In my experience, they donāt willingly leave it, they choose the Real Presence living in the hearts and lives of real people over the Real Presence in a tabernacle, locked up safe and tight.
I figure Jesus wanted us to have His body and blood, as
So the TRUTH changes???
No, the truth doesnāt change. Sherlock brought up that people should initiate change and I was responding to that.
The Church does not deny acess to the Eucharist to any of its members. However it is very possible for a member to to deny themselves acess to the Eucharist by their actions.
Wooooah.
I really wasnāt expecting to be attacked for what I said. I mean after all, the orginal question Iaforic asked suggested he was trying to reach the same demographic that I was in. My answer was intended to be honest, and helpful. You seemed to think it was an excuse to call me a narcissist, and to ridicule my experience. Iām sorry you felt the need to do that.
Sorry, but you clearly donāt understand what Iām talking about. Iām not talking about Christ in others, though of course we ought to show our faith by how we love one another. When Catholics use the term āReal Presenceā, they are referring to the unique and sacramental Jesus in the Eucharist (which is consumed, not just locked in a Tabernacle). I have found that non-Catholics tend to see things in an āeither/orā manner, and your comment is an example of that: having the Eucharist and having the fellowship of others are not mutually exclusive. For example, our parish is very orthodox as well as very welcoming. Thereās so much going on, and people are fired up about Christ and His Church. They are all centered on the Eucharist, and derive their strength from it.
Itās rather ironic that you chide against painting with a broad brush, and do the very same thing yourself. I have not experienced anything like you describe, though of course it all depends on what kind of change one wants, eh? Face it, doctrine isnāt going to change----and thank heavens for that. But apart from doctrinal matters, I find my church to be very flexible, and my priest is always interested in new, effective methods of spreading the truth of the Catholic Faith. As for your last line: Iām not assuming that EVERYONE fits into those categories. My experience, however, leads me to conclude that it represents the majority. Believe it or not, Iām actually being charitable here, because NONE of the ex-Catholics I talk to (and I talk to a lot) have shown even a rudimentary understanding of the Faith. And NONE of the ex-Catholics I have talked to believed in the Real Presenceāmost havenāt known what Iām talking about, and a few were downright surprised when I told them what Catholics believe. They apparently were never taught, or at best they werenāt taught very well. A few that have stated definitively that they rejected the Real Presence, but when I asked for objections they only listed a few of the standard ones, objections that donāt stand up to scrutinyāand they had no reply to the Catholic response to those objections. And quite a number have left because they wanted to continue feeling good about something that the Church called a sin. Itās just easier to blame the Church instead of oneās self, and to wring oneās hands over the Churchās āresistance to changeā, when itās that individual who often has no intention of changing. So, Iāll stand by what Iāve said.
You are making an assumption that should not be made: people are responding to the original post, and not necessarily to you. Many posters answer the post without having seen the responses of others. You shouldnāt assume the worst of others.
Thatās me Andre, an entirely different matter! I respect the Churchās authority too much to receive when I am not in full compliance, and yet lack the ability to believe what I have not been given the gift of faith to believe.
!!!
Notworthy,Cheddar,
Iāve seen a lot of your posts in the past, and I think the Catholic Church has lost a treasure when you left her. It does seem that you left the Church even though you were well acquainted with her teachings.
You, however, tend to be the exception. Without exception (at least in my case) the people that I know who have left the church had very little idea what she taught and why she taught it. Most of them have ālearnedā more about the Church from the Non-Catholic Sunday Schools then they ever did as a member of the Church, and you know that is similar to listening to Michael Moore to learn about Capitalism.
If you ever wish to return to the flock, there will be many here who would love to help you. You know the saints in heaven would be cheering the return of a lost sheep
Take Care and god Bless!
Notworthy