Non-denominational Christians

[jack_hawkins]

Not to excuse those Catholics who are a disgrace to the faith, why NOT avoid the Catholic Church if it is easier? If a person can get their needs met without having to wrestle with offensive or apparently impossible dogma, doesn’t it make more sense to float downstream, instead of swimming upstream? If a persons convictions can be sustained elsewhere, I don’t see why anyone would struggle with Catholocism.

Yes, you have a point. I am trying to thrash things out and work out what to do, basically. I think now I know what to do tho.
Also part of it is plain stubbornness in trying to get people to see what I believe is plainly right. It is a trait I usually curb.
I know for sure the type of Catholicism some people adhere to is not for me. Traditional Catholicism, Latin mass etc? No way. My wife’s sort of Catholicism? Yes, definitely.
Charismatic Episcopalian Church - sounds very interesting.
I quite like the Lutheran church from what I know of it but it’s not a UK thing.

 

[guanophore]

If by that, you mean I may be carrying “baggage” - I concur, I have no doubt that I am.

don’t you think there is a certain amount of defensiveness tho?
a feeling that rulings of the church don’t need to be justified, only obeyed?

I think there is defensiveness, for one reason you mentioned before, that people come in already resistant to “and organization they beleive is in the wrong” so things get started out on a bad note. I am sure I did with you!

There is a definite tone that Church teachings don’t need to be justified. If one starts out with confidence in the promise of Christ that He would leave His Spirit, and that Spirit would protect us from error, then the foundation is that the Church is right, and if we don’ t understand it is our shortcoming, not the Church. That said, it is important for everyone “to be ready to give an account for the hope that is within”, and providing rational explanation for things is necessary. It is more difficult to accomplish that goal when someone comes in with an attitude that, because the teaching doesn’t make sense to them, it must be in error.

 

[guanophore]

I disagree. The Catholic church is quite denominational. They exclued all other churches and the non-denominational church welcomes people of all denominations.

Can you explain how the Catholic Church excluded all the other churches?

 

[awantz]

Can you explain how the Catholic Church excluded all the other churches?

By their attitudes for starters. I don’t want to start an arguement.

 

[jmcrae]

By their attitudes for starters. I don’t want to start an arguement.

So is there some point in history when the separated ecclesial communities wanted to renounce all of their heresies and be restored into the Church, and the Church actually refused them?

I have not heard about this - when did it happen?

 

[awantz]

Are you being received into the Church?

Do you need a personal invitation? Everyone is welcome to attend any activities that are going on there - you just go.

He needs to know that Catholics are not allowed to do this, since it pretends a unity that does not actually exist.

I actually doubt that, unless by receiving their Holy Communion he has convinced them that he is one of them, and believes what they believe.

But if he were to reveal to them that he is a Catholic, I’m sure the reception would be a little less than enthusiastic if he offers to teach a class, etc.

No I’m not being received into the church. I’m going to confession, because I want to.

When I go to any activities at the church people act like they don’t want me there.

But Catholics are allowed and he does. Maybe Catholics should quit blaming Protestants for the lack of unity. I’ve tried to start somthing where Protestants and Catholics come and worship God together, but the local Priest wouldn’t go for it.

They know he is Catholic and he has been invited to help at the church. So I guess that proves your statement above to be wrong.

 

[guanophore]

You have not yet been formally admitted to the Sacraments, which means that you don’t yet go to Confession or receive Holy Communion, and of course, not being a member, you don’t teach or do any other kind of leadership, but everyone is welcome to do everything else.

Is not the sacrament of reconciliation available to all?

 

[awantz]

I’m the first to admit that Catholics are poor (very poor) evangelists. Whereas a new face in a protestant church may be a potential convert, Catholics are perhaps overly accustomed to strange faces in the congregation. Usually people from out of town fulfilling their Sunday obligations.

And many Catholic churches have so many parishoners that you can’t possibly recognize everybody - you just assume that a stranger is someone who normally goes to another mass.

It does take courage to continue to go with your husband even if you don’t feel totally welcome. I admire you for that.

Does your husband actually know how you feel? If not, maybe you could ask him to get you both involved in some parish activities.

They should know I’m not a new face, a stranger, or an out of towner, because I have been going with my husband for 3 years now.

He knows and I found out that his sister who is Catholic feels the same way and she quit going. However, since we’ve gotten a new Priest recently I’ve started feeling more comfortable and since I am starting to feel more comfortable she is starting to come back and give the church another try.
I’ve mentioned getting involved in activities with him, but his work schedule makes it hard.

 

[guanophore]

You say I am welcome. Tell that to the people at his church, especially the former Priest, who is now the Priest of a bigger Catholic Church.

I am going to confession this Lent season. I usually go up during the Eucharist and get a blessing.

I go to mass regularly and I do everything my husband does.

I’ve never been invited to the social hall or anything like that.

The people at my church are always inviting him to different activities, but his church never invites me. He is allowed to partake of Holy Communion at my church and he does. I believe what he believes when it comes to Holy Communion. He can be just as much involved in my church as I am.

I am sad that your parish has not made you feel more welcomed. But, I also am surprised to hear you say that you believe as your husband does about Holy Communion. What does he believe, and how is that different than what is taught at your church?

 

[guanophore]

Then, why is my Catholic husband welcome at my church, but I am not welcome at his?

What makes you say you are not welcome?

 

[jmcrae]

No I’m not being received into the church. I’m going to confession, because I want to.

Let us know how that turns out. As far as I know, you would not be able to receive the Absolution.

When I go to any activities at the church people act like they don’t want me there.

I’m sorry to hear that - they are not acting like good Catholics at all.

But Catholics are allowed and he does. Maybe Catholics should quit blaming Protestants for the lack of unity. I’ve tried to start something where Protestants and Catholics come and worship God together, but the local Priest wouldn’t go for it.

He would need Diocescan permission for that - maybe he just didn’t want to get into all that paperwork. Or maybe there was something that goes against Catholic teaching that was going to happen at the service. Keep in mind, Catholics can’t go to interfaith services unless they are approved by the Diocese.

They know he is Catholic and he has been invited to help at the church. So I guess that proves your statement above to be wrong.

I find that very surprising. They aren’t very committed to their own teachings, are they, if a Catholic can come along and teach Catholicism to them, and it’s okay with them?

 

[jmcrae]

Is not the sacrament of reconciliation available to all?

No.

It becomes available to former Protestants when they receive the Call to Full Communion from their Bishop, which occurs at the end of the Catechesis Period of RCIA, which is usually on the first weekend of Lent.

It becomes available to unbaptized converts after their Baptism.

Those baptized RCIA participants who have not completed the goals of the RCIA Catechesis Period would not be accepted to go to the Call to Full Communion - instead, they would be asked to continue in Catechesis until such time as they have achieved these goals. (In an ideal world, there would be a Catechism class for them to attend year-round, so that they could be able to do this. Otherwise, one of two things happen - people are accepted to the Call to Full Communion who aren’t ready yet, or else they are told that they can’t go to this, and end up dropping out altogether.)

 

[awantz]

So is there some point in history when the separated ecclesial communities wanted to renounce all of their heresies and be restored into the Church, and the Church actually refused them?

I have not heard about this - when did it happen?

Yes, some individuals have and they were turned away. When new churches are started they are actually starting to look more and more like the Catholic Church in their beliefs.

 

[guanophore]

If only Catholics would realise their attitude to Protestants is a factor in disunity as well!

From your mouth, to God’s ear!

 

[jmcrae]

Yes, some individuals have and they were turned away.

I am not talking about individuals. When did an entire denomination forswear its heresies, attempt to reunite with the Church, and was refused?

Individual Protestants who reject their heresies and want to be reunited with the Church are welcomed with open arms all the time.

In our Diocese, our Bishop recently welcomed more than 400 ex-Protestants into Full Communion - they will receive First Confession within the next few weeks, and they will receive the Sacraments of Confirmation and First Holy Communion at Easter time.

When new churches are started they are actually starting to look more and more like the Catholic Church in their beliefs.

That’s good.

Maybe they will go the whole distance, some day.

 

[awantz]

What makes you say you are not welcome?

The way I am treated. The stares/looks I get. Different things.

 

[cpayne]

The church I attend is non-denominational. So far I’m the only one attending, but we–or I–are always open to anyone. I greet people at my front door (nobody yet), then go to the basement for the sermon, which I preach. That’s what we call ourselves: The Church in the Basement. Big drawbacks: I haven’t learned anything new from the sermons yet, and the offerings are sort of tricky to handle.

 

[ALLFORHIM]

No.

It becomes available to former Protestants when they receive the Call to Full Communion from their Bishop, which occurs at the end of the Catechesis Period of RCIA, which is usually on the first weekend of Lent.

It becomes available to unbaptized converts after their Baptism.

Those baptized RCIA participants who have not completed the goals of the RCIA Catechesis Period would not be accepted to go to the Call to Full Communion - instead, they would be asked to continue in Catechesis until such time as they have achieved these goals. (In an ideal world, there would be a Catechism class for them to attend year-round, so that they could be able to do this. Otherwise, one of two things happen - people are accepted to the Call to Full Communion who aren’t ready yet, or else they are told that they can’t go to this, and end up dropping out altogether.)

Hi,
So you are saying that someone has to be a member of the CC to be forgiven?

 

[cpayne]

On a more serious note (than my previous post, that is), it is true that Catholic churches are notoriously “cool” in their fellowship. I’ve been actually TRYING to convert for a month or so, and can’t get anyone at the church to get back to me.

 

[awantz]

Let us know how that turns out. As far as I know, you would not be able to receive the Absolution.

I’m sorry to hear that - they are not acting like good Catholics at all.

He would need Diocescan permission for that - maybe he just didn’t want to get into all that paperwork. Or maybe there was something that goes against Catholic teaching that was going to happen at the service. Keep in mind, Catholics can’t go to interfaith services unless they are approved by the Diocese.

I find that very surprising. They aren’t very committed to their own teachings, are they, if a Catholic can come along and teach Catholicism to them, and it’s okay with them?

I will let you know.

Thank You

He goes to Church with me just as much as I go with him. His church knows and they seem to have no problem with it.

They are commited to their teachins. It is just that the Catholic teachings are very similar to ours. He doesn’t teach Catholicisim to them. They let him work with the kids, usher, be a greeter, and other things like that.