Why does belief in the real presence matter?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Rozellelily
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
Jump4Joy said:
How would someone be excommumicated for that unless they tell a priest? How is that sin if it is a belief?
Click to expand...
It’s important to remember that excommunication in a Catholic sense is different than in a protestant sense.

For Catholic, the excommunicated are still expected & welcome to come to Mass. They simply can’t receive the Sacraments.

In Protestant circles, excommunication means you are no longer welcome by the community.

So there is a distinct difference.
 
Last edited:
CilladeRoma said:
We need to be very careful here. Throwing around the accusation of heresy is not a good idea or even a Christian one. In order to be guilty of heresy you must first understand exactly what the Church teaches then, with full knowledge, deny that teaching. If one does not understand this, there is no excommunication and no heresy.
Click to expand...
Every Catholic knows they must believe in the Real Presence. That is one of the main dogmas of the Church. I would not believe any Catholic who said they did not know that.
 
Really? You know this how?

There are many Catholics who have been poorly catechized and who have not had teachings explained to them in ways that they fully comprehend them.

Do you honestly believe that an 8 y.o. who just made their First Communion understands, fully, all the nuances of the Real Presence? Would you call them a heretic if they could not adequetly articulate the Catholic position?
 
thistle said:
Every Catholic knows they must believe in the Real Presence. That is one of the main dogmas of the Church. I would not believe any Catholic who said they did not know that.
Click to expand...
Some people may be struggling with having faith in the Real Presence, while not having reached the point of rejecting the teaching. Doubt happens to good people, just like St. Thomas.

I have heard that many of the “bleeding host” miracles occurred in the presence of clergy who were struggling with such doubt.
 
thistle said:
Every Catholic knows they must believe in the Real Presence. That is one of the main dogmas of the Church. I would not believe any Catholic who said they did not know that.
Click to expand...
This sounds a little presumptuous. How can you prove that they received good catechesis about it? I’m shocked by the stories I hear of Catholics who learned barely anything about their faith as children.
 
Well, unless the instruction was heretical, we certainly learn about the Real Presence in instruction before First Holy Communion. Grant, however, that many of us receive it in the 2nd grade (or thereabouts) and many people don’t have families that practice the faith to any degree that solidifies the belief. Many kids go to public school and never hear of this doctrine again. Not surprising, therefore, that belief in the Real Presence can be abysmal among some Catholics.
 
Tis_Bearself said:
Doubt happens to good people, just like St. Thomas.
Click to expand...
Disbelief or stubborn doubt about an infallible teaching is heresy.

Also the OP is an adult. I do not believe an adult Catholic would not know that. It is one of the core beliefs for a Catholic.
 
Jesus being actually still physically present on earth is the biggest deal in the world!
 
You are being very judgemental.
I run into adult Catholics everyday who cannot articulate what “Real Presence” mean in an accurate fashion. Some just believe because they were told to do and they just never questioned it.

If I remember correctly, you are a convert. Sadly, you have probably been better catechized than most cradle Catholics. Unless you can read a person’s heart & mind you have no clue what they believe.
 
I dont believe Thistle said anything wrong, he is just stating Church teaching on the matter.

Although there are many who do not know this teaching, even many clerics.
 
I didn’t say she was wrong, I said she was being judgemental.
There are many poorly catechized adult Catholics. It is not charitable to throw around accusations of heresy.
 
I didnt see Thistle acuse anyone?
 
Last edited:
thistle said:
If a Catholic does not believe in the Real Presence then not only is that a mortal sin but it is also heresy for which the penalty is automatic excommunicatio
Click to expand...
4th post in.
One cannot make a blanket statement like this without knowing the facts.
In order to be a heretic, you must first believe, then discount that belief.
Seeing how catechesis, especially in the US has be abysmal for 40+ years, it would not surprise me if what we actually believe as Catholics can actually be articulated correctly by many pew sitters.
 
Last edited:
Where is she telling the original poster he is a heretic?

One can barely speak about the faith now days without another using ultra liberal tactics to silence someone.
 
Last edited:
I didn’t say she called anyone a here a heretic, I said you can’t go throwing around the accusation of heresy without all the facts.
 
She wasnt accusing anyone of heresy, just stating the importance of the Real Presence.

I guess you could say Thistle could have added the fact that one has to have knowledge of the heresy and the excommunication to be excommunicated.
 
Last edited:
Is this an accusation to me?
Because I don’t agree with you or Thistle, I am a liberal.
This is exactly what I saying is uncharitable and unChristian
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top