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Gem
Guest
jlengle,
You’re right. The bottom line is God is the arbiter of His own mercy. He can save whom He wishes - Catholic or not. But here’s the point. Jesus established One Church, with Peter and the Apostles, not 10, or 100, or 10,000. People have been splitting His Church since the beginning, but there is only one God, one Truth. That one Church is the Catholic Church. I think deep down you know this. That’s why you are here.
God may save those who are innocently ignorant of this fact, but the rest of us - Catholics - have a responsibility to hear God’s Word, obey it and spread it through the Catholic Church, as Jesus commanded the Apostles, and us, to do.
God is calling you home. He is very generous with His mercy to those who humbly ask for it. He wants to give it to you. You’re not coming back to a building with rules. You’re coming back to God.
Go to Mass. Talk to a priest. Passed sins, once confessed (a sign of true repentance on your part and actually required by Jesus (and Paul) in the Bible), don’t matter. Your marriage can be easily convalidated - your husband doesn’t need to convert for this to take place. Anyone can be baptized (once you are back in the Church), but your older child will likely need to take some classes to know what they are agreeing to.
There’s a wealth of information at Catholic Answers and here in the forums. Most of your questions have been answered on multiple threads here with others asking all the challenging questions you are asking. Look around. You are not alone on your journey back to God and His Church. I will pray for you.
Gem
You’re right. The bottom line is God is the arbiter of His own mercy. He can save whom He wishes - Catholic or not. But here’s the point. Jesus established One Church, with Peter and the Apostles, not 10, or 100, or 10,000. People have been splitting His Church since the beginning, but there is only one God, one Truth. That one Church is the Catholic Church. I think deep down you know this. That’s why you are here.
God may save those who are innocently ignorant of this fact, but the rest of us - Catholics - have a responsibility to hear God’s Word, obey it and spread it through the Catholic Church, as Jesus commanded the Apostles, and us, to do.
God is calling you home. He is very generous with His mercy to those who humbly ask for it. He wants to give it to you. You’re not coming back to a building with rules. You’re coming back to God.
Go to Mass. Talk to a priest. Passed sins, once confessed (a sign of true repentance on your part and actually required by Jesus (and Paul) in the Bible), don’t matter. Your marriage can be easily convalidated - your husband doesn’t need to convert for this to take place. Anyone can be baptized (once you are back in the Church), but your older child will likely need to take some classes to know what they are agreeing to.
There’s a wealth of information at Catholic Answers and here in the forums. Most of your questions have been answered on multiple threads here with others asking all the challenging questions you are asking. Look around. You are not alone on your journey back to God and His Church. I will pray for you.
Gem
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Myqyl
Guest
I would recommend RCIA… It’s a great place to actually learn the faith. I was a drifted Catholic myself and when I married my wife expressed an interest in going to RCIA. I attended with her and was amazed at how much I had missed as a Craddle Catholic.
Give it a try… Nothing to lose
God Bless
Give it a try… Nothing to lose
God Bless
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Esdra
Guest
Hi jlengle,
I was in the same situation from the age of 16 to 24 (now).
I also couldn’t accept certain teachings (“rules” as you call them) of the CC. [One of them by the way also was confession to the priest. I can assure you know that God will forgive you if you have accepted Him as your Savior. Sin will be erased from you but this doesn’t mean that you can’t sin anymore. You can and you always will, but if you come to your Savior repenting, he will forgive you in His mercy because He loves you and always will because you are His child.]
I then started reading the Bible. I have always been fascinated by Jesus and this private bible study lasted for 8 years. I learned so much in this time about Jesus and His teaching.
Since Summer 2004 I am in a Baptist Church and I am so happy here. It is amazing how Jesus has guided me and prepared me to realize His truth all the 8 years. I can nearly to 100% aggree to the teachings of this Baptist Church and this is great.
I can really encourage you to start reading the Holy Bible. Start with the Gospel of Luke. - It is the easiest to understand and to get to know Jesus better.
I can also advise you to pray to Him and ask Him what to do. Also read James 1:5 for this.
Also have a look for Christian TV. There are really good programs on there.
If you are ready to accept Jesus as your Savior, pray to Him.
Have for example a look on this website: Knowing God. You will find there a prayer that can help you.
*One of them also was confession to the priest. I can assure you know that God will forgive you if you have accepted Him as your Savior. Sin will be erased from you but this doesn’t mean that you can’t sin anymore. You can and you always will, but if you come to your Savior repenting, he will forgive you in His mercy because He loves you and always will because you are His child.
Please think about it again before making a desicion which Church to conider. Have a look at Lutheran Evagengelical Churches and Episcopolean Churches in your surrounding. Also talk to the pastors there (not only to a Catholic like some here advised you!).
And what’s most important listen to your heart. If you really faithfully pray to God or/and Jesus He will tell you where He wants you to have.
Don’t exclude Churches (but be aware of sects! I nearly became JWs and later on nearly a Mormon - but Jesus has guided me. It’s so wonderful to feel His love. To know that He loves me although I don’t deserve it - noone does!)!
So I would also advise you to have a look into the Methodist Church (they are also “more Catholic”).
PNCC (Polish National Church - they are a “heresy” in the eyes of the RCC!), or (depending where you live) the Old Catholic Church/Utrecht (They are also a “heresy”) or the Anglican Church. - They are all “more Catholic”.
But don’t exclude Baptists, Anabaptists, Mennonites and Pentecostals (be aware of the “oneness pentecostals” - they are similar to JW! And of “Pentecostals”/Charismatic Movementes with the prosperity gospel - I nearly came into such a “sect”!
Finally I have a good wikipedia page for you:
Wikipedia (English Version).
Have a look what a great variety of Christians there are in the world.
Here you also have Christian religions considered as “sects” at the bottom of the page.
Do like I did, besides studying the Holy Bible, having a look at the websites of the various Churches. They all write what they believe in and then you can judge for yourself.
Well then.
I wish you God’s wisdom through His Holy Ghost that you make the right desicion (FOR YOU!).
In Christ,
Esdra*
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Lutheranteach
Guest
I’d say you have a lot of research to do…I would look at the three churches you’ve mentioned and learn all you can, visit, talk to the clergy there, etc. and then move forward.
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Esdra
Guest
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anode
Guest
This is the non-Catholic thread , not the Apologetics thread , so any member of CAF can post a response to your question.
I will address this to the OP.
It sounds as if you want to be a Christian but not a Catholic. It also sounds as if you would be a very unhappy Catholic, chafing at all the rules. You have children, a husband who does not want to be a Catholic, or perhaps a member of any church, and I presume an intact marriage.
Becoming an observant Catholic could seriously endanger your marriage. You would have to stop practicing contraception, which would leave you open to unplanned pregnancies. How many children do you and your husband want to have? The only reason to do this is if you believe that the Catholic church is the only “true religion” and you can’t be a Christian or express a belief in God with any other group. It doesn’t sound to me as if you buy into any of this, mortal sin, purgatory, hell. The Catholic Church emphasizes sin a lot, defines many things as sins, therefore condemns people as sinners, and doesn’t provide much in the way of role models, if the current priest sex abuse scandal is any indication.
There are many other Christian groups, the mainstream being the Episcopalians, the Lutherans, the Presbyterians, the Methodists. I have had contact mainly with the Episcopalians and the Presbyterians. In any of these, you would receive a warm welcome, baptism for your children and lots of special youth activities for them, something lacking in many Catholic churches, a church “renewal of vows” for you and your husband, if he desires this, and lots of adult social activities as well, if you wish, also something lacing in many Catholic churches (A number of other threads have included a lot of complaints from faithful Catholics re the lack of activities in their parishes.)
In addition, the Episcopal Church practices Reconciliation, usually in the form of a private face-to-face with a priest–there are a lot of women Episcopal priests now, which might make this easier–which ends with a formal release from sin, if this is what you want. Any church can provide this, with the face-to-face probably ending in a prayer.
I think that if you were to go back to the Catholic church, you would end up being dissatisfied, would leave it again and might feel even worse.
Before you decide what to do, I think that you should consider all options.
I will address this to the OP.
It sounds as if you want to be a Christian but not a Catholic. It also sounds as if you would be a very unhappy Catholic, chafing at all the rules. You have children, a husband who does not want to be a Catholic, or perhaps a member of any church, and I presume an intact marriage.
Becoming an observant Catholic could seriously endanger your marriage. You would have to stop practicing contraception, which would leave you open to unplanned pregnancies. How many children do you and your husband want to have? The only reason to do this is if you believe that the Catholic church is the only “true religion” and you can’t be a Christian or express a belief in God with any other group. It doesn’t sound to me as if you buy into any of this, mortal sin, purgatory, hell. The Catholic Church emphasizes sin a lot, defines many things as sins, therefore condemns people as sinners, and doesn’t provide much in the way of role models, if the current priest sex abuse scandal is any indication.
There are many other Christian groups, the mainstream being the Episcopalians, the Lutherans, the Presbyterians, the Methodists. I have had contact mainly with the Episcopalians and the Presbyterians. In any of these, you would receive a warm welcome, baptism for your children and lots of special youth activities for them, something lacking in many Catholic churches, a church “renewal of vows” for you and your husband, if he desires this, and lots of adult social activities as well, if you wish, also something lacing in many Catholic churches (A number of other threads have included a lot of complaints from faithful Catholics re the lack of activities in their parishes.)
In addition, the Episcopal Church practices Reconciliation, usually in the form of a private face-to-face with a priest–there are a lot of women Episcopal priests now, which might make this easier–which ends with a formal release from sin, if this is what you want. Any church can provide this, with the face-to-face probably ending in a prayer.
I think that if you were to go back to the Catholic church, you would end up being dissatisfied, would leave it again and might feel even worse.
Before you decide what to do, I think that you should consider all options.
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Lapey
Guest
Yes he was Catholic. He was baptized with the desire to be with Christ, He is the head of His Church.
Please elaborate on the rules just made up by the Church please.
PS. I would never attempt to force anyone to be Catholic either, but I can garentee one thing to you my brother, if you would learn your faith and live your faith completely your wife would leave everything to be your Catholic wife!!! As the two disciples said after walking with Jesus on the road to Emmaus, “weren’t our hearts burning for Him?”
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Lapey
Guest
Very good advice here. I would suggest to you to look into the one that you are technically part of, the Catholic Church. When you find untruth, leave it and move to the next. But please do a complete honest search for truth, scripture, tradition and magisterium; not media and public rumor.
Most people leave their denomination or religion not knowing what they are leaving. Don’t put yourself in that number.
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Lapey
Guest
Only thing I would say here is that birth control is not a Catholic issue; it is a God issue. Is Christ truly Lord of your life if you control the fact that the sex you partake in is not open to life? I say no. Marriage and marital sex is created by God, not man, not cival authorities; God only. Sex is beautiful when practiced in the way God intended for it to be. It is a renewal of marital vows and is very prayerful. Do you pray while engageing in marital sex? If not why not?
Remember God is in charge, not a condem.
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laneo
Guest
From what I have heard venial and mortal sins are only established in the Catholic church. I disagree with the fact that if you are Christian but not Catholic you cannot receive the Eucharist. You dont HAVE to confess to a priest, Purgatory is another one, but I am not here to argue with you anybody. I have no reason to. And you say The Good thief (Dismas) was baptized with desire, okay, well, how is he Catholic? Just because the Church canonized him…Yes he was Catholic. He was baptized with the desire to be with Christ, He is the head of His Church.
Please elaborate on the rules just made up by the Church please.
PS. I would never attempt to force anyone to be Catholic either, but I can garentee one thing to you my brother, if you would learn your faith and live your faith completely your wife would leave everything to be your Catholic wife!!! As the two disciples said after walking with Jesus on the road to Emmaus, “weren’t our hearts burning for Him?”
I just get a bad vibe from a lot of these posts. People act like Catholicism is the only religion thats “right”. Christ couldn’t care less if you are Catholic or Methodists, or a Non-denominational Christian. It just seems to me a lot of people act like if you aren’t Catholic, hell awaits. We aren’t superior to any other Christian faiths nor do we deserve any special attention.
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jlengle00
Guest
Thanks James…its nice to know someone who was in a similar situation. I doubt my husband will come with me to church as he is very anti-Catholic and that sometimes tends to put me in a tough situation. He is however very supportive of me and my decision to go back to the Church. I’m thinking that sticking with the Catholic Church will probably be the best decision for me at this point. That is where my family is at and if I choose to go elsewhere, that could take a lot of time and research. There are several methodist and luthern churches and one episcopal. So not only would I have to research their teachings, I’ll have to find the right church too. I really don’t want to be a Church hopper and I’m not one for change. I feel like being Catholic is who I am and where I should be despite the differences between my husband and I and our views on being Catholic.
Everyone on here has been so helpful and I thank you all for the variety of responses. Some of you are probably right…maybe I just don’t understand it enough. Hopefully when I go back I will slowly begin to get the answers I need. I know God is here helping me through this tough journey…he didn’t let me give up yet!
Don’t worry…I will get my kids Baptized! I really hate myself for not doing it sooner…my mother is having a tough time knowing they aren’t baptized.
J
jlengle00
Guest
People act like Catholicism is the only religion thats “right”. Christ couldn’t care less if you are Catholic or Methodists, or a Non-denominational Christian. It just seems to me a lot of people act like if you aren’t Catholic, hell awaits. We aren’t superior to any other Christian faiths nor do we deserve any special attention.
That’s sometimes how I feel…that’s why I questioned whether or not I wanted to back to being Catholic. I want to enjoy the church I’m a part of…not feel as though it’s a chore. I don’t want to feel like if I miss Church one week then I’m some big horrible sinner. Another reason I wanted find a more laid back Church.
That’s sometimes how I feel…that’s why I questioned whether or not I wanted to back to being Catholic. I want to enjoy the church I’m a part of…not feel as though it’s a chore. I don’t want to feel like if I miss Church one week then I’m some big horrible sinner. Another reason I wanted find a more laid back Church.
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Lapey
Guest
You are correct it is not about argueing, its about truth. The full truth. The church has always taught and still does teach that the salvation which Christ offers is offered through and flows through the Catholic Church in the sacrements, I believe that whole heartedly. That in no way means I believe only Catholics will be in Heaven, that would be a silly belief. It would be as silly to say that I believe there will be no Catholics in Hell; all are welcome!
I don’t know how He saves outside of the Church, that is up to Jesus. I am called to be holy, a witness to Him, a martyr.
My whole point was to learn where you are and who you are before leaving. Even if you are not planning to leave, learn about your faith. Don’t listen to what people tell you about it; do the work and learn about it.
The diffenent “levels” of sin, for lack of a better word, is quite easy to understand. Don’t make it too complicated. If I use an profane explitive in conversation just as a word it is a sin, right? But is it as serious a sin if I were to use that same word in an arguement with hate filled intent to do a person harm? I would say there is a distinct difference, and in the sermon on the mount, Mathew’s Gospel, Jesus said that was the same as commiting murder.
But again, please seek the truth and knowlege; both you and the op. For that matter me too!!! God help us and lead us to your Son’s truth…amen!
C
CMatt25
Guest
:clapping: God bless you and your fiance on your marriage. It sounds like you both walk with Christ on solid ground. Peace.
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laneo
Guest
I believe Christ to save outside the church. He didn’t get crucified and then say “I am only dying for Catholics”. I know quite a bit about my faith, I was raised in a Catholic/Italian family. hahahah. I was baptized, confirmed, went to Catholic school, etc. We are just a bit more open minded than some other people we have met. My mom states that Lutherans, Catholics, Methodists, etc, it doesn’t matter. We worship and believe in the same God and accept the Christ as our Saviour. My mother is a very religious person, but she doesn’t always go along with everything Catholic Church says. As far as the sin issue goes, sin is sin. I believe the only sin to be unforgivable is blasphemy of the Holy Spirit, that’s it. Anyway, Christ will save all who are Christians, end of story. I will always remain Catholic, but maybe I am just a bit of a rebel…You are correct it is not about argueing, its about truth. The full truth. The church has always taught and still does teach that the salvation which Christ offers is offered through and flows through the Catholic Church in the sacrements, I believe that whole heartedly. That in no way means I believe only Catholics will be in Heaven, that would be a silly belief. It would be as silly to say that I believe there will be no Catholics in Hell; all are welcome!
I don’t know how He saves outside of the Church, that is up to Jesus. I am called to be holy, a witness to Him, a martyr.
My whole point was to learn where you are and who you are before leaving. Even if you are not planning to leave, learn about your faith. Don’t listen to what people tell you about it; do the work and learn about it.
The diffenent “levels” of sin, for lack of a better word, is quite easy to understand. Don’t make it too complicated. If I use an profane explitive in conversation just as a word it is a sin, right? But is it as serious a sin if I were to use that same word in an arguement with hate filled intent to do a person harm? I would say there is a distinct difference, and in the sermon on the mount, Mathew’s Gospel, Jesus said that was the same as commiting murder.
But again, please seek the truth and knowlege; both you and the op. For that matter me too!!! God help us and lead us to your Son’s truth…amen!
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laneo
Guest
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Esdra
Guest
Hi
thank you for this post.
It’s one of the best posts I have ever read from Catholic.
I am so happy that there are Catholics who seem to understand my positions because this is what I have been saying so often in this thread and everytime people are coming along with the fulness of truth, the one Church established by Christ and (though not so directly stated) that I am going to hell for leaving the RCC for a heresy (their favorite word.)
Thank you again.
God bless you laneo!
In Christ,
Esdra
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Lapey
Guest
That’s sometimes how I feel…that’s why I questioned whether or not I wanted to back to being Catholic. I want to enjoy the church I’m a part of…not feel as though it’s a chore. I don’t want to feel like if I miss Church one week then I’m some big horrible sinner. Another reason I wanted find a more laid back Church.
We are all big horrible sinners, thats why Jesus came to reconcile us.
I used to feel uncomfortable in the Catholic Church too. Now I am more than comfortable, I am home. Once again I just ask that you seek answers to your questions from sources that teach truly what the Church believes and teaches, and if you find untruth, leave to research the next on your list and so on.
But dont be surprised if you get sucked into what you belong and drag your family in as well. Thats what happened to me. I went from a 28 year old who was fed up with everything I had been told, pro and con, to a person in formation to be a permanant deacon in love with Jesus Christ in His Church.
What a journey of faith. I am still looking for that un-truth, I am now 44 and sure of my calling; I pray the same for you where ever you land!
J
jmcrae
Guest
This is precisely why it is so important to continue learning about our faith even as adults. As an eight-year-old going to Confession, the teachers were giving you as much as an eight-year-old can understand, but you have become capable of much more, since then - what you were told when you were eight years old is no longer enough for you.
Start talking to a good priest, and start receiving an adult-level education about these things.
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