Cafeteria Catholics?

[sodaseller]

Re: Confession- I always wondered if priests have to go to Confession?

Do they just confess to each other? How does that work?

All priests are also supposed to go to Confession. Most have a preferred confessor

 

[mickeyfan2]

Apostolic succession teaches that te howers granted to the apostles are validly granted to the unbroken line of successors through valid ordinations. Many (i.e. all Protestants) do not ascribe to the theory and I understand their objections, but that is the theory.

More broadly and less offensively. Christ established His Church to be His contuining presence on earth, doing the same things in His name that He did, within certain limitation. The foregiveness of sins is one of those, though to clear up a common misconception, the priest is just channeling Divine power, not exercising his own. In Personam Chrisi and Ex Opere Operato if you need a little Latin to make it sound official.

I know all of that, but this is the only teaching from my childhood that I never seemed to accept. Now maybe for me always attending public school may play a part in this.

I always did the same speech when we went - did not listen to my parents, was mean to my brother.....

 

[sodaseller]

I know all of that, but this is the only teaching from my childhood that I never seemed to accept. Now maybe for me always attending public school may play a part in this.

I always did the same speech when we went - did not listen to my parents, was mean to my brother.....

Sorry - didn't mean to sound pedantic

 

[mickeyfan2]

Sorry - didn't mean to sound pedantic

No problem. You even forced me to learn a new word. My lack of stellar english learning maybe partly to blame for my lack of church learning. Now give me the church doctrine in math form and all will be all set.

 

[RickinNYC]

The church does notcondemn homosexuality.It does condemn practicing it.
I consider myself devout in all other doctrines of the Catholic faith. My brothers-in-law,(2 of them for sure and 1 maybe)were(one DBIL died from complcations of AIDS) and are gay,I have friends that are gay,and they are all good,good,people. IMO,Jesus loves them as much as He loves you and me. He knows this is not a choice. In my heart,I can't believe that Jesus condemns them.

Quite honestly, I'm not a practicing homosexual, I got it right the first time. But I kid! Ba da bum!

ETA: if the church did not condemn homosexuals and only condemned the sexual act, then why would the Vatican try to banish homosexual men from becoming priests? Just because a person identifies himself as gay doesn't mean they are sexually active. Gay doesn't mean "gotta get me some 24/7".

Gay or straight, if they assume the doctrine in place to be a priest, then it shouldn't matter, right? Yet the church chooses to simply state ANYone who is gay should not be allowed to be a priest.

That's a condemnation of the homosexual as much as it is a condemnation of the act itself.

 

[rie'smom]

Quite honestly, I'm not a practicing homosexual, I got it right the first time. But I kid! Ba da bum!

ETA: if the church did not condemn homosexuals and only condemned the sexual act, then why would the Vatican try to banish homosexual men from becoming priests? Just because a person identifies himself as gay doesn't mean they are sexually active. Gay doesn't mean "gotta get me some 24/7".

Gay or straight, if they assume the doctrine in place to be a priest, then it shouldn't matter, right? Yet the church chooses to simply state ANYone who is gay should not be allowed to be a priest.

That's a condemnation of the homosexual as much as it is a condemnation of the act itself.

Our priest 'came out' to the congregation several mos ago. Some of the parishoners were in an uproar and approached the bishop. He told them because Father_ __ _ _ _ was not a practicing homosexual that he was still adhering to the faith and would keep his post.
The church has had a don't ask,don't tell philosophy longer than the military has. Now, does the church go to gay bars to recruit? No.

 

[LisaB]

I have always been one of those caferteria catholics. My grandmother who died at 92 and was a church going Catholic stated you don't go to church because of the priest you go becaause of God. I have always diagreed with many of the teachings of the Catholic Church but it wouldn't feel right changing once a Catholic always a Catholic and it is kind of neat that all other Chrsitian religions started from mine.

 

[Marie17]

I personally think a lot of catholics are "cafeteria-style" catholics meaning they pick and choose the doctrines of faith they want to believe in and more importantly want to practice. It is NOT easy being Catholic - requires a lot of faith and work.

The Real Presence is one issue that is very hard for some people. I know the only place I will ever get the Eucharist is from a valid Catholic mass. I've been to other churches and never have I ever felt the presence of Jesus as I do in any Catholic mass.

I may not understand all the doctrines as they are stated by some believers (clergy and lay people) - but - if I delve into the subject and really investigate the WHY the doctrine and belief exists then it is always much easier to understand the why it exists.

Archbishop Fulton Sheen once said something along the lines of this....
There are not over a hundred people in the United States who hate the Catholic Church. There are millions, however, who hate what they wrongly believe to be the Catholic Church - which is quite a different thing.

 

[ptrbryant]

I think it basically always comes down to the Eucharist and it's meaning as the True Presence in the Catholic Church. If you don't believe that--aside from any other teachings--why would you stay? If you do believe it, how could you go? I guess the only other denomination that shares the eucharistic teaching is the Orthodox Church (i.e. Russian, etc.). I doubt one would go there to get away from doctrine and rules, though!

Karla B.

 

[nuke]

I think it basically always comes down to the Eucharist and it's meaning as the True Presence in the Catholic Church. If you don't believe that--aside from any other teachings--why would you stay? If you do believe it, how could you go? I guess the only other denomination that shares the eucharistic teaching is the Orthodox Church (i.e. Russian, etc.). I doubt one would go there to get away from doctrine and rules, though!

Karla B.

That's very true. Our pastor always says you have to eat to live. It has much deeper meaning in the context of the Eucharist.

 

[Disney Doll]

The Catholic Church is made up of people. People are fallible, imperfect, mistake-making beings. That includes all people...priests, nuns, you, me, the Pope, the cardinals and so on.

I am thankful that I have been able to separate God from man, in terms of the Catholic Church. It has allowed me to continue to believe in the faith I was born into and raised with, and which feels right for me.

It's never between me and them. It's always between me and God.

 

[Fitswimmer]

There are not over a hundred people in the United States who hate the Catholic Church. There are millions, however, who hate what they wrongly believe to be the Catholic Church - which is quite a different thing.

Excellent quote. The sad thing is some have had seriously negative experiences with the Church and they do have reason to be angry and hurt. I can understand how it would be difficult to separate the sins of human beings from the Church as a spiritual entity.
I don't feel oppressed by the Church because women cannot be ordained, but some women do feel that they have a calling that is being rejected. It is hard to reconcile the statements from the Vatican about homosexual priests with the same Church that runs hospices for AIDS victims. Were some of the priests involved in the pedophile scandal homosexual? Did they prey on prepubescent boys because they were attracted to men and were afraid to get involved with them? In a NJ parish that is about 10 minutes from the one I grew up in, the Priest did "come out" after he was confronted. (that was the parish where SNAP was formed I believe) Was that the Jim McGreevey defense? Who knows? If there were more who made that statement, I can see why the Vatican would be gun shy about ordaining others.

 

[JunieJay]

When you are discussing a pedophile, who really cares if they are a homosexual or a heterosexual? Its a sick person who abuses a child. There are many many good priests who got a bad rap due to these few sickos spread around the country, and the Catholic Church has to take most of the blame for not confronting it head on when it was discovered.

 

[Fitswimmer]

When you are discussing a pedophile, who really cares if they are a homosexual or a heterosexual?

I don't, regardless of sexual orientation a predator is a predator. What I was saying was that the ban on ordaining homosexuals might have come from accused pedophile priests saying that they were repressed gay men. Because I knew the one in NJ used that as an excuse, I wondered if others did the same. Which might have lead the Vatican to believe that the predominant trend in the pedophile scandal was homosexual priests preying on young teenage boys. Following that line of thinking, don't ordain homosexual men and you reduce the potential pool of predators. Since I don't know why it would make a difference whether a Priest was a celebate homosexual or a celibate heterosexual, I was trying to understand what would create the need for a ban.
A good friend of mine is in law enforcement and he said that the majority of the priest cases were with young teen boys between the ages of 12-16. True pedophiles are attracted to children who have not yet matured sexually, usually 10 and under. (there is a term for predators of older kids but I can't remember what it is) Between 12-16, boys are either beginning to mature or have matured. It's similar to the Foley case, his defense is that he was a closeted gay man and preyed upon the 16 year old page because of his fear of being outed.
Now, before I get killed here-I do NOT personally believe gay men are any more likely to be predators than heterosexual men. That sin is equal opportunity.

 

[georgina]

I think that if you don't support a substantial amount of a religion's doctrines, then you shouldn't call yourself a member of that church. It's a disservice to yourself and to the religion.

Catholics who enjoy the ceremony but not the restrictions can always join us Episcopalians!

Seriously though, you can't always get what you want. If you like some elements of the Catholic Church, but disagree on such huge issues as homosexuality, divorce, birth control, premarital sex, female priests - I just don't see how you can reconcile that and still call yourself a Catholic with a straight face.

I have never been a Catholic, and have no desire to be, so of course it's an easy choice for me. For people who were raised in that faith, and still want to follow it, even when their personal feelings are so far from church doctrine - well again, You Can't Always Get What You Want.

I have to jump in here - I can call myself a Catholic for the same reason that I can call myself an American - it is home, although I do disagree with many of its policies, I do believe change will come in time. There are some things I can't abandon - my country, my Catholicism, my love for the Browns although I now live in Pittsburgh...

 

[allie&mattsmom]

I have to jump in here - I can call myself a Catholic for the same reason that I can call myself an American - it is home, although I do disagree with many of its policies, I do believe change will come in time. There are some things I can't abandon - my country, my Catholicism, my love for the Browns although I now live in Pittsburgh...

I like this post.

 

[lesroi]

Working as a labor and delivery nurse, I can assure you that I do understand NFP. If a woman's hormones are not functioning "normally" her discharges, mucus quality and amount fluxuate drastically--making it nearly impossible to practice NFP successfully. I think it's wonderful that they've "revamped" the method so that women have another option--but it's not right for all women. I also find it a tad ridiculous that an organization where the hierarchy is entirely made up of men have any real say over a woman's reproduction...but that's another topic for another day.

Please take this advice for what it is worth. I hope you are not coaching your patients on NFP as you are pretty incorrect about what it really is.
I do a form of NFP (charting on Fertility Friend) and I am not so much a practicing Catholic anymore.
I would think, as a Nurse, that you would know it isn't just CM AT ALL.
It's CM, CP, BBT and other symptoms, but BBT is very telling. You should really look it up because you are VERY misinformed. It actually IS very accurate and helpful for those of us with irregular cycles. Mine are extremely irregular and I can still show you on a chart where I am ovulating...

Back to your originally-scheduled programming...

Tracy

 

[lesroi]

Quite honestly, I'm not a practicing homosexual, I got it right the first time. But I kid! Ba da bum!

I don't care who you are reading this, now THAT is funny!

Tracy

 

[MerryPoppins]

I'm not (nor have I ever been) a Roman Catholic. Hope you guys don't mind me posting. This thread has been interesting.

I'm an Episcopalian. My friend calls us "Catholic Light". The liturgy is very similar. Decisions don't come from the Pope, but are voted on at periodic conferences by elected representatives and our House of Bishops. I like the fact that with prayerful consideration, we are governed (at least in part) by the layety. My church also allows us to decide what we think is right (based on scripture) in many cases. I like that.

Don't get me wrong. I'm not saying my church is better. I have many friends who are Catholic. I think there is room for many types of churches. Mine is just the right fit for me.

 

[labdogs42]

Count me in with the cafeteria Catholics! I went to 12 years of all-girls Catholic school taught by IHM nuns. I learned some great lessons from them. I never felt like things were being shoved down my throat. Now, I feel a little differently. I started going back to mass after the birth of my son (mostly so I could get him baptised in the church and because I wanted to, too). The whole Terry Shaivo thing blew up around that time and I got so sick of hearing about it at Mass that I got kind of turned off again to mass. I'm getting the urge to go back again. Hopefully no major news stories will break out about euthanasia!

Things I like about Catholicism:
Sameness/routine of mass
Mary
the pope
nuns
the Mass

Things I don't like:
anti-gay
excessive pro-life involvement
no birth control

I go to mass occasionally (like a few times a year max) and I don't think that praying in a church makes me Catholic. I just am. And I think I have a great relationship with God. I try to be nice to other people and be respectful. I think God is happy with that.