What do you think?

[MaryAnne77]

My husband and I are constantly having a friendly “debate.” What is more important - being kind, generous, helpful, honest and loving God - or making sure to follow all the rules and regulations of the Catholic Church? I claim that both are equally important, which is why other faiths can only offer partial truths. My husband says it is far more important to be a generally good person who helps others and loves God the best he can. Otherwise he says, almost everyone on the planet is going to hell because most people are not Catholic and most Catholics do not follow the rules very well.

What do you think?

 

[jtodisco]

By following the teachings of the Church you will be a good person. What seems to have happened in your debate with your husband is that you’ve both sort of set up a dichotomy that doesn’t exist. If you are a good person you will follow the teachings of Christ’s Church.

 

[RosaryFan]

My husband and I are constantly having a friendly “debate.” What is more important - being kind, generous, helpful, honest and loving God - or making sure to follow all the rules and regulations of the Catholic Church? I claim that both are equally important, which is why other faiths can only offer partial truths. My husband says it is far more important to be a generally good person who helps others and loves God the best he can. Otherwise he says, almost everyone on the planet is going to hell because most people are not Catholic and most Catholics do not follow the rules very well.

What do you think?

If you follow the rules of the Church, the rest of that good stuff falls right into place.

 

[jfmarm81]

I voted both are equal as I believe one compliments the other. Good people follow the rules of the Church, which helps keep them on the right path.

 

[Skeptic92]

My husband and I are constantly having a friendly “debate.” What is more important - being kind, generous, helpful, honest and loving God - or making sure to follow all the rules and regulations of the Catholic Church? I claim that both are equally important, which is why other faiths can only offer partial truths. My husband says it is far more important to be a generally good person who helps others and loves God the best he can. Otherwise he says, almost everyone on the planet is going to hell because most people are not Catholic and most Catholics do not follow the rules very well.

What do you think?

I haven’t voted yet, but that’s because option 1 and option 2 are the exact same thing, by following the rules (if we can call them that) of the Catholic Church, you will be a virtuous person with a well formed conscience (considering you follow all the extras, good prayer life etc), so in all honesty it’s a fallacious argument.

 

[WesleyF]

My husband and I are constantly having a friendly “debate.” What is more important - being kind, generous, helpful, honest and loving God - or making sure to follow all the rules and regulations of the Catholic Church?

“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for you tithe mint and dill and cummin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law,** justice and mercy and faith**; these you ought to have done, without neglecting the others.” (Matthew 23:23)

“But woe to you Pharisees! for you tithe mint and rue and every herb, and neglect justice and the love of God; these you ought to have done, without neglecting the others.” (Luke 11:42)

I therefore think it is more important to be kind, generous, helpful, honest and God loving. Following the rules and regulations of the church comes after that. A distinction should be made between divine law and ecclesiastical law, as Cardinal Arinze does in this video -

youtube.com/watch?v=EYdMHsq2AuE&feature=related

 

[puzzleannie]

My My husband says it is far more important to be a generally good person who helps others and loves God the best he can. Otherwise he says, almost everyone on the planet is going to hell because most people are not Catholic and most Catholics do not follow the rules very well.

What do you think?

what rules is he talking about?
yes, Jesus tells us it is not about “I was a good person” in fact he says many people who cry, Lord Lord will be cast out.
There is a list of rules, it is called the beatitudes, which restate the commandments in positive form
there is a final exam, and these are the questions (it is an open book test).
when I was hungry did you feed me?
when I was homeless did you give me shelter?
when I was naked did you clothe Me?
Matthew 25 answers the question both of you are asking.