Struggling With My Faith

[Lauren517]

Hello. I have a question regarding my Catholic faith. I have been born and raised a Catholic, and I proudly made my confirmation when I was in high school nearly four years ago. I have always loved my faith. However, I have been struggling lately, especially after the outcome of the election. Just because I am a Catholic doesn’t make me a Conservative. Growing up in a blue state with a Democratic family, I have always been more progressive and liberal. I have a huge problem with the Republican Party and their platform. I cannot understand how Republicans claim they are “pro-life”, and yet do nothing when it comes to abortion (they use it as a campaign motive to get Christians to vote for them), strip people off of healthcare that is life-saving, take struggling mothers and children off of nutritional assistance, do not provide financial assistance to the poor, is hostile to immigrants, only care about business and money, reject climate change, love war and torture, and I could go on and on and on. I am not saying that I 100% agree with the Democratic Party (I am a registered Independent), however, I feel as though Democrats help much more people than Republicans (helping the poor lowers abortions). And yet, every time I tuned in to see what Catholics and Catholic hierarchy were saying about the election, it was always pro-Trump. As a woman, that was very hard for me, as we have all witnessed the blatant disrespect Trump has shown for women. I am not saying I agreed with Hillary 100%, but I was proud to have supported and vote for her, and many Catholics were very critical of that. I also disagree with the Church when it comes to marriage equality, contraception, and the ordination of women. I am not saying that the Church has to perform same-sex marriages, but I see nothing wrong and support gay couples who have their marriages recognized by their respective states (our nation was founded on separation of church and state). I also am skeptical of natural family planning. The majority of Catholics I know have used artificial birth control. I am not worried about this as I am young and not married, but I know in the future, I would have to used artificial birth control due to an underlying medical condition that would make it impossible for me to use NFP. Although I understand and respect why there is only an all-male ordination of the priesthood, I do struggle to comprehend this. As a woman and feminist, I think women could bring much to the priesthood, so I am excited that the Church is currently looking into women being ordained as deacons. I am sorry for rambling…. My question is can I still be a good Catholic, even though I disagree with some of the Church’s teachings? I would never leave the Church, as I find God there and I love the sacraments and saints, its just these pesky social issues that Catholics just won’t alone. I feel at times it’s almost as if the Catholics are 100% supporting the Republican Party, and that is just very hard for me to cope with and understand. Thank You and God Bless.

 

[JimR-OCDS]

What does your political views have to do with faith in Jesus Christ ?

You seem to be confusing Religion with Faith.

Faith, is God’s revelation to us, however that may happen. It is a gift from God.

Religion, is how we respond to that faith.

Political ideologies will always let you down.

Make Jesus Christ the center of your life, and Catholicism will have meaning.

Make politics the center of your life, and you’ll be conflicted as you’ve shared.

Jim

 

[fred_conty]

You don’t have to agree with them but listen to them and ask questions.

There are many ways to help the poor besides financial. Better schools for one.
But even financially, more jobs will be created by lowering taxes to business and less jobs will be sent oversees. So the poor will be helped financially too.

If things kept going the way they were, catholic hospitals would have to offer abortions and abortion drugs. And they couldn’t do this. So then what?

The abortion clinics which advertise themselves as places for helping the health of women, do not offer anything that other healthcare clinics offer except abortion. We don’t need them, nor want them when we have better clinics. Did you know that they will abort a child 9 months old in the womb and the present government supports that with your tax dollars?

As far as I know, the 20 million not covered with insurance will be covered. But this healthcare is unfair. I know of one person who has a full time good job who has to pay all med bills up to 10,000 dollars before Obaumacare kicks in. Basically he has no insurance except catastrophic care. There are many like him. So they are reduced to no insurance to pay for others who have no insurance. Don’t you think that there is a better way?

There are so many other things you said that only presents one side. I think the best thing you can do is to research what is actually being said and why. Get the other side.

 

[dnu]

Lauren,

That is quite a lengthy thread with a multitude of concerns. Perhaps addressing them one at a time in seperate posts would make it easier for others to discuss the issues with you.

David

 

[7_Sorrows]

What does your political views have to do with faith in Jesus Christ ?

You seem to be confusing Religion with Faith.

Faith, is God’s revelation to us, however that may happen. It is a gift from God.

Religion, is how we respond to that faith.

Political ideologies will always let you down.

Make Jesus Christ the center of your life, and Catholicism will have meaning.

Make politics the center of your life, and you’ll be conflicted as you’ve shared.

Jim

well said!

 

[USMC_Convert]

You need to break that down, too many issues in every sentence…

I will say this though, I am disturbed at how you characterize conservatives, and I would check my facts about that if I were you. I could just as easily say that all democrats love to murder babies, but generalizations and lies don’t help anyone.

 

[josephback]

I feel at times it’s almost as if the Catholics are 100% supporting the Republican Party, and that is just very hard for me to cope with and understand. Thank You and God Bless.

Which Catholics? Generally white financially secure Catholics? Like JimR - OCDS said, people sometimes confuse religion and faith. Bad leadership across the board (including other Christians such as Evangelicals) telling others they have “no choice” but to vote, and to implicitly vote for the “elephant” in the room doesn’t help anything. The last election I will ever believe God’s will is tied to a vote for a particular party - Trump proved that a lie. Those not in the pews aren’t about to forget, and it makes Christianity look bad.

 

[Reuben_J]

My question is can I still be a good Catholic, even though I disagree with some of the Church’s teachings? I would never leave the Church, as I find God there and I love the sacraments and saints, its just these pesky social issues that Catholics just won’t alone. I feel at times it’s almost as if the Catholics are 100% supporting the Republican Party, and that is just very hard for me to cope with and understand. Thank You and God Bless.

Hi.

Unfortunately, since you disagree with many of the Church’s teachings, it would be hard to be a ‘good’ Catholic.

I hope you are not mixing politic with religion because in many cases they can be two separate things. Also applies to religious teachings and Catholics themselves - they may be Catholics but the reality is that some do not practice.

The Church’s teachings such as man ordination and prohibition on birth control are not up for dissension; going against them, especially the latter would constitute sin. It is not for individual Catholics to disagree as they cannot disagree with God too.

As for same sex act, it is entirely prohibited and therefore a sin. It is not a sin though to have the sexual inclination to same sex, only when it is acted out.

It is good to hear that you will not leave the Catholic Church and you love the Sacraments and the saints but by saying that in the same breathe to your objection of the said teachings, you seem to be quite determine to disagree with the Church’s position.

I hope you see the contradiction - the saints that you love did not go against Church’s teaching, they might be at some time in their lives but they did get over them and became faithful Catholics. Sometimes they gave up their lives in fidelity to the teachings of the Church.

There is no two ways about it; you should accept them and then look for the arguments that support those teachings, which are quite clear actually.

 

[Viki63]

Lauren,
As JimR says, please don’t confuse politics with religion. Our political party doesn’t determine our faith.
I agree with you on some issues (healthcare for example), but could never vote for a party which has abortion as part of its platform. Really – they think it’s okay to tear a living baby to pieces in its mother’s womb?
In times past, ripping an unborn child from its mother was considered the worst atrocity possible. There are many of us who voted against Clinton because that was a deal-breaker, and she just didn’t get it.
Preserving human life comes first. After that we can argue about the best way to supply food, healthcare, housing, etc.
God bless.

.

 

[USMC_Convert]

Lauren,
As JimR says, please don’t confuse politics with religion. Our political party doesn’t determine our faith.
I agree with you on some issues (healthcare for example), but could never vote for a party which has abortion as part of its platform. Really – they think it’s okay to tear a living baby to pieces in its mother’s womb?
In times past, ripping an unborn child from its mother was considered the worst atrocity possible. There are many of us who voted against Clinton because that was a deal-breaker, and she just didn’t get it.
Preserving human life comes first. After that we can argue about the best way to supply food, healthcare, housing, etc.
God bless.

.

Excellent post…

 

[faithsmind]

Lauren-

I’m glad you’re asking questions. You’re on your new journey as an adult. But it sounds as though you have all the answers answered, and yet…there is still confusion. The puzzle pieces aren’t fitting for you…

I think it may be wise to begin your questions with Jesus, not politics. Who is Jesus and why have people died for Him? Why have people given everything over to Him? That is what He asked of us before He died–that we come follow Him and leave everything behind. Question yourself. Have you left everything behind and followed Him? How so?
What does He mean by leaving everything behind?

Another question: Why is it that the Catholic Church has never compromised her teaching on male priests for over 2000 years? Why did Jesus only choose to have men at the Last Supper and choose a male to become a pope? His mother was perfect, and yet He did not ask her to become pope, but instead asked John to take her into His home and take care of her. Was Jesus a bigot? Start with Jesus and seek to understand and love Him. Don’t stop reading and listening.

It’s important that we don’t seek to fit Jesus into our own lives. He died on a cross and asks us to do the same for Him. Start there.