I'd Like To Be A Catholic

[Odë:hgöd]

.
Before taking the plunge, I suggest taking time to think about a number of
liabilities associated with Catholicism.

Once someone is committed-- completed First Holy Communion and Confirmation -
God will be holding them accountable to comply with everything Rome teaches and
stands for: the Commandments, the Canon Law, the dogma, the rituals, the
Traditions, the Councils, the Bulls, the Encyclicals, the rites, the holy days of
obligation, and the entire Catechism; plus everything that Jesus and the apostles
taught in the New Testament, i.e. the gospels and the epistles.

That's a lot to remember, let alone put into practice.

And then there's the matter of mortal sin. When Catholics leave this life with just
one non-absolved mortal sin on the books, just one, they go straight to Hell. It's a
direct flight; no stopover in a Purgatory. Even if a Catholic managed to be a top
performer in faith and practice for fifty years, none of that will be taken into
consideration. They will leave this life as if they'd been a pagan the whole time.
Mortal sins are that lethal.

In addition; the Divine judge isn't a political appointee like members of the US
Supreme Court, viz; He isn't biased towards the left or to the right, i.e. the justice
of God is fair across the board, so that affiliation with the Roman church grants no
one a certain amount of special consideration. (Rom 2:6-11, and 1Pet 1:17)
_

 

[Andrew]

.
Before taking the plunge, I suggest taking time to think about a number of
liabilities associated with Catholicism.

Once someone is committed-- completed First Holy Communion and Confirmation -
God will be holding them accountable to comply with everything Rome teaches and
stands for: the Commandments, the Canon Law, the dogma, the rituals, the
Traditions, the Councils, the Bulls, the Encyclicals, the rites, the holy days of
obligation, and the entire Catechism; plus everything that Jesus and the apostles
taught in the New Testament, i.e. the gospels and the epistles.

That's a lot to remember, let alone put into practice.

And then there's the matter of mortal sin. When Catholics leave this life with just
one non-absolved mortal sin on the books, just one, they go straight to Hell. It's a
direct flight; no stopover in a Purgatory. Even if a Catholic managed to be a top
performer in faith and practice for fifty years, none of that will be taken into
consideration. They will leave this life as if they'd been a pagan the whole time.
Mortal sins are that lethal.

In addition; the Divine judge isn't a political appointee like members of the US
Supreme Court, viz; He isn't biased towards the left or to the right, i.e. the justice
of God is fair across the board, so that affiliation with the Roman church grants no
one a certain amount of special consideration. (Rom 2:6-11, and 1Pet 1:17)
_

My burial will be a Catholic one as I was baptized, raised and confirmed a Catholic.

I am what you call a none-practicing Catholic as I only attend Catholic Church for funerals and weddings

 

[Lamb]

.
Before taking the plunge, I suggest taking time to think about a number of
liabilities associated with Catholicism.

Once someone is committed-- completed First Holy Communion and Confirmation -
God will be holding them accountable to comply with everything Rome teaches and
stands for: the Commandments, the Canon Law, the dogma, the rituals, the
Traditions, the Councils, the Bulls, the Encyclicals, the rites, the holy days of
obligation, and the entire Catechism; plus everything that Jesus and the apostles
taught in the New Testament, i.e. the gospels and the epistles.

That's a lot to remember, let alone put into practice.

And then there's the matter of mortal sin. When Catholics leave this life with just
one non-absolved mortal sin on the books, just one, they go straight to Hell. It's a
direct flight; no stopover in a Purgatory. Even if a Catholic managed to be a top
performer in faith and practice for fifty years, none of that will be taken into
consideration. They will leave this life as if they'd been a pagan the whole time.
Mortal sins are that lethal.

In addition; the Divine judge isn't a political appointee like members of the US
Supreme Court, viz; He isn't biased towards the left or to the right, i.e. the justice
of God is fair across the board, so that affiliation with the Roman church grants no
one a certain amount of special consideration. (Rom 2:6-11, and 1Pet 1:17)
_

The Catholics I know rely on Jesus as their Savior to bring them to heaven. Not all Catholics rely on the things that they do for salvation, just FYI.

 

[Faith]

My burial will be a Catholic one as I was baptized, raised and confirmed a Catholic.

I am what you call a none-practicing Catholic as I only attend Catholic Church for funerals and weddings

I too was born, baptized, raised and confirmed Catholic but left the faith about 3 or 4 years ago. My hubby and I will be buried in a Catholic cemetery because that’s where my family was laid to rest.

 

[Faith]

The Catholics I know rely on Jesus as their Savior to bring them to heaven. Not all Catholics rely on the things that they do for salvation, just FYI.

I dont Know if I believe in purgatory. It’s not in the Bible, so where did this believe come from. I THINK Catholics would say Jesus, but did He really teach about purgatory?

 

[Andrew]

I dont Know if I believe in purgatory. It’s not in the Bible, so where did this believe come from. I THINK Catholics would say Jesus, but did He really teach about purgatory?

Many Catholics I know are free thinkers, the belief comes from bad exegesis of old covenant books and totally ignores the salvation through Christ's death and victory over death

 

[Faith]

Many Catholics I know are free thinkers, the belief comes from bad exegesis of old covenant books and totally ignores the salvation through Christ's death and victory over death

What are old covenant books? The OT?

 

[Faith]

.
Before taking the plunge, I suggest taking time to think about a number of
liabilities associated with Catholicism.

Once someone is committed-- completed First Holy Communion and Confirmation -
God will be holding them accountable to comply with everything Rome teaches and
stands for: the Commandments, the Canon Law, the dogma, the rituals, the
Traditions, the Councils, the Bulls, the Encyclicals, the rites, the holy days of
obligation, and the entire Catechism; plus everything that Jesus and the apostles
taught in the New Testament, i.e. the gospels and the epistles.

That's a lot to remember, let alone put into practice.

And then there's the matter of mortal sin. When Catholics leave this life with just
one non-absolved mortal sin on the books, just one, they go straight to Hell. It's a
direct flight; no stopover in a Purgatory. Even if a Catholic managed to be a top
performer in faith and practice for fifty years, none of that will be taken into
consideration. They will leave this life as if they'd been a pagan the whole time.
Mortal sins are that lethal.

In addition; the Divine judge isn't a political appointee like members of the US
Supreme Court, viz; He isn't biased towards the left or to the right, i.e. the justice
of God is fair across the board, so that affiliation with the Roman church grants no
one a certain amount of special consideration. (Rom 2:6-11, and 1Pet 1:17)
_

Don’t forget the belief that once baptised Catholic, you’re a Catholic for life.

 

[Odë:hgöd]

.

Many Catholics I know are free thinkers

Catholics are ruled by a theocracy consisting of a monarchal form of
government; viz: The Church is not governed by the people, for the people, and
of the people, rather; it's governed by Christ, for Christ, and of Christ-- a
monarch who expects nothing less than 110% loyalty from his subjects; which,
relative to John Q and Jane Doe pew warmer, implies complete submission to
everything that Rome teaches and stands for.

• Matt 16:19 . . And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and
whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever
thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

Those keys were not given to John Q and Jane Doe; they were given to the
hierarchy; therefore, Catholics who dissent with Rome are actually rebelling against
the Christ whom Rome supposedly represents. It's a domino effect all the way to
the top.

• Luke 10:16 . .Whoever listens to you; listens to me. Whoever rejects you; rejects
me. And whoever rejects me; rejects the one who sent me.

Free-thinking Catholics are as pagans practicing dark arts and/or worshipping
Shiva and Vishnu.

• 1Sam 15:23 . . For rebellion is as the sin of divination, and insubordination is as
iniquity and idolatry.

One of the New Testament's Greek words for "lord" is despotes (des-pot'-ace)
which indicates absolute rule. That word is applied to Christ in more than one
location in the New Testament. Despots typically have little patience with
dissenters.

• Matt 12:30 . . He that is not with me is against me

According to the May 2, 2005 issue of Newsweek, a Gallup poll taken during April
2005, on "difficult moral questions" showed that 74% of USA Catholics would follow
their own feelings rather than the authority of Rome. Just 20% said they would
follow Rome. Apparently 6% were undecided.

Let me give that 74% a word of advice (and also that 6% who're undecided); and
this coming from a 77 year-old former Catholic who was faithful to Rome for the
first 24+ years of his life. If you can't give your whole-hearted compliance to those
whom you profess to believe hold the keys of the kingdom; then it's time to bow
out. It would be far better for all concerned, yourself included, to defect and self
excommunicate rather than to hang around and drift thru a religion whose teachings
you find impossible to support as-is.

• Rev 3:15-16 . . I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot; I would that
you were cold or hot. So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will
spit you out of My mouth.
_

 

[Albion]

Don’t forget the belief that once baptised Catholic, you’re a Catholic for life.

In fact, once baptized anywhere in water and in the name of the Triune God...you're a Catholic for life (or, to be more precise, you're under the authority of the Catholic Church).

So says the Catholic Church. But that's only because the Catholic Church claims it, owing to its other claim of being the only true church.

But if you don't accept the authority of the Catholic Church and are instead a member of another Christian denomination, you're saying you disagree with that perspective, that's all, just as you'd disagree about the Papacy or Purgatory or other uniquely Catholic teachings.

 

[Josiah]

If you'd like to become a Catholic, then do.

My blessings.

You could do worse, LOL


- Josiah




.

 

[Andrew]

What are old covenant books? The OT?

The RCC canon of OT books contain the deuterocanon in which contain certain verses that were taken out of context to invent and uphold unbiblical dogmas and traditions, ie indulgences came from 2nd Maccabees which when taken out of context and applied to Christians puts them back into the old covenant when offerings could cover sins temporarily, in context they were offering not only as a sacramental atonement but for the hopes that the dead would be granted mercy from God and have a better resurrection when the Prophet (Jesus) comes to raise the dead, it was considered an honorable gesture in anticipation of the resurrection.. however the church took it as meaning that the dead can be prayed and bought out from eternity in hell and taken into heaven, thus meanwhile they must be in limbo (purgatory) until the judgment, they COMPLETELY looked passed Jesus and took what was not even a Jewish tradition, made it one for the Christians in order to bank off of them by having them believe you can purchase your lot in Heaven in which Jesus is of no effect to those who buy off their sin.. later after they stopped selling indulgences they kept the purgatory part and kept the tradition of praying the dead out of it so they enter heaven.

Its like if I read "baptized with fire" and start a dogma where everyone must walk through flames in order to be saved

 

[NathanH83]

The RCC canon of OT books contain the deuterocanon in which contain certain verses that were taken out of context to invent and uphold unbiblical dogmas and traditions, ie indulgences came from 2nd Maccabees which when taken out of context and applied to Christians puts them back into the old covenant when offerings could cover sins temporarily, in context they were offering not only as a sacramental atonement but for the hopes that the dead would be granted mercy from God and have a better resurrection when the Prophet (Jesus) comes to raise the dead, it was considered an honorable gesture in anticipation of the resurrection.. however the church took it as meaning that the dead can be prayed and bought out from eternity in hell and taken into heaven, thus meanwhile they must be in limbo (purgatory) until the judgment, they COMPLETELY looked passed Jesus and took what was not even a Jewish tradition, made it one for the Christians in order to bank off of them by having them believe you can purchase your lot in Heaven in which Jesus is of no effect to those who buy off their sin.. later after they stopped selling indulgences they kept the purgatory part and kept the tradition of praying the dead out of it so they enter heaven.

Its like if I read "baptized with fire" and start a dogma where everyone must walk through flames in order to be saved

Good one

 

[Faith]

In fact, once baptized anywhere in water and in the name of the Triune God...you're a Catholic for life (or, to be more precise, you're under the authority of the Catholic Church).

So says the Catholic Church. But that's only because the Catholic Church claims it, owing to its other claim of being the only true church.

When I posted on CAF there was a lot of talk about the RCC being the only one true church.

 

[Pedrito]

===================================================================================

Of course, we must not overlook the fact that the denomination that calls itself “Catholic” keeps changing its teachings (doctrines) and practices.

Now, either God has kept changing His mind and ordered the continuing succession of changes, or the denomination that calls itself “Catholic” keeps changing its doctrines and practices in defiance of God.

Does God change His mind about such matters?

James 1:17: Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. (KJV)


(Let’s look forward to the wriggling we may be bombarded with in an effort to diminish that statement of James.)

===================================================================================

 

[Joshua1Eight]

The Catholic Church is the only true church.

 

[Josiah]

The RCC canon of OT books contain the deuterocanon in which contain certain verses that were taken out of context to invent and uphold unbiblical dogmas and traditions, ie indulgences came from 2nd Maccabees which when taken out of context and applied to Christians puts them back into the old covenant when offerings could cover sins temporarily, in context they were offering not only as a sacramental atonement but for the hopes that the dead would be granted mercy from God and have a better resurrection when the Prophet (Jesus) comes to raise the dead, it was considered an honorable gesture in anticipation of the resurrection.. however the church took it as meaning that the dead can be prayed and bought out from eternity in hell and taken into heaven, thus meanwhile they must be in limbo (purgatory) until the judgment, they COMPLETELY looked passed Jesus and took what was not even a Jewish tradition, made it one for the Christians in order to bank off of them by having them believe you can purchase your lot in Heaven in which Jesus is of no effect to those who buy off their sin.. later after they stopped selling indulgences they kept the purgatory part and kept the tradition of praying the dead out of it so they enter heaven.

Its like if I read "baptized with fire" and start a dogma where everyone must walk through flames in order to be saved

MY experience in the Roman Catholic Church is that its post-Trent unique set of DEUTEROcanonical writings are pretty much ignored in that denomination. Yes, readings from such do appear on occasion in its lectionary (as is the case in some Anglican and Lutheran lectionaries) but that's it. I don't recall a single sermon on its unique set of DEUTERO books, no studies on them, no mention of them. Catholic apologists do bring up ONE SINGLE VERSE in discussions of its unique dogma of Purgatory but it's pretty irrelevant because that verse doesn't support that dogma (as all the Eastern Orthodox Churches point out, all of which also unofficially accept that book (on some level) but don't think that verse at all supports the RCC dogma of Purgatory.Otherwise, the unique set of RCC DEUTERO books are ignored.

When I moved over to the Lutheran Church, for the first time in my life, I was actually encouraged to read these (Lutherans look at one more of these than modern Catholics do). And for the first time ever, actually studied them (the pastor lead a study of these for about 4 months during the Sunday morning study time). It was the first time I read or studied these. I found some of them inspirational, informational and transformational but personally I agree with Luther, I don't think these are among The inerrrant, fully and equally canonical, divinely-inscripturated words of God (I hold the Deuterocanonical books - whichever they are - as deuterocanonical) but I'm glad Lutherans don't ignore them like it seems Catholics do.



To the thread: I hold the RCC in esteem and I am grateful for my time there. I probably agree with 95% of the 2865 points of the latest RCC Catechism and I consider Catholics to be my FULL, unseperated brothers and sisters in Christ with whom I'll be spending eternity in Heaven. And I love the liturgy, the very pro-life and pro-family emphasis there, and their bold embrace of truth. But of course I disagree with that denomination of a few points, obviously since I left it. My wife and I are strongly considering sending our boys to an excellent Catholic school - although that still a couple of years away.



A blessed Pentecost to all ...


- Josiah




.

 

[Albion]

MY experience in the Roman Catholic Church is that its post-Trent unique set of DEUTEROcanonical writings are pretty much ignored in that denomination. Yes, readings from such do appear on occasion in its lectionary (as is the case in some Anglican and Lutheran lectionaries) but that's it. I don't recall a single sermon on its unique set of DEUTERO books, no studies on them, no mention of them. Catholic apologists do bring up ONE SINGLE VERSE in discussions of its unique dogma of Purgatory but it's pretty irrelevant because that verse doesn't support that dogma (as all the Eastern Orthodox Churches point out, all of which also unofficially accept that book (on some level) but don't think that verse at all supports the RCC dogma of Purgatory. Otherwise, the unique set of RCC DEUTERO books are ignored.

It's all true...and very well expressed here.

Anyone who is attracted to Roman Catholicism and thinks that the Apocrypha plays an important part in Catholic life or even in the formation of doctrine is very much mistaken.

 

[NathanH83]

It's all true...and very well expressed here.

Anyone who is attracted to Roman Catholicism and thinks that the Apocrypha plays an important part in Catholic life or even in the formation of doctrine is very much mistaken.

I think that the Apocryphal books don’t even support Catholic doctrine.

 

[Andrew]

The Catholic church I went to always taught loving your neighbors, forgiveness, charity, they never spoke of purgatory or hellfire, but confessing your sins, prayer and Gods everlasting love .. nothing really about Mary or saints, we shake hands with members around us in the pews and say "peace be with you", we honored the request of Christ without contemplation and ate the bread that is his body, and drank a sip of wine that is his blood. The sign of the cross is a gesture of proclamation, the rosery is for meditation, figures are merely icons and had been used since early Christianity with the crude paintings of Jesus.
Nothing wrong with that church, I just get sleepy because of the echoing chants and the echoing sermon, so they make you stand up and sit and kneel to keep you awake