791 can be found here: christiantruth.com/solascriptura.html

At least be honest where your opinions some from….

William Webster may talk about it but I have seen it in many places in the conext of showing we can be certain of the accurate transmission of the New Testament. It is said that even if we had no manuscripts of the New Testament that we could reconstruct it from the quotes in the early church fathers.

 

[Randy_Carson]

Been there, done that for 20 years. Same words said every mass.This is false.

The Church uses a three year Lectionary cycle so that over the course of three years, anyone attending daily mass will hear a majority of the bible read from the ambo and discussed in the homily.

Additionally, there are multiple Eucharistic prayers and antiphons that vary from week to week.

However, if you mean the repetition of the words of Christ:

"The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, 24and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.” 25In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.”

then no, these will never change.

We should not worship any creature, not even the blessed Mary. As an allegedly knowledgable Catholic, you know that Catholics do not worship any creature. If you feel otherwise, please provide references to Church documents teaching me to worship creatures.

If you personally did otherwise, then I encourage you to get to a confessional ASAP.

Hope this helps. :tiphat:

 

[Church_Militant]

This is false.
The Church uses a three year Lectionary cycle so that over the course of three years, anyone attending daily mass will hear a majority of the bible read from the ambo and discussed in the homily.

Additionally, there are multiple Eucharistic prayers and antiphons that vary from week to week.

However, if you mean the repetition of the words of Christ:

then no, these will never change.

As an allegedly knowledgeable Catholic, you know that Catholics do not worship any creature. If you feel otherwise, please provide references to Church documents teaching me to worship creatures.

If you personally did otherwise, then I encourage you to get to a confessional ASAP.

Hope this helps. :tiphat:Yeah, but that won’t fit with the propaganda of deceptive allegations about the Catholic Church.

I’d been out of the church for about 34 years and even I knew better than that when a big burly a-C guy laid that garbage on me.

 

[Randy_Carson]

Even if the magisterium was infallible (in fact, it is not), the Catholic is still caught up in a dilemma.

There is no dilemma for the Catholic since a living Magisterium can always clarify any statement, position or doctrine of the Church as needed. Individual may have imperfectly grasped the teachings of the Church, but that does not mean that the Church has not stated them clearly. The Catholic who seeks to educate himself on correct doctrine can do so by applying himself.

However, what really caught my eye is your parenthetical statement, “in fact, it is not”.

Would you agree that you may be in error on this since you acknowledge that you are fallible?

Since the Bible is your sole infallible rule of faith, can you provide a verse which specifically states that the Church built by Jesus Christ and guided by the Holy Spirit is not infallible?

Thanks for your prompt attention to these questions. :tiphat:

 

[Mannyfit75]

The Magisterium is infallible… it is fact. If it isn’t, then Jesus did really meant to establish a Church… and you can just throw your Bible away. Since it was the Church who canonized the Bible added 27 NT text.

and if the Church is not infallible then the Council of Jerusalem is invalid because it was the Church authority who said it was ok for Gentiles to become Christians without the need of circumcision.

 

[coachm]

My mother-in-law. My mother-in-law. My mother-in-law.

 

[MariaG]

My mother-in-law. My mother-in-law. My mother-in-law.

Okay, I should probably offer some serious advice to this one, you know, he who does not forsake his family for My sake…

But really, my instant response was

And BTW, welcome to the forums

 

[Carol_Coombe]

One year ago, I began a spiritual journey (sannyasi in Hindi) as an adult. I decided that rather than take on all the beliefs and ideals - and divinities - of other religions, I would concentrate on the faith into which I was born - Christianity.

Although I am a baptised Canadian Baptist (note Canadian - nothing to do with American), I decided I would make my journey within the paradigm of the Catholic Church. Currently I attend mass 3 times a week, RCIA, retreats and workshops, church twice on Sunday. I have been given a spiritual director non pareil. My closest working colleague of 30 years is a loving Jesuit of international eminence. My retreat spiritual director is a greatly loved retired Bishop.

I was doing OK with my SDs, my reading, my listening, my being with Christ, and in Christ. He had been with me throughout a difficult career around the world, and protected, guided and comforted me in many hard conditions.

And then I hit this Forum. Suddenly it was all change. What had been a quiet relationship with Our Lord was suddenly covered over by the trauma of insulting posts following innocent queries on my part. (It took me a few weeks to learn the nature of many of the posters on this Forum.) My SD was angry, and advised me immediately to leave the Forum. I disobeyed (as usual) and did not: I preferred to go through the trauma, and see where I ended up.

Where I have ended up at the moment is strung out between the absolute beliefs and fundamentalist approach (for the most part) of posters on this Forum, and the loving, faith-respectful and more liberal focus - always trained on the work of a Christian, the responsibilities of a Christian in our daily lives - of my SD and congregants in my Catholic Church.

And so I am having to reconsider my commitment to enter the Catholic Church. On this Forum:

• I have been introduced to a side of the Christian faith far removed from the life and mores of a Christian, one that I could never have imagined, one that I have never seen in my life as a Christian.
• I have been urged again and again not just to consider doctrine/dogma/belief/policy/scripture/Magisterium etc etc, but to recognise and ‘accept’ with ‘humility and grace’, absolute belief in the correctness of the Catholic faith and not to question absolute truth.
• I have encountered complete indifference, for the most part, to the questing of a learner-Catholic, to the difficulties an older would-be convert is experiencing.
  (Edited by Moderator)

There have been others who have been incredibly supportive, many of them people who have had similar or parallel experiences. They have stuck it out, and gave me the hand of friendship. To them I am grateful.

And so, dear friends, I am having to reconsider my options. I am absolutely clear in my own mind that for the most part, this Forum is antithetical to Christian spirituality, Christian life, and our responsibility as Christians. The Forum triumphs in two things: creating a safe haven for very odd people; and creating a place for discussion of some very odd questions about sex after menopause, nipple-pinching in the garden where there is no intercourse immediately following, swallowing toothpaste before Mass, inter alia.

If what I have seen here is the face of Catholicism in our time, it is not something I would wish to be part of.

Blessings

Jabulani!

 

[Mannyfit75]

One year ago, I began a spiritual journey (sannyasi in Hindi) as an adult. I decided that rather than take on all the beliefs and ideals - and divinities - of other religions, I would concentrate on the faith into which I was born - Christianity.

Although I am a baptised Canadian Baptist (note Canadian - nothing to do with American), I decided I would make my journey within the paradigm of the Catholic Church. Currently I attend mass 3 times a week, RCIA, retreats and workshops, church twice on Sunday. I have been given a spiritual director non pareil. My closest working colleague of 30 years is a loving Jesuit of international eminence. My retreat spiritual director is a greatly loved retired Bishop.

I was doing OK with my SDs, my reading, my listening, my being with Christ, and in Christ. He had been with me throughout a difficult career around the world, and protected, guided and comforted me in many hard conditions.

And then I hit this Forum. Suddenly it was all change. What had been a quiet relationship with Our Lord was suddenly covered over by the trauma of insulting posts following innocent queries on my part. (It took me a few weeks to learn the nature of many of the posters on this Forum.) My SD was angry, and advised me immediately to leave the Forum. I disobeyed (as usual) and did not: I preferred to go through the trauma, and see where I ended up.

Where I have ended up at the moment is strung out between the absolute beliefs and fundamentalist approach (for the most part) of posters on this Forum, and the loving, faith-respectful and more liberal focus - always trained on the work of a Christian, the responsibilities of a Christian in our daily lives - of my SD and congregants in my Catholic Church.

And so I am having to reconsider my commitment to enter the Catholic Church. On this Forum:

• I have been introduced to a side of the Christian faith far removed from the life and mores of a Christian, one that I could never have imagined, one that I have never seen in my life as a Christian.
• I have been urged again and again not just to consider doctrine/dogma/belief/policy/scripture/Magisterium etc etc, but to recognise and ‘accept’ with ‘humility and grace’, absolute belief in the correctness of the Catholic faith and not to question absolute truth.
• I have encountered complete indifference, for the most part, to the questing of a learner-Catholic, to the difficulties an older would-be convert is experiencing.
  (Edited by Moderator)

There have been others who have been incredibly supportive, many of them people who have had similar or parallel experiences. They have stuck it out, and gave me the hand of friendship. To them I am grateful.

And so, dear friends, I am having to reconsider my options. I am absolutely clear in my own mind that for the most part, this Forum is antithetical to Christian spirituality, Christian life, and our responsibility as Christians. The Forum triumphs in two things: creating a safe haven for very odd people; and creating a place for discussion of some very odd questions about sex after menopause, nipple-pinching in the garden where there is no intercourse immediately following, swallowing toothpaste before Mass, inter alia.

If what I have seen here is the face of Catholicism in our time, it is not something I would wish to be part of.

Blessings

Jabulani!

Peace in Christ be with you,

Base on the message your provided, you decision not to be a part of the Catholic Church seem to be based upon individual posters in this forum. Do not let that trouble you because many of us practicing Catholics did not become Catholic to meet people. We are Catholic because we desire the Lord Jesus Christ.

The Church itself has members who are not perfect, and the Church also has a divine nature. That divine nature is the Holy Spirit. What she teaches is for the benefit for the faithful and help bring us closer to Jesus.

What can we do about individual Catholics who seem to contradict themselves. We pray for them, offer alms, fast, and mediate. Remember, Jesus said pray for one another. No matter how bad the Catholic seems, do not let that hinder your discernment.

However you have stated that you no longer want to be a part of this community. I, for my part cannot change your mind. I can only offer prayers. I shall keep you in my thoughts tonight. I hope what I have said may enlighten you.

May the Lord Jesus Christ be with you always.

Sincerely,

Emmanuel C.