Why do people who say they are Catholic continue to say so when they do not follow the teachings of the Catholic church?

[ConstantineTG]

My point is not about different sins, or even relative gravity of different types of sin. My point is that we should place our effort where God has placed us. God has placed us in a specific place in time and space, with specific people, and with specific authorities and responsiblities.

Mother Theresa said, “Grow where you are planted”.

The primary person we ought to admonish is ourselves. To look after one’s own salvation is not a sin and we are primarily responsible to and for ourselves. After that, we have been placed in a position of some authority over and in responsiblity to our family, and that is where our focus should be next. Our friends, fellow parishoners, business associates come after that.

It’s one thing to admonish a close friend, relative, or even a fellow parishoner. It’s another thing to stand on the street corner with a bull horn yelling at everyone that they are going to hell or to complain endlessly about “Cafeteria Catholics” in some church nine thousand miles away. That’s not our place. That is not where God has put us.

My whole point is that some try to overstep the boundaries of where God has placed them, and in doing so, have really taken on responsiblity for others which God himself has not vested them with.

-Tim-

Whose to say that these people who reject certain teachings of the Church are not putting in the effort? I’ve known people who are corrupt government officials or are linked to them, make tons of money off cheating the people, yet contribute generously to local parishes and social programs that help the poor. They also are against abortion, divorce, gay marriage and ABCs. So are they any better than those who do not steal money yet use ABCs?

What’s happening here is we’re establishing our own standards on who shouldn’t be Catholic based on specific issues. But the fact is these issues are as much of a sin as other issues that other Catholics have trouble with. The only difference is these here are hot button issues today. How different really is this than a very devout Catholic who thinks its okay to keep lucky charms? It only one of two things, ignorance or arrogance.

 

[Lui]

I have a friend who says she is a Catholic and still goes to Mass, but doesn’t agree with the Church’s position on:

1) Birth Control
2) Abortion
3) Homosexuality
4) Women’s role in the home

What I don’t get is why so many Catholics seemed to be obsessed with these topics as if they were they only concerns of a faithful Catholic.

Because this is where most people are tempted fall into sin. Otherwise we’d fall into that disgusting “faith alone” category, so prevalent in our culture.

Why? I didn’t say we should ignore these sins but not obsess over them. There are other sins that are just as bad and people are tempted to fall into just as much but oddly aren’t mentioned too often.
By coincidence ConstantineTG just posted what I meant:

I’ve known people who are corrupt government officials or are linked to them, make tons of money off cheating the people, yet contribute generously to local parishes and social programs that help the poor. They also are against abortion, divorce, gay marriage and ABCs. So are they any better than those who do not steal money yet use ABCs?

Is exploiting others to make profit less of a sin than homosexuality?

 

[Rome4me]

What I don’t get is why so many Catholics seemed to be obsessed with these topics as if they were they only concerns of a faithful Catholic.

I suspect the answer often lies within their statement. She is a very liberal feminist, who has probably had an abortion, has lots of gay friends who want to be married, and she is now 45 and never married (to her credit, never made that mistake). She is too “independent” to be tied down to things like the compromise of marriage.

She is one of my few liberal friends that is interesting to listen to, because (as a quasi-libertarian myself) I find her musings delightfully entertaining.

It is interesting…for those of us who were Protestant…of the MANY issues I have with the Protestant denominations, you are very unlikely to even hear a 3rd generation S. Baptist say they disagree with ABCD of the Convention, yet still referred to themselves as Baptist. Just doesn’t happen.

 

[Swiss_Guy]

I’ll answer the OP:

It’s because they grew up Catholic, and it would hurt their family if they left, or it would be too much work. Most people who don’t follow the Church aren’t very good Christians, or just aren’t too knowledgable about Catholic teachings.

 

[Sir_Knight]

Many people just don’t give in to sin, but rather has let a nasty habit go unchecked. Its the same thing, the only difference is these people who have liberalized just tried to find a justification for their actions. Ultimately, both struggle with sin. To liberalize is a sin, it is a sin of pride. As I said, I do not see why one sin is worse than the other, why should we (and we have no authority on this) kick out people who sin one kind, and not those who sin with another kind.

Why is one sin worse than the other? Because the church says so (see Church Canon 751 & 1364 §1) and Jesus promised that whatever the Church binds on earth, WILL BE bound in heaven. So, if one rejects one or more official church teachings, one excludes themselves from the Church community.

 

[Lui]

I suspect the answer often lies within their statement. She is a very liberal feminist, who has probably had an abortion, has lots of gay friends who want to be married, and she is now 45 and never married (to her credit, never made that mistake). She is too “independent” to be tied down to things like the compromise of marriage.

She is one of my few liberal friends that is interesting to listen to, because (as a quasi-libertarian myself) I find her musings delightfully entertaining.

It is interesting…for those of us who were Protestant…of the MANY issues I have with the Protestant denominations, you are very unlikely to even hear a 3rd generation S. Baptist say they disagree with ABCD of the Convention, yet still referred to themselves as Baptist. Just doesn’t happen.

The reason I asked this is because I always suspect that faith is being used for political issues. The Conservatives are against abortion and homosexual marriage while the Liberals aren’t. I think there are topics that Conservatives aren’t against which are according to Catholic faith exactly as sinful as abortion but nobody points that out because it doesn’t fit in their political beliefs.

Why is one sin worse than the other? Because the church says so (see Church Canon 751 & 1364 §1) and Jesus promised that whatever the Church binds on earth, WILL BE bound in heaven. So, if one rejects one or more official church teachings, one excludes themselves from the Church community.

Yeah, but sins aren’t rated according which political party promotes it or is exploiting people for profit less of a sin than gay marriage?

 

[Sir_Knight]

Yeah, but sins aren’t rated according which political party promotes it or is exploiting people for profit less of a sin than gay marriage?

What are you talking about? The issue is rejecting official church teaching – which makes one a heretic and, as a result, excommunicates that person from the Church.

 

[ConstantineTG]

Why is one sin worse than the other? Because the church says so (see Church Canon 751 & 1364 §1) and Jesus promised that whatever the Church binds on earth, WILL BE bound in heaven. So, if one rejects one or more official church teachings, one excludes themselves from the Church community.

Well sir, there are only two classes of sin. Mortal and Venial. Once a sin is mortal, its all pretty much the same. The end result is hell for the unrepentant. So again, why is ABCs, same sex marriage and abortion qualifiers for saying one is not Catholic, compared to pre-marital sex, divorce and remarriage, rape, murder, etc.?

 

[ConstantineTG]

Is exploiting others to make profit less of a sin than homosexuality?

Indeed. So believing a marriage should be for anyone would exclude you from the Church, yet stealing millions that would have gone into the betterment of lives of a large number of people doesn’t?

 

[Lui]

What are you talking about? The issue is rejecting official church teaching – which makes one a heretic and, as a result, excommunicates that person from the Church.

What are you talking about? WHAT is rejecting the Church Teaching Maybe you should read what I’ve written again.

 

[rinnie]

I think a lot of you are misreading the OP. He’s not asking why the Catholic Church doesn’t simply expel those who don’t hew to its teachings; he’s asking why people who reject the Church’s teachings continue to identify as a Catholic even when their are religions out there that are better suited to them. In other words, why would you want to be a Catholic if you reject Catholicism?

I dunno the answer. I suppose there’s a culture to Catholicism that people want to continue identifying with, though even this is greatly reduced in modern times. Perhaps it’s the sense of community and camaraderie with the parish. Perhaps just to thumb their noses at the Church itself. Perhaps it’s just inertia.

For politicians who clearly reject all the Church’s social teachings, it’s probably just cynical calculation mixed with gross ignorance.

I think the answer to your question is simple. Because when you know the truth you cannot reject the truth.

If the truth was given to you and you know the true church is the RCC you cannot walk away from that truth, nor can you.

But on the same line to believe in a truth and to follow a truth are 2 different things.

Because when we sin and cannot or do not want to fest up to the sin we find ways in our mind to justify our sin.

That is when we accept one truth, but try to bypass others. And as the O.P has shown it is quite impossible to do.

But that is what is so Hard about the RCC. The RCC will teach the truth of God, not teach the truth of Man.

So man will either deny the truth, and try to run from it, or will pray for the Grace of God to accept the truth.

Or will leave the truth all together which is the RCC and go to the Church that protests the truth of God, and tries to turn the truth of God into the Truth of Man.

 

[rinnie]

Well sir, there are only two classes of sin. Mortal and Venial. Once a sin is mortal, its all pretty much the same. The end result is hell for the unrepentant. So again, why is ABCs, same sex marriage and abortion qualifiers for saying one is not Catholic, compared to pre-marital sex, divorce and remarriage, rape, murder, etc.?

I didn’t know they were. Is not mortal sin Mortal sin? I thought they were all mortal sin?

 

[Lui]

Indeed. So believing a marriage should be for anyone would exclude you from the Church, yet stealing millions that would have gone into the betterment of lives of a large number of people doesn’t?

I don’t get things like this either. Sometimes I wish I could just ask Jesus directly “Jesus, what do you think of two gay people who love each other and would like to marry” and “Jesus, what do you think of people who go to poor countries to kill or exploit other people to steal their resources and make huge profits?”

I would like to hear what he tells me and who he condemns.

 

[GEddie]

I don’t get things like this either. Sometimes I wish I could just ask Jesus directly “Jesus, what do you think of two gay people who love each other and would like to marry” and “Jesus, what do you think of people who go to poor countries to kill or exploit other people to steal their resources and make huge profits?”

I would like to hear what he tells me and who he condemns.

Well, since you can’t have HIM before your life is over, that’s why we have the Church, to act as HIS voice and as HIS body.

What part of “the keys to the kingdom” doesn’t everybody understand???

ICXC NIKA

 

[Lui]

Well, since you can’t have HIM before your life is over, that’s why we have the Church, to act as HIS voice and as HIS body.

I know but it was just a wish. I wish I could speak to Jesus face to face because the Jesus I believe in is a loving Jesus who loves us more than we are capable of loving anybody else. I wish I could get the answers I’m searching straight from his mouth.

 

[BigFellaMick]

there is no justifying pelosi’s stance or others who support same sex marriage and abortion and encourage pre marital sex through use of contraceptives and what not because of the fact that they are non repenting. If nancy pelosi felt ashamed by her actions of supporting such atrocities against Christ she wouldn’t continue to do so. To try and deem her innocent of guilt is simply wrong. I, like others, pray she and the rest come around to restoring Christ to Glory in america and not treated like a lame horse waiting to be put down. But it’s hardly fair to not draw a distinction between one who commits a sin and one who continuously and repetitively defends sin deemed abominations by God the Father.

 

[BigFellaMick]

oh and to Lui I would never pretend I could speak for Christ as clearly no one walking this earth is capable of doing so, but God made his voice heard several times on his opnion of a same sex couple that was in love. It is still an abomination as it degrades the natural order God built with his love and power for us to flourish in. From what we’ve learned of Christ he would condemn the sin but NEVER reject the sinner. Although if Christ were walking the earth again there wouldn’t be sin anymore as all would fall to their knees and be healed by the sound of his voice.

 

[Lui]

oh and to Lui I would never pretend I could speak for Christ as clearly no one walking this earth is capable of doing so,

Again, it was just a wish, nothing more. I’m not trying to pretend to know what Jesus would tell me.
I just get the impression that some people in this thread think that two gays loving each other is the worst sin ever while going down to poor countries, killing and exploiting people to steal their money and resources is just a minor sin, no big deal.

Forget that I even expressed that wish.

 

[ConstantineTG]

I don’t get things like this either. Sometimes I wish I could just ask Jesus directly “Jesus, what do you think of two gay people who love each other and would like to marry” and “Jesus, what do you think of people who go to poor countries to kill or exploit other people to steal their resources and make huge profits?”

I would like to hear what he tells me and who he condemns.

I would say He would try to make both repent. Its up to them to come follow Christ, or continue with their wicked ways and condemn themselves. I just don’t get why people today say that one of them should be excluded from the Church outright until they repent, and the other should stay in the hopes of repenting. Why is there a distinction? Both are sinners, and both need the guidance of the Church to find Christ and repent.

 

[GEddie]

The gay issue is a public scandal and controversy; therefore the Church is fighting it publicly.

No amount of empathy or sympathy for someone or some couple can make sin unwrong, as much as some might like to.

ICXC NIKA.