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sallybutler
Guest
Who takes your child to Mass?
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shainski
Guest
okay, I’ll bite.
If this is a serious inquiry, then I have questions for you, OP.
What does it mean to be Catholic?
What does it mean to be Protestant?
If there is no difference, then why does it matter how one raises one’s children?
Is just a matter of pride - who gets a “win” on his/her card - who gets the naming rights for a particular child?
What is it that one teaches a child that is different than what he/she would teach a child raised under the other doctrine?
you make the claim:
Or is it just important that you accept a few key teachings - and if so, which ones?
I’m serious. In order to answer your question - and I am going to have to assume that you are being authentic in your question - otherwise, there is no point in answering. You either must assume that there is a key difference between Protestantism and Catholicism and it is worth winning this debate with your wife - or you assume that there is no real difference between the two - and so it is only a matter of personal pride to get your way.
And how about your wife. What differences does she see?
If this is a serious inquiry, then I have questions for you, OP.
What does it mean to be Catholic?
What does it mean to be Protestant?
If there is no difference, then why does it matter how one raises one’s children?
Is just a matter of pride - who gets a “win” on his/her card - who gets the naming rights for a particular child?
What is it that one teaches a child that is different than what he/she would teach a child raised under the other doctrine?
you make the claim:
So, how many teachings do you have to accept in order to be Catholic?
Or is it just important that you accept a few key teachings - and if so, which ones?
I’m serious. In order to answer your question - and I am going to have to assume that you are being authentic in your question - otherwise, there is no point in answering. You either must assume that there is a key difference between Protestantism and Catholicism and it is worth winning this debate with your wife - or you assume that there is no real difference between the two - and so it is only a matter of personal pride to get your way.
And how about your wife. What differences does she see?
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jmcrae
Guest
50 years ago, any of these except missing Mass on Sunday would have landed you in jail. We live in very permissive times, but we aren’t at the mercy of our hormones, and most people living 50 years ago managed to stay out of jail. People who didn’t go to Church on Sundays were considered unemployable back then, of course, so everyone went to Church, somewhere. This notion that you can call yourself a Christian but not show up to Church on Sundays is a very recent development.
I think if someone is actually trying to, they’ll have greater success.
It’s not about “winning.” It’s about being a team and the two of you working together to help your children have the best possible chance of making it to Heaven.
I have no idea what your wife’s income has to do with it; I’m sure she contributes to the household in other ways besides buying things.
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jmcrae
Guest
Your daughter would look at what kind of girls you like, and try to be like them, so that you will like her. Meaning that if you look at porn, she will do what she can to look and behave like those girls, to win your admiration.
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phil19034
Guest
To the OP -
the best advice I can give you is to make an appointment with a priest to talk over these things. When you find one you like, have him become your spiritual advisor. You can either (a) let your wife know everything you and the priest discuss or (b) only share what you think will help you to raise your kids Catholic. Speaking with a priest on a regular basis can/will help.
Also, I was (and still am) kind of your shoes. I used to be a non-practicing Catholic (or at the most a “cafeteria Catholic”). I became addicted to porn and was morally going down the tubes. Today, I’m 36 and a devout Catholic. I try to avoid sexual sins, etc but when I fail I get to Confession right away. You CAN still be a good, holy person in modern America - though it’s not easy.
But back to how to convince your wife, talk it over with a priest and perhaps have her read “The Protestant’s Dilemma.” Finally, you do have to show your wife that your Faith is very important to you by become a better Catholic. When/If your wife sees that it’s making you a better man, father, husband, etc she may come around. (This is what I’m trying to do, it’s its harder for me because my wife is Jewish)
To the posters:
Please do not be quick to assume that some people are trolls. There are a TON of poorly catechized & evangelized people in the Church right now. The CCD programs of the 70s, 80s and 90s were not too good in America. CCD has historically assumed that the child was receiving Faith Foundation at home, while many parents were (a) un-catechized or (b) assuming CCD was teaching everything.
While I know this poster is NOT my sibling, I could VERY easily see my two brothers and 1 sister saying EVERYTHING the OP has been saying.
It really is that bad out there due to this secular society. And if he is a troll, answer like he’s not… You might help someone else who is reading.
God Bless
the best advice I can give you is to make an appointment with a priest to talk over these things. When you find one you like, have him become your spiritual advisor. You can either (a) let your wife know everything you and the priest discuss or (b) only share what you think will help you to raise your kids Catholic. Speaking with a priest on a regular basis can/will help.
Also, I was (and still am) kind of your shoes. I used to be a non-practicing Catholic (or at the most a “cafeteria Catholic”). I became addicted to porn and was morally going down the tubes. Today, I’m 36 and a devout Catholic. I try to avoid sexual sins, etc but when I fail I get to Confession right away. You CAN still be a good, holy person in modern America - though it’s not easy.
But back to how to convince your wife, talk it over with a priest and perhaps have her read “The Protestant’s Dilemma.” Finally, you do have to show your wife that your Faith is very important to you by become a better Catholic. When/If your wife sees that it’s making you a better man, father, husband, etc she may come around. (This is what I’m trying to do, it’s its harder for me because my wife is Jewish)
To the posters:
Please do not be quick to assume that some people are trolls. There are a TON of poorly catechized & evangelized people in the Church right now. The CCD programs of the 70s, 80s and 90s were not too good in America. CCD has historically assumed that the child was receiving Faith Foundation at home, while many parents were (a) un-catechized or (b) assuming CCD was teaching everything.
While I know this poster is NOT my sibling, I could VERY easily see my two brothers and 1 sister saying EVERYTHING the OP has been saying.
It really is that bad out there due to this secular society. And if he is a troll, answer like he’s not… You might help someone else who is reading.
God Bless
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vsedriver
Guest
LOL, if it were easy everyone would be Catholic. Jesus said the way is narrow. You are expected to put the realities of living in modern America aside for the realities of living as a Catholic.
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vsedriver
Guest
you are so going to be divorced…
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agnes_therese
Guest
Marriage is supposed to be two people working together, not constantly trying to emerge “victorious.” You seem more interested in making sure you always win, than that your marriage does.
While there is, of course, no way we can see the whole picture here, what you’re telling us does not sound like a healthy marriage.
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kbachler
Guest
Perhaps.
I suspect that a couple of thousand years ago, someone made similar comments about modern Judea, modern Rome, modern Greece, etc.
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jmcrae
Guest
That’s true. People have always believed that they were “more advanced” than their parents’ generation, and thus, entitled to commit sin - and every teenager thinks that he or she discovered sex; that it was never known in the world before they came along.
Exactly and they like to blame their hormones for their behaviour because nobody had hormones before them did they?
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ServusHumilis
Guest
The OP is trolling… I can’t believe how many people are biting the bait. Look at his other thread!
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rayne89
Guest
Actually Pope Francis did talk about meeting people where they are in his last encyclical. He talks exactly about situations like the OP here, not fully embraces the faith but working to be better. We need to remember not everyone is in the same place in their faith walk. I married outside the church to an agnostic, used contraception, rarely attended Mass but always believed in God and thought of the Catholic Church as my home. While I was pregnant with our daughter I started attended Mass again, and over a period of time my faith grew. God is in charge. We can’t beat people over the head into believing in all the church teachings. Hubby and I are now married in the church and fully practice our faith, but it took time.
I would say to the OP keep trying each day to do a little better. There is nothing more attractive to a Christian woman than a Godly man. A man who prays, a man who submits himself to a higher power. You can’t “win” this with words and certainly not arguments. Pray for your wife. Try to get more involved in your parish. Your wife will be attracted to the faith by your example and how the Catholic faith makes a difference in your life, how it makes you a better husband, then she will want her children to have that faith. You may not accomplish this by the birth of your second child -trust in God and keep getting to Mass as often as you can. Explore the church teachings with an open heart.
I would say to the OP keep trying each day to do a little better. There is nothing more attractive to a Christian woman than a Godly man. A man who prays, a man who submits himself to a higher power. You can’t “win” this with words and certainly not arguments. Pray for your wife. Try to get more involved in your parish. Your wife will be attracted to the faith by your example and how the Catholic faith makes a difference in your life, how it makes you a better husband, then she will want her children to have that faith. You may not accomplish this by the birth of your second child -trust in God and keep getting to Mass as often as you can. Explore the church teachings with an open heart.
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