Why Not?

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God bless you, Ted.
It’s good to be a thinking Catholic,
but I hope that thinking, praying, and grace, restores your faith
and enables you to continue participating in the Sacraments.
 
TedDC said:
Because I no longer believe many of the Church’s teachings.
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A wise person told me that you understand the Church’s teachings once you have love for God. I pray that you make an effort to develop your relationship with God and then ask Him to make His teaching more clear to you.

God Bless 🙂
 
ljubim said:
A wise person told me that you understand the Church’s teachings once you have love for God. I pray that you make an effort to develop your relationship with God and then ask Him to make His teaching more clear to you.

God Bless 🙂
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Actually, I’m growing in my understanding of God - and that’s what leading me to believe that the Church’s teachings are not always God’s teachings.

And I know what’s coming next: I’ll be accused of being a Protestant, of ignoring two thousand years of consistent teachings and sacred tradition, of putting my own feeble opinions before those of the saints, etc. etc.

Heard it all before.
 
Like Ted I disagree with some of the teachings of the CC. I don’t buy the "Its because you don’t love God or you have been brain washed by the other denominations. I made my mind up to leave before I went to another denomination, before I talked to anyone from another denomination and by the way the CC has nothing to do with my love for God, I love God even though I am not with the CC.
 
It just isn’t for me.

I think it’s great if it works for you, though. 👍
 
=TedDC;6234751]Because I no longer believe many of the Church’s teachings.
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Hi Ted,

Thanks for the honest answer.

Is that because you don’t think they are true, or h fact that they are true true simply does not matter to you?

An can you be more specific?
 
Catholicism does not answer the questions I have regarding our life with God. It “does not speak to my condition”. For me Catholicism is bound up in rituals and rites and priesthoods. I’m not interested in a life of “religiouis ritual” either being performed on my behalf by a “priest” or required to participate in a ritual which is perceived to “dispense grace” when I remain unchanged and spiritually dead.

For me the Power of the message of Jesus of Nazareth isn’t found in creed and religious formulas…but in the spiritual rebirth though the direct and unmediated Presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives.

For those who find such religious rituals and rites and creedal statements meaningful, I rejoice with you if those rites and rituals make your lives better, your words kinder, your touch more gentle, your heart softer and compassionate. But for me such rites and rituals leave me feeling empty.

I have found the Living Presence experienced in my life through faith to be much more compelling.

I find the religious history of Christianity too “whitewashed” and “mythologized” for my tastes.

For me, I would rather trust my own counsel than give it up to follow the counsel of men who may have no more idea of what “life in Christ” means than I do. I wish to experience God for myself…not get stories of encounters from second hand sources and claim them as my own. If one day I face God in judgement…I will stand in firm confidence on my own two feet before Him in trust…I don’t think the excuse of “the church said”…or “the church required me to do XYZ” will be valid…I will be judged on my life…my deeds…MY CHOICES…I have no desire to give that up to an institution.
 
rev_kevin said:
Like Ted I disagree with some of the teachings of the CC. I don’t buy the "Its because you don’t love God or you have been brain washed by the other denominations. I made my mind up to leave before I went to another denomination, before I talked to anyone from another denomination and by the way the CC has nothing to do with my love for God, I love God even though I am not with the CC.
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Hi Rev Kevin, I do not recall it ever a teaching of the CC to accuse anyone that if they do not belong to the CC they don’t love God. I also do not believe that anyone can truly be brainwashed unless they want to be. To me if someone is brainwashed its a much deeper problem then faith.

If a Catholic has accused you of not loving God because you do not belong to the RCC let me be the first to apologize for the ignorance of that person. But please do not hold the CC responsible for the ignorance for someone who belongs to the Church. The official Church teaching is no one can know another mans Soul.

Personally I do not recall Jesus ever asking us if we agree or disagree with his teachings. I just remember him saying I am the way the truth and the light. I always saw Jesus saying If you love me keep my word. Not if you agree with me keep my word. 🤷

But I do appreciate your honesty saying that you have free will from God, Because that is the truth. And the truth is what I feel leads all to the Fullness of the Truth which is the CC.

I unlike you do not disagree with any of the Teachings of the Church, because I would then have to disagree with the teachings of Christ. I could not ever do that. I believe that everything Jesus taught is not only the truth, its the only way. Its not My way, its Gods Way! And you know the ACDC song Its Gods way or the Highway and we know where the Highway leads us:D
 
Publisher said:
Catholicism does not answer the questions I have regarding our life with God. It “does not speak to my condition”. For me Catholicism is bound up in rituals and rites and priesthoods. I’m not interested in a life of “religiouis ritual” either being performed on my behalf by a “priest” or required to participate in a ritual which is perceived to “dispense grace” when I remain unchanged and spiritually dead.

For me the Power of the message of Jesus of Nazareth isn’t found in creed and religious formulas…but in the spiritual rebirth though the direct and unmediated Presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives.

For those who find such religious rituals and rites and creedal statements meaningful, I rejoice with you if those rites and rituals make your lives better, your words kinder, your touch more gentle, your heart softer and compassionate. But for me such rites and rituals leave me feeling empty.

I have found the Living Presence experienced in my life through faith to be much more compelling.

I find the religious history of Christianity too “whitewashed” and “mythologized” for my tastes.

For me, I would rather trust my own counsel than give it up to follow the counsel of men who may have no more idea of what “life in Christ” means than I do. I wish to experience God for myself…not get stories of encounters from second hand sources and claim them as my own. If one day I face God in judgement…I will stand in firm confidence on my own two feet before Him in trust…I don’t think the excuse of “the church said”…or “the church required me to do XYZ” will be valid…I will be judged on my life…my deeds…MY CHOICES…I have no desire to give that up to an institution.
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I am sad to see that you have such a distorted vision of the RCC:(
 
rinnie said:
I am sad to see that you have such a distorted vision of the RCC:(
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???

So there are no rites or rituals that the CC beliieves one must participate in AND claim to be the sole arbiter of those rituals?

The CC does not expect it’s members to follow what it says BECAUSE it says it?

The CC does not expect it’s members to be compliant and accept it’s teachings without dicention?

The CC does not require a creed to be recited?

What part of my vision is “distorted”?
 
I am not a Roman Catholic because:
  1. I was not born into the Roman Catholic Church,
  2. I am high church Anglican and I particularly appreciate the level of devotion to the sacramental life that is present in the Anglican churches, that, while it exists in the Roman churches, does not approach that in good Anglican churches.
  3. I am unconvinced that the RCC is the exclusive or most comprehensive vehicle for the truth. I understand the teaching, but the reality of the Church’s history doesn’t give me confidence. And I am tired or inconsistencies being explained away all the time.
  4. The entire institution of the Papacy. I accept that the See of Peter should be the most important see in the world, but not to the extent that the Bishop of Rome chooses all bishops. When the apostles chose Matthias, it was not a choice made by Peter alone.
  5. The RCC has not sufficiently appreciated the reformation and the reasons for it.
Having said all that, I contacted the RCC diocese in my area to see if there were any groups or individuals who are interested in discussing possiblity of an Anglican Use parish in the new ordinariate. So who knows.
 
Publisher said:
???

So there are no rites or rituals that the CC beliieves one must participate in AND claim to be the sole arbiter of those rituals?

The CC does not expect it’s members to follow what it says BECAUSE it says it?

The CC does not expect it’s members to be compliant and accept it’s teachings without dicention?

The CC does not require a creed to be recited?

What part of my vision is “distorted”?
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It depends. Do you consider GOD an IT? The CC is not an It. The CC is the living CHrist. The Catholic Church is not a It, the CC is the Holy SPirit leading us to the fullness of the Truth. Thats where I see a big problem.
 
rinnie said:
It depends. Do you consider GOD an IT? The CC is not an It. The CC is the living CHrist. The Catholic Church is not a It, the CC is the Holy SPirit leading us to the fullness of the Truth. Thats where I see a big problem.
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Then our differences are irrconcileable…the institution of the CC is not God…it is not the Holy Sprit…that’s where I see a big problem too.🙂
 
Publisher said:
Then our differences are irrconcileable…the institution of the CC is not God…it is not the Holy Sprit…that’s where I see a big problem too.🙂
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Hey Guess what. WE AGREE! Because in order to deny the Father, The SOn and the Holy SPirit goes against the Word of God. And would never be acceptable to the RCC.

It is Christ who through the Holy Spirit makes his church One, Holy Catholic and Apostolic and it is he who call her to realize each of these qualitites!👍

So you are correct if you cannot accept the Holy Spirit we would never be able to reconcile our differences.
 
rinnie said:
Hey Guess what. WE AGREE! Because in order to deny the Father, The SOn and the Holy SPirit goes against the Word of God. And would never be acceptable to the RCC.

It is Christ who through the Holy Spirit makes his church One, Holy Catholic and Apostolic and it is he who call her to realize each of these qualitites!👍

So you are correct if you cannot accept the Holy Spirit we would never be able to reconcile our differences.
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Rinnie,

You and I both know I never intimated that I “cannot accept the Holy Spirit”…I think such a statement by you is beneath you. Are you seeking to promote dialog…or quelch it altogether by making such statements? Such statement do not speak from the Center of Truth and Light.

I do believe in One Church…and if you life is hidden in Christ…you and I a members of this One Church. I do not identify the Catholic church with the One Church made of those who are redeemed in Christ and walk in the Light.

If not accepting the Catholic church is not accepting the Holy Sprit…I’m guilty…but you know as well as I do…that was not my intention…no matter how much you wish to characterize as such. Shame on you.
 
PJM said:
Friend,

Why aren’t you a Catholic?
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TedDC said:
Because I no longer believe many of the Church’s teachings.
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I can agree to that one. I have the same reason for not being Catholic any longer.

May the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

In Him,
Janet
 
rinnie said:
It depends. Do you consider GOD an IT? The CC is not an It. The CC is the living CHrist. The Catholic Church is not a It, the CC is the Holy SPirit leading us to the fullness of the Truth. Thats where I see a big problem.
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I am a bit confused by this, rinnie.

I want to offer an alternative and hopefully more effective response to Publisher. In the CC, you have both the ritual and the real, personal relationship with God. It’s not either-or; it’s both-and.

It can be hard to see past the ritual sometimes as a non-Catholic, sure. Do some Catholics rely too, um, ritualistically on ritual? Yes, of course. Can ritual get in the way of the relationship if one lets it? Sure. But that doesn’t mean ritual is wrong. The question should be, is the ritual of the CC done according to what Jesus instructed his apostles to do? Did Jesus in fact establish these rituals? The question should NOT be do I like these rituals? Do they fit my style of worship? Do they speak to me where I am?

You may have to give up a personal style preference to be a Catholic, but you don’t have to give up an intimate, personal relationship with God.
 
Publisher said:
Rinnie,

You and I both know I never intimated that I “cannot accept the Holy Spirit”…I think such a statement by you is beneath you. Are you seeking to promote dialog…or quelch it altogether by making such statements? Such statement do not speak from the Center of Truth and Light.

I do believe in One Church…and if you life is hidden in Christ…you and I a members of this One Church. I do not identify the Catholic church with the One Church made of those who are redeemed in Christ and walk in the Light.

If not accepting the Catholic church is not accepting the Holy Sprit…I’m guilty…but you know as well as I do…that was not my intention…no matter how much you wish to characterize as such. Shame on you.
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If you believe in One Church and you believe in the Holy Spirit how can you deny that the Holy Spirit is guiding the CC? If you do accept the teaching of the Apostles that and they said that they believe in ONE HOLY CATHOLC APOSTOLIC CHURCH.

Please enlighten me then. ANd if I misunderstood my sincere apology. But explain how you can say you deny the HS leading the CC then?🤷

And My Life is not HIDDEN in Christ nor should ever be. My live living the Life of Christ for all to see.🤷
 
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