Common misconceptions about the Catholic Church

[rachel.b]

So as a member of the Catholic Church, I know that there are a ton of misconception about Catholics. I realize that this is because people genuinely don't know what the church actually teaches. So I would love to answer anything that you might be confused about. Now understand I am not trying to convert anyone, I just want to clear some things up. So ask away.

 

[Renji]

I would say that we, as Catholics we don't worship the images in found in the "church" (the structure).

 

[Renji]

And hey, welcome to the forum!

 

[Nooj]

i donno enough about catholicism to even ask about what i don't know.

so, ask for me instead. what should i know about the catholic church?

 

[Renji]

i donno enough about catholicism to even ask about what i don't know.

so, ask for me instead. what should i know about the catholic church?

Perhaps let's start on what Catholics believe in:

Ok, I started out this thread in order to promote deep understanding about the Catholic faith. But yeah dudes, I don't want merely just copy pasting here of the CCC's and stuff, but I also want to include our explanations to each beliefs, which is, and should be still in accordance to the teachings of the Church. I'll be adding some more posts later on. Hope you folks can help on this. So, first:

-We believe in God, the Father almighty, the maker of all things, visible and invisible (1 Corinthians 8:6 "...yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we live; and there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and through whom we live.")
-We believe in Jesus Christ, His Son, our Lord and Savior (Romans5:8 "But God commendeth his love towards us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.")
-Jesus was conceived in the womb of Virgin Mary (Isaiah 7:14 "Therefore the Lord himself will give you this sign: the virgin shall be with a child and bear a son, and name him Immanuel (God with us)") by the power of the Holy Spirit, which was declared to her by angel Gabriel( Luke1:26-28,35 In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.” ... The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God..)
-He (Jesus) suffered under Pontius Pilate and crucified to redeem our sins ( Isaiah 53:5 But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed.).
-After the third day he rose again (Matthew:28:5,6But the angel answered and said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified.
"He is not here; for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.")
-He (Jesus) ascended into heaven and sit at the right hand of the father ( Mark 16:19 "So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God (the Father).")
-He (Jesus) will come again to judge the living and the dead (John 14:2-3 "In My Father's house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also” Revelation 19:11 "And I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse, and He who sat on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and wages war")
-We believe in the Holy Spirit, our guide, the advocate, the comforter, intercessor . (John 14:16,17" And I will ask the Father: and he shall give you another Paraclete, that he may abide with you for ever: The spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it sees him not, nor knows him. But you shall know him; because he shall abide with you and shall be in you.")
-The holy Catholic Church, founded by Christ through Peter as its rock (Matthew 16:18 "And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.")
-Lastly, we believe in"Communion of Saints, forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of body and life everlasting."

* I patterned this after the Apostle's creed.

 

[MissAlice]

Stupid question but what's the purpose for having a pope and what are his duties?

 

[Dingbat]

How can anyone in this day and age with an understanding of STDs seriously suggest birth control such as condoms is a sin? How does the Catholic church defend its behavior in Africa and its helping to spread AIDs with backwards policies? How does one even try to defend the Vatican who has shown repeatedly to shuffle pedophiliac priests around to different parishes? Not only did this happen in the USA but Ireland as well.

 

[rachel.b]

Stupid question but what's the purpose for having a pope and what are his duties?

No its a legitimate question. So first of all the pope is the successor of St. Peter and is a basically the overseer of the Church. More specifically, he oversees all decisions made by the Church, he can invoke infallibility, he is the spokesperson of the Church and can make decisions about how how the Church is run ect. (Ex. The format of the Mass) So the Pope is kind of like the president of the Catholic Church and our head religious officer.

 

[no-body]

What is with the whole molesting children thing.

 

[Super Universe]

So as a member of the Catholic Church, I know that there are a ton of misconception about Catholics. I realize that this is because people genuinely don't know what the church actually teaches. So I would love to answer anything that you might be confused about. Now understand I am not trying to convert anyone, I just want to clear some things up. So ask away.

Do you believe that the books of the bible are the only true revelation of God?

Do you believe the Catholic church provides the only acceptable interpretation of the will of God written in the books of the bible?

Do you believe that God is appeased by rituals?

 

[Amechania]

I understand that the seven Sacraments are vehicles of "sanctifying grace." I've also read the sacraments convey "sacramental grace," although I don't really understand the difference between these two types of grace. Is sacramental grace more like "actual grace?"

 

[mestupid]

Because its harder to molest adults.

 

[Renji]

The Church do allow the use of condoms, not as a contraceptive, but as a means to reduce transmissions of STIs, HIV and AIDS.
m.guardian.co.uk

Pope Benedict XVI says that condom use is acceptable 'in certain cases', notably 'to reduce the risk of infection' with HIV

 

[Renji]

The Church do not encourage child abuse, which involves some of those in the clergy. It's sad though that some people are quick in putting their judgement to the Church as a whole, ignoring the majority of priests and clergymen who still remain faithful to their duty in the Church. Most of the time, people look on the failings of the Church to handle such abuse, as if the Church is not doing anything for the abuse. For the fact, the Church do condemn such acts:
The Sexual Abuse of Minors: A Multi-faceted Response to the Challenge by Cardinal William Levada

"Cooperation with Civil Authority

The final general consideration addressed in the Circular Letter is cooperation with civil authorities. Certainly no less important than any of the other elements, the cooperation of the Church with civil authorities in these cases recognizes the fundamental truth that the sexual abuse of minors is not only a crime in canon law, but is also a crime that violates criminal laws in most civil jurisdictions. Since civil laws vary from nation to nation, and the interaction between Church officials and civil authorities may be different from one nation to another, the manner in which this cooperation takes place will necessarily differ in various countries as well. The principle, however, must remain the same. The Church has an obligation to cooperate with the requirements of civil law regarding the reporting of such crimes to the appropriate authorities. Such cooperation naturally extends also to accusations of sexual abuse by religious or laity who work or volunteer in Church institutions and programs. In this regard, Church officials must avoid any compromise of the sacramental internal forum, which must remain inviolable."

 

[McBell]

What is with the whole molesting children thing.

They got caught and the media went crazy with it.
Of course, it did not help that the higher ups in the organization kept putting their feet in their mouths.

 

[Renji]

Do you believe that the books of the bible are the only true revelation of God?

The Church both believe in the Scripture (the Bible) and the Sacred (oral) Tradition.

Do you believe the Catholic church provides the only acceptable interpretation of the will of God written in the books of the bible?

Let's just say that we Catholics don't rely on the personal interpretation of the scriptures to avoid misunderstanding and multiple, varied views on what a particular verse says. We follow the magisterium for this stuff. The magisterium is composed of bishops and the members of the hierarchy who is union with the Pope. Together, they serve as the "teachers" of the Church.

Do you believe that God is appeased by rituals?

"Rituals" in the Church is different from the rituals of other belief systems. Rites such as the mass (as well as prayers) is not done to appease God but rather to form a more intimate relationship with God. We attend the mass not because we want to appease God or because we're obliged, but because we love God and we want to "move closer" to Him. Rites of the Church are not done to avoid disasters, bring good luck and such, but to develop an intimate union with God.

 

[Renji]

I understand that the seven Sacraments are vehicles of "sanctifying grace." I've also read the sacraments convey "sacramental grace," although I don't really understand the difference between these two types of grace. Is sacramental grace more like "actual grace?"

Not sure really if I can follow what you said, but this is what the CCC teaches:
Catechism of the Catholic Church - Grace and justification

Sanctifying grace is an habitual gift,a stable and supernatural disposition that perfects the soul itself to enable it to live with God,to act by his love. Sacramental grace are graces obtained through Christ, which is present in those sacraments. Both can be "lost" by a person when they sin, for example.

 

[Amechania]

Sanctifying grace is an habitual gift,a stable and supernatural disposition that perfects the soul itself to enable it to live with God,to act by his love. Sacramental grace are graces obtained through Christ, which is present in those sacraments. Both can be "lost" by a person when they sin, for example.

So by participating in the sacraments do we gradually become less likely to sin? How much does that depend on our disposition prior to recieving the sacrament? How long does the grace last before we start sinning again and need another fix?
I'm not trying to be obtuse or rude, just trying to understand how the sacraments actually work. Every explanation I've read seems to leave something unsaid. Please don't take offense, but what you're describing seems like a kind of magic to me.

 

[Renji]

So by participating in the sacraments do we gradually become less likely to sin? How much does that depend on our disposition prior to recieving the sacrament? How long does the grace last before we start sinning again and need another fix?

a) no, it's not the sacraments that makes you "less likely" to sin. Even if you receive sacraments over and over, if you take it in legalistic terms (just something obligatory(, it wouldn't work. It is the "intimate relationship" with God and the love of Him, formed through the sacraments that makes a person turn away from sin and seek holiness.
b) if your purpose of receiving the sacrament is to have a union with God (in case of the infant baptism, to dedicate the child to God) and more than just the superficial then the sacraments becomes efficacious to us, through faith.
c) the sacrament is not like a "medication" that has an expected tim frame of effect(s). We cannot test that. We don't know, it depends on the faith of the person who received the sacrament and the "desire" to maintain the grace within his/her soul, by turning away from sin and living a holy way of life.

 

[Nooj]

-Lastly, we believe in"Communion of Saints

What is that?