To be Catholic, do I have to think others are wrong? Or I'm right?

[rinnie]

Jesus also said he would turn no one away and as you fully know other Christians have differing interpretations about what Jesus meant in regards to “eat” and about the table and keys, the Church, and a whole host of things. That’s faith.

Correct there are different interpretations of scripture, and Jesus warned us about that in the bible.

But let me ask you this personally, if you know the truth and it has been revealed to you, what the true interpretation of a scripture is, as Christ taught it, and his Apostles taught it, and you go to a Protestant Church and hear their Preacher’s interpretation of this, do you believe you can accept that interpretation as correct, or is it wrong?

You can pray with a Protestant, you can pray with anyone, Jesus taught us we can. While I do not feel it is our right or duty to go to any Protestant Church and correct them, we do have a duty to ourself to accept the truth given to us.

Does that mean we cannot go to a Protestant Church and pray, or go to their functions? Absolutely not. But there are things we as Catholics cannot participate in.

My personal opinion is this, if you know the truth that was revealed to you, and you have that grace from God you should use it, and obey him.

 

[Magdalena59]

…

You can pray with a Protestant, you can pray with anyone, Jesus taught us we can. While I do not feel it is our right or duty to go to any Protestant Church and correct them, we do have a duty to ourself to accept the truth given to us.

Does that mean we cannot go to a Protestant Church and pray, or go to their functions? Absolutely not. But there are things we as Catholics cannot participate in.

My personal opinion is this, if you know the truth that was revealed to you, and you have that grace from God you should use it, and obey him.

Agree with this.

There are functions that protestants and Catholics can pray at together, such as pro-life gatherings but I would not advise attending a protestant service or encouraging a Catholic to attend a protestant service.

If a Catholic is not well grounded in his or her Catholicism and some of the first things they hear when attending a protestant church is that they are saved by faith alone or they need to be re-baptized as an adult, they can easily be confused and their souls led to danger as they would be on the road to doubting the Catholic faith.

God bless.

 

[rinnie]

Agree with this.

There are functions that protestants and Catholics can pray at together, such as pro-life gatherings but I would not advise attending a protestant service or encouraging a Catholic to attend a protestant service.

If a Catholic is not well grounded in his or her Catholicism and some of the first things they hear when attending a protestant church is that they are saved by faith alone or they need to be re-baptized as an adult, they can easily be confused and their souls led to danger as they would be on the road to doubting the Catholic faith.

God bless.

It is so horrible to say this, but as my Dad would say do you want truth or not? As the title says do I have to think others are wrong? No you must know others are wrong.

Like when they deny the Eucharist and say it is not the true body and blood of Christ, they are wrong the Eucharist is. You hate to say people are wrong but they are. But on the other hand why would Jesus leave us the Church to teach us truth if it did not matter.

That is why I believe like you it is best to stay in your faith, practice it, and let others do as they choose.

 

[Sy_Noe]

Correct there are different interpretations of scripture, and Jesus warned us about that in the bible.

But let me ask you this personally, if you know the truth and it has been revealed to you, what the true interpretation of a scripture is, as Christ taught it, and his Apostles taught it, and you go to a Protestant Church and hear their Preacher’s interpretation of this, do you believe you can accept that interpretation as correct, or is it wrong?

You can pray with a Protestant, you can pray with anyone, Jesus taught us we can. While I do not feel it is our right or duty to go to any Protestant Church and correct them, we do have a duty to ourself to accept the truth given to us.

Does that mean we cannot go to a Protestant Church and pray, or go to their functions? Absolutely not. But there are things we as Catholics cannot participate in.

My personal opinion is this, if you know the truth that was revealed to you, and you have that grace from God you should use it, and obey him.

Oh you will never hear me say with certainty that I know the truth. I’m merely a finite human on this earth along a path of trying to understand an infinite being, God, to the best of my limited human capabilities. And human understanding of such a being, to the degree we can understand at all, I believe can evolve rather than placing God in a box with the lid closed. The only way a person can say they “know” is with faith. For instance, faithful Catholics believe and think they know because they have faith in their church’s interpretations.

 

[Wannano]

Oh you will never hear me say with certainty that I know the truth. I’m merely a finite human on this earth along a path of trying to understand an infinite being, God, to the best of my limited human capabilities. And human understanding of such a being, to the degree we can understand at all, I believe can evolve rather than placing God in a box with the lid closed. The only way a person can say they “know” is with faith. For instance, faithful Catholics believe and think they know because they have faith in their church’s interpretations.

 

[Magdalena59]

Oh you will never hear me say with certainty that I know the truth. I’m merely a finite human on this earth along a path of trying to understand an infinite being, God, to the best of my limited human capabilities. And human understanding of such a being, to the degree we can understand at all, I believe can evolve rather than placing God in a box with the lid closed. The only way a person can say they “know” is with faith. For instance, faithful Catholics believe and think they know because they have faith in their church’s interpretations.

So, my thought on this is that in John 16:13 it says, “But when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will teach you all truth”, so that tells us as Christians that there is a truth and the Holy Spirit will lead us to it. The Holy Spirit leads us to the ONE truth. Jesus promised it, that is a done deal. He will lead us. He will lead you.

1 Timothy 3:15 “the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.”

The Church that Jesus said He would build is the place to find the truth.

God bless.

 

[Peter_J]

And of course, under current canon law and Church discipline, in contrast to that prevailing in 1929, public worship with Protestants is not only permitted but even (at least under some circumstances, such as mutual prayer for unity) encouraged.

Edwin

I say: worry about today and 1929 will take care of itself.

 

[Sy_Noe]

So, my thought on this is that in John 16:13 it says, “But when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will teach you all truth”, so that tells us as Christians that there is a truth and the Holy Spirit will lead us to it. The Holy Spirit leads us to the ONE truth. Jesus promised it, that is a done deal. He will lead us. He will lead you.

1 Timothy 3:15 “the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.”

The Church that Jesus said He would build is the place to find the truth.

God bless.

None of that refutes anything that I said. I never said there is not a truth that ultimately we shall be led to. We each are on that path right now in this life until we take our last breaths. You believe you already know for sure what it is, based on as you have shown, by your faith in your church and it’s interpretations. Thank you and God bless you too!

 

[fhansen]

I was raised Catholic and try to follow the faith, but I don’t think other religions are all wrong, nor do I think that all of the Catholic teachings are the one and only right way. And for some Catholic teachings, I don’t even pretend to know what’s true, despite what the Catholic church teaches…only God can know. I do hold a Christian world-view but love God and love people, is what stands out for me.

My two grandmas were women of faith, and both attended church each week. They were kind people, too. One was Methodist and one was Catholic. I don’t think either was wrong. I don’t think either had the only “right” way to worship or lead a life. They loved people, as did Jesus.

The more I try to grow in my own Catholic faith, the more I feel walls are put up by other Catholics. Jesus taught us to love one another and respect all people. Why such division? My one grandma took me to her Methodist church whenever I was in town. Grandma is dead, but when in that town I still go to service there and remember her. I remember us praying there, and I did feel closer to God. All good memories.

And I don’t feel God is telling me, “Wait, you can only go to a Catholic mass, or you’re wrong. And all those people who don’t go to a Catholic church ever their whole lives are all wrong.” I do not feel my Methodist grandma’s prayers were somehow inferior because she was in a Methodist and not Catholic church, or vice versa. And I don’t feel her church experience was any less than my other grandma.

To be Catholic means to think we’re all wrong, in relation to God. But, in regards to other denominations, I’m Catholic because I’ve come to believe that the Roman Catholic Church is “most right”. The RCC, together with the Eastern Orthodox, is simply the Church God established at the beginning; history is on her side. Its not a matter of pride or arrogance, but only of truth. I tried Protestantism for many years, but the more I studied the bible, church teachings, and history, the more overwhelmed I became that there can be only one church; disunity was never intended by God. Having said that, other Christian denominations can still reflect aspects of His truth quite well, just not the fullness of His truth.

 

[Vico]

And of course, under current canon law and Church discipline, in contrast to that prevailing in 1929, public worship with Protestants is not only permitted but even (at least under some circumstances, such as mutual prayer for unity) encouraged.

Edwin

It certainly is.

Sharing in Non-Sacramental Liturgical Worship

1. By liturgical worship is meant worship carried out according to books, prescriptions and customs of a Church or ecclesial Community, presided over by a minister or delegate of that Church or Community. This liturgical worship may be of a non-sacramental kind, or may be the celebration of one or more of the Christian sacraments. The concern here is non-sacramental worship. …

Sharing in Sacramental Life, especially the Eucharist

a) Sharing in Sacramental Life with members of the various Eastern Churches
…
123. Whenever necessity requires or a genuine spiritual advantage suggests, and provided that the danger of error or indifferentism is avoided, it is lawful for any Catholic for whom it is physically or morally impossible to approach a Catholic minister, to receive the sacraments of penance, Eucharist and anointing of the sick from a minister of an Eastern Church.128
…

Sharing in Sacramental Life, especially the Eucharist

a) Sharing in Sacramental Life with members of the various Eastern Churches

1. Between the Catholic Church and the Eastern Churches not in full communion with it, there is still a very close communion in matters of faith.125 Moreover, “through the celebration of the Eucharist of the Lord in each of these Churches, the Church of God is built up and grows in stature” and “although separated from us, these Churches still possess true sacraments, above all—by apostolic succession—the priesthood and the Eucharist…”.126 This offers ecclesiological and sacramental grounds, according to the understanding of the Catholic Church, for allowing and even encouraging some sharing in liturgical worship, even of the Eucharist, with these Churches, “given suitable circumstances and the approval of church authorities”.127 It is recognized, however, that Eastern Churches, on the basis of their own ecclesiological understanding, may have more restrictive disciplines in this matter, which others should respect. Pastors should carefully instruct the faithful so that they will be clearly aware of the proper reasons for this kind of sharing in liturgical worship and of the variety of discipline which may exist in this connection.
2. Whenever necessity requires or a genuine spiritual advantage suggests, and provided that the danger of error or indifferentism is avoided, it is lawful for any Catholic for whom it is physically or morally impossible to approach a Catholic minister, to receive the sacraments of penance, Eucharist and anointing of the sick from a minister of an Eastern Church.128

…

b) Sharing Sacramental Life with Christians of Other Churches and Ecclesial Communities

the Catholic Church teaches that by baptism members of other Churches and ecclesial Communities are brought into a real, even if imperfect communion, with the Catholic Church 131 and that “baptism, which constitutes the sacramental bond of unity existing among all who through it are reborn… is wholly directed toward the acquiring of fullness of life in Christ”.132
…

in general the Catholic Church permits access to its Eucharistic communion and to the sacraments of penance and anointing of the sick, only to those who share its oneness in faith, worship and ecclesial life.133 For the same reasons, it also recognizes that in certain circumstances, by way of exception, and under certain conditions, access to these sacraments may be permitted, or even commended, for Christians of other Churches and ecclesial Communities.134

vatican.va/roman_curia/pontifical_councils/chrstuni/documents/rc_pc_chrstuni_doc_25031993_principles-and-norms-on-ecumenism_en.html

 

[rinnie]

Oh you will never hear me say with certainty that I know the truth. I’m merely a finite human on this earth along a path of trying to understand an infinite being, God, to the best of my limited human capabilities. And human understanding of such a being, to the degree we can understand at all, I believe can evolve rather than placing God in a box with the lid closed. The only way a person can say they “know” is with faith. For instance, faithful Catholics believe and think they know because they have faith in their church’s interpretations.

That is indeed where we differ. Jesus came to this world and gave his Apostles the power of the Holy Spirit to preach and teach in his name. The Apostolic succession exists to this day.

Jesus promised us that we would know the truth from his Church and his Church is the Pilar of truth. He promised not to leave us orphans. Do you believe he left us orphans?

I also do not believe that you nor I have could ever understand God. I do not believe the human can ever understand the Divine. Only if it is revealed to us through the Church by the Holy Spirit.

 

[rinnie]

Oh you will never hear me say with certainty that I know the truth. I’m merely a finite human on this earth along a path of trying to understand an infinite being, God, to the best of my limited human capabilities. And human understanding of such a being, to the degree we can understand at all, I believe can evolve rather than placing God in a box with the lid closed. The only way a person can say they “know” is with faith. For instance, faithful Catholics believe and think they know because they have faith in their church’s interpretations.

If I could say something else. I don’t believe for myself anyway, it is not my faith that makes me agree with my Church’s interpretations. In the RCC it is the promise of God that he would send the Advocate the Holy Spirit to lead and teach the Church. So if I may, it is not the Church’s Interpretations, it is the gift of the Holy SPirit that leads the Church.

Also there is much I do not understand, some God has not revealed to us yet, and other’s I just do not understand, some at times I can say not sure If I even agree. But I am taught Jesus never said you must understand or agree, you must obey. Usually down the road as I aged I have indeed obeyed and came to see that with obeying the word of God sometimes understanding comes after.