What dear friend, do you find strange about Catholicism?

[PJM]

=TC3033;13473348]I’ll probably get roasted here for this, but here it goes…

I (and my Catholic wife) find it strange that the Catholic church advertises that “All Are Welcome”, but when you’re there…it sure doesn’t seem like it. I know that in my journey as a non-Catholic within a Catholic family, we can tell that I am treated much different within the Parrish than my Catholic family.

Also posts like the one above don’t exactly make someone like myself, with my upbringing in the Church, want to attend Mass where it is believed that I will not be saved…

Also from my background where we’re all “God’s Children”, it seems strange to me to be so exclusive rather than inclusive…maybe that’s just me typ’n and I’m missing something…IDK.

Slow down a bit friend;

Over the years in my Catechist work, and especially as a co-teacher for 3 years of RCIA; it is a common complaint that the "RCC does not seem to be welcoming Church like my old [Protestant church was.]

Then I explain why this is.

Protestant worship services IMO aim to service their followers first and God second. The sense of “fellowship” being critical to their success.

While we Catholics do not scorn fellowship and its importance; we Do it outside the realm of the Mass itself.

The Mass; Eucharist is
FROM God the Father
OF God the Son
BY God the Holy Spirit

It is to be; must be, God centered Divine Worship for Jesus IS IB our midst:thumbsup:

Catholic Fellowship takes many forms:
K of C
Ladies Guild
Bible studies
and other ways as well. But we understand clearly OUR responsibility to separate as much as is practical; Godly Worship & . human fellowship.

Although the trend it seems to ME with all of the talking that goes on IN CHURCH , so often even in the Presence of Christ in the Tabernacle; before and after Mass [we’re leaving Jesus, not the other way around], it appears as WE are trying at least to mimic thier priorities:shrug:

God Bless,
Patrick

 

[PJM]

=dskysmine;13475722]I always lived as a Catholic and although I do understand their uses I still find them very strange:
-Getting blessings for everyday objects/rosaries
-Flagrum and cilices
-Scapulars

Anyways, not sure this is just for non-Catholics.

God Bless,
D.

The items you speak of are termed “sacramentals” Things intended to, and able to bring us closer to Christ."

By having them Blessed before using them enables the possibility of grace being attached to their use:thumbsup:

God Bless you,

Patrick

 

[TC3033]

Slow down a bit friend;

Over the years in my Catechist work, and especially as a co-teacher for 3 years of RCIA; it is a common complaint that the "RCC does not seem to be welcoming Church like my old [Protestant church was.]

Then I explain why this is.

Protestant worship services IMO aim to service their followers first and God second. The sense of “fellowship” being critical to their success.

While we Catholics do not scorn fellowship and its importance; we Do it outside the realm of the Mass itself.

The Mass; Eucharist is
FROM God the Father
OF God the Son
BY God the Holy Spirit

It is to be; must be, God centered Divine Worship for Jesus IS IB our midst:thumbsup:

**Catholic Fellowship takes many forms:**K of C
Ladies Guild
Bible studies
and other ways as well. But we understand clearly OUR responsibility to separate as much as is practical; Godly Worship & . human fellowship.

Although the trend it seems to ME with all of the talking that goes on IN CHURCH , so often even in the Presence of Christ in the Tabernacle; before and after Mass [we’re leaving Jesus, not the other way around], it appears as WE are trying at least to mimic thier priorities:shrug:

God Bless,
Patrick

I don’t mean fellowship within Mass, but outside of the Church. I don’t feel welcome to the Church both inside and outside.

Why would I not be invited to participate in these outside fellowships. Me and my asterisk is in the directory, but when it comes festival time at the small Church we attend all of my extended family (many of which attend Mass maybe twice per year, and I attend far more regularly) all get their invites and where the Church would like them to volunteer and I am not asked to be involved. Why would I not be asked to be involved in the fellowship, but all of the Catholics are?

I saw that said “All Are Welcome”, but in my experience I’ve not found that to be true. From my experience it is quite different to me for the Church to seem so exclusionary vs. inclusionary.

IMHO, I would disagree that Protestant service would put fellowship before God, but that is a whole different can of worms I’d rather not open. This isn’t the correct thread.

 

[Michael68]

I don’t mean fellowship within Mass, but outside of the Church. I don’t feel welcome to the Church both inside and outside.

Why would I not be invited to participate in these outside fellowships. Me and my asterisk is in the directory, but when it comes festival time at the small Church we attend all of my extended family (many of which attend Mass maybe twice per year, and I attend far more regularly) all get their invites and where the Church would like them to volunteer and I am not asked to be involved. Why would I not be asked to be involved in the fellowship, but all of the Catholics are?

From my experience it is quite different to me for the Church to seem so exclusionary vs. inclusionary.

IMHO, I would disagree that Protestant service would put fellowship before God, but that is a whole different can of worms I’d rather not open. This isn’t the correct thread.

If you are so upset about this, why don’t you become Catholic?

 

[JustaServant]

If you are so upset about this, why don’t you become Catholic?

You need to re-think your whole demeanor and posting style dude. You are not helping matters at all.

 

[JustaServant]

I don’t mean fellowship within Mass, but outside of the Church. I don’t feel welcome to the Church both inside and outside.

Have you tried a different parish? Many parishes are different than others, some welcoming, others cold. The same goes for Protestant churches.
Human beings will always disappoint and fail.

 

[TC3033]

Have you tried a different parish? Many parishes are different than others, some welcoming, others cold. The same goes for Protestant churches.
Human beings will always disappoint and fail.

For sure two. It seems our new one is a little bit more accepting…at least this Father. The one that was at this particular one when we first moved here would perform our marriage because I wasn’t Catholic.

 

[TC3033]

If you are so upset about this, why don’t you become Catholic?

Ahh, and there it is.

Don’t you think that this may be a fundamental that I disagree with that might keep me from wanting to be Catholic?

IDK, the way I was raised it didn’t matter what Church you “belonged” to in order to be accepted as part of the congregation. The purposeful exclusion to non-Catholics seems weird to me.

 

[Michael68]

You need to re-think your whole demeanor and posting style dude. You are not helping matters at all.

Why don’t you rethink yours. This is not helping

 

[JustaServant]

For sure two. It seems our new one is a little bit better.

I live in a small town now after years in the big city. And I can tell you there IS a difference between a city Parish and small town Parish.

 

[JustaServant]

Why don’t you rethink yours. This is not helping

The post above yours.

 

[TC3033]

I live in a small town now after years in the big city. And I can tell you there IS a difference between a city Parish and small town Parish.

We went from a country Church to one in town.

It just seems weird to me that my family can/is wanted to be part of the congregation but I’m not. Totally new concept to me.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not trying to be confrontational or anything here…I came to CAF to try to understand more about Catholisism for my families sake and hopefully put my mind at ease that my experience within two parishes is more of a one off than a norm.

Right now I feel burdened as my oldest reaches first communion time. It’s something that I really want to be a part of and can’t, while the rest of my wife’s side of the family is.

 

[dskysmine]

My comment refers not only to Catholicism but to Christianity in general. Where does the belief that we humans need to be “saved” come from, and does the belief mean saved from damnation or hell or something in addition to that? Judaism does not believe in salvation in the Christian sense of saved from damnation. Neither does it believe that following the Law “saves” since we are not damned in the first place. Rather, it believes that by practicing the Law (as best we can), we have the opportunity to lead a better, more productive, and more meaningful life while doing G-d’s Will. We don’t believe we are in need of a Savior (which is not the meaning of Messiah according to the Hebrew word) for our sins since we have the power to atone for them and we are not damned by them.

IOW, what I am wondering is when, how, and why did Christianity interpret the teachings of the Hebrew Bible in terms of a salvation religion?

I think it’s a difficult thing to post in just this short posts. Here is a link of someone who tried:
Hope it is helpful.

biblehub.com/library/edersheim/the_life_and_times_of_jesus_the_messiah/chapter_v_what_messiah_did.htm

The items you speak of are termed “sacramentals” [Things intended to, and able to bring us closer to Christ."

By having them Blessed before using them enables the possibility of grace being attached to their use:thumbsup:

God Bless you,

Patrick

I know what they are and how they work. I still find them strange.

God bless,
D.
[/quote]

 

[skeyes]

This is intended for TC3033

I have read your words of frustration about not being included in church activities on at least two different threads. I had one thought. Have you made sure that the people in charge of assigning tasks in the different areas of volunteerism are aware that you would like to participate? It sounds to me that the folks who send out jobs go off the church rolls and have no idea that you would love to be asked to work at a certain task.

I know that practically, I have seen some non-catholics very involved in church activities when their spouse is a parishioner. ask the powers that be all the way to the Pastor if you must.

You must not be left out of the church life when your wife is Catholic just because you have not found it to be necessary to become Catholic.

In His service,

Stan

 

[Michael68]

The post above yours.

not sure what this means, so please refrain from addressing me.

 

[TC3033]

This is intended for TC3033

I have read your words of frustration about not being included in church activities on at least two different threads. I had one thought. Have you made sure that the people in charge of assigning tasks in the different areas of volunteerism are aware that you would like to participate? It sounds to me that the folks who send out jobs go off the church rolls and have no idea that you would love to be asked to work at a certain task.

I know that practically, I have seen some non-catholics very involved in church activities when their spouse is a parishioner. ask the powers that be all the way to the Pastor if you must.

You must not be left out of the church life when your wife is Catholic just because you have not found it to be necessary to become Catholic.

In His service,

Stan

I’m in the directory, so I would imagine they know I go there…I would think

I talked to the Father about it a year or so ago and don’t remember his exact answer. He may not of understood my line of questioning, but his reply was something along the lines of “you can be in the choir” or “are you asking to be in the choir”…or something like that. He may have been a little confused

There have been other things, but the congregation wide festivals where everyone gets something and I didn’t was weird. The church we were at was so small, I knew I was the only non-Catholic so I knew I was the only one not asked to help.

I guess it just seems “strange” (to go along with the thread title) that Parrish’s would SEEM to exclude non-Catholics even in events that take place outside of Mass. I have a huge sampling of 15 years and 3 whole (sarcasm) different Parrish’s, like I said, it could be isolated but to me it seems weird to want to exclude vs include…IDK

 

[JustaServant]

not sure what this means, so please refrain from addressing me.

What it means is the response given to you by TC3033

 

[JustaServant]

This is intended for TC3033

I have read your words of frustration about not being included in church activities on at least two different threads. I had one thought. Have you made sure that the people in charge of assigning tasks in the different areas of volunteerism are aware that you would like to participate? It sounds to me that the folks who send out jobs go off the church rolls and have no idea that you would love to be asked to work at a certain task.

I know that practically, I have seen some non-catholics very involved in church activities when their spouse is a parishioner. ask the powers that be all the way to the Pastor if you must.

You must not be left out of the church life when your wife is Catholic just because you have not found it to be necessary to become Catholic.

In His service,

Stan

 

[JustaServant]

We went from a country Church to one in town.

It just seems weird to me that my family can/is wanted to be part of the congregation but I’m not. Totally new concept to me.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not trying to be confrontational or anything here…I came to CAF to try to understand more about Catholisism for my families sake and hopefully put my mind at ease that my experience within two parishes is more of a one off than a norm.

Right now I feel burdened as my oldest reaches first communion time. It’s something that I really want to be a part of and can’t, while the rest of my wife’s side of the family is.

Take your time my friend, you’re doing fine.

 

[skeyes]

I’m in the directory, so I would imagine they know I go there…I would think

I talked to the Father about it a year or so ago and don’t remember his exact answer. He may not of understood my line of questioning, but his reply was something along the lines of “you can be in the choir” or “are you asking to be in the choir”…or something like that. He may have been a little confused

There have been other things, but the congregation wide festivals where everyone gets something and I didn’t was weird. The church we were at was so small, I knew I was the only non-Catholic so I knew I was the only one not asked to help.

I guess it just seems “strange” (to go along with the thread title) that Parrish’s would SEEM to exclude non-Catholics even in events that take place outside of Mass. I have a huge sampling of 15 years and 3 whole (sarcasm) different Parrish’s, like I said, it could be isolated but to me it seems weird to want to exclude vs include…IDK

It is my experience that most of the leaders of different outreaches are anxious for people to volunteer. For your sake and those of your immediate family, do not assume that the folks at the Parish know you would like to be more involved. Make sure that each place you would like to be included knows that you are available and want to be used as a volunteer. Make sure that no stone remains unturned.

Now then, if after you have gone to all this effort to volunteer and you get skipped over, then I would seriously consider asking my wife to change Parishes after proper research is done. I know that if I had a volunteer to go with me to prison weekly, I would definitely call on that person because our job is to love the folks, both the prisoners and the people who are feeling left out of opportunities to serve.

Good luck, don’t give up. Volunteer until the leadership would be ashamed to pass you over.

Just my rambling thoughts because I don’t like anyone to feel like they are not wanted. I know you understand that there are Catholic things that you cannot do, but the rest is definitely open.

Praying for you to have peace in this,

Stan