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AlegreFe
Guest
Not all Catholics do this. And the ones who do probably don’t know that you’re not supposed to do it. Those Catholics are probably “catholic” in name only anyway.
And why shouldn’t we ask?
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Sepharad
Guest
I never knew what Protestants were when growing up. That’s probably because I lived in an insular Jewish community where the only Christians we met were Catholics.
The only Protestants I ever heard of were black people, and I was told they were Baptists (and the only reason I knew of them was because my grandfather’s housekeeper was one!)
I grew up so insular in that regard that when I first met my husband and he told me he grew up Baptist, I couldn’t figure out how when he was white!
But I don’t hate or dislike Protestants, so I doubt that’s why Catholics feel as they do (because they don’t know much about them).
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Sepharad
Guest
I have some insight into this, since half my family is Catholic, from “the old days” so to speak.
I remember relatives telling me that in public school many years ago, they had Bible reading and it was always from the KJV, which Catholics were forbidden to read from NOT because it was the Bible but because it was what their church regarded as “heretical” in translation. And so people got the mistaken idea that Catholics “are not allowed to read the Bible”.
Older relatives also told me that Catholics were forbidden to send their children to public school; they were told it was a mortal sin to do so. This is because of the Protestant Bible readings and other Protestant influences in schools at that time.
(For the younger set here, just so you know, Bible reading in the US public schools was stopped in the early 1960s due to a case brought by the atheist Ed Schempp against the schools–it went all the way to the Supreme Court.)
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Deconi
Guest
Unless you’re suggesting that Catholics use ‘birth control’ on non-Catholics, as a point of being ‘disrespectful,’ your reasoning is faulty.
It isn’t a numbers game. Catholics either do, or do not, ram Catholicism down anyone’s throat.
…or indeed a lot of Scriptures. Whilst ‘we’ may question that specific passage, you do not go seeking Protestants to ask them that! What we do, is ANSWER the charge of ‘cannibalism’
“…in the context used here,….”
One who demands respect does not deserve it!
Ask the ‘cults’ and the gurus.
It is unknown in Catholicism.
True freedom has boundaries and perimeters, unless you want anarchy. The freedom to walk around everyday without being killed because someone dislikes your face or style is because everyone around you, know and accept the ‘rules’
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Criminal Law, Civil Law, Traffic Laws, Immigration Laws, Consumer Laws, Federal Laws, Local Laws, Building Laws, Marine Laws, Tenancy Laws, Matrimonial Laws, Union Laws, Naval Laws, State Laws, etc, etc, etc…to name but a few… **
How many of those are you aware of during your ‘daily walk?’
Same with Catholicism. When you know and accept the rules, you HARDLY even notice them!
By the way, better look up MORTAL SIN again because your definitions differs from The Church’s.
Fortunately, it isn’t reliant on belief.
Fortunately, it isn’t reliant on belief……….and “monopoly” is NOT the word to be used.
True. Then again, maybe the ‘reception’ is poor.
The OP presumes that Catholics, as a whole, are disrespectful of non-Catholics. Not what we’re capable of!! (That is quite another matter!)
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onetimeposter
Guest
No need to apologize, especially when we all know that you aren’t even remotely sorry for posting what you did.
After reading your post, an expression comes to mind, more Catholic than the Pope.
Do you feel better after having been so honest?
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AlegreFe
Guest
Saying “sorry but it’s true” is me trying to be respectful to your feelings. It is not me being sorry for posting what I posted.
Do you think I’m more Catholic than the Pope? I’m just Catholic, that’s all. I would never claim to be “more Catholic than the Pope.” That phrase only comes from Catholics such as yourself. Those of us who are staunch devout Catholics would never use that phrase. It wouldn’t be “Catholic” of us to do so.
Yes I do.
But it is not for me to feel better. It is to inform you so that you can take a second look at your “catholic” self.
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onetimeposter
Guest
Me too! ( I should add, but I’m capable of free thought)
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AlegreFe
Guest
You are what I would call a “cafeteria catholic” with your “free thought.”
I have free thought also. I am free to think and believe what the Catholic Church teaches. I am not free to do whatever I want in the Catholic Church. I am not free to have my “free thoughts” if they do not coincide with what the Catholic Church teaches. That would not be freeing to me but condemning.
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PBP
Guest
The Catholic mass offering is Jewish at its root. During the Last Supper, which by the way they were celebrating the Feast of Passover, Jesus (because he was GOD and given authority to do so) changed the order of the feast and established the New Covenant. The oath was sworn and celebrated within the meal. During mass, the congregation along with the priest, join Christ and become one body and offer ourselves to GOD as LIVING sacrifices. Any amount of disbelief on the part of anyone who chooses not to believe does not make it less true. It is a continual offering. Because of this union, that is why it is so important for us to be aware of sin in our lives. It takes great humility on the part of humanity to admit our selfishness. All the while you were at mass, you were reading the bible. Every reading, responsorial Psalm, and gospel you ever heard was biblical. It is unfortunate that many of us cradle Catholics were not rooted in the truth which makes the understanding of our faith possible. Please do not blame anyone else for your not understanding. Did you ever ask enough questions of the people who could give you the correct answers ? I bet not. You allowed the senses of your natural life to direct you away. You and I certainly have no authority to judge who will be in heaven but, why would anyone NOT want to be a part of what Christ established, specifically the mass ? Look for Peter ! I challenge you to examine your conscience.
Have a great day.
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pigtown
Guest
Some people have questioned my saying that I did not read the Bible when I was growing up. Being a Cradle Catholic, born in the early 1940’s, the Bible was not something for lay people to read. I didn’t know of anyone in my family who had read the Bible at all. Everyone had one to record family events but not to read. Only the priest read the Bible. I realize that things have changed a lot in recent years but that doesn’t change the fact that there was a time when Catholics did not read the Bible. I still have my Grandmother’s Douay Version, copyrighted in 1914.
There was a time when the Catholic Church we attended, about 15 years ago, advertised a Bible class. I was excited about going to it so I took my Bible and went to the church. Well, I was told that it was not the kind of class I thought it was. They didn’t even use Bibles, just talked about God being everywhere, in the wind, in the rain and even in the stop lights on the corner! I know that’s not the way Bible classes are. I have gone to one or two in other Catholic Churches that were actual Bible studies so I’m glad that the Church now permits everyone to read and study the Bible.
There was a time when the Catholic Church we attended, about 15 years ago, advertised a Bible class. I was excited about going to it so I took my Bible and went to the church. Well, I was told that it was not the kind of class I thought it was. They didn’t even use Bibles, just talked about God being everywhere, in the wind, in the rain and even in the stop lights on the corner! I know that’s not the way Bible classes are. I have gone to one or two in other Catholic Churches that were actual Bible studies so I’m glad that the Church now permits everyone to read and study the Bible.
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ralphinal
Guest
I do not doubt that you did not read the Bible. Nor do I doubt that you were not encouraged to read it. I do wonder about your use of the phrase “not allowed.” Catholics have always been allowed to read the Bible. What they are not allowed to do is to interpret it in a way that leads them into heresy. The teaching has been misrepresented in the past by well meaning but misguided Catholics.
I am sorry about your experiance with that silly “Bible Study.” It sounds like another example of hippies in the Church. Luckily, that is passing away every day.
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Cinette
Guest
Didn’t the writer mean “Why” and not “What”??
I am a revert to the Catholic Church and realise that the reason I left the Church was through ignorance of my faith - I was not properly cathecised.
As for Protestants. I used to think they were a little wierd (also through ignorance).
Now I just think twice when I remember that Catholic giants such as Kark Keating, Marcus Grodi, Scott Hahn and so on and on and on…were once Protestant themselves. I think Protestants exist to keep us Catholics on our toes.
I am a revert to the Catholic Church and realise that the reason I left the Church was through ignorance of my faith - I was not properly cathecised.
As for Protestants. I used to think they were a little wierd (also through ignorance).
Now I just think twice when I remember that Catholic giants such as Kark Keating, Marcus Grodi, Scott Hahn and so on and on and on…were once Protestant themselves. I think Protestants exist to keep us Catholics on our toes.
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ibkc
Guest
I wonder about this, too. Someone will probably accuse me of being disrespectful of the experiences of others, but I just flat-out don’t believe that someone was “not allowed” to read the Bible by the Catholic Church. The person who said this also said that his family had a Bible in their home. Why would his family own a Bible if they were “not allowed” to read it? It makes no sense at all.
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angelusm
Guest
It’s not a nice feeling to hear that we are the Whore of Babylon and pope is Antichrist. And that’s what protestants sometimes say. That’s an obvious lie and, as the Scripture says, liars will not enter the Kingdom of God.
We are not arrogant, we just think in a logical way. If we believe that are right (and we do ), we have no choice and we have to say that those who believe in something else must be wrong. If we believe that 2 and 2 is 4, we cannot admit that 5 is also a correct answer. I’m sorry.
We are not arrogant, we just think in a logical way. If we believe that are right (and we do
), we have no choice and we have to say that those who believe in something else must be wrong. If we believe that 2 and 2 is 4, we cannot admit that 5 is also a correct answer. I’m sorry.
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onetimeposter
Guest
Your free to believe anything and everything, but only if it comes from the Church…right?
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Peter_J
Guest
Yes, I know. Catholics are great. Catholics are wonderful. There’s no end of great things you can say about Catholics. And so on and so forth.Hmm…interesting!
Firstly, Catholics DO NOT disrespect any non-Catholic for we are ‘forbidden’ to. It must firstly be the non-Catholic who QUESTIONS a Catholic doctrine or understanding that prompts the response, which then may include, views that ARE disrespectful, or PERCEIVED to be disrespectful!!
Catholics do not go door to door to ram Catholicism down anyones throats! Catholics do not question an individual’s “Christianity” and then cite or produce some ready made publication that DISCOUNTS what has been held from antiquity as FALSE and that the ‘publication’ produced somehow professes the truth which had been hidden from mankind until now!
Cathollics do not ask you whether your understanding of “I am the Way, Life, and The Truth” is actually correct according to the Bible. Catholics do not "question’ The Bible since The Book is immersed in the The Church that “produced” Holy Writ for the faithful.
“Respect” in the context used here, is EARNED! If you query with respect, the response will be respectful. If the query is a “charge,” then the response will be a rebuttal.
Catholics are ‘silent’ on most issues because it is forbidden by Our Lord, to trick, coerce or drag anyone INTO Catholicism. Every individual soul has free will. That freedom, NOT EVEN GOD will interfere with, for He does not GIVE and then RETRACT what He does!! Individuals become Catholics, leave, return and free to leave again, if they wish.
Catholicism is FREEDOM.
Many Catholics seem to answer from a HIGH MORAL GROUND. Granted. But when you learn that it is because they UNDERSTAND that Catholicism encompasses EVERY denomination of Protestanism, then one can understand, “why.”
For instance, Mormonism, Evangelical, Jehovah’s Witness, Anglican, Assembly of God, et al, ALL POSSESS some aspect of Catholicism, because they spintered from Catholicsm. Whatever aspect ‘they’ cite as the “truth” of Christ, Catholicism can ‘see’ THE REST OF THAT ASPECT !! Catholics do not have to ‘understand’ every aspect of a particular denomination because if every denomination has a piece of “The Treasure Map” (Salvation) The Catholic Church already has the ENTIRE MODEL of the map in 3-D and engraved on all four walls !!
Unfortunately, when Catholics point that out, then the ‘disrespectful’ finger begins to rise.
Catholics are NOT disrespectful. THEY ARE REACTIONARY!
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Peter_J
Guest
Christ did say “If your eye causes you to stumble, pluck it out and throw it away.”
But what a lot of people forget is that didn’t say “And if your neighbor’s eye causes you to stumble, pluck it out too.”
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Lilyflower
Guest
My dear SIA the mere fact you are here ilustrates how much Catholics not only tolerate but love our non-Catholic brethren.
Being a Catholic and trying to gain access to non-Catholic forums is another story and for me speaks volumes of the real differences between the two.
In my experience everyone is welcome on Catholic forums while on non-catholic forums Catholics are not wanted tolerated or accepted. As soon as one declares to be Catholic, inextricably ones account is suddenly terminated with no explanation given except that ‘the forum administrators reserve the right to accept or deny a membership…The forum administrators decision is final!’
Now the difference between the two speaks volumes.
Blessings and peace
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cheddarsox
Guest
I invite you to visit this religious forum mysticwicks.com/index.php?
There are a number of Catholics there, as well as former Catholics, and members who are thinking of becoming Catholics. I’ve never heard of anyone’s account being terminated because they are Catholic. Only for bad behavior that continues even after mods give warnings…and sharing one’s ideas is not considered bad behavior.
Not every religious forum is “other faith” friendly, but many are at least tolerant. Sorry you’ve had a bad experience with some of them. I find those sorts to be rather useless as learning tools anyway, since they don’t truly allow debate and dialogue.
On the subject of being taught to read, not read the Bible. When I was attending Catholic school in the 70’s, we were told by the nuns who taught us not to read the Bible on our own, that we would be likely to misinterpret it, but to listen carefully during Mass and occassionally we would read a passage and discuss it in class. This is not the same as the Church forbidding people to read the Bible, as the Magisterium has not made that statement, but for a 4th grader…sister did seem to be the voice of the faith itself, so that could be confusing for a person.
By the time I reached high school in the 80’s, the Franciscan sisters encouraged us to read our Bibles, I admit I felt pretty radical to be opening up that book on my own! The Catholic Bible was a required book in my high school, a text just like our algebra or physics text. Times change.
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trustinyou
Guest
what the church teaches on faith and morals,is to be believed by every catholic,some will live by these teachings,some wont…Jesus will be the final judge…Your free to believe anything and everything, but only if it comes from the Church…right?
heres an example of faith and morals…contraception… the church warned us about the use of it, and one even predicted that abortion would follow(pope paul the ?cant quite remember if it was 5th or 6th) and now its getting worse,euthiasim,cloning,embryonic stem cell research…but listen to this, there are some christians who think this is all ok! this is what the apostles and the early church fathers had to deal with to,christians believing in what they wanted to believe in…or why else would they have written so many letters…
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