To Protestants: Why aren't you Catholic?

[St.Eric]

NonDenom:

Hi All
The reason that I’m not a Roman Catholic is that there are not alot of real truths in the church.
In Him and Only Him

That is funny, the “in him and only him”. Christ himself told us:

“If you love me do the will of my father” That would indicate someone other than him

He told the apostles: “whoever hears you hears me. Who’s sins you forgive, they are forgiven, who’s sins you retain, are retained.”

Oops, once again, he shows us the importance of others

He again tells the apostles: :whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in Heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in Heaven."

Oops: once again, Christ is giving power to mere flesh:

“In Him and only him?” No, Non-Denon, it is rather “through him” and through him he wants to show us the entire family. Christ is not so egocentric that it is only him. He is the bridge to the rest of the divine family.

 

[St.Eric]

12volt_man:

I went to Catholic schools as a child and through their CCD classes.

I’m embarrassed to admit it now, but about five years ago, I seriously considered converting to Roman Catholicism.

After I stepped back to consider my reasons for wanting to do so, I realized it was out of a sense of nostalgia for warm memories from my childhood (fortunately, I managed to get through Catholic school without being molested by any of the priests) and not out of any conviction on my part.

Now, having been able to look at Roman Catholic teachings in an objective manner and being able to engage Roman Catholics on another message board about Roman Catholic teachings, all I can say is,“THANK GOD I managed to avoid that snare!”

As long as Roman Catholics continue to hold to such Unbiblical teachings as praying to statues of dead people, sacraments required for salvation, the word of the pope over the word of God, the veneration of Mary, the idea of Mary as co-redemptrix and mediatrix, and various other things, I cannot in good conscience be a part of that organization.

Lord, forgive him for he knows not what he does. I have prayed for you 12-volt man.

 

[Eden]

12volt_man:

I went to Catholic schools as a child and through their CCD classes.

I’m embarrassed to admit it now, but about five years ago, I seriously considered converting to Roman Catholicism.

After I stepped back to consider my reasons for wanting to do so, I realized it was out of a sense of nostalgia for warm memories from my childhood (fortunately, I managed to get through Catholic school without being molested by any of the priests) and not out of any conviction on my part.

It seems odd to me that somebody would both go to a Catholic school and go through CCD classes. CCD classes are for Catholic children going to public schools to have after school instruction in the Catholic faith. A child in Catholic school would not additionally go to CCD. And a child whose family was not Catholic would not go to CCD after classes at a public school. So, why in the world did you, a non-Catholic, participate in all this Catholicism? This is all beyond my realm of comprehension. Something is strange about this story.
Has anybody else noticed the influx of posters claiming to have a Catholic background who use Catholic terminology in the wrong context?

 

[12volt_man]

Eden:

It seems odd to me that somebody would both go to a Catholic school and go through CCD classes. CCD classes are for Catholic children going to public schools to have after school instruction in the Catholic faith. A child in Catholic school would not additionally go to CCD. And a child whose family was not Catholic would not go to CCD after classes at a public school. So, why in the world did you, a non-Catholic, participate in all this Catholicism?

I didn’t go to CCD at the same time that I went to Catholic school.

I went to Catholic school in grade school at St. Stephens’ in Pennsaukenn, NJ and in high school at St. Joes’ in Toms River, NJ.

In between that time, I attended grade school in Barrington, NJ and attended CCD classes across the street at St. Charles Boromeo, along with many of my classmates.

While I was raised in the Methodist church, when my mother remarried, her new husband was Roman Catholic and wanted us to go to Catholic school.

CCD was entirely my idea. While I didn’t particularly care one way or the other, I did want to go with my friends and please my new stepfather.

 

[12volt_man]

St.Eric:

Lord, forgive him for he knows not what he does. I have prayed for you 12-volt man.

Thank you, but I believe that I’ve made a well informed decision, based on a careful examination of Roman Catholic beliefs and I simply do not believe that the things I’ve listed are Biblically justifiable.

 

[cathgal]

StMarkEofE:

This is not so hard to understand. Being not anti Buddhist doesnt make me want to join Buddhism. Protestants who may take or leave the Catholic church may not want to join because they simply enjoy their own religion. They may like the socialization within their religious community, or they love a particular preacher, or its close by and convenient. There could be a number of reasons for a non Catholic to stay non Catholic. They dont necessarily have to hate or be anti Catholic for them to remain Protestant. I suspect a vast number of Protestants are very content in their religion.

You can’t miss something that you never have.

 

[St.Eric]

12volt_man:

As long as Roman Catholics continue to hold to such Unbiblical teachings as praying to statues of dead people, sacraments required for salvation, the word of the pope over the word of God, the veneration of Mary, the idea of Mary as co-redemptrix and mediatrix, and various other things, I cannot in good conscience be a part of that organization.

If you really beleive the above statement, you either a) did not really attend CCD and a Catholic school, or b) if you did really attend these classes, you were VERY POORLY cathecised.

You have an extremely poor understanding of Catholic dogma. If you really understood what the church teaches in regards to the charges listed above, you would most likely be a Roman Catholic. Your previous posts betray the fact that you have some personal issues with what you “think” the church teaches. Like Bishop Fulton Sheen stated “there are thousands of people who hate what they think is the Catholic church, but their isn’t a handful who would hate her if they really knew what she taught.” (paraphrase).

 

[Eden]

12volt_man:

I didn’t go to CCD at the same time that I went to Catholic school.

I went to Catholic school in grade school at St. Stephens’ in Pennsaukenn, NJ and in high school at St. Joes’ in Toms River, NJ.

In between that time, I attended grade school in Barrington, NJ and attended CCD classes across the street at St. Charles Boromeo, along with many of my classmates.

While I was raised in the Methodist church, when my mother remarried, her new husband was Roman Catholic and wanted us to go to Catholic school.

CCD was entirely my idea. While I didn’t particularly care one way or the other, I did want to go with my friends and please my new stepfather.

Well, I think your rejection of the Catholic faith is wrapped up in more private issues related to family more than doctrine. But your childhood is really none of my business so I won’t push it any further than that.

 

[12volt_man]

St.Eric:

If you really understood what the church teaches in regards to the charges listed above, you would most likely be a Roman Catholic.

No, it’s precisely because I do understand that I am not a Roman Catholic.

Maybe if I didn’t understand, I could overlook the problems with it’s doctrine and behavior over the years.

Your previous posts betray the fact that you have some personal issues with what you “think” the church teaches.

Evidently, there are a lot of Roman Catholics who “think” Roman Catholicism teaches this, too.

Like Bishop Fulton Sheen stated “there are thousands of people who hate what they think is the Catholic church, but their isn’t a handful who would hate her if they really knew what she taught.” (paraphrase).

I don’t hate anyone. I simply think that Christians need to stand up against false doctrines and start to take the word of God seriously.

 

[12volt_man]

Eden:

Well, I think your rejection of the Catholic faith is wrapped up in more private issues related to family more than doctrine. But your childhood is really none of my business so I won’t push it any further than that.

Not likely. My interest in Roman Catholicism was only based on positice experiences with my step-family and the nuns at school. I don’t see how that would drive me away.

No, it wasn’t until years later, when I was encouraged to read the Bible and attended a small Baptist church in Alabama, where they preached the Gospel, that I became a Christian.

 

[Eden]

12volt_man:

I don’t hate anyone. I simply think that Christians need to stand up against false doctrines and start to take the word of God seriously.

I completely agree with you as well. We must stand up against false doctrines. That is the purpose of the catholic.com message boards.

 

[Eden]

12volt_man:

Not likely. My interest in Roman Catholicism was only based on positice experiences with my step-family and the nuns at school. I don’t see how that would drive me away.

No, it wasn’t until years later, when I was encouraged to read the Bible and attended a small Baptist church in Alabama, where they preached the Gospel, that I became a Christian.

You became a Baptist. Being Catholic one is by definition Christian as Catholics were the first Christians from whom all others derive. The truths you have in your faith were taken from the Church. That is why I recognize you as a fellow Christian. But you do not have the fullness of truth. You have many heretical beliefs.

 

[St.Eric]

12volt_man:

No, it’s precisely because I do understand that I am not a Roman Catholic.

Maybe if I didn’t understand, I could overlook the problems with it’s doctrine and behavior over the years.

Evidently, there are a lot of Roman Catholics who “think” Roman Catholicism teaches this, too.

I don’t hate anyone. I simply think that Christians need to stand up against false doctrines and start to take the word of God seriously.

I would like to see a thourough explaination of the “false doctrines” you charge that the Church teaches. One liners don’t hold much water.

 

[12volt_man]

St.Eric:

I would like to see a thourough explaination of the “false doctrines” you charge that the Church teaches. One liners don’t hold much water.

I’ve already listed several of them in this thread.

 

[12volt_man]

Eden:

But you do not have the fullness of truth.

I would rather have my Christ than your rituals.

You have many heretical beliefs.

No, all of our beliefs are supported by scripture.

 

[St.Eric]

12volt_man:

I’ve already listed several of them in this thread.

12Volt:

Yes, you listed some charges but have not substantiated those charges in the least. I just reviewed all of your posts here. None come close to giving explanations of your false understanding of Catholic teaching. As I said before, one liners don’t hold a lot of water.

 

[Eden]

12volt_man:

I would rather have my Christ than your rituals.

No, all of our beliefs are supported by scripture.

These are empty statements that you make without any solid support. Typing the same things over and over again will not make your heretical beliefs true.

 

[Alfie]

12volt_man:

Not likely. My interest in Roman Catholicism was only based on positice experiences with my step-family and the nuns at school. I don’t see how that would drive me away.

No, it wasn’t until years later, when I was encouraged to read the Bible and attended a small Baptist church in Alabama, where they preached the Gospel, that I became a Christian.

You make a very good point about preaching the gospel. I have rarely heard a Catholic priest be able to preach the gospel . It is not like listening to a spirit-filled protestant pastor. A truly born again peacher doesn’t have to have notes or the Bible to read from. He does not stammer and stumble through the sermon. The word flows naturally from him. That is because the Holy Spirit is speaking through him. I have been at different protestant churches where the congregation will pray for the anointing of the Holy Spirit upon the pastor and his sermon. Sometimes a pastor will preach a totally different sermon from the one he had originally planned to preach. The Spirit will change the topic and speak through the pastor. I have seen a couple of Charismatic Catholics be able to preach that way, but I think it is only because of a natural talent. I have met preachers that are very shy, quiet, and not very articulate and yet that can preach superb sermons.

 

[Eden]

Alfie:

preach that way, but I think it is only because of a natural talent. I have met preachers that are very shy, quiet, and not very articulate and yet that can preach superb sermons.

The speaker should not be the feature. It is the message that should be what you are listening to. When preachers call attention to themselves rather than the message, that is vanity.

 

[cathgal]

12volt_man:

No, it’s precisely because I do understand that I am not a Roman Catholic. .

Who are you kidding here? You, a non-Catholic, conversing with Catholics here and if they say you don’t understand Catholicism, that’s exactly what it means.

Don’t try to be an expert in something you REALLY and TRULY don’t know. You just THINK you know.