Why is the U.S. Catholic-Lite?

[Jenny35]

It seems as though Catholicism has been watered down in the U.S. Some things I have recently learned (I’m sure there are more) are: In the U.S. it is only required that we genuflect on one knee before the exposed Blessed Sacrament, outside of the U.S, both knees are expected. In the U.S the fast before Communion is only one hour, outside of the U.S. it is at least three. In the U.S. we only abstain from meat during the Friday’s of Lent, and outside of the U.S. they abstain on all Fridays. Why is the U.S Catholic-Lite?

 

[Praedicare]

Canada has the same rules with regards to meat-abstinence during Lent. The Catholic Church in England only recently re-established meatless Fridays, I believe. The Universal (Canon) Law of the Church, in fact, allows different options for penance on Fridays outside of Lent. The same Universal Law demands the 1-hour fast before receiving the holy Eucharist. It applies to all Catholics, not just Americans. The norm was 12 hours before the 1950s, and it was reduced to 3 hours only a few years before (or during) Vatican II.

Kneeling on both knees before the Blessed Sacrament exposed is a tradition, but I don’t think there are any strict canonical norms that establish a proper way of addressing the Lord when He is exposed in this manner. It is “more reverent” to adore Him on both knees, but perhaps some people are unable to do that - or perhaps they’ve been taught to give a profound bow.

Most importantly, perhaps your personal experience in your own diocese(s) is not indicative of the situation throughout the whole of your green & pleasant land. It’s way too easy to make assumptions about a whole nation. Please try to see the bigger picture, and realize that some parishes are behind when it comes to proper catechesis.

 

[Terri_C]

My thought is that the mass media does all it can to slam traditional values and religions as a whole.

 

[sudy]

I’m in England and for all of the 3 points you raised, we have the same rules over here.

-In front of the Exposition we’d generally do more than genuflect on one knee but for the Mass this is usual.

-On the fast before Mass, I’m not aware of others doing more than the one hour.

-On Ash Wednesday and Good Friday in Lent we’d fast… one meal in the day and no meat… and on Fridays throughout the year we’d attempt to abstain from meat. There are some who do fast on bread and water on Wednesdays and Fridays throughout the year… this is not a ‘requirement’ from the Church though and it’s very few people who would do this.

We have a far smaller Catholic community over here in general so perhaps there’s a difference in other parts of Europe.

 

[Origen52]

Just got back from Italy and they also have the same rules. I don’t think the U.S. is different from any other western Roman Catholic Church.

 

[robwar]

It seems as though Catholicism has been watered down in the U.S. Some things I have recently learned (I’m sure there are more) are: In the U.S. it is only required that we genuflect on one knee before the exposed Blessed Sacrament, outside of the U.S, both knees are expected. In the U.S the fast before Communion is only one hour, outside of the U.S. it is at least three. In the U.S. we only abstain from meat during the Friday’s of Lent, and outside of the U.S. they abstain on all Fridays. Why is the U.S Catholic-Lite?

All you have focused on is some external things and using that as a basis to call Catholics in the US “lite”. These are baseless connections and bigger issues as play than if one or two knees are used in genuflecting.

 

[CalCatholic]

We hear the same Word of God in the Scriptures and receive the same Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of our Lord Jesus Christ in the Eucharist! I would hardly call that ‘lite’.

 

[UpUpAndAway]

Greetings from an American residing in France for 13 years and counting

It seems as though Catholicism has been watered down in the U.S.

As compared to where, specifically?

Some things I have recently learned

From whom?

In the U.S. it is only required that we genuflect on one knee before the exposed Blessed Sacrament, outside of the U.S, both knees are expected.

Kneeling before the Blessed Sacrament is a good, pious practice, but I know of nowhere that **requires **it. I adore the Blessed Sacrament at the local ICRSS oratory at least twice monthly; even there no one blinks if you genuflect or bow instead.

In the U.S the fast before Communion is only one hour, outside of the U.S. it is at least three.

The one-hour Communion fast is worldwide, not just in the US. The faithful are free to do more if they wish—I myself observe a three-hour fast for Mass after 11am and restrict myself to water and medication from midnight onwards for Mass that starts before that time, but I know of no one else who does this. Then again, I don’t make it a habit of discussing the Communion fast with others so I really don’t know what anyone else does. My priest thinks I am too strict with myself for fasting longer than one hour.

In the U.S. we only abstain from meat during the Friday’s of Lent, and outside of the U.S. they abstain on all Fridays.

Year-round meat abstinence is not mandatory where I live. While I have abstained from meat on all Fridays year round since birth, I know of no one else who does this. Having had this discussion with my pastor, I know he only observes Friday meat abstinence during Lent.

Why is the U.S Catholic-Lite?

If anything, I think in general Catholics in the US are far more knowledgeable about Church practices and more faithful in adhering to them than their French counterparts (based upon my own experience; I cannot speak for every place on Earth, nor for every Catholic in the US or in France). I have seen people come into church eating and still receive Communion. :ehh: There are people who call themselves practicing Catholics yet insist we are no longer bound to meat abstinence even during Lent. Many of my fellow parishioners think I am making all this up. Others acknowledge what I say is true but can give me any of a number of “reasons” why it doesn’t apply to them or their families. So I honestly don’t know what you’re talking about.

A blessed Gaudete Sunday to all!

 

[Bob_Crowley]

I don’t want to derail the thread, but as an ex-Protestant convert, I was not even aware of “meatless Fridays”, “fasting before mass” etc. Mainly because I’ve never heard a big deal made out of it.

I’ve written before that the night my father died, he appeared in my room. One of the accusations I hurled at him was that he had wrecked my “career” chances. He replied “It’s not even important!”

I asked him what was. He replied, “HOW YOU TREAT OTHER PEOPLE!!” It was a bit late for him to learn that, considering the absolutely terrifying final scream with which he departed, but I think we’re going to find that “how we treat other people” will outweigh a lot of these other externalities eg. meatless Fridays, fasting before Mass, one knee or two, receiving the wafer in hand or on tongue, Latin masses and all the rest.

After all when Christ spoke about condemnation, there wasn’t a word about externalities, but He had a lot to say about “the least of these my brothers” and how we treat them. I get the impression that some of those who thought externalities were all important are going to find that He will reply “I never knew you.”

 

[christofirst]

Because we Catholics in the U.S. are just spiritual wimps, so weak and puny - is that what the OP wants to hear?

This begs the larger question: Is passing a kind of devotional endurance test the hallmark and goal of our lives as Catholics? Why should it bother anyone if our bishops relax or amend the “minimum requirements” so as to include as many of us as possible? Besides, no one is stopping you or any of us from taking on more demanding or generous devotional practices, if we feel so moved.

 

[Jenny35]

These are just things I have come across while reading various Catholic books, though come to think of it, many are pre-Vatican II so that likely explains the discrepancy.

If you were offended, it was not my intention…

 

[Origen52]

These are just things I have come across while reading various Catholic books, though come to think of it, many are pre-Vatican II so that likely explains the discrepancy.

If you were offended, it was not my intention…

Jenny, pre Vatican II Everyone followed those rules. A good place to find out about Post Vatican II practices is the Vatican website.

 

[kozlosap]

Because we Catholics in the U.S. are just spiritual wimps, so weak and puny - is that what the OP wants to hear?

This begs the larger question: Is passing a kind of devotional endurance test the hallmark and goal of our lives as Catholics? Why should it bother anyone if our bishops relax or amend the “minimum requirements” so as to include as many of us as possible? Besides, no one is stopping you or any of us from taking on more demanding or generous devotional practices, if we feel so moved.

Exactly! I’m fascinated by the OP’s seemed occupation with the externals of our faith. It made me think of those who are quadriplegic and their faith is shown to our Savior through devotion and prayer, not with kneeling or genuflecting, or even making the sign of the cross. I agree that, contrary to some radtrads, the vision that Papa Francis has for the Church to be more inclusive, is guided by the Holy Spirit.

 

[Jenny35]

Exactly! I’m fascinated by the OP’s seemed occupation with the externals of our faith. It made me think of those who are quadriplegic and their faith is shown to our Savior through devotion and prayer, not with kneeling or genuflecting, or even making the sign of the cross. I agree that, contrary to some radtrads, the vision that Papa Francis has for the Church to be more inclusive, is guided by the Holy Spirit.

I’m fascinated by your lack of Charity. I just have questions. I am not making judgments on anyone or anyone’s faith. There are several booklets I have read recently where in parenthesis it says (U.S only) after saying something like a one hour fast is required for Communion. Thank you for labeling me and for judging my heart.

This website is often as far from “Catholic” as one can get.

 

[Jenny35]

One more thing, I am in the U.S. Perhaps I should have worded it differently but I only wanted to know why it seemed as though rules were different here.

Any presumption of negativity by other readers is on them, not me.

 

[SuscipeMeDomine]

It seems as though Catholicism has been watered down in the U.S. Some things I have recently learned (I’m sure there are more) are: In the U.S. it is only required that we genuflect on one knee before the exposed Blessed Sacrament, outside of the U.S, both knees are expected. In the U.S the fast before Communion is only one hour, outside of the U.S. it is at least three. In the U.S. we only abstain from meat during the Friday’s of Lent, and outside of the U.S. they abstain on all Fridays. Why is the U.S Catholic-Lite?

I don’t know where you got these ideas. Canon law regarding the pre-communion fast is one hour and that applies worldwide. So if that means the faith is watered down, it’s watered down everywhere.

Other practices are different depending on the country. The US observes five or six holy days of obligation (depending on whether the Ascension is moved to Sunday or not) while Canada observes only two. Does that mean Canadians are “Catholics-lite”?

I don’t think you can judge the faith of an entire country based on a few external practices.

 

[Boy_Wonder]

Actually things are a bit better in the USA in this regard than elsewhere in North America and Europe. We need to count our blessings rather than dwelling on the downside. No one is forbidding us from practicing our faith to the fullest. We can kneel, genuflect, fast, and abstain all we like.

Every age presents certain challenges to the faith. Ours is no different. Compared to other historical eras, this is a decent time to be a Catholic. God calls us to be faithful no matter what the circumstances of our times or personal lives may be. Let us live with a strong sense of gratitude and with the utmost fidelity to our faith - without complaint or calumny.

 

[Jenny35]

You people are unbelievable. I was just asking a question. Which I have stated again and again. I was making no judgments on anyone’s faith or lack thereof. I was simply inquiring as to why customs are different in the U.S than elsewhere based on some things that I have read. If I had the booklets with me, I would quote them, but I don’t.

Stop judging my intentions. Seriously.

 

[christofirst]

You people are unbelievable. I was just asking a question. Which I have stated again and again. I was making no judgments on anyone’s faith or lack thereof. I was simply inquiring as to why customs are different in the U.S than elsewhere based on some things that I have read. If I had the booklets with me, I would quote them, but I don’t.

Stop judging my intentions. Seriously.

“Catholic-Lite” and “watered down” just sounded dismissive and a little insulting to me. I took it personally, but there was no real need for my response - your question had been answered well before I chimed in. Sorry, I’ll try to be more considerate. God bless you.

 

[OraLabora]

I don’t know where you got these ideas. Canon law regarding the pre-communion fast is one hour and that applies worldwide. So if that means the faith is watered down, it’s watered down everywhere.

And I think this was a good move. I remember when the fast was much longer, and to have someone pass out in church wasn’t unheard of. I remember one incident when I was about 6 or 7 years old when, in the heat a summer, a young woman who obviously hadn’t eaten since the previous evening, fainted on the church steps. My father helped her and we gave her a ride home as I recall.

I realize that medical reasons have always been valid reasons to break the fast, but hypoglycemia, hot weather, a late morning Mass, are not a good mix, and low blood sugar can affect anybody. Even a three-hour fast would be tough to observe for some people, especially diabetics on insulin who may need to nibble to keep their blood sugar levels in check.

It’s the old sabbath made for man vs man made for the sabbath argument. We shouldn’t have to mortify ourselves to the point of passing out in church… easier to have a rule that fits 99% of people rather than a tougher one that requires exceptions, dispensations, etc.