Poll - Too many rules in the Catholic Church

[LindaS]

I believe that the rules are there for our freedom. The rules give us the freedom not to have to decide all this for ourselves, so that we may concentrate on our relationship with God. Can you imagine the chaos if there were no rules?

Peace,
Linda

 

[becka01101]

I didn’t vote either; I think there should be more rules!

Becka, I’m sure no one thinks, “Who let her in?” If anything the are thinking, “Wow! How brave of her to do this by herself!” I remember one night at mass I over heard a couple of girls behind me wispering to each other at different points in the mass. They weren’t being rude or anything, I could tell they were just trying to get through it. After mass I introduced myself and asked them if they had been there before. They explained they had to do a paper for their religion class on a church that was different from their denomination. I invited them to ask any questions and asked them if they wanted me to show them around. I have to admitt I was a little disappointed that they were just there for a class assignment though. Well, I digress… I am sure there are people at the parish who really admire you for even considering the Catholic Church.

Its nice that there are people willing to reach out! I usually go to the Saturday Mass, and the general feeling of the people at the Mass is to get it done and get out, in fact many of them leave right after communion. But anyway, the opposite is true here, which is why I’ve appreciate the people here and their willingness to answer even the most mundane of questions.

Becka

 

[becka01101]

The day will soon come when all these things are “second nature” to you. Practice makes perfect!

Quite possibly- many things are becoming familiar, and I’m enjoying that.

Becka

 

[jmcrae]

Its nice that there are people willing to reach out! I usually go to the Saturday Mass, and the general feeling of the people at the Mass is to get it done and get out, in fact many of them leave right after communion. But anyway, the opposite is true here, which is why I’ve appreciate the people here and their willingness to answer even the most mundane of questions.

Becka

That’s actually fairly typical of our Saturday crowd. Try an early morning Sunday Mass - you’ll notice a real difference, I think.

 

[becka01101]

That’s actually fairly typical of our Saturday crowd. Try an early morning Sunday Mass - you’ll notice a real difference, I think.

With my work hours that isn’t usually an option, but I will try to go the Sunday Mass on my next Sunday off. Thank you for the suggestion!

Becka

 

[lak611]

If one’s focus is on Christ, the rules assist. If one loses their focus and places it ONLY to the rules, the rules can seem to impede their relationship instead of help if one continues to focus on the rules instead of Christ.

I agree. I left the Church for 5 years, because I had been taught only to focus on the rules when I was growing up. Then I actually read the Bible, which I had not done previously. After reading the Bible, I understood the rules. Now I follow the rules because of what Jesus says here:

Joh 14:15 "If you love me, you will keep my commandments.

 

[Newbie2]

I’m learning quickly why things are done the way they are, but from the outside, it looks like an incredible amount of rules!

Becka

Liturgically speaking, yes. Morally speaking, yes too. I found the more I learned about the “why’s” the more “Oh, I get its” I ended up saying.

 

[jamison]

Hmm…try coming from a protestant background like me and you’ll apprecite all the rules you cant get.

 

[tptram]

There are only 2 “Rules”.

(Mat 22:37) Jesus said to him: Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with thy whole heart and with thy whole soul and with thy whole mind.
(Mat 22:38) This is the greatest and the first commandment.
(Mat 22:39) And the second is like to this: Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

All of the other do’s and don’t given by the Magisterium are explainations of how these two rules are to be applied in our life.

ditto

Tak

 

[SORROWS]

I don’t think “rules” is the right word. Our Lord gave us the Catholic Church out of love and for the sake of our salvation. If we truly truly knew the value of the Holy Mass and following in faith all that the Church has laid out for us, we would never ask questions such as this. How fortunate we Catholics are!

 

[arvinsim]

IMO, I believe that these rules are just the consequences of following a simple decision that is made by every disciple of Christ, to follow him.

As said by the poster above me, rules liberate us from doubt and confusion as to what to do. That doesn’t mean that I don’t have to think. It means that I have a clear path to follow and I can focus my energy on doing it.

Btw, compare the number of rules in the legal system of the country with the Catholic Church. It think it will give us a perspective on things.

 

[nicolep]

I voted for the second option. One thing I love the most about the Catholic Church is all of the rules. On my, I’d really mess things up. Thankfully I have a Church who cares enough to give it to me straight.

God bless,
Nicole