What are the reasons I should (or shouldn't) become Catholic?

[AgnosTheist]

The crusades were an enterprise to regain the Holy sites that had been captured by Moslems to the peril of Christian lives when Pilgrims attempted to visit.

I have no complaints about the crusades. I’m all for it! It was fully justified and a lot of good came out of it, even though the west ultimately lost.

Nobody was executed who was not a Christian heretic or a recidivist. And it was the state that carried out the sentence, no the Church. Just being Jewish wasn’t a ticket to be burned at the stake.

Even given the closer relationship between Church and governments in those days, to say that the Conquistadors were “part of the Church” is a contortion that requires complete abandonment of the facts

The church includes laymen, doesnt it? Otherwise, what did the clergy do about such atrocities? Did they actually oppose it, or let it slide?

And it wasn’t just Catholics who believed that heresy was worse than murder (which it is because it kills the soul. If you’re going to slam the Catholics for this, you need to give equal time to the Protestants since they sent thousands of Catholic martyrs to their deaths.

of course they had some fair share too. but this is about catholicism. becoming a member makes someone, to same degree, a shareholder to its accomplishments, whether good or ill.

 

[AgnosTheist]

They are but have no God in their religion nor the concept of heaven or hell.

Hey- to each, his own. Right? Unless you have a card under your sleeves that makes your ‘truth’ objectively more credible than theirs.

Because they were guilty. The Church did not kill them but the secular kingdom like the kings. The Church appointed judges but took no part in the killing.

Pope John Paul II took responsibility by “expressing admission of guilt and apology for sins committed in the past against many groups and communities by the Catholic Church”.

That was an admirable step. Past is past, but its still on record. May the Catholic Church continue to better its ways.

 

[TOP]

Yes it is “one on one” . Your experience (past tense?)

But as Paul stated he has SEEN the risen Christ.

It was an intervention. Because I am a sinner, I was unable to contain that amount of grace for myself. I do still have promptings though. Tim

 

[Mannyfit75]

Hey- to each, his own. Right? Unless you have a card under your sleeves that makes your ‘truth’ objectively more credible than theirs.

Pope John Paul II took responsibility by “expressing admission of guilt and apology for sins committed in the past against many groups and communities by the Catholic Church”.

That was an admirable step. Past is past, but its still on record. May the Catholic Church continue to better its ways.

John Paul II did and I admire for his seeking mercy. I do acknowledge the sins of the Catholic laymen but like I said the Catholic Church has never condemn torture nor accept force conversion. She believes that one ought by his own free will may convert if God’s calling for him to become a Christian.

I do believe that the conversion of natives of Americas is due to the Lady of Guadalupe

 

[Charlie_Zeaiter]

… I entered the Episcopal Church coming out of a born-again-Bible-only tradition. The Episcopal Church permitted me to “up-Church” in minor increments over a period of years until one day I realized that in order to be an honest man, I HAD to become Catholic…

Hi mercygate,

Obviously, I’m glad your Catholic. It’s a reassurance to me and my faith.

How do you feel about the other people who are currently in the Episcopal Church; Do you think they have to become Catholic?

 

[boppaid]

Inquisition was necessary to combat heresy. The conquidors was primarily the actions of the King and Queen of Spain rather than the Pope in Rome. In fact the Pope at the time did not believe in force conversations of the natives in the Americas.

Weren’t people put to death inthe inquisition for their beliefs? Did the church really advocate that? (I’m sorry…I’m rusty on my church history knowledge.) I hope not!

 

[mercygate]

Pope John Paul II took responsibility by “expressing admission of guilt and apology for sins committed in the past against many groups and communities by the Catholic Church”.

Citation please? It is my recollection that the apology was for the actions of “Christians” and “Catholics”. This is a different animal from “the Catholic Church” although the subtlety of that distinction would be incomprehensible to critics of the Church.

 

[mercygate]

Hi mercygate,

Obviously, I’m glad your Catholic. It’s a reassurance to me and my faith.

How do you feel about the other people who are currently in the Episcopal Church; Do you think they have to become Catholic?

'Nother thread. You have to make the move when you realize that you are doing the “like a duck” act. When I found myself defending Catholic practice and teaching *to Catholics *as well as to non-Catholics, I knew it was time. Not to become officially Catholic was sinful. Episcopalians who believe in the ordination of women, serial polygamy, abortion, contraception, euthanasia, open same-sex arrangements, and who do not believe the doctrinal teachings of Christianity are not yet ready to take the step.

 

[AgnosTheist]

Citation please?

what do you make of this:

pbs.org/newshour/bb/religion/jan-june00/apology_3-13.html

 

[Mannyfit75]

Weren’t people put to death inthe inquisition for their beliefs? Did the church really advocate that? (I’m sorry…I’m rusty on my church history knowledge.) I hope not!

At the time it was necessary.

newadvent.org/cathen/08026a.htm Read this about the Inquistion

 

[Isa_Almisry]

Regarding JOHN 6
addressing those who stayed! I am standing there, someone is preaching like i’ve never heard says my “flesh” if you eat it you have eternal life, I believe he is speaking literal…**WHAT WOULD BE THE NATURAL NEXT STEP?**A lil hunk of His flesh? YES!
Let’s be serious people have been trying for centuries to figure out eternal life either in or out of the flesh, someone says it, you believe it, and your not gonna bumrush him???

Btw Does Christ say “Take, Eat…Take, Drink…” in John 6? Like he does in at the Last Supper.

I guess the Apostles just knew how to take directions, that’s all.

 

[myfavoritmartin]

Btw Does Christ say “Take, Eat…Take, Drink…” in John 6? Like he does in at the Last Supper.

I guess the Apostles just knew how to take directions, that’s all.

Christ does dip and share with a mortally sinning Judas at the last supper, was it consecrated for all but Judas?

 

[2Rollin_Stoned]

What are the reasons I should -](or shouldn’t)/-] become Catholic?

“If you’re going to do a thing, you should do it thoroughly.
If you’re going to be a Christian, you may as well be a Catholic.” Muriel Spark

 

[Isa_Almisry]

Christ does dip and share with a mortally sinning Judas at the last supper, was it consecrated for all but Judas?

Nope. I Corinthians 11:27-30 (cf. Matthew 26:23-5, etc.)

 

[mercygate]

what do you make of this:

pbs.org/newshour/bb/religion/jan-june00/apology_3-13.html

That is a report, not the actual words of the Pope. Nobody in his right mind would try to defend any wrongs committed – ever. And where wrong has been committed, penance is in order.

But things need to be taken one step at a time and seen in their historical context. “History” today is very often written without much reference to fact and often with “better” than 20/20 hindsight.

 

[AgnosTheist]

That is a report, not the actual words of the Pope. Nobody in his right mind would try to defend any wrongs committed – ever. And where wrong has been committed, penance is in order.

PBS is a reputable organization, it cannot afford to lie on this:

in the Vatican’s words, to ask forgiveness for the past and present sins of the Church

You just refuse to recognize the wrongs in your history. Your conscience is numbed. Thats a good reason not to associate with a religion with a bloody past.

 

[mercygate]

PBS is a reputable organization, it cannot afford to lie on this:

in the Vatican’s words, to ask forgiveness for the past and present sins of the Church

You just refuse to recognize the wrongs in your history. Your conscience is numbed. Thats a good reason not to associate with a religion with a bloody past.

I am not refusing to recognize anything. And when it comes to the Catholic Church, PBS is not reliable. They’re one step ahead of The History Channel. And it is a very short step.

 

[AgnosTheist]

PBS is not reliable

PBS is reliabe when it claims to quote someone’s exact words. Or else they would be in a lot of trouble.

You are so in denial. Please, just prove their quote wrong if you can. Good luck!

 

[jpasta]

Well simple theist do you have your answer yet?
Or do you just want to see humans bicker back and forth about why or why not you should be Catholic?

 

[Ginger2]

When is the TRUTH really a LIE?

I’m not trying to take sides for or against the Pope’s apolgy, but PBS is not a reliable source of information (nor are most news media these days)

It has become popular among media today to tell the truth but leave out any facts that contradict the conclusion they are hoping the listener will come to.

I can give you factual information and still mislead you by not giving you all the facts. Technically, I am not lying, yet if you take me at my word you will believe a lie.

That is what PBS often does.