Where must one go to learn the truth?

[Vatican_II]

I am one who takes the catichism purpose of man to know, love and serve God literally. I have embarked on a quest for truth through a study of the bible, the writings of early church fathers and the ecunmenical councils to better know my God and my faith. Why then do I find such conflict within my own church? The Episcopal Secretary of my diocese states that infidelity is a valid reason for annulment despite the Council of Trent as scripture calls for the exception of unchasity. This despite the NAB eliminating unchastity and replacing it with unlawful. My diocesan director of chaticisit proclaims that all do not have to deny themselves and pick up the cross and follow Jesus except those that are called to him. I am frustrated, confused and no little bit angry that truth seems to have so many meanings and so little respect for the word of God.

 

[banjo]

It is my belief that Jesus calls everyone to follow him. Two points I would like to make: 1.) I would not let any individual or situation separate me from the Church. I don’t say that is what is happening here, it’s just sometimes people react that way. 2.) I would seek answers until I could say to myself, “Okay, now I understand.” You may know more than I, but I know in my own case I have had to ask and have found I didn’t have all the information about some issues.

God bless…

 

[clmowry]

I thnk you will find very few people “know” what the Chuch teaches but their are many who are ready to profess as “true” what they would like to believe it teaches.

Unfortunately many of those find their way into positions of some authority.

Focus on finding the truth and don’t be discouraged by those who don’t care for the truth.

There is too much to learn to be side tracked by all the nay sayers.

Chuck
Vatican II:

I am one who takes the catichism purpose of man to know, love and serve God literally. I have embarked on a quest for truth through a study of the bible, the writings of early church fathers and the ecunmenical councils to better know my God and my faith. Why then do I find such conflict within my own church? The Episcopal Secretary of my diocese states that infidelity is a valid reason for annulment despite the Council of Trent as scripture calls for the exception of unchasity. This despite the NAB eliminating unchastity and replacing it with unlawful. My diocesan director of chaticisit proclaims that all do not have to deny themselves and pick up the cross and follow Jesus except those that are called to him. I am frustrated, confused and no little bit angry that truth seems to have so many meanings and so little respect for the word of God.

 

[MonkeyTape]

Vatican II:

I am one who takes the catichism purpose of man to know, love and serve God literally. I have embarked on a quest for truth through a study of the bible, the writings of early church fathers and the ecunmenical councils to better know my God and my faith. Why then do I find such conflict within my own church? The Episcopal Secretary of my diocese states that infidelity is a valid reason for annulment despite the Council of Trent as scripture calls for the exception of unchasity. This despite the NAB eliminating unchastity and replacing it with unlawful. My diocesan director of chaticisit proclaims that all do not have to deny themselves and pick up the cross and follow Jesus except those that are called to him. I am frustrated, confused and no little bit angry that truth seems to have so many meanings and so little respect for the word of God.

Episcopal secretaries and DREs can be wrong and they can be right. What they say on their own is not necessarily guided by the Holy Spirit. Try not to let any single individual drive and wedge between you and the Body of Christ.

People can mis-speak, misinterpret, and be plain wrong. Read what the Catechism says, papal encyclicals, etc to find you answers when you aren’t satisfied.

 

[joshua_b]

Vatican II, I feel your pain, but I have found solace in the anger I experience every time I hear a Priest say something downright stupid in a homily (examples include: missing Mass on Sunday isn’t a mortal sin…masturbation isn’t a mortal sin…premarital sex isn’t a sin if the relationship is meaningful, Christ isn’t physically present in the Eucharist) or read or hear extremely bad theology. Christ promised his Church would prevail until the end of the age; that the gates of Hell would not prevail against it. He did not promise that every ordained Priest would be perfect, or that Satan would not try to destroy it (which is exactly what most of what you describe is all about in my humble opinion). To get to the Truth, you need look no further than Rome. Papal infallibility is a very real protection God gave His Church. In short, what I’m trying to say is, if anyone within or outside of the ordained Ministry of the Church openly contradicts the teachings of the Pope, then they openly contradict the Truth. We have the right to appeal any teaching or declaration through the Church heirerarchy, all the way to the Vatican. It is important to remember however, that obedience is not neccessarily contingent on Truth. Jesus instructed the Jews to “do as they say” in regards to the Pharisees, even though he labeled them “hypocrites” in the exact same thought. The Catholic Church contains the fullness of Truth, but anyone (even Bishops) are free to reject the Truth.

 

[Vatican_II]

banjo:

It is my belief that Jesus calls everyone to follow him. Two points I would like to make: 1.) I would not let any individual or situation separate me from the Church. I don’t say that is what is happening here, it’s just sometimes people react that way. 2.) I would seek answers until I could say to myself, “Okay, now I understand.” You may know more than I, but I know in my own case I have had to ask and have found I didn’t have all the information about some issues.

God bless…

I thank you for your reply to my post and appreciate your two points. Rest assured that my faith is great enough not to allow personal differences or faulty theology from a specific person whether cleric or lay to turn me away from God. The issue I have is that these particular individuals, and they aren’t alone, have studied upward of eight years for their vocation, have undoubtably read and discussed the same documents of the Church and still fail in the understanding of the word of God. And because of this they mislead and throw into confusion many of the faithful.

God Bless,

Vatican II

 

[Vatican_II]

joshua_b:

Vatican II, I feel your pain, but I have found solace in the anger I experience every time I hear a Priest say something downright stupid in a homily (examples include: missing Mass on Sunday isn’t a mortal sin…masturbation isn’t a mortal sin…premarital sex isn’t a sin if the relationship is meaningful, Christ isn’t physically present in the Eucharist)

This is the core problem in that a rather warm discussion was had between my friend and I in discussing such things as missing Mass on Sunday (or Saturday Vigil) without adequate cause was a mortal sin. He claimed if such was so then why did not the priests say so on the pulpit. In your experience it goes beyond silence into outright pronouncement that such things are acceptable. Does anyone have a milestone that I may fulfill the word of God by taking such out onto the ocean and casting them into the sea.

My condolences,

Vatican II

 

[Magicsilence]

Vatican II:

This is the core problem in that a rather warm discussion was had between my friend and I in discussing such things as missing Mass on Sunday (or Saturday Vigil) without adequate cause was a mortal sin. He claimed if such was so then why did not the priests say so on the pulpit. In your experience it goes beyond silence into outright pronouncement that such things are acceptable. Does anyone have a milestone that I may fulfill the word of God by taking such out onto the ocean and casting them into the sea.

My condolences,

Vatican II

Remember not to get angry at those who do something which in your eyes is wrong.

They may have been taught in a seminary where such ideas were normal, have been immersed in liberal theology and do not know any different. We cannot judge them on what they do. But guide them from what we know of the Truth.

Perhaps they wake every day at 3am and kneel in prayer for 4 hours. Likewise for an hour before bed. Perhaps they devote their life to reading the ancient fathers, the bible, the CCC, the pope’s encyclicals etc… Perhaps Almighty God is about to bring them to perfection and would like to show them that actually, thats NOT what His Church teaches, but this is.

We dont know, so we cannot judge. If what they are doing is outwardly wrong. Talk to them. Show them the Church documents etc… If you are so quick to condemn them, you should be quicker in offering a helping hand.

In Christ

Andre.

 

[Strider]

Magicsilence:

We cannot judge them on what they do. But guide them from what we know of the Truth. Andre.

I must disagree strongly. We can ONLY judge them by what they do. We cannot judge their hearts.
But if they are in a position of teching authority, such as a catechist, DRE, or even the parish priest and they are scandalizing the faithful by teaching error, we must lovingly and respectfully correct them. It is our duty as confirmed Catholics.
In my experience, there is no shortage of mal-informed, mis-informed and un-informed “teachers” out there. Just as it is our duty to inform our consciences, so it is their duty to inform theirs - and themselves - of the proper Catholic teaching.
If they fail to do so, we must correct them.
It’s not easy, but it’s necessary.

 

[DVina]

Strider:

We can ONLY judge them by what they do. We cannot judge their hearts.
But if they are in a position of teching authority, such as a catechist, DRE, or even the parish priest and they are scandalizing the faithful by teaching error, we must lovingly and respectfully correct them. It is our duty as confirmed Catholics.

THANK YOU! If only you had been in the parish where I was DRE and teaching error. I shudder to think how many parents I led into error and how difficult Purgatory will be to make up for it; not that I’m not trying now!