Why Catholic ?

[MariaG]

I don’t believe that at this point in time that the majority of Protestants could be described as invincibly ignorant. No, most Protestants know pretty much what the Catholic Church teaches and believes in and they refute it wholy and completely. That is not invincible ignorance.

As to there being many Protestants in heaven, maybe, but I doubt it. I may be wrong, but I doubt it.

Respectfully, I believe you are wrong about most Protestants knowing what the Catholic Church teaches. Maybe a parody. Is that still invincible ignorance:shrug:

I actually would be termed a “cradle Catholic” though my parents left the Church when I was 4. No Catholic teaching at all.

Fast forward to an adult. Went to any Church and still knew nothing about Catholicism, much less tried to refute it.

And actually, my walk to the Catholic Church started because of all the ignorant statements Protestants used to tell me Catholics believed. They (or I) in no way knew what the Catholic Church taught, the only difference was that I knew that I was ignorant but they thought they knew the truth.

 

[Atemi]

Not everytime. Only when the Church teachings on her Magisterial authority on moral and faith issues.

He said every time.

That is sad to me.

…

 

[PapaSquash]

No need to feel sad on my account. The guidance and message of God has always come to me through somebody with skin on him, whether it was a Gospel author or a (not always Catholic) mentor or a Priest in a dimly-lit confessional.

I rely absolutely on Providence and Divine Intervention in my daily life, and so far I haven’t been let down, but as for guidance, I have no personal experience of direct supernatural communication from God telling me what to do.

 

[Randy_Carson]

Here’s a question I had posed to me. “If you Catholics believe protestants can get to heaven too, what difference does it make whether I stay protestant or join the Catholic Church”?
Anybody got an answer ??

Jesus gave the answer in his prayer to the Father.

John 17:20-21
20"My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, 21that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me.

The unity of Christians is supposed to be a witness to the Incarnation. Protestantism divides Christianity and scandalizes a skeptical world.

Hope this helps. :tiphat:

 

[DebChris]

No need to feel sad on my account. The guidance and message of God has always come to me through somebody with skin on him, whether it was a Gospel author or a (not always Catholic) mentor or a Priest in a dimly-lit confessional.

I rely absolutely on Providence and Divine Intervention in my daily life, and so far I haven’t been let down, but as for guidance, I have no personal experience of direct supernatural communication from God telling me what to do.

Perhaps you had that supernatural guidance without being aware of it. God speaks to our heart, or as a Franciscan retreat director once stated to our gut.
First, none of us lives in a vacuum. I will seek advice from different trustworthy people. As Catholics we have the stories of saints and how they dealt with the difficulties in their own lives. I weigh the different options I have been given and then make my decision. The decision that comes after prayerful consideration is the Holy Spirit’s answer for me.
To act against conscience is to sin against God. Therefore when you follow your conscience in decision making you are responding to the Holy Spirit at work in your life.
I am one of those crazy people who has heard the voice of God. Even so, it is important to seek advice from others for proper discernment. Did I really hear God? Was it my imagination? Does what I think I heard match Scripture, Magisterial teaching, or my own circumstances? Did I properly understand what God is calling me to do?