Common misconceptions about the Catholic Church

[mestupid]

"The Church do not encourage child abuse". Yet for years it has looked the other way or refused to get rid of priests who have commited these acts. "The Church do not encourage child abuse". Yet the church did nothing to discourage it either.

 

[goatus17]

why does the CC say you should not use contraception?

where in the Bible does this come from?

 

[mestupid]

Who ever started this topic is way out of their league.

 

[Copernicus]

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.

Rachel, I welcome you to RF. The question you pose here is not really a topic for debate. There is a Catholic DIR forum that exists just for the purpose of answering informational questions. Hence, you are likely to draw a lot of "unfriendly fire" here from folks who are looking for debate and controversy. The DIR forum is more strictly monitored and carries limits on how provocative people can get with each other.

So my reaction to your OP is to ask you what you think the "misconceptions about Catholics" are that can be cleared up by more information. I have a lot of beliefs about what Catholic doctrine is that I judge harmful, and some folks have already raised those points here. For example, I believe that the idea that birth control is a sin is a harmful idea. It tends to increase unwanted pregnancies, which needlessly expands the population of an overcrowded world and puts pressure on more women to have abortions. However, that the RCC bans birth control is not a misconception on my part. It is a fact. You might disagree with me that it is harmful, but you cannot say that I am misinformed about Catholic doctrine on that point.

 

[neale68]

1. Why does the Catholic church only welcome certain groups of people? For instance, if I am gay, I am not truly welcomed into the Church. If I keep my mouth shut, then I can worship there, but if it becomes public, then I am forced out of the church?
2. Why does the priest emphasized certain candidates in politics? What if I am Catholic, but I'm pro-choice, how does this impact me? Am I not allowed to receive communion?
3. What if I take birth control, especially those of us who must now take it because it's medically necessary? Does that mean I'm living in sin?
4. What if I don't want to go to Church on Sunday (or Saturday) for that matter? Does that mean I won't go to Heaven because I didn't observe Church on Sunday? If my memory serves me correctly, Jesus didn't actually, physically go to Church every Sunday.
5. Why are some priest more liberal than others?
6. Why are boys more desirable as alter servers than girls?
7. What difference does it make what I wear as a lector, especially considering that the bottom half of my body is hidden behind the ambo. And why should I, as a woman, NOT be allowed to wear slacks? Very aggravating when the women who are Eucharistic ministers (who are MUCH more visible) are allowed to wear slacks.

As you read this, you may realize that I am Catholic, but I am not currently practicing for many of the reasons listed above. I am disppointed in the way many "newcomers" are treated. It is not considerate of us to invite a family to join us, but if you can't come to church every Sunday, maybe you should go looking elsewhere (said to a family that was thinking about attending our church). Shouldn't we just welcome everyone...if they don't want to come to church every Sunday, who are WE to judge them? I think we should just make them feel welcome when they do come. Maybe that welcoming attitude will make them feel comfortable enough to start to come every Sunday.

 

[Me Myself]

1. Why does the Catholic church only welcome certain groups of people? For instance, if I am gay, I am not truly welcomed into the Church. If I keep my mouth shut, then I can worship there, but if it becomes public, then I am forced out of the church?

You are not at all forced out of the church. At contrair, they will further try to "help" you get over your "sinful" desires. The church doesn´t condemn homosexuals anymore it condemns drug addicts.

It´s pretty much the same in their view: you have a proclivity to a certain kind of sin. As do most people.

2. Why does the priest emphasized certain candidates in politics? What if I am Catholic, but I'm pro-choice, how does this impact me? Am I not allowed to receive communion?

Good question. The point of this is that by being pro-choice, you are in catholic church´s head "pro murder". Naturally, this is not desirable. The church doesn´t condone killing another human being except in self defense or defense of others, and I would assume you would still need to confess then? (further clarity on this would be appreciated actually)

I don´t know if you are allowed to receive communion, because you would be actively sinning I believe by deciding to support women´s choice to kill their children.

3. What if I take birth control, especially those of us who must now take it because it's medically necessary? Does that mean I'm living in sin?

Are you married? what kind of birth control are we talking about? how is it medically necessary? Is sex medically necessary too?

4. What if I don't want to go to Church on Sunday (or Saturday) for that matter? Does that mean I won't go to Heaven because I didn't observe Church on Sunday? If my memory serves me correctly, Jesus didn't actually, physically go to Church every Sunday.

I think he went on sabbhat? I think that wasn´t such a major sin. In any case as with most other stuff you can confess it with an honestly repentant heart and there is no prob. There are also options for those people who cant go to church physically, like channels with Mass. My greatgrandmother did that before she passed away.

5. Why are some priest more liberal than others?

The priest mold gets defective from time to time and it needs repair. If you notice a defective priest, please call to report so we can bring it back to factory and re-mold him.

6. Why are boys more desirable as alter servers than girls?

No idea, are they? Interesting question

who are WE to judge them? I think we should just make them feel welcome when they do come. Maybe that welcoming attitude will make them feel comfortable enough to start to come every Sunday.

Maybe. In any case, it is very important that you both judge yourself and judge others, that if you give any credence to Jesus words.

 

[FunctionalAtheist]

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

"In the 1970s, pedophilia was theorized as something fully in conformity with man and even with children,"
"It was maintained - even within the realm of Catholic theology - that there is no such thing as evil in itself or good in itself. There is only a 'better than' and a 'worse than'. Nothing is good or bad in itself."
---Pope Benedict XVI, Novermber 13, 2012, (When asked about pedophilia in the church after his annual chrismas speech.)

To whom much is given, much is expectd. - Jesus

https://www.google.com/search?q=pop...-us&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&startIndex=&startPage=1

 

[Pegg]

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.

what makes him the successor of the Apostle Peter?

Was he chosen by Peter?

 

[FunctionalAtheist]

what makes him the successor of the Apostle Peter?

Was he chosen by Peter?

Excellent question.

In fact the word pope is greek. It is a diminuative of father. Kinda like a child saying 'daddy.' In early church history, every congregation had a pope. It soon became a title for the bishop of each christian community.

The first known usage, was Pope Heraclas of Alexandria, Pope of Coptic Orthodox Christian Church from 232 to to 248 CE. Pope Theodoras II became the the 118th Pope of the Coptic Church this past month on November 4, 2012.

There were also popes in the churches of Jeruselum, Antioch, and Costantinople. The church in Rome was always respected, but the others alwasy had a larger congregation. None of them had primacy over they others. It was not until the 5th Century that the Pope in Rome began to assert his primacy over the others. This coincided with the fall of Rome to the barbarians and the collapse of any other authority figure. This was hotly debated for several centuries. But became a mute point when the other churches fell to the blessings of Islam. The title pope, was posthumously bestowed on the former bishops of rome. Free to be the unchallenged authority of christiondom, as the dark ages descended, the pope was now indeed all powerful.

 

[neale68]

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.

It is interesting that I asked a bunch of questions, but rachel.b didn't answer them - of course, neither did Me Myself (unless of course it's the same person).

 

[neale68]

You are not at all forced out of the church. At contrair, they will further try to "help" you get over your "sinful" desires. The church doesn´t condemn homosexuals anymore it condemns drug addicts.

It´s pretty much the same in their view: you have a proclivity to a certain kind of sin. As do most people.

What if I don't have any sinful desires, it's just the way I am? Who is the Catholic Church to "fix" me or anyone else for that matter? And to me, the Church does condemn homosexuals, because if you're not willing to be "fixed" then you're an outcast. I have a friend who came out recently, and doesn't feel comfortable attending church any more.

Good question. The point of this is that by being pro-choice, you are in catholic church´s head "pro murder". Naturally, this is not desirable. The church doesn´t condone killing another human being except in self defense or defense of others, and I would assume you would still need to confess then? (further clarity on this would be appreciated actually)

I don´t know if you are allowed to receive communion, because you would be actively sinning I believe by deciding to support women´s choice to kill their children.

So then it's okay to keep that child, raise that child, and then perhaps that child decided to go off to war and dies fighting for their country. "Live babies, dead soldiers." Again, I am not going to force my opinions down someone else's throat, therefore, I feel that they shouldn't force their opinions down my throat - bottom line - YOU DON'T LIKE ABORTION - DON'T HAVE ONE. In today's world with overcrowding, lack of food, unwanted children that are born out of wedlock, and also cast out, let those that believe in PRO-LIFE take care of some of those children. I don't see anyone lining up at the abortion clinic telling those women that "hey, if you carry your baby to term, I'll adopt it and raise it for you.

Are you married? what kind of birth control are we talking about? how is it medically necessary? Is sex medically necessary too?

I sure would like to know why that's the first question people ask me on here, are you married? Yes, I am married. I have been married for seven years now. I had to have surgery and there were some complications, therefore, my uterus no longer will sustain life. If I do not take the birth control, I would be faced with having an abortion. In the Catholic Church, yes, sex is necessary. From what I've always understood is if you're a married couple, isn't that what your supposed to do to fulfill your Catholic life - procreate. This also raises another question, when I used to go to Catholic church, there were never any large families, save maybe one (they had seven children), someone is practicing birth control - and don't tell me that they're just simply using the rhythm method.

I think he went on sabbhat? I think that wasn´t such a major sin. In any case as with most other stuff you can confess it with an honestly repentant heart and there is no prob. There are also options for those people who cant go to church physically, like channels with Mass. My greatgrandmother did that before she passed away.

Yeah, I went to confession with a repentant heart mainly because my Emmaus companion made me feel horrible for missing one Sunday. When I went to confession, it was almost as though the priest got upset with me because I felt so bad, I started to cry - what's up with that? It was almost as though he was like, okay, you sinned, you're forgiven, no get out.

The priest mold gets defective from time to time and it needs repair. If you notice a defective priest, please call to report so we can bring it back to factory and re-mold him.

Re-mold, eh? Here we go again, so the parishioners can be re-molded (brainwashed) and the priest can be re-molded. It is my belief that many priest (which I don't really care because I am not homophobic) are homosexuals. Not to mention the fact that some of the nuns that I have would also appear homosexual. Now, I have probably blasphemed here, but it's true, wouldn't you say. I mean, if we don't have our head in the sand.
I am not calling to report a priest that I love and admire for being a man first and THEN a man of God. This is a man I would die for....

No idea, are they? Interesting question


Maybe. In any case, it is very important that you both judge yourself and judge others, that if you give any credence to Jesus words.

And actually my favorite quote is "Judge not lest ye be judged." In all honesty, I think the scales finally fell from my eyes. I see more clearly now than ever before. I took some very intense courses that helped me to see the forest through the trees. I am in the wilderness, and I think this is a great place to be. Religion would not be religion today if it were not for the inquiring minds of people. And I am not willing to allow a CHURCH to dictate to me what is right and what is wrong. That is God's will, and it's my fervent belief that he has put me in this place because it's His will.

I know it's easier on a forum where people don't really know each other to question religion. I appreciate you taking the time to respond to my questions. I feel that it can be difficult to share these thing, but I also feel that this is a safe environment in which to do so - Kudos to Religious Forums.

 

[Muffled]

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.

If Catholics really believe in their faith, why do othey keep voting for politicians who favor abortion and gay marriage?

 

[Muffled]

what makes him the successor of the Apostle Peter?

Was he chosen by Peter?

I believe it is a rationalization.

 

[4consideration]

If Catholics really believe in their faith, why do othey keep voting for politicians who favor abortion and gay marriage?

Do you really think this is a fair question, and are you prepared to answer for and be held accountable for all the beliefs and actions of Christians?

 

[Copernicus]

If Catholics really believe in their faith, why do othey keep voting for politicians who favor abortion and gay marriage?

The alternative is certainly no better--voting for politicians who demonize the poor, the suffering, and the weak. Perhaps there is some sense that God, rather than the government, should be judging people for their choices in certain aspects of their lives.

 

[F0uad]

This can sound crazy but does the Roman Catholic Church worship Mary(pbuh) and does it belief that Mary(pbuh) is the mother of God?

 

[Mister Emu]

This can sound crazy but does the Roman Catholic Church worship Mary(pbuh)

Absolutely not. We highly honor her, but we do not worship.

does it belief that Mary(pbuh) is the mother of God?

Indeed she is rightfully titled Theotokos.

P1: Mary is the mother of Jesus.
P2: Jesus is God.
inevitably these premises lead to the conclusion that...
C: Mary is the mother of God.