Separated Brothers & Sisters

[TommyWommy]

What constitutes a separated brother or sister? Are they kin by virtue of baptism in Christ? If so, what precisely are they separated from? The Catholic Church and the sacraments? If they are separated from eating the flesh and drinking the blood of Christ, then is no “life” found in them (John 6)? Are they brothers and sisters who are “dead” yet still kin to me? Is this my motivation for evangelizing them as well as others?

If they are “living” brothers and sisters, what is my motivation for evangelizing them? The fullness of truth? If Jesus is the way the truth and the life (i.e. the Truth is a person, not just information), how can my separated brothers and sisters have only “part” of the Truth?

I’m kinda feeling circular about all this. Help me out folks!

 

[Teflon93]

They are separated brethren by virtue of their baptism in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

To the extent they are separated through no fault of their own, and to the degree that they are able to make use of whatever sacraments their communion retains to refrain from sin and complete an act of perfect contrition if they do sin, they may be protected by their own ignorance, as those who have never heard the Gospel are protected.

The Gate is narrow, though, and much harder to find without the Church to guide us. We therefore owe it to our separated brethren to bring the truth entrusted to the Church to them, that they may convert and be in full communion with the Church Christ founded.

 

[TommyWommy]

They are separated brethren by virtue of their baptism in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

To the extent they are separated through no fault of their own, and to the degree that they are able to make use of whatever sacraments their communion retains to refrain from sin and complete an act of perfect contrition if they do sin, they may be protected by their own ignorance, as those who have never heard the Gospel are protected.

The Gate is narrow, though, and much harder to find without the Church to guide us. We therefore owe it to our separated brethren to bring the truth entrusted to the Church to them, that they may convert and be in full communion with the Church Christ founded.

Thank you, Teflon. I do know it is Christ’s desire and prayer for all Christians to be one. And, after all, another Catholic brother or sister may be “dead” in the sense of mortal sin, too. We owe it to him or her to point to the Truth as well.

I think where I really get hung up the most is with the Eucharist and the “you have no life in you” idea. If I understand correctly, those who have no life in them are perhaps ones who have blatently rejected, through their own fault, with genuine understanding of the implications, the Real Presence. Does that seem on track?

 

[Teflon93]

Thank you, Teflon. I do know it is Christ’s desire and prayer for all Christians to be one. And, after all, another Catholic brother or sister may be “dead” in the sense of mortal sin, too. We owe it to him or her to point to the Truth as well.

I think where I really get hung up the most is with the Eucharist and the “you have no life in you” idea. If I understand correctly, those who have no life in them are perhaps ones who have blatently rejected, through their own fault, with genuine understanding of the implications, the Real Presence. Does that seem on track?

Yes it does. Remember who Christ was speaking to in John 6—a large gathering of followers beyond the Apostles had swelled the ranks of the Christians. Christ knew that they were simply impressed by the miracle of the loaves and fishes and were not truly willing to follow him, as they amply demonstrated by deserting him when he instituted the Eucharist.

The first Protestants certainly had no life within them; they rejected the Church for quite similar reasons: an unwillingness to obey Christ.

Those who grew up Protestant over the centuries, however, typically lacked the opportunity to know the true Church due to anti-Catholic bigotry and Protestant dominance of the countries in which they were born. Unlike those who abandoned Christ in John 6, these folks were following Christ as best they knew how—they were truly ignorant of the Church. We hold out the hope that they persevered to the end without mortal sin and may have been saved.

 

[DD2007]

I grew up Baptist. I lost faith when I was in College and became agnostic for all intents and purposes. I was angry because I thought that religion was used to force people into line through fear. Later I was convinced how wrong I had been by a member of the Church of Christ. I went searching for a Church and decided I would try the Catholic Church because it was the largest and seemingly oldest. I went through RCIA and joined. I grew spiritually. Later I went throug a divorce, then a remarriage…etc. Later, I found some things I didn’t agree with and felt it was better to leave. I tried Lutheran and Presbyterian Churches. I settled on the Presbyterian because I agree mostly with them. I don’t think there is any infallible denomination. The trick is to find the one with the east amount of error.

So, I qualify as a separated brethran.

 

[TommyWommy]

The trick is to find the one with the east amount of error.

Hmmm. That’s what brought me back to the Catholic Church after 20 years of wading through diverse opinions/beliefs in Protestantism.

 

[Teflon93]

Hmmm. That’s what brought me back to the Catholic Church after 20 years of wading through diverse opinions/beliefs in Protestantism.

I’m a quality guy and in our world the only way you can fully assess such error is to have the gold standard to compare alternatives to.

There is only one Church which existed at Pentecost, is a unified whole, and was renowned from the most ancient times for being that gold standard. The Catholic Church—accept no substitutes!

 

[on_fire]

amen!!!

 

[thekaki]

Dear DD 2000,

So, life has been tough and it’s not easy to be Catholic. There are many religions/churches/preachers out there and there will always be one that will make things easy for you…

Being a Catholic can be very hard, and unpopular but it can bring the greatest joy you will ever know- The true WAY is not always easy, it’s full of trials, believing things on faith alone, trusting His Word, obedience, accepting the trials and offering the suffering up in a way that glorifies God – It’s HIS agenda we follow, not our own!

Many of us have lost faith at one time or another, and asked why things have to be the way they are.

Try reading the book of Job, and then try really being Catholic and living the Catholic Faith. You will be welcomed back - Talk to a Priest.

I’ll keep you in my prayers .

Love & prayers,
Kak