Why Is Catholicism So Unattractive to Evangelicals?

[FollowChrist34]

But a study from six years ago in 2008 showed a minuscule number of Catholics - only about 2 percent - availing themselves of the sacrament once a month or more often. About 26 percent of those surveyed say they participate at least once a year, with 30 percent reporting they go less than once a year and 45 percent saying they never go.

In the “real world” Catholics don’t all go to confession - not by a long shot. It is only required for mortal sins, but recommended for venial sins from time to time - I have heard different opinions as to how often.

 

[AbideWithMe]

On the other hand, never assume a newcomer is in fact a “newcomer”.

That may be the case sometimes, but I’d rather assume good will on a new poster’s part unless they are proven guilty. I can say for myself when I was new here and still now, I’m sometimes taken aback at the “in your face” pushy atmosphere here occasionally.

A while back on another part of CAF someone posted a spot-on cartoon about introverts, written and drawn by an introvert. Maybe I can find it again.

 

[Michael68]

In the “real world” Catholics don’t all go to confession - not by a long shot. It is only required for mortal sins, but recommended for venial sins from time to time - I have heard different opinions as to how often.

I feel light as a feather after confession. One of the advantages of confession is to have a specific confessor that can guide you in areas you are struggling in

 

[feed_me]

In the “real world” Catholics don’t all go to confession - not by a long shot. It is only required for mortal sins, but recommended for venial sins from time to time - I have heard different opinions as to how often.

And that is one of the problems that need to be cleaned up really badly in the church because when they dont go to confession and take host, they commit sacrilage against God. Unfortunitly I see that all the time.

 

[PRmerger]

Even in the Catholic Church, I’ve never heard of anyone who went to confession and was told by the priest, “I’m going to forgive this sin, this sin and this sin, but as for this other sin you mentioned, I’m going to retain it and not forgive it.”

You didn’t answer the question.

At any rate, what goes on in confession is very, very private. Why in the world would anyone tell you whether his sins were retained or forgiven?

What a peculiar comment!

Nevertheless, the fact that you haven’t heard of anyone saying this is absolutely otiose.

Your experiences do not represent even a minutiae of the occurrences of the Sacrament of Reconciliation.

I guarantee you that if you asked 100 priests if they’ve ever retained a sin in the confessional, withholding absolution for that sin, that you would get some affirmation of this.

 

[FollowChrist34]

I am honestly not trying to question, deny or affirm the benefits of confession or get into the problems associated with the fact that it has fallen off in practice - I just posted the “real world” numbers for “outsiders.” I was afraid from the thread it sounds like we are in line 24/7.

 

[AbideWithMe]

That may be the case sometimes, but I’d rather assume good will on a new poster’s part unless they are proven guilty. I can say for myself when I was new here and still now, I’m sometimes taken aback at the “in your face” pushy atmosphere here occasionally.

A while back on another part of CAF someone posted a spot-on cartoon about introverts, written and drawn by an introvert. Maybe I can find it again.

Here’s the cartoon, in the first post:forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=915908
I’m including it as relevant to the idea that things can feel kind of pushy around here, even when posters don’t intend to be so. In real life it’s easier, I would guess, for extroverts to pick up on body language and tone of voice cues from an introvert and realize they should respectfully back off.

 

[Peter_J]

I would say we don’t ignore the passages, but I would have similar concerns to Thorolfr’s below. All of which is not to deny that confession is a beneficent gift from God, as I said earlier.

Originally Posted by Thorolfr View Post
The passage in John says that the disciples could forgive sins and this was one way for sins to be forgiven. But it doesn’t say that this is the only way for sins to be forgiven nor does it say that this power given the disciples was passed on to anyone else.

Not to go off on a tangent, but I have ask you (both): *Was *it passed on to anyone else, in your view?

 

[AbideWithMe]

Not to go off on a tangent, but I have ask you (both): *Was *it passed on to anyone else, in your view?

I don’t have a problem with saying a minister of the Gospel can pronounce forgiveness to the repentant, as a delegate of Christ. My only large concern with Catholic teaching here is the idea that confession to a priest is a requirement of forgiveness, unless one has perfect contrition, in regards to mortal sins.

 

[PRmerger]

I don’t have a problem with saying a minister of the Gospel can pronounce forgiveness to the repentant, as a delegate of Christ.

So you would be ok if the minister retained your sin, knowing that it would also be still retained in heaven (that is, not forgiven)?

IOW, you would accept that this is what’s actually occurring? (I understand that you wouldn’t be “ok” with it in the sense that you’d feel fine about your sins being retained after you just confessed them to your pastor.)

My only large concern with Catholic teaching here is the idea that confession to a priest is a requirement of forgiveness, unless one has perfect contrition, in regards to mortal sins.

That’s not our rules.

We just abide by what Christ established.

 

[zaffiroborant]

That may be the case sometimes, but I’d rather assume good will on a new poster’s part unless they are proven guilty. I can say for myself when I was new here and still now, I’m sometimes taken aback at the “in your face” pushy atmosphere here occasionally.

A while back on another part of CAF someone posted a spot-on cartoon about introverts, written and drawn by an introvert. Maybe I can find it again.

I hardly see accusing people of bullying as good will.

 

[zaffiroborant]

Here’s the cartoon, in the first post:forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=915908
I’m including it as relevant to the idea that things can feel kind of pushy around here, even when posters don’t intend to be so. In real life it’s easier, I would guess, for extroverts to pick up on body language and tone of voice cues from an introvert and realize they should respectfully back off.

Introverts are not shy wallflowers who wilt at the first sign of push back, I’d also note that seeker has no qualms about pushing at people when ever he/she feels like it. Also this is a sub-area on Catholic Answers, an area to discuss religions other than Catholicism. If someone wants to ask questions and learn about Catholicism there are many other sub-boards that fit the bill this one is not restricted to explaining Catholicism.

 

[PRmerger]

Introverts are not shy wallflowers who wilt at the first sign of push back,

I know, right?!!

I’d also note that seeker has no qualms about pushing at people when ever he/she feels like it. Also this is a sub-area on Catholic Answers, an area to discuss religions other than Catholicism. If someone wants to ask questions and learn about Catholicism there are many other sub-boards that fit the bill this one is not restricted to explaining Catholicism.

Egg-zactly.

Not to mention that one ought to be able to answer questions posed , and have these opinions hold up to scrutiny. If the opinions are defensible, then we will see it.

But being offended when someone asks a question that stems from an assertion is like going to a Cruciverbalist Forum and then not liking it when crossword puzzles are discussed!

 

[MartinJordan]

That’s not our rules.

We just abide by what Christ established.

This reminds me of Jesus’ example to Peter when the Jesus went to a Pharisee’s house and a woman fell at his feet wiping her tears with her hair, and putting oil on Jesus’ feet.

Jesus finally told her (despite the complaints by others), “your Faith has saved you. Go in peace”. I look at it as Jesus establishing confession by letting the penitent hear that the sin is forgiven. It’s a beautiful thing, the Grace of God!

MJ

 

[Porknpie]

Yes indeed, I’m learning who the playground bullies are, invaluable info to be sure.

Seeker, asking your Pastor their exegesis of a scripture verse is a very reasonable thing to do.

In fact I would certainly think that they would want to share their insights with you.

You can then compare their answer to those answers by Catholics and catholics on CAF.

Doing so is enlightening. For all of us, not just you.

But it could be…that the Catholic answer, may give you pause, as it very well could be - but not always - different that than the answer from your pastor.

Remember, your pastor is fallible. That means, that their interpretation of the scripture passage, especially if it differs from what the Church has always professed, could be… wrong.

 

[Porknpie]

My only large concern with Catholic teaching here is the idea that confession to a priest is a requirement of forgiveness, unless one has perfect contrition, in regards to mortal sins.

That’s the part of conforming our views to the truth of the Church, rather than finding a Church that conforms to our views.

That said, going to confession is such a terrific reason to be Catholic, knowing that Christ himself has forgiven the sin and that we’ve been reconciled back to him. The branch has been attached back to the vine.

Sanctifying grace is restored.

And that grace is absolutely needed to enter heaven.

 

[dmftx]

There is another part that is very rewarding. Our priest is very open to our feelings and frustration with our sin. He takes the time to offer his support and reaffirms the human issues of life (which include sin) as well as offering scriptual references for meditation. They can also offer other avenues of assistance. It isn’t just confession but also an opportunity for growth. I still talk to God. In a nutshell, I think most people just don’t want to make the effort to go to confession.

 

[Seekerjn316]

Seeker, asking your Pastor their exegesis of a scripture verse is a very reasonable thing to do.

In fact I would certainly think that they would want to share their insights with you.

You can then compare their answer to those answers by Catholics and catholics on CAF.

Doing so is enlightening. For all of us, not just you.

But it could be…that the Catholic answer, may give you pause, as it very well could be - but not always - different that than the answer from your pastor.

Remember, your pastor is fallible. That means, that their interpretation of the scripture passage, especially if it differs from what the Church has always professed, could be… wrong.

Hi, thank you for your response. If my pastor has a completely different understanding of the passages in question, it would not mean anything to this discussion. Asked in the way it was and seen in the light of previous statements about how Protestants rely on their pastors to tell them what scripture means was not meant to be flattering or sincere in it’s asking…let’s all not play “I didn’t mean anything in asking the question” game…“Something” all right was behind the question, I’ve lurked too long here to pretend otherwise.

Your inquiry indeed may be honestly one of inquire…if the need to know and understand his view is crucial to this thread I’d be most happy to do so…but let’s not pretend, that’s neither truthful nor productive.

How “good” of you to remind me my pastor is not infallible, never said nor thought he was, but I appreciate the “heads up”.

 

[pablope]

The passage from John does not even have the word confession. It just say, “If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.” It doesn’t specify how the disciples would learn about these sins or if they include both private and public sins. It doesn’t say that the disciples would learn about these sins through confession. Perhaps it is only talking about sins that are publicly known.

On short…this is now called…“confession”…"It just say, “If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.”

 

[pablope]

I don’t have a problem with saying a minister of the Gospel can pronounce forgiveness to the repentant, as a delegate of Christ.

My only large concern with Catholic teaching here is the idea that confession to a priest is a requirement of forgiveness, unless one has perfect contrition, in regards to mortal sins.

Because that is how Apostolic Tradition…both East and West, the undivided Church…taught it from the beginning.

And it has its roots in the OT, like the the story of King David…2Sam 12 (please read the whole chapter, will only cite this verse):

13 Then David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the LORD.”

Nathan replied, “The LORD has taken away your sin. You are not going to die. 14 But because by doing this you have shown utter contempt for[a] the LORD, the son born to you will die.”

Here, Nathan proclaims David’s forgiveness/absolution.

I would suggest a book…amazon.com/Lord-Have-Mercy-Healing-Confession/dp/0385501706

This traces the roots from the OT.