Catholic theology question

[dcgrumpy]

And the mother who didn't attend their child's baptism? It must have been something cultural, not Catholic. My mom was at all of our baptisms, my aunts were there, etc. Well, except one baptism--mine! My brother and some of my cousins had chicken pox and they were not allowed near the baptism or the party. One member of the extended family--my aunt's SIL--stayed with them at my aunt's house while the party went on.

I was born in 1965, my parents didn't go to my baptism, my Godparents brought me. My mother said it was the norm back then for parents not to attend.

 

[Crankyshank]

I have to just chime in and totally agree with ChrissyK regarding what she was taught regarding Catholics and needing to keep the population going.

I'm part of the Fall River Diocese. Just to give a small background, The "original" molestor priest was the parish priest of my Catholic school and molested many family friends that are my parents' age. (by original I mean the first priest to be tried and make headlines) There's allegations coming forth about another priest that was there when I was in elementary school. My Church is not associated with the catholic school but is associated instead with the high school. The parish associated with the Catholic school is very old and Very French. Filled with very old and very French nuns that were pretty opposed to Vatican II. I don't know about other areas but where I grew up the French Catholics were extra strict. They were even worse than the Irish Nuns straight from Ireland with their whacking rulers. We learned the mass in Latin -that's how opposed they were. We had to do the stations of the cross every Friday in Lent on our knees with our arms outstretched. We were absolutely told that our duties as Catholics were to have as many children as possible and to pray they have a vocation. Unless of course we had a vocation and then no need to worry about having kids.

Perhaps in "newer Catholic" areas, there's less old school nuns, priests, and brothers teaching so as a result the more modern beliefs are taught. As the nuns retire, I know kids here are being fed less of the old Catholic propaganda.

To answer DisDuck, women weren't treated much better than chattal in a lot of areas in the old days and puritanical beliefs were still very much the norm. So that's pretty much why contraceptives were illegal. It sounds simplistic, but it's essentially true. You could get heroin and cocaine over the counter legally, but you couldn't get birth control

 

[Missy1961]

I was born in 1965, my parents didn't go to my baptism, my Godparents brought me. My mother said it was the norm back then for parents not to attend.

Well, again it must be cultural--I was born in 1961. My older brother was born in 1957, my younger brother in 1963, a sister in 1965, another sister in 1966, another sister in 1970. My mom was at every single one. As was my dad.

 

[auntpolly]

Well, again it must be cultural--I was born in 1961. My older brother was born in 1957, my younger brother in 1963, a sister in 1965, another sister in 1966, another sister in 1970. My mom was at every single one. As was my dad.

Yeah, I've never heard of parents not at baptism - not saying it didn't happen, just that it wasn't the norm where I grew up.

 

[beattyfamily]

Well, again it must be cultural--I was born in 1961. My older brother was born in 1957, my younger brother in 1963, a sister in 1965, another sister in 1966, another sister in 1970. My mom was at every single one. As was my dad.

Yep, I agree. My sisters and brother were all baptized and my mother was there for them all. They were born in 1956, 1957, 1958, and 1960

 

[DisDuck]

Cranky.. I am aware of those facts. That was part of my point. The larger part had to do with religion dictating 'law of the land' when they should keep their nose out of it. On the side Cranky.. any idea of long range forcast for your area. 3/11 is when we will be up to RIC for my daughter's audition. Of course as expected she is now sick - hoping it clears before 3/12 11am.

 

[Crankyshank]

I know what you're getting at and to be honest a lot of people don't have a problem with religious law dictating civil law.

Extended forecast is sunny and mid 30's for the next 10 days, except for a chance of snow this coming Saturday.

 

[auntpolly]

Let's all just remember that Catholics hold no corner on the market , so to speak, when it comes to trying to legislate morality!

 

[becka]

I am just now back to this thread and I can see it has changed direction a little bit but I wanted to ask a few questions.

If sex for Catholics is supposed to only be about procreation are Catholics suppossed to refrain from all other sexual activity with their spouses that cannot lead to pregnancy? I don't quite know how to phrase this but if I was Catholic and DH and I used a condom during my fertile time to prevent a pregnancy this would be a sin because we are not open to life and we are not "giving ourselves to each other completly". Would a wife giving a certain "favor" to her husband during their fertile time be considered a sin as well because it cannot lead to pregnancy and they are not open to life?

 

[auntpolly]

I am just now back to this thread and I can see it has changed direction a little bit but I wanted to ask a few questions.

If sex for Catholics is supposed to only be about procreation are Catholics suppossed to refrain from all other sexual activity with their spouses that cannot lead to pregnancy? I don't quite know how to phrase this but if I was Catholic and DH and I used a condom during my fertile time to prevent a pregnancy this would be a sin because we are not open to life and we are not "giving ourselves to each other completly". Would a wife giving a certain "favor" to her husband during their fertile time be considered a sin as well because it cannot lead to pregnancy and they are not open to life?

I don't know the answer to this question - I'm curious myself - but just so you know, priests aren't spending a whole lot of time dwelling on this stuff these days, and so if we want to know a lot of stuff that comes from the Vatican we have to look for the info.

Just didn't want anyone to think our sermons and liturgies were all about this stuff - I honestly can't remember the last time we talked about it in church!

 

[snoopy]

Let's all just remember that Catholics hold no corner on the market , so to speak, when it comes to trying to legislate morality!

Amen!

I'm reading this thread with interest, having done a little church shopping recently and finding myself right back where I started, in the Catholic church. So much I disagree with, yet I still consider myself culturally Catholic.

 

[Crankyshank]

Let's all just remember that Catholics hold no corner on the market , so to speak, when it comes to trying to legislate morality!

I don't see where anyone said they did I'm sure you could post a thread about any major organized religion and many similar things could be said. The topic just happens to be about Catholicism.

 

[beattyfamily]

Would a wife giving a certain "favor" to her husband during their fertile time be considered a sin as well because it cannot lead to pregnancy and they are not open to life?

Yes it is a sin

 

[auntpolly]

I don't see where anyone said they did I'm sure you could post a thread about any major organized religion and many similar things could be said. The topic just happens to be about Catholicism.

Just sayin'.......after all these pages of all these threads......and the Catholic Church being named........well, I just think there are churches that are - frankly - worse in this regard.

 

[becka]

Yes it is a sin

Are all sexual activities except for those than can result in a pregnancy considered a sin? That seems pretty extreme to me but then again I am not Catholic? I guess being a Protestant I view sexuality very differently.

 

[Crankyshank]

Auntpolly, I agree with you. Believe me, I agree with you.

Becka, it's a venial sin. The other thing that can be done is a mortal sin.

 

[beattyfamily]

Are all sexual activities except for those than can result in a pregnancy considered a sin? That seems pretty extreme to me but then again I am not Catholic? I guess being a Protestant I view sexuality very differently.

Using birth control and "wasting the seed" so to speak are sins.

 

[JennyMominRI]

I see the Catholic Church get bashed far more than any other church... It's probably because there are more Catholics and more catholic churches than any other denomination.. I'm all for bashing something that needs to be bashed..In every religion you can find some things truly worth bashing..Unfortunately much of the bashing I hear directed at the Catholic Church is based on misinformation.Which is why,even though I am no longer a Catholic,you may see me jumping in when I feel misinformation is being spread

 

[auntpolly]

I guess being a Protestant I view sexuality very differently.

oh, not so differently as you might think for a lot of Catholics...

 

[gina2000]

I think the Catholic Church gets bashed because you just can't quit, form your own separatist church and call yourself a Roman Catholic. So there are alot of us who call ourselves Roman Catholics and don't agree with everything the Church stands for.

I think there are far more Protestant churches and worshippers in the US than Catholics.