Serious question

[onetimeposter]

Can a baptized and confirmed Catholic still be a Catholic if:

They don`t believe in transubstantiation, but that Jesus is present spiritually.

They believe in birth control.

They are starting to wonder if many of the rules have more to do with bureaucracy and self protection than faith in Jesus?

That they think Catholics marrying outside the Church is Ok.

So, what do you think?

 

[RobHom]

I think you can still be a Catholic…though not in communion with the Church. To me that means that while your faith is Catholic, you are not “orthodox” in that you are in disagreement with the Church on a variety of issues.

I think that a person who has those particular thoughts…is on dangerous ground spiritually.

 

[ralphinal]

My question would be “why?”

If it is understanding that is the issue, that is one thing.

If it is human pride or vanity, that is another.

If it is simply that they just want to feel a certain way, it is something else.

I would need more information.

 

[jjformica]

My thoughts have always been if you do not believe in transubstantiation (which is the biggest of the biggies), that would automatically make you not Catholic. Catholics believe in the true presence. If one doesn’t believe in the true presence, how can one call themselves Catholic? Catholicism is not a cafeteria, where one can pick and choose their own beliefs, rules, etc.

Also, believing in and practicing things such as birth control, which is strongly against Catholic teaching would qualify a person for excommunication.

My understanding on excommunication is that it’s not something that is bestowed upon you in any formal manner by a priest, bishop or even the Pope. Excommunication is an automatic consequence of not following the rules of the faith. In other words, we excommunicate ourselves by practicing non-Catholic behavior. Coming back into full communion with the Church would simply entail a change of heart on the matter or matters, and the sacrament of reconciliation.

If one is excommunicated, that person would still be welcome at Mass, etc., but if using birth control or not believing in the true pesence of Christ in the Eucharist, would not be welcome to receive Communion. Then again, why would that person want to receive the Eucharist if they didn’t believe in the true presence. When you go up to communion, you are, in fact, saying “Amen” (so be it, or I believe) to the words, “The Body of Christ”, not the words “The spiritual presence only of Christ”. That person’s acceptance of Holy Communion would be a lie and hypocritical, to say the least.

I’m speaking from the heart, so if anything I said is theologically incorrect, I apologize. This is how I learned it growing up Catholic. Hope I was helpful.

 

[SilentKnight]

Can a baptized and confirmed Catholic still be a Catholic if:

They don`t believe in transubstantiation, but that Jesus is present spiritually.

They believe in birth control.

Not really. Although, I question whether this individual correctly understands Church teaching on both issues to begin with. For example, by “transubstantiation” does this person understand that Christ is not made present “physically” in the Eucharist (in the strcit sense of the word “physical” - IOW, we can’t see or feel flesh after the transformation, for example)? does this person understand why artificial birth control is seen as immoral and that naturally spacing births (via NFP, for example) is perfectly acceptable under the right circumstances?

They are starting to wonder if many of the rules have more to do with bureaucracy and self protection than faith in Jesus?

This is an opinion and has nothing to do with dogma, so, yes, one can believe this and still be Catholic.

That they think Catholics marrying outside the Church is Ok.

This issue, similar to the one above it, is mostly an administrative rather than “doctrinal” one, so again, yes, I believe someone could believe this and still be Catholic - as long as they did not contract a marriage outside the Church themselves. Then we’re on to a different ball game.

SK

 

[onetimeposter]

My thoughts have always been if you do not believe in transubstantiation (which is the biggest of the biggies), that would automatically make you not Catholic. Catholics believe in the true presence. If one doesn’t believe in the true presence, how can one call themselves Catholic? Catholicism is not a cafeteria, where one can pick and choose their own beliefs, rules, etc.

Also, believing in and practicing things such as birth control, which is strongly against Catholic teaching would qualify a person for excommunication.

My understanding on excommunication is that it’s not something that is bestowed upon you in any formal manner by a priest, bishop or even the Pope. Excommunication is an automatic consequence of not following the rules of the faith. In other words, we excommunicate ourselves by practicing non-Catholic behavior. Coming back into full communion with the Church would simply entail a change of heart on the matter or matters, and the sacrament of reconciliation.

If one is excommunicated, that person would still be welcome at Mass, etc., but if using birth control or not believing in the true pesence of Christ in the Eucharist, would not be welcome to receive Communion. Then again, why would that person want to receive the Eucharist if they didn’t believe in the true presence. When you go up to communion, you are, in fact, saying “Amen” (so be it, or I believe) to the words, “The Body of Christ”, not the words “The spiritual presence only of Christ”. That person’s acceptance of Holy Communion would be a lie and hypocritical, to say the least.

I’m speaking from the heart, so if anything I said is theologically incorrect, I apologize. This is how I learned it growing up Catholic. Hope I was helpful.

…But the absolute vast majority ( especially in North America) dis-agree with at least some of the Church’s teaching ( rules) especially in the area of birth control.

A good percentage of Catholics don’t believe in Transubstantiation…some say the number that don’t believe is really high, catholic.com says that 63 percent believe in the Real Presence.

I would bet that most Catholics don’t go to weekly mass, don’t give the rules they don’t believe in a second thought and attend mass once or twice a year and think no more about it.

I do take my faith seriously and don’t want to become one of the majority…

 

[jjformica]

…But the absolute vast majority ( especially in North America) dis-agree with at least some of the Church’s teaching ( rules) especially in the area of birth control.

A good percentage of Catholics don’t believe in Transubstantiation…some say the number that don’t believe is really high, catholic.com says that 63 percent believe in the Real Presence.

I would bet that most Catholics don’t go to weekly mass, don’t give the rules they don’t believe in a second thought and attend mass once or twice a year and think no more about it.

I do take my faith seriously and don’t want to become one of the majority…

All true, and very sad!! I, too, don’t want to ever become one of the “majority”. I guess that’s why we have the Chaplet of Divine Mercy. Don’t get discouraged, though. There are still good ones out there!