Why is it better to be Catholic?

[PetraG]

Those answers do not make it better to be Catholic if you do not believe that this is true.

Does the veracity of a statement depend on whether or not the hearer has the capacity to understand it and believe it? Those who refuse to believe the truth because they objectively do not have the capacity to accept it are not culpable, but they are still incorrect if they believe something that is not true rather than what is true.

Having said that, the reason to become Catholic is that you believe what the Church teaches is true. If you don’t believe that and have some other reason to want to be Catholic, you have some problems. (You would essentially have to lie to get in.) It would be wrong to pressure someone to join the Church who does not believe that what the Church teaches is true. You would be pressuring them to commit perjury and a sacrilege.

I agree. The responses are highly subjective, and in the end, people tend to choose the type of church (or religion) that most closely matches what they already believe is true.

The reality of confirmation bias is not evidence in favor of a subjective view of reality.

Either Armstrong and Aldrin walked on the moon in July 1969 or they didn’t. What someone chooses to believe or not believe about that is irrelevant. If there was not a living soul that believed that it happened, that doesn’t change the truth a bit. Armstrong and Aldrin said it happened. They told others. Either you believe the line of evidence or you don’t.

 

[rondirect]

These sacramental graces are not available in Protestant denominations

Totally false. One example: Lutherans are protestants, no? They baptize, they have First Holy Communion, they have Confirmation. To Lutherans, they are sacramental graces of their church.

To be a Christian outside of it is to be imperfectly participating in the Church established by Jesus.

Wow. So, you are saying that those who are not Catholic are imperfect and thus not following Jesus correctly? Everyone who follows Jesus as their Lord and Savior, is loved. So much, for “love one another.” That does not mean love one another who are Catholic only.

Furthermore, do you believe that every Catholic is in full communion with the Catholic church? If not, are they imperfect as well?

 

[nogames]

There is no reason that I know of that there are to be four. It is just that there are four.
It was the Twelve who selected the replacement of Judas and the Apostles who laid hands on those sent out with the authority to spread the Gospel. This practice is clearly shown in the Scriptures; bishops and other ministers were not self-appointed, but selected by those already sent into ministry by the Apostles.
After all, where did you get the Scriptures that you have as an authority? The authority to deem what was in the canon was the authority of the Apostles. We know what is in the faith because it was handed down in an unbroken line from those appointed to be authoritative witnesses to the world: that is, the Twelve.
The Church is to be one because Our Lord himself set it down that his followers were to be one as he and the Father are one. Likewise, the Church is to be holy (1 Pet 1:15-16). Finally, the Apostles are commanded to bring the Gospel to all nations, so it follows that the true Church is to be catholic, or universal, rather than provincial.

I think that following the “right religion” shouldn’t be the main goal. Our faith should be a personal faith… in the one person who is able to save us from hell. Jesus never really made His Jewish religion a big deal. This is largely why I don’t care much about religion. I don’t think that Jesus came to the world to create another religion; he came to His people to teach them and to save them. When Jesus said, “I am the way”, we should take Him seriously. Religion often divides and misleads people. We need Jesus. We can (by the power of the Holy Spirit) know Him through the bible.

 

[PetraG]

Wow. So, you are saying that those who are not Catholic are imperfect and thus not following Jesus correctly? Everyone who follows Jesus as their Lord and Savior, is loved. So much, for “love one another.” That does not mean love one another who are Catholic only.

Furthermore, do you believe that every Catholic is in full communion with the Catholic church? If not, are they not imperfect as well?

is a follower of Him and He loves them.

It is not love to say someone is correct when they are not correct. If a Baptist honestly believes I am incorrect to believe what the Church teaches, I do not count it against them for saying so.

 

[MrsAngelala]

The papal church is the apostolic church. The Bishop of Rome - the Pope - is the successor of the Apostle Peter.

“One, holy, catholic, and apostolic” is the beginning of the last section of the Nicene Creed. This creed dates back to the fourth century, and I’m pretty sure that’s before any of the currently-enduring schisms occurred.

Many Protestant sects today profess the Nicene Creed, though I believe they reduce the four marks to characteristics of the “invisible church,” rather than the original (and Catholic) understanding as marks of a visible and identifiable entity. It seems like they’d have to. No Protestant denomination is one, holy, catholic, or apostolic.

 

[Wesrock]

Wesrock:

These sacramental graces are not available in Protestant denominations

Totally false. One example: Lutherans are protestants, no? They baptize, they have First Holy Communion, they have Confirmation. To Lutherans, they are sacramental graces of their church.

I said the sacrament of baptism was available, but Lutherans and other Protestants do not have actual sacraments of communion or confirmation, regardless of what they believe.

Wesrock:

To be a Christian outside of it is to be imperfectly participating in the Church established by Jesus.

Wow. So, you are saying that those who are not Catholic are imperfect and thus not following Jesus correctly? Everyone who follows Jesus as their Lord and Savior, is loved. So much, for “love one another.” That does not mean love one another who are Catholic only.

I said they’re imperfectly part of Christ’s Church and his body. Hard truths do not imply a lack of love. They are still Christians properly baptized into his Church and many do bear wonderful fruit.

Furthermore, do you believe that every Catholic is in full communion with the Catholic church? If not, are they imperfect as well?

Everyone is imperfect. Nobody walks a perfectly straight path. Catholics have the aid of the institution Christ established, the successors of the apostles, and the sacraments and the graces they provide in keeping to the narrow road, but many Catholics still go astray, and some may very well end up in Hell.

 

[rondirect]

It is not love to say someone is correct when they are not correct. If a Baptist honestly believes I am incorrect to believe what the Church teaches, I do not count it against them for saying so.

But, Petra, can you still love them?

 

[Wesrock]

Correcting error can be an act of love. Love does not mean being nice all the time.

Nice is different than good.

Nice is different than love.

Not that there aren’t areas of overlap. Correction should be done with charity, though, not malice or pride or any other negative motivation. That doesn’t mean it never sounds harsh.

 

[PetraG]

But, Petra, can you still love them?

Well, of course. What can another human being do to prevent you from loving them? We are commanded to love everyone, which means it is of course an attainable goal. That doesn’t mean we are to pretend that no one in the world can do anything wrong or have an incorrect belief.

If it were true to say it is unloving to say someone is wrong, how could Our Lord have ever corrected anyone?

Would I want someone to let me walk around all day with my skirt tucked into my underpants because it isn’t “loving” to point out my error? That is not love. That is just conflict avoidance.

 

[rondirect]

Everyone is imperfect. Nobody walks a perfectly straight path. Catholics have the aid of the institution Christ established, the successors of the apostles, and the sacraments and the graces they provide in keeping to the narrow road, but many Catholics still go astray, and some may very well end up in Hell.

Yes, I agree…but, what aid is given?

but Lutherans and other Protestants do not have actual sacraments of communion or confirmation, regardless of what they believe.

What do you mean by actual…regardless of what they believe? To me that is rather judgmental, something I thought Catholics would consider sinful.

 

[Wesrock]

Wesrock:

Everyone is imperfect. Nobody walks a perfectly straight path. Catholics have the aid of the institution Christ established, the successors of the apostles, and the sacraments and the graces they provide in keeping to the narrow road, but many Catholics still go astray, and some may very well end up in Hell.

Yes, I agree…but, what aid is given?

Correct moral and pastoral support. See Church teaching on marriage, marital relations for an example of where society and many Christian denominations have gone astray in the past century. Guidance and truth, the pillar of truth.

Actual grace imparted through the sacraments through the Church. The grace you speak of at justification? That grace can be received, restored, and increased through the sacraments if the receiver is properly disposed. Protestant denominations do not have this. Not that there isn’t any grace, but there’s no formalized sacraments through which they’re given routinely.

Wesrock:

but Lutherans and other Protestants do not have actual sacraments of communion or confirmation, regardless of what they believe.

What do you mean by actual…regardless of what they believe? To me that is rather judgmental, something I thought Catholics would consider sinful.

Their communion is only bread and wine. They lack the real presence. Christ can be present in such communities, sure, but imagine if Christ bodily came down from Heaven and stood in the building with you letting you touch the wounds in his hands and feet as he did for Saint Thomas, surely you’d say his presence in that way is different than his presence when he’s spiritually amongst a community of believers. So it is with the real presence and an actual Eucharist, found only in Catholic and Orthodox Churches. Likewise, the strengthening of sacramental grace found in Catholic and Orthodox confirmation/chrismation is not ordinarily within a Protestant confirmation as their ministers do not have the authority to impart it in Christ’s name, though we can’t exclude God acting extraordinary in some cases if He so chooses.

As for judgment, that’s a buzzword people like to throw around as an accusation nowadays. I cannot condemn someone to Hell or judge them saved. No one can do that but Jesus. We all will be judged. But that does not mean people can’t exercise their rational faculties or advise on what the Church teaches, or advise what is moral and what is not, or what is right doctrine and what is not.

 

[Benadam]

The Catholic church is Incarnational. The characteristics and reasons God became man are characteristics the Church carries on in the World.

 

[rondirect]

Their communion is only bread and wine.

So what? If one does not believe that a priest cannot do this and the Catholic Church in thinking so, is a lie, that person not better to be a Catholic.

As for judgment, that’s a buzzword people like to throw around as an accusation nowadays.

Well, I did not use it as a buzzword to throw around or really personally accuse you. If I did, I apologize.

I’ll start from the very beginning. We can cite all the good reasons why it is better to be a Catholic. But, other churches really believe that they are the way and have the real truth too. I do believe in all that you say, but I am walking in others shoes at the same time. They too really believe in their church and all in all, all these roads lead to Jesus, a good thing, regardless of how we celebrate or praise Him.

 

[MrsAngelala]

Why is the idea of religion/personal faith an either-or proposition? My religion informs, enriches, and bolsters my faith - which is a very personal relationship with God.

Jesus never made his Jewish religion a big deal? Oh dear. He - and his parents - obeyed every single tiny little jot and tittle of the Jewish law. His virginal father Joseph is labeled “the just man” in the Bible. That’s not a small thing! Jesus himself originally limited his ministry to Jews only.

You’re right. Jesus didn’t come here to create another religion. He came as the fruition of the religion that was already here. He came to fulfill the Judaic Law perfectly, and thus to usher in the Age of Grace.

Jesus did say, “I am the Way.” And there’s only one Church that goes all the way back to the very Head of the Way, i.e. the very beginning of God’s incarnate ministry on earth. Just one.

Have you never failed to understand or misunderstood something the Holy Spirit said to you? God protects the Church from error, but not individuals. (Except, in particular faculties, the pope.) This is in part so that we will rely on each other. Almost no one can learn perfect love in isolation, and perfect love is the goal of our lives. So he put us together, so that we would rub up against each other, and help each other, and hurt each other, and stay anyway, and forgive each other, and learn his kind of love.

We do need Jesus, and nowhere on earth is a more intimate relationship with him found than in the Catholic Church, which is both his Body and his Bride.

 

[Wesrock]

Wesrock:

Their communion is only bread and wine.

So what? If one does not believe that a priest cannot do this and the Catholic Church in thinking so, is a lie, that person not better to be a Catholic.

As for judgment, that’s a buzzword people like to throw around as an accusation nowadays.

Well, I did not use it as a buzzword to throw around or really personally accuse you. If I did, I apologize.

I’ll start from the very beginning. We can cite all the good reasons why it is better to be a Catholic. But, other churches really believe that they are the way and have the real truth too. I do believe in all that you say, but I am walking in others shoes at the same time. They too really believe in their church and all in all, all these roads lead to Jesus, a good thing, regardless of how we celebrate or praise Him.

Of course they do, but they can’t all be right. The person was asking why the Catholic Church. The Catholic position is that only in the Catholic Church do you find all that there is to offer. Certainly one should have reasons to believe in the Catholic Church over other denominations, but it should be clear that the CC does not teach that all things are equal everywhere and so it doesn’t really matter, and the Catholic (and Orthodox) teaching on ecclesiology is certainly a lot different than many Protestant teachings on it.

 

[rondirect]

Of course they do, but they can’t all be right. The person was asking why the Catholic Church. The Catholic position is that only in the Catholic Church do you find all that there is to offer.

They can all be right for the reason that all roads to Christ even though the paths may be different.
With all due respect, how do you know that, "the Catholic Church do you find all that there is to offer? Perhaps, we could be missing something. Just saying.

 

[MrsAngelala]

Are you really promoting easily disprovable factual errors about Catholic Church – here? On the Catholic Answers forums? There are too many fallacies in your post to address in this format. Please go visit the website and do a little reading. It’s some pretty interesting stuff.

 

[Wesrock]

Wesrock:

Of course they do, but they can’t all be right. The person was asking why the Catholic Church. The Catholic position is that only in the Catholic Church do you find all that there is to offer.

They can all be right for the reason that all roads to Christ even though the paths may be different.
With all due respect, how do you know that, "the Catholic Church do you find all that there is to offer? Perhaps, we could be missing something. Just saying.

Because the Catholic Church is the one established by the apostles who were commissioned by Christ to spread His Church throughout the world. It’s the Church that Christ promised the gates of Hell would never prevail against and which is the pillar and bulwark of the truth. It’s not an attempt to re-invent the faith by trying to reconstruct an ancient text outside of the tradition it arose within (some denominations are guilty of this, others not so much). It’s apostolic in origin and in teachings. You may as well ask why I believe in Christ and why I believe in that over Mohammad or Judaism or Hinduism or wiccanism. The Catholic Church, the Body of Christ, is the basis for my faith in Christ and in Scripture. I know the Bible is scripture because it’s vouched for by the Church, and I believe history validates the origins, authenticity, and legitimacy of the Catholic Church.

Again, Catholics and Orthodox see the Church as something very different than many Protestants do.

 

[Thomas_Dogood]

I’ve done a good deal of reading all the way back to Catholicism’s roots. Based on these readings, compared to Jesus & His disciples, Catholicism is a system of religious thought not promoted by the Bible (yes the Resurrection, believing Jesus is Messiah, etc. is true, but I am speaking in terms of “religious teachings/doctrine/theology”). I am not sure what easily disprovable factual errors you are referring to.

It seems that you may have taken offense to what I said, and it was not my intention to upset anyone but rather to answer the question asked.

 

[theCardinalbird]

Catholicism is heavily polluted with pagan traditions

Name some

and anti-semitism

See the encyclical Nostra Aetate

and biblical contradiction.

Name some

This is what Jesus and all of His disciples (including Paul) taught.

What exactly did they teach in regards to keeping traditions. You do realize the old covenant doesn’t apply to Christians right?